Improved Transportation?

AEfx

AEfx

Well-Known Member
scottnj1966 said:
The monorails would save money in the long run no matter what anyone says to the contrary. There are so many reasons why I will not explain.
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Heh, well, if you could list one I'd be impressed. :)

Look, we all wish we we could travel the entire WDW Resort on monorail, but to deny cost is an issue is extremely naive. Adding to the monorail line isn't going to bring more people to the park; adding E-ticket rides like Expedition Everest will.

Personally, since the parks are the star attraction, I'd much rather see the money put in there with new rides and adventures to have, as opposed to a prettier way of getting there. Yes, the romantic notion is great - but it's just that : a romantic notion.

AEfx
 
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HennieBogan1966

Account Suspended
Wait, there are so many reasons, which I will not go into? Could that be because you don't have any idea what those savings would be? I mean come on, if you're going to make a statement like that, you need to back it up with facts.

I love the monorail system, but the cost of expansion would be extensive. And that cost will be passed along to the consumer. Like it or not. It's a fact in any type of business. Oh, and in case you were wondering Scott, I've worked in retail for some 14 years now. I think I might have a little insight on this subject.

The fact is, busses are more efficient as it relates to the cost of the vehicle itself. The roads were already built, were new tracks would have to be built for the monorail. New computer software enhancements would be needed for the tracking/monitoring systems of the monorail systems. (umm that equals cost scott.) And how many more Stations would have to be built to accomodate those monorails? AKL, ALL STAR, AK Park. Not to mention that Disney would undoubtedly add ticket booths at those locations as well. Hey Scott, are you seeing a recurring theme here?

Maybe you'd like to add some insight at this point?
 
phlydude

phlydude

Well-Known Member
Monorails were thought to be cutting edge and high-tech when Disneyland and Disneyworld opened in '55 and '71 respectively. Now we have Mag-lev as the new technology. Does that mean Mag-lev will be used to transport guests? As much as I'd love to see it, I don't think it will happen. Monorails feasibly can only be built where there is no room for right-of-way clearance for a traditional rail line. Since Asia is so cramped and space is at a premium, it makes sense to put them in since the foot print is so small (equate it to the elevated train lines you see in Philly, Chicago and New York. Built up and over exitsting because there was no room.
That will be the only place a monorail will even be profitable.
 
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HennieBogan1966

Account Suspended
Not to mention the fact that payroll would also be needed to service the new trains, more cms to run the trains, cms for the ticket booths that would inevitably come soon after. And I'm not sure, but I'm thinking that there might be tax issues with the state of Fla., as it relates to any mass transit system. As well as costs for rerouting parking in the "new" station points where there is now parking lots, landscaping, construction costs, etc. etc.

Somehow, I'm not sure I see the "profit" in this at all. Not that Disney makes any money off of the monorail itself now, but let's be honest. Guests use the monorail to/from Epcot/MK, , Contemporary, GF, Poly, all of which I'm sure sell a great deal of merchandise to guests that aren't necessarily staying at these resorts.

So, busses are the way to go, in my opinion. This strictly from a business perspective. Are monorails more fun to ride? Sure they are. But are they a good business decision all the time? NO.
 
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MJL

New Member
The data seems pretty clear as to the cost benefit of new monorail expansion, BUT.......... a previous poster had a very good point. Back in the early 70's, many millions were spent on the MK monorail loop. Disney proceeded to build a huge expansion to support Epcot 10+ years later. With this being said where was the justification then?? Was the economy not in shambles in the late 70s/early 80s? Was inflation not completely out of control? How has the equation changed in the past 20 years?

THe allure of the monorail cant be measured as only a transportation option, it is the embodiement of the Disney dream. I cant help but to think that more monorail (and other things like people movers) in the right places would only lure more people to Disney, but can I put numbers to it, nope.

We must also be reminded that the very idea of a "disney land" was ridiculed in much of the business world when the idea sprouted in the 50s. How can such a project (amusement park?) with such huge investment required possibly be successful?

Disney is lacking in captivating and capitalizing on the dreams of man like it once was. Walt RIP. I hope that someday a successor will surface that bring something close to the leadership Walt brought to the table.
 
