connect the Animal Kingdom by monorail

[Ralphlaw]

Monorails are very cool, ask your kid do you want to ride the monorail or the bus to Epcot, let's bet on the answer.

True, but are they $100,000,000 cool? Are they cool enough to bring in $100,000,000 worth of new money from paying guests? Are they cool enough to forego some other headline attraction like Expedition Everest? I don't think so.

With absolutely unlimited budgets, anything's possible. But huge upgrades need some common sense cost benefit analysis to justify. Yeah, additional monorails would be cool, but they make absolutely no sense from a business standpoint. It would also be cool to have a monorail from the airport. It would be even cooler to shuttle everyone back and forth from the airport to WDW by helicopter. My kids and I would love all of that, but doing so would be financially disastrous.

For whatever reason, monorails are now ridiculously expensive. We may not like that fact, but we're stuck with that reality. We can then either: (A) Ignore that reality, or (B) Accept that reality and consider the costs and benefits intelligently. When doing (B) intelligently, we're stuck with the inexorable decision that more monorails are not in the cards. Sorry, but that's reality folks.

 

[The90skid]

I don't necessarily agree with your opinion on the monorail topic but I agree with what you are saying here. It is a discussion board and it is about opinion. I think that does get lost on here sometimes and some people think they have all the answers. I apologize for when I have come across that way.

No, I don't fault you at all! And to clarify, I have been completely genuine in what I have been posting. I was not intending to lead the thread down bunny trails, and I apologize for doing that. Simply put, we all love monorails! They may be in bad condition now, but I think most Disney fans still love them. Monorails everywhere would be all of our dreams. However, money is a huge barrier. Will Disney ever extend the monorail? Probably not in the near future, but I think they eventually should because the monorails are such a central part of the WDW experience. That was all I was intending to say. Forgive me for my newbiness!

 

[tmstephe]

They need the new content to expand the hours and it's an even bigger argument for some new transportation options. Getting to the AK is not easy, the AK by distance makes it a park you don't hop easily. it needs a connection to the others to make it feel like a part of the group and thin the crowds.

I'm not sure how we've gotten to 95 posts on your opinion of AK being difficult to get to. If you choose not to go to AK, more power to you. That's a personal preference, not an issue of monorail safety or cost. You stay in one park and I'll hop to AK.

 

[brb1006]

Monorails aren't about saving time or money. They're about the experience. I'd rather take half an hour to hop on a monorail than fifteen minutes on a bus. I count the monorail as a ride, so it's not wasted time. Also I don't even mind queuing for the monorail. The monorail queues feel like I'm still in the park. The bus queues feel like I'm in the parking lot.

I agree, it's fun seeing you leave Epcot and the Magic Kingdom and seeing it move fast as you head to you're next destination.

 

[brb1006]

I'd like to see all of the parks connected by monorail.

Me too

 

[Ralphlaw]

Depending on where you start, AK is probably the longest ride by bus. Plus, I seem to remember stopping at one of the water parks each way (which perhaps only happens when we go to Animal Kingdom Lodge, but I don't recall for sure). For whatever reason, distance and other stops really slow down the ride. For us, it's always a toss up: (1) Wait for the bus and take a circuitous ride stopping at other resorts; or (2) Calling a cab. I hate paying for a cab, so we generally wait for the bus. And sometimes, that means we wait.

Another question: Where will the monorails stop? Will there be one platform for the Epcot resorts, or just at Studios, or AKL? Part of the problem is that there are now so many resorts that connecting all of them would be virtually impossible, especially if one line connects to Studios and some loop around to Caribbean Beach, Coronado, Port Orleans, Epcot, Downtown Disney, Saratoga Springs, etc . . .

Remember, when the Mk monorail was built, the existing resorts were connected to it along with the transportation center. One easy loop built at 1970 prices. When the Epcot Monorail was built, it brilliantly fit the theming of this new park, and required no additional stops other than at Epcot itself. And it was built at 1981 prices. Also, busses back then were definitely lower class, smoggy, un-magical boxes. With the building of so many resorts and Studios, busses became an accepted reality. Now, we like them, although not nearly as much as the cool boats and monorails. Nevertheless, I would assume that connecting ALL the resorts and parks by monorail would literally require five or ten times as many miles of rail than currently exist. Cost prohibitive. And if you're not connecting ALL of them, then what's the point? People will still need to take busses for part of them journey.

 

[POLY LOVER]

Depending on where you start, AK is probably the longest ride by bus. Plus, I seem to remember stopping at one of the water parks each way (which perhaps only happens when we go to Animal Kingdom Lodge, but I don't recall for sure). For whatever reason, distance and other stops really slow down the ride. For us, it's always a toss up: (1) Wait for the bus and take a circuitous ride stopping at other resorts; or (2) Calling a cab. I hate paying for a cab, so we generally wait for the bus. And sometimes, that means we wait.

Another question: Where will the monorails stop? Will there be one platform for the Epcot resorts, or just at Studios, or AKL? Part of the problem is that there are now so many resorts that connecting all of them would be virtually impossible, especially if one line connects to Studios and some loop around to Caribbean Beach, Coronado, Port Orleans, Epcot, Downtown Disney, Saratoga Springs, etc . . .

Remember, when the Mk monorail was built, the existing resorts were connected to it along with the transportation center. One easy loop built at 1970 prices. When the Epcot Monorail was built, it brilliantly fit the theming of this new park, and required no additional stops other than at Epcot itself. And it was built at 1981 prices. Also, busses back then were definitely lower class, smoggy, un-magical boxes. With the building of so many resorts and Studios, busses became an accepted reality. Now, we like them, although not nearly as much as the cool boats and monorails. Nevertheless, I would assume that connecting ALL the resorts and parks by monorail would literally require five or ten times as many miles of rail than currently exist. Cost prohibitive. And if you're not connecting ALL of them, then what's the point? People will still need to take busses for part of them journey.

I would be happy if it went directly to AK, no resort stops along the way. Maybe just AKL if the loop allowed it.

 

[Master Yoda]

Depending on where you start, AK is probably the longest ride by bus.

It actually falls right about in the middle.

From DHS your average travel times to the 3 other parks is 17 minutes
From AK it is 20.3
Epcot is 21.6
MK comes in at 23.3.

The longest park to park time is MK to Epcot coming it at 35 minutes, by monorail no less.

 

[POLY LOVER]

It actually falls right about in the middle.

From DHS your average travel times to the 3 other parks is 17 minutes
From AK it is 20.3
Epcot is 21.6
MK comes in at 23.3.

The longest park to park time is MK to Epcot coming it at 35 minutes, by monorail no less.

the questions is, how long are the wait times for a monorail as opposed to waiting for a bus to arrive. Lately I have spent some time waiting for buses.

 

[RScottyL]

with all the talk about overcrowding and spreading out the guest would it be the time to connect the AK to the monorail system? You can hop all parks easily but the AK. If it were connected would more people hop and visit during their stay and thin the crowds if they could easily get there? I'm sure this has been a topic before but circumstances are different now.

I agree 100%! WDW needs to expand the monorail lines!

 

[Master Yoda]

the questions is, how long are the wait times for a monorail as opposed to waiting for a bus to arrive. Lately I have spent some time waiting for buses.

It depends. The monorails tend to be more consistent with wait times but they are limited on their capacity and flexibility. With them you have the situation where you run up against a minimum wait time due to the maximum number of trains that can be on the track at any given time.

If Disney manages it correctly, the wait time on buses can be reduced to almost zero. The key is that managing it correctly part.

 

[POLY LOVER]

It depends. The monorails tend to be more consistent with wait times but they are limited on their capacity and flexibility. With them you have the situation where you run up against a minimum wait time due to the maximum number of trains that can be on the track at any given time.

If Disney manages it correctly, the wait time on buses can be reduced to almost zero. The key is that managing it correctly part.

according to WIKI stats they can move a large number of people:

The Walt Disney World Monorail System is a public transit monorail system in operation at the Walt Disney World Resort. The Walt Disney World Resort currently operates twelve Mark VI monorail trains on three lines of service.[3][4] The monorail system opened in 1971 with two routes (Magic Kingdom: Resort and Express) and with Mark IV monorail trains. It was expanded to three lines (Magic Kingdom: Resort and Express, plus Epcot) in 1982, and the rolling stock was updated to Mark VI trains in 1989.[3]

As of 2013, the system is one of the most heavily used monorail systems in the world with over 150,000 daily riders,[1] surpassed only by the monorail system run by Chongqing Rail Transit in Chongqing, China, which holds the record for the world's busiest monorail system with over 500,000 riders per day on average on Line 3 alone.[5]

 

[POLY LOVER]

It depends. The monorails tend to be more consistent with wait times but they are limited on their capacity and flexibility. With them you have the situation where you run up against a minimum wait time due to the maximum number of trains that can be on the track at any given time.

If Disney manages it correctly, the wait time on buses can be reduced to almost zero. The key is that managing it correctly part.

I seem to wait alot, and usually in the hot sun. They also make resort stops along the way that adds time. Zero would be nice but is it realistic?

 

[Master Yoda]

I seem to wait alot, and usually in the hot sun. They also make resort stops along the way that adds time. Zero would be nice but is it realistic?

The bus routes from park to park typically do not make stops, but that changes from time to time.

Resort lines tend to make multiple stops.

Zero (empty bus pulling in right after bus leaves) is theoretically possible, but the chance of you seeing in practice is rare.

 

[JohnD]

The discussion always sets everybody off. Might as well put it in Imagineering. It makes for an interesting discussion regarding budget, logistics and wishful thinking.

 

[marni1971]

Could always drive.

 

[G00fyDad]

It only sets some of us off because some people can't seem to learn from the thousands of other threads on exact same topic. It gets said over and over again how unrealistic it is to have a monorail built these days yet people keep entertaining the idea that it could/should happen.

 

[French Quarter]

for sake of discussion lets take off the table the BAZILLIONS of dollars to build it, the chance of it popping off the rail, fire, aliens coming down and zapping it with ray guns etc. Lets just put those aside for a breif moment.

If not for those reasons would you want the monorail to extend to DHS then Ak? Would it add value to the transportation system and easier guest access to DHS and AK and guest comfort. Would it make Disney a way more cooler place.

I think I answered this but I will reiterate.

I think having some additional transportation to AK to the buses is a great idea and I would be happy to see this happen. However, I don't think the futuristic style of the monorail really fits with the theme of AK. I would rather see some sort of wildlife train or trolley or some other cool idea that isn't coming to mind just yet,

 

[French Quarter]

the questions is, how long are the wait times for a monorail as opposed to waiting for a bus to arrive. Lately I have spent some time waiting for buses.

I agree with this. Typically, I have found the monorail to come much more frequently than the buses.

 

[French Quarter]

It only sets some of us off because some people can't seem to learn from the thousands of other threads on exact same topic. It gets said over and over again how unrealistic it is to have a monorail built these days yet people keep entertaining the idea that it could/should happen.

There is nothing wrong with dreaming, wishing and/or hoping. Just because something is not realistic or probable doesn't mean it can't be discussed.