International Gateway tram shelter coming down?

[Monorail Lime]

The old tram shelter at International Gateway, which did not get new green canopies when the rest of the structures were upgraded, appears to now be in preparation for demolition. The old red canopy has been removed except for a few tattered strips here and there and the top part of the roof has been torn off completely leaving only some protruding pieces of twisted metal. The paint has been striped from key structural points in preparation for the cutter's torch.

Full walls are up around the shelter structure only. Mobile shrubberies are not-so-effectively blocking off the rest of the tram area where it appears some earth work is being done in the grassy strip.

It's been well over a decade since the last tram visited International Gateway so why is the shelter just now finally coming down? Could there be new plans for the area?

 

[wdwmagic]

I had assumed it was just getting a refurb. THe area is used to drop of large event groups, so it does serve some purpose still. Will be interesting to see what happens. Thanks for the pic.

 

[Monorail Lime]

Grabbed a few more pics while I was out picking up breakfast.

 

[marni1971]

I heard it was a refurb too. But there again, the tram drop off and turning area is mainly wasted space now.

There again, so is a lot of the T&TC and that is still the same.

 

[ThatMouse]

I always wondered why they left it up. I have VHS videos of the tram ride before boardwalk was built.

 

[maelstrom]

I miss that tram. I remember going in January 1993 when I was in first grade, and my dad had a convention at the Dolphin, so my mom and I would take the tram over to Epcot while my dad was doing his convention stuff. Such good memories.

 

[Biff215]

Interesting, thanks for sharing the pictures! It probably wouldn't make sense for them to invest in the new green canopies when it really isn't used, although the area will look strange without it!

International Gateway has to be one of my favorite, somewhat hidden parts of WDW. There's nothing like staying at one of the resorts on Crescent Lake and being able to walk in and out of Epcot!

Looking forward to our stay at Beach Club in June!

 

[wagnerdanp]

I always wondered why they left it up. I have VHS videos of the tram ride before boardwalk was built.

I would love to see that video! Do you have it digitially?

 

[Slowjack]

Just curious, when was the tram in service, and why did it stop? Just to cut costs, or did something else replace it?

 

[SeaCastle]

Just curious, when was the tram in service, and why did it stop? Just to cut costs, or did something else replace it?

I had heard that it was endangering pedestrians using the pathway, but I'm not sure if that's true or not.

 

[PhilharMagician]

Just curious, when was the tram in service, and why did it stop? Just to cut costs, or did something else replace it?

I am not a 100% sure, but I would have to think there were a few reasons why it was stopped. I have to agree with the OP that pedstrian safety was an issue. Also when the Boardwalk was built the tram would have needed to