The old 'rail through the Swalphin rumor has been around for a looooong time.
True...but I am still hoping it would happen.
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EPCOT Resorts Cancelled Monorail Loop
- Thread starter PeterAlt
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True...but I am still hoping it would happen.
BoarderPhreak
Well-Known Member
Me too, especially since they're probably my favorite resorts - despite being "non-Disney." Unfortunately, for precisely that reason - it will probably never happen (among other reasons).
BoarderPhreak
Well-Known Member
I never understood the "expense of construction" (or the "million per mile" urban legend). It's a bunch of cement pylons and "rails" (beams) that are pre-fabbed. Connect the juice, build a station where necessary and off you go.
The complicated part is the construction around existing infrastructure.
The complicated part is the construction around existing infrastructure.
Of course the Epcot Resorts would not have required individual monorail stations like those along the Seven Seas Lagoon because all the hotels are much more condensed. The Yacht and Beach Club probably would have shared a monorail station and the WDW Swan & Dolphin and Boardwalk would have shared one. Or maybe all five resorts would have had one monorail station.
Never would the monorail have passed through the black boxes in the Swan & Dolphin. Structurally it would not have worked. The building is too narrow to allow for the platforms for the trains. Also why would the station be designed up 8-10 stories above ground. At the Polynesian and Grand Floridian they are located on the second floor. In addition I doubt that Michael Graves would have wanted the monorail running through his buildings like that.
The map posted above can be confirmed by looking through Michael Grave's book, "Michael Graves Buildings and Projects: 1982-1989". In the section, dated from 1986 (when the Studios was in the planning stages), where he discusses the master planning of the resort complex, there is a site plan which clearly shows a monorail station to the west of the lake between the two hotels. Today the area serves as the entrance to the Boardwalk and Atlantic Dance. The map even shows a monorail train on a beam. The map does not show Crescent Lake but the monorail beam continues southward to the Studios and north, to the east of the Dolphin Convention Center. The location of this station was probably prime since it was basically in the hub of this development. And according to "The Disneylands that Never Were" book, where the Boardwalk sits today there was to be a second Pleasure Island type entertainment, shopping, and dining area where this monorail would have deposited guests.
Never would the monorail have passed through the black boxes in the Swan & Dolphin. Structurally it would not have worked. The building is too narrow to allow for the platforms for the trains. Also why would the station be designed up 8-10 stories above ground. At the Polynesian and Grand Floridian they are located on the second floor. In addition I doubt that Michael Graves would have wanted the monorail running through his buildings like that.
The map posted above can be confirmed by looking through Michael Grave's book, "Michael Graves Buildings and Projects: 1982-1989". In the section, dated from 1986 (when the Studios was in the planning stages), where he discusses the master planning of the resort complex, there is a site plan which clearly shows a monorail station to the west of the lake between the two hotels. Today the area serves as the entrance to the Boardwalk and Atlantic Dance. The map even shows a monorail train on a beam. The map does not show Crescent Lake but the monorail beam continues southward to the Studios and north, to the east of the Dolphin Convention Center. The location of this station was probably prime since it was basically in the hub of this development. And according to "The Disneylands that Never Were" book, where the Boardwalk sits today there was to be a second Pleasure Island type entertainment, shopping, and dining area where this monorail would have deposited guests.
That was for "Disney Center", the resort area proposed before the current Crescent Lake resort area.
disneysince71
Well-Known Member
One of the "selling points" they used when we purchased Saratoga Spings 2005 was the Monorail was headed that way.... Within a year we where told it will never happen.
I would buy one !!
olinecoach61
Well-Known Member
I can neither confirm nor deny any information. I can only profess my love for the monorail and the slim, slim, slim chance that it is ever expanded!
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.
FettFan
Well-Known Member
I think most of us die-hards would. Unfortunately there are just as many people who would once again complain that Disney is price-gouging.
Poofiesdream
Well-Known Member
If Disney doesn't own the Dolphin and Swan why would they want to connect to it?
jt04
Well-Known Member
Yes they seem committed to the busses. Not sure why. Automated tech applied strategically would definitely save $$$.
I think they must be under some pressure to provide a certain number of jobs that pay more that basic wages. And in this economy maybe that is best.
BoarderPhreak
Well-Known Member
Very true. At least Boardwalk, Beach and Yacht Clubs are right there - so a shared station would make the most sense. In the end they're all full of paying customers. Plus, the Swan and Dolphin have much of the Disney resort perks that the others out there don't (Bonnet Creek, Golden Oak, etc.). Aren't those two buildings also on a 99 year lease or something like that?
MUTZIE77
Well-Known Member
I was looking around the interweb and found on a few sites that it costs $2mil to $4mil to build a one mile section of a two lane highway. Considering the expansions would be realtively short distances, $1million per mile isnt all that bad.
Because its on its way to the studios and Disney Boardwalk as well as the Yacht and Beach Club.
In short because they know busses are a finite solution and the route to DHS and beyond is via the S&D.
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