EPCOT Resorts Cancelled Monorail Loop

[articos]

My thoughts exactly. I don't know how anyone can get that true cost without working for Disney.

They say EPCOT was too expensive to build, so I wonder how much thought went into upkeep of the monorail. I'm sure Disney has done the math. But does show still over trump efficiently in the new Disney era.

Epcot almost sank the company.

Having switches be part of the normal operation wouldn't be a problem?

With an automated system, it's possible now. Prior, not feasible.

 

[articos]

They already plan to automate the system. New automated switches are part of it. As I said, look up the Jacksonville system. It uses automated switches and multiple routes, like this would.

Correct.

My engineering background is chemical and IT, not train. Just having fun.

But if the AK train is extended, seems like you have to go north. So how about a stop at Coronado? Also assumes Rafiki's goes away. That will just get in the way. Also, if the train goes right into AK, how do you manage park ticketing? At the southern station? At Coronado?

There's been talk of extending the train and extending the monorail. Each presents challenges. Train fits with the theming and creates a sense of arrival that fits DAK, but also is slower and requires some track work. It's a long routing for that mode of transport, as well. Monorail is quieter, faster and more environmentally friendly, and can be extended to the Lodge, but is expensive.

 

[articos]

If they expressed any interest (including interest in just parts of it), I would immediately take on a more professional attitude about it and start contacting professionals in the business, especially Bombardier. I might even fly to Canada to meet with people from Bombardier to discuss it in order to get some real numbers together. I would also meet with independent experts outside of Bombardier to get second and third opinions to make sure Bombardier isn't inflated their costs. I would also contact Mitsubishi in Japan because they make compatible systems and see if I could get a competition between the companies and a competing offer. I hope Disney reimburses me for the air travel for putting this together for them! Lol

Mitsu's system really doesn't work for the FL property.

 

[articos]

Here's another one. I pointed an arrow to it. Its directly behind what is now the defunct WoL Pavilion. Here, you see it clear as day and exactly where you said one should be. Today it's covered up and you can't see it in the satellite photos. This is not the one I've been talking about, which is not covered up and can be seen easily with today's satellite imagery (located across the street). Before now, I thought the one in this picture was that one, but I guess its a second one. TWO identified so far!!!!! YIPPIEE!!

This one might be. There's no way to tell from this distance. Keep in mind they were mostly buried, so seeing one on the surface is not usual. I'm just enjoying the beautiful composition of the entry and all that manicured land with all of the entry trees. Gorgeous.

 

[articos]

The little dot you've marked out in the other photo next to the beam is also clearly visible in this photo, if you look. It's not a footing. Next time I'm in Epcot I'll go take a look at this spot, but I suspect it's a drain. Maybe...and this is a huge maybe...maybe it's electrical for a future track switch, but I doubt it. I'll look next time I'm on the property.

The triangular forms all the way right are the beginnings of Horizons, like @marni1971 said.

 

[articos]

This next ones, I was about to mark all over it. I don't have to because you know where they should be. Look carefully.

No footings in this picture. Sorry. Keep in mind, after they were poured and set, within the park in the construction zone, they would have been covered, as they were below ground level to begin with.

 

[articos]

In the second picture, the two mounts of dirt next to the already installed monorail beams are where two small footers would go. So, I assume these mounts are circumstantial evidence of footers being placed there.

EDIT,TO SEE THESE YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT IT THREE DIMENSIONALLY. BOTH ARE THEY ARE WEST OF THAT PATH.

I don't think so, sorry.

 

[articos]

Here's a great view of one that is closest the current track.

Remember where I mentioned you could see the dot in the mound next to the track? That's what you're pointing out, but it's not a footing. I can't tell if that is part of the footing sticking out next to the pylon where the beam is missing. Might be. Regardless, in close proximity to the existing loop, the assumption was the pylons would be upgraded to a double beamway and utilize the existing footings.

 

[articos]

That's the foundation for Odyssey going in.

Yup.

 

[articos]

I don't know monorail footings are supposed to look like, but that spot is the one referenced with vans for scale.

Everyone talks about this. I honestly don't know. Before GE/Horizons closed I walked back there to say goodbye to the GE gang, and I remember walking by this, but I didn't really take a close look. I'd seen it before. It could have been a footing. I've speculated about it with the WDI group, but we don't know. I'll wander by it again sometime and check back in here. It does match the white patch in the photo showing the western side, which leads to think it might be. Big, huge might.

 

[articos]

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.

During Epcot's construction, yes, there were footings installed for potential expansion of the monorail to the perimeter of the project, which wasn't very far. Nowhere else that I'm aware of. It's not about access or getting machinery in, it's just one of those things that was done during the initial site prep. There wasn't anything significant done otherwise.

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.

Nowhere else. Just Epcot.

 

[articos]

Yes, Houston is theirs.

Right.

 

[articos]

That would be great. I now have an increasingly unhealthy curiosity concerning that chunk of concrete...

Although, honestly one or two footings in the grand scheme of things wouldn't make much difference in the price or feasibility of a monorail extension. Have you ever seen any other documentation of monorail footings having actually been poured and then abandoned elsewhere on property? I'm just curious as to whether there is a documented precedence for this.

There isn't documented precedence really aside from the plans showing the route the Village expansion was to take. There's no existing docs showing the footing locations themselves that are accessible to the public. I've spoken with multiple people on the Epcot project, as well as dug back into the archives, and they did pour footings for east and west expansion of the monorail to the edge of the project boundaries. They are mostly all underground now, and lost.

 

[articos]

(Phew! That was a lot of posts to go through.)

 

[PeterAlt]

(Phew! That was a lot of posts to go through.)

Thanks. I'll catch up with everything later today. There was also the question as to why. I remember reading something about avoiding disturbances to guests. Do you know anything about that and who said it?

 

[PeterAlt]

There isn't documented precedence really aside from the plans showing the route the Village expansion was to take. There's no existing docs showing the footing locations themselves that are accessible to the public. I've spoken with multiple people on the Epcot project, as well as dug back into the archives, and they did pour footings for east and west expansion of the monorail to the edge of the project boundaries. They are mostly all underground now, and lost.

I had no idea about the west side. The "lost" ones could be found, I guess with a little effort. Also, can you confirm that the rumors about WS sitting on top of buried footers is false?

 

[PeterAlt]

"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.

There's no secret agenda. It's just logical. It's like EPCOT Center is Grand Central Station. You can say, "As part the future development of Grand Central Station, Amtrak will run High Speed Rail service to Washington D.C., NYC will have a new subway line running to Queens, NJ will have direct PATH service, and LIRR will be better served."

 

[PeterAlt]

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 really hope your joking.

 

[wm49rs]

There's no secret agenda. It's just logical. It's like EPCOT Center is Grand Central Station. You can say, "As part the future development of Grand Central Station, Amtrak will run High Speed Rail service to Washington D.C., NYC will have a new subway line running to Queens, NJ will have direct PATH service, and LIRR will be better served."

You're simply looking for something more in that one sentence then was ever there. As you've admitted before, you're obsessed, and you're reaching to try and put random odds and ends together to validate your theory(ies).

 

[wm49rs]

I really hope your joking.

Certainly. It seemed appropriate in this thread.....