EPCOT Resorts Cancelled Monorail Loop

[PeterAlt]

That is really a stretch from what it says in the article. The article says "WED Transportation Systems will develop the transportation systems and technologies". Why would the build infrastructure for monorails if they were going to develop new systems and technologies.

I admit, it is a stretch, but that's how I read it.

 

[wm49rs]

Give me a break! What possible new addition to EPCOT would require you to need a monorail to get there! Anything not within walking distance and you're off site.

"As part of the future development of EPCOT Center." Try reading your own supposed references, instead of implying there's some hidden agenda yet to be uncovered.

 

[BoarderPhreak]

I think it's entirely possible that Disney might have "buried footings." At least near any infrastructure that was built in close proximity - because getting machinery in later might prove difficult or impossible. But is it a big deal? I don't think so. I wouldn't read too much into their existence other than perhaps Disney having some foresight for possible future plans. I'd expect that of any good designer/builder, really.

 

[lazyboy97o]

I think it's entirely possible that Disney might have "buried footings." At least near any infrastructure that was built in close proximity - because getting machinery in later might prove difficult or impossible. But is it a big deal? I don't think so. I wouldn't read too much into their existence other than perhaps Disney having some foresight for possible future plans. I'd expect that of any good designer/builder, really.

That doesn't really make any sense as new switches would require working not just near the existing line, but on it.

 

[BoarderPhreak]

That doesn't really make any sense as new switches would require working not just near the existing line, but on it.

Hmm, true. But you can use a crane to replace a section of beam from at least a little distance. A bulldozer requires on the spot access. 'Dunno.

 

[PeterAlt]

The fact is after 1984, everything at Disney changes. Future plans changed. Policy changed. Disney, the company, as people knew it back then, suddenly is like an entirely different company. Most of these changes were for the betterment of the company, which was on the verge of being torn apart by corporate raider back then. Some of those changes, unfortunately, not so good. This is one of those not so good changes... There plan to expand the monorail and build WED Peoplemover systems all over the place - at WDW and throughout the country in cities and airports. The reason Eisner decided to changed those plans had to do with focusing on the film division, which at that time was in a sorry state. To focus on films, they decided to sell off the transportation division responsible for building these monorail and peoplemover systems.

 

[wm49rs]

So now we're going hunting for monorail footers around the rest of the country? Fairly certain Steve doesn't have the bandwidth for that many photos....

 

[lazyboy97o]

So now we're going hunting for monorail footers around the rest of the country? Fairly certain Steve doesn't have the bandwidth for that many photos....

I still don't know how the footings play into all of this, but the desires of WED Transportation Systems to do work outside of Disney is true. They even did a project at George Bush Intercontinental Airport.

 

[wm49rs]

I still don't know how the footings play into all of this, but the desires of WED Transportation Systems to do work outside of Disney is true. They even did a project at George Bush Intercontinental Airport.

I have no doubt. But I'll be d#mned if I'm going on a snipe hunt for random footers....

 

[Hakunamatata]

I still don't know how the footings play into all of this, but the desires of WED Transportation Systems to do work outside of Disney is true. They even did a project at George Bush Intercontinental Airport.

I knew they did a restraunt at LAX, but what did they do at George Bush Intl? I'm originally from Houston and never heard about that.

 

[lazyboy97o]

I knew they did a restraunt at LAX, but what did they do at George Bush Intl? I'm originally from Houston and never heard about that.

They have a WEDway PeopleMover.
http://progresscityusa.com/2008/09/19/are-you-gonna-go-wedway/

 

[BoarderPhreak]

Yes, Houston is theirs.

 

[Hakunamatata]

They have a WEDway PeopleMover.
http://progresscityusa.com/2008/09/19/are-you-gonna-go-wedway/

Interesting. Not sure I recall seeing it.

 

[Tom]

It's funny....for a hypothetical project that would cost somewhere between 1/4 and 1/2 billion dollars, the re-use of one or two footings installed 30 years ago would have absolutely no bearing on the route or scope of the project. Yet, there are pages of posts discussing the existence of these supposed footings, like they're the Loch Ness Monster or the Yeti.

What kind of fools are we?

 

[danlb_2000]

It's funny....for a hypothetical project that would cost somewhere between 1/4 and 1/2 billion dollars, the re-use of one or two footings installed 30 years ago would have absolutely no bearing on the route or scope of the project. Yet, there are pages of posts discussing the existence of these supposed footings, like they're the Loch Ness Monster or the Yeti.

What kind of fools are we?

This really is the key point in this discussion. It would be an interesting piece of trivia to know that the footers really are there, but as you say they would have no bearing on future projects. It would probably be more economical to build new footers then to try to fit a new plan to any that may exist and still be usable.

 

[talonstruck]

I will have to say this is an interesting thread. I am now also curious if there are footers not only around EPCOT or for that matter any of the "planned" routes.

 

[Tom]

I will have to say this is an interesting thread. I am now also curious if there are footers not only around EPCOT or for that matter any of the "planned" routes.

I think there are footings buried around the entire property. They were secretly installed during the construction of each park.

 

[articos]

Here's a rumor that won't die, so I'm beginning to believe it. You've probably heard the rumor that originally the monorail was to have been expanded with a loop running through the swan and/or dolphin. This rumor had been shot down every time it came up. Well, in my ongoing research into planned monorail expansions, I see that maybe there may be some truth to that rumor. According to the site I'm linking here, at least this was the plan, but that plan changed before these resorts' designs were finalized. That's more believable. You make your own mind up. Here's the link...

http://www.mindspring.com/~bobquincy/wdw/monorail/monorail.html

No. No. No. And a thousand times no. There is absolutely no truth to the rumor the monorail was to go through the Swalphin. Neither building was designed with a hole in it, nor were they ever planned to have a portal. The buildings cannot have a hole cut in them in any sort of cost-effective way. Let's completely set this rumor to rest, directly from folks who worked on the Swan and Dolphin. Not true.

Not remotely true. The monorail masterplan for Epcot to Studios put the beam in a space between Yacht Club and Swan/Dolphin, not directly through it. The black squares are simply a design feature from Michael Graves.

Yes.

Indeed...

Thanks Martin

Bingo. This routing has been proposed a few times over the decades, and this is accurate. If you want to get geeky, the routing off the FW loop was proposed to somewhat mirror the DTD side expansion if it were to ever be built - kept everything symmetrical.

In my research so far, I've identified three ways costs of an extension could be lowered.

1. Use of existing components and infrastructure, such as the buried footers. I've confirmed only one exists east of Future World.

2. Combining future extensions with larger future developments that overlap territory. For example, to the east of EPCOT, as well as NW (west of Living Seas and north of the EPCOT resorts), and directly south and center World Showcase are vacant land zoned for future development. Structures for these developments can be designed to support a monorail line running through them (ala Contemporary) and lowering overall costs.

3. Place the order whenever the LV monorail (which is based on the same specifications) places its order for the planned extension of that system (to the LV Airport). Placing the order for the parts with Bombardiar together in a single production run will lower the costs for both systems' extensions!

I've been told there's more than one of the footings, but it's unknown if they're usable now, or if they could be relocated. The area back there has been paved over with abandon, and there's a ton of back of house in the way. Placing an order with the LV monorail would not have any effect on Disney, and is very unlikely to be a factor.

I believe it was a spur. Alternate trains would run TTC to Epcot to TTC, followed by TTC to DHS via resorts, followed by an Epcot train and so on.

Yes.

 

[articos]

Yeah, that was my first thought. In fact, earlier, I mapped out routes for a people mover system. The idea is to cut costs wherever possible to make it an attractive option for Disney. Add people movers to the mix and the cost skyrockets.

The Epcot station was designed as a transfer station, but not necessarily another TTC. At this point, any future new TTC or intermodal station is going to depend on an airport link to the property.

 

[articos]

I think there are footings buried around the entire property. They were secretly installed during the construction of each park.

Uh, no. In case you weren't kidding.