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DarkMeasures

New Member
HennieBogan1966 said:
Not to mention the fact that payroll would also be needed to service the new trains, more cms to run the trains, cms for the ticket booths that would inevitably come soon after. And I'm not sure, but I'm thinking that there might be tax issues with the state of Fla., as it relates to any mass transit system. As well as costs for rerouting parking in the "new" station points where there is now parking lots, landscaping, construction costs, etc. etc.
Well the Monorail at Tokyo Disney is a good example. It is a lot cheaper to run and holds boatloads of more guests. One of the reasons it is cheaper though is because the whole thing is computer controlled.
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TURKEY

New Member
ArchiDanDisney said:
Guess what....while the Monorail may be a conveinience...Its the reason that its a 4 star hotel rather than a 5 star hotel.
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Where did you get that information? I'd have to think that isn't the only reason it isn't getting a 5 star rating.
 
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cloudboy

Well-Known Member
Because of the noise factor. Supposedly. Or snob factor if you really want to dig into it.

I still find it so funny that people love to add up all these little detail costs for Monorails, but no one ever wants to think about what it takes to run a bus. All those roads have to be designed to handle all that bus traffic. Without them you could cut down substantially on the size of the roads down there. What is easier to clear out and make stable - a narrow path for a monorail, or a four lane highway. think of all that runoff. And why do Monorails HAVE to be run in the air? They can run a beam along the ground just as easilly.

The really big thing (but which would require a whole new line) is that you can now automate the whole thing. You don't NEED the drivers. And what ticket booths?

Why do people hate the monorails so much? What are people afraid of?
 
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gsimpson

Well-Known Member
I would like to know why people become so emotional at the very mention of monorail/mass transit in WDW. Personally I would love to see a monorail expansion to take me to Downtown Disney and the other two parks. I go to the parks several times a year and have done so since the late 70's, I have been on many broken down busses and in one buss accident. I have never been on a broken down monorail (although I know it happens) and since they are not at grade I can't imagine them getting into accidents (by the way, liablility insurance and the occasional law suite brought by injured guest are both costs). In regard to the cost issues, I can't imagine they are as cut and dried as both sides imply in this thread or we would not see monorails going into Seatle, Las Vegas (two expansions already approved), and Denver amongst others. I cannot imagine Monorail is always best or our country would be lousy with them. When or if they install a monorail expansion that would be great, if they don't that will be fine too since Disney transport does an outstanding job no matter what vehicles they are using. In the meantime I will continue to travel by bus, boat, or foot (Epcot/Boardwalk/MGM) and regardless of tranport method I will enjoy myself. My main reason for hating the busses has more to due with the horrible smell of diesel engines that permeats your clothes after you spend 15 or more minutes at one of the busier buss stops than the wait for the busses. If they could control the air flow to keep the smell away from the lines and seats that would make me a lot less anti-buss.
 
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cloudboy

Well-Known Member
You will ike the new busses. You have to remember those busses that Disney has the most of (the RTS and assorted other manufactures) were originally designed in the late seventies/early eighties. Technology has come a long way and the new busses out are much, much better. I will give them that.
 
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niteobsrvr

Well-Known Member
ogryn said:
Do they run any "bendy" buses, like they do at DLP? They were the most exciting buses I have ever been on! :p
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They have been tested. Most recently as a replacement for the parking lot trams. The major drawback here is that all of the bus stops at the parks and resorts would need to be redesigned to accomodate the larger vehicles.
 
Woody13

Woody13

New Member
niteobsrvr said:
They have been tested. Most recently as a replacement for the parking lot trams. The major drawback here is that all of the bus stops at the parks and resorts would need to be redesigned to accomodate the larger vehicles.
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Didn't you also report that the drivers would have to get a "higher" class license? :wave:
 
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niteobsrvr

Well-Known Member
Woody13 said:
Didn't you also report that the drivers would have to get a "higher" class license? :wave:
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After some research I found the buses would still fall under a Class B CDL. However, the tram operators currently hold nothing more than a regular operators license. If they were to switch to busses, the drivers would all have to obtain a Class B CDL. Unless of course Disney can find a loop hole much like they have with Boats and Monorails and the federal regulations regarding them. It would be much harder to classify a bus as an attraction though.
 
Invero

Invero

Well-Known Member
ArchiDanDisney said:
Guess what....while the Monorail may be a conveinience...Its the reason that its a 4 star hotel rather than a 5 star hotel.
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Actually, that's not true. No Disney resort will ever be a 5 star resort because Disney is a family place, and does not enforce the strict dress code required. For example, at Disney, you can walk through the main lobby in your bathing suit. This would not be allowed at a 5 star resort.

Oh, and by the way, the Grand Floridian is actually a 3 star resort. It was downgraded from a 4 star resort because of the Front Desk/Bell Services.
 

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