News DeSantis moves to bring state safety oversight of the Walt Disney World Monorail including suspending the service for inspections

[Comped]

New images show state inspection of Disney World monorail

Newly-released images from the Florida Department of Transportation show engineers conducting the state’s first-ever inspection of the Walt Disney World monorail system shortly after FDOT was granted oversight authority last year.

www.clickorlando.com

Seems pretty normal honestly.

 

[JohnD]

Seems pretty normal honestly.

FDOT is now statutorily required to do the inspections. It appears they coordinated closely with WDW for little to no interruption.

 

[Comped]

FDOT is now statutorily required to do the inspections. It appears they coordinated closely with WDW for little to no interruption.

My point was that it seemed like FDOT handled this as if they would any other inspection.

 

[JohnD]

My point was that it seemed like FDOT handled this as if they would any other inspection.

I would expect no less.

 

[Nubs70]

I would expect no less.

Many others did...

If the beams were found to be deficient, the monorail would not be running.

 

[JohnD]

Many others did...

If the beams were found to be deficient, the monorail would not be running.

But then what would be what occurs afterward due to a normal inspection, not malicious intent. It wouldn't be their fault if they found deficient beams as part of their inspection.

 

[monothingie]

I probably feel a little better knowing that an independent regulatory agency performed an independent assessment and inspection of the monorail system infrastructure. It's good to know that Disney has someone looking over them on this.

Other than Disney having their government relations lobbyist present, which seems unusual to me, the inspections appear to have been carried out professionally, in a non-political manner, with little to no interruption in operations.

 

[monothingie]

While there were field visits by FDOT. I would guarantee that the majority of the "inspections" were handled through Disney providing documents, engineering, and inspection reports to FDOT. This provided information and reports likely were done through a third-party licensed engineering firms Disney contracted with to do the work to get FDOT the analysis and information they need.

 

[monothingie]

I think it's very important to point out, for people who are concerned about the infrastructure, that the beam ways while over 50 years old, have been continually maintained, are inspected frequently and are not exposed to corrosive salt or seawater. Other than potential issues with sinkholes and issues with the beam's footers, the system was very well designed and built and likely can operate safely indefinitely.

 

[DisneyCane]

I think it's very important to point out, for people who are concerned about the infrastructure, that the beam ways while over 50 years old, have been continually maintained, are inspected frequently and are not exposed to corrosive salt or seawater. Other than potential issues with sinkholes and issues with the beam's footers, the system was very well designed and built and likely can operate safely indefinitely.

Nothing can operate safely indefinitely. It might have been designed to operate for a very long time but there is still some amount of wear on the beam every time a train passes over a section.

 

[Blobbles]

Glad that's settled!
View attachment 830261

Im not an insider. But I think it’s pretty obvious because it sells hotels at MK area. I could be wrong, I could be wrong, but idk.

 

[Disstevefan1]

Im not an insider. But I think it’s pretty obvious because it sells hotels at MK area. I could be wrong, I could be wrong, but idk.

No one knows.
To me not obvious as they got rid of magical express which was a HUGE perk to stay on site.
Lets see what happens.

 

[monothingie]

Nothing can operate safely indefinitely. It might have been designed to operate for a very long time but there is still some amount of wear on the beam every time a train passes over a section.

You have centuries old infrastructure that is being maintained and is actively used. The key consideration on whether it continues to be used is if it is cost effective to continue to maintain for use.

 

[Disstevefan1]

The key consideration on whether it continues to be used is if it is cost effective to continue to maintain for use.

Disney's finance team is cranking up the spreadsheets now.

History may repeat itself.

At the very beginning of WDW folks paid to use the transportation that is currently free.

Lets see what happens.

 

[Disstevefan1]

Many pieces of regulatory action are brought about due to political considerations. Don't believe me ask big Tobacco or Exxon Mobile or Boeing or Big Pharma.

The more important question you need to ask, is whether or not FDOT becoming involved was a positive move and was for the greater good of the general public. I'd be curious to see who would say that this is a bad thing for the public using the WDW Monorail system.

In my opinion, because of the near perfect safety record the WDW monorail had for over 50 years, FDOT getting involved does NOT make the WDW monorail system any safer.

My hope is that FDOT does not make enough trouble to make Disney say the heck with it and shut down the monorail.

Again, the wild card is, will Disney resume charging for the currently free transportation.

To be honest, if it would save the monorail I would pay presuming its a small enough charge.

We all got to remember if they begin charging again, this will be something in effect, "money for nothing" as they were running all the WDW transportation for free to guests for decades.

 

[flynnibus]

The inspections highlighted in the article I posted took place in 'late 2023' while the settlement in the Reedy Creek lawsuit (the main element of the 'agenda' you cite) did not come until the Spring of 2024. Yet if you read the article, you'll be hard pressed to find any evidence of heavy handedness from FDOT. In fact, I think it's fair to say they were conducted with professionalism and integrity.

I'll repeat...

"The concern was always the POTENTIAL for abuse"

Potential doesn't mean something is going to happen everytime. And just because something DIDN'T happen doesn't mean it can't/won't in the future.

The smoothness I was referring to is about the world we are focusing on now and forward. The truce that was negotiated means the motivation to abuse is not present.

 

[monothingie]

These inspectors are not partisan hacks. While CFTOD may have DeSantis’ cronies, that doesn’t extend to experts in the field inspecting monorails.

Exactly, we can respectfully disagree on the people and reasons behind the regulations, but politics does not factor in for people conducting this work at FDOT.

 

[MickeyLuv'r]

They are not getting rid of the monorail. It would put so much stress on the transportation systems that already face tons of t stress each day. And it also is a selling point for magic kingdom area hotels.

Yes, this is uncharted territory for WDW. I personally feel that with some exceptions, the “everything stays the same forever” era at Walt Disney World Is over. We will
lose some of our favorite attractions, and in addition, I predict that some more fan favorite attractions will get updated versions to stick around. But the monorail is not a normal theme park ride. It’s a mode of transportation. Calm down.

I am not trying to get in the middle of this debate, but factually speaking, the monorail has gone down many times. When it does, WDW is able to swap to buses. I have experienced this a number of times, though most often it is only one monorail line down at a time.

 

[peter11435]

I am not trying to get in the middle of this debate, but factually speaking, the monorail has gone down many times. When it does, WDW is able to swap to buses. I have experienced this a number of times, though most often it is only one monorail line down at a time.

It’s rarely the entire monorail system and even when its just partial, it puts tremendous strain on the rest of the transportation system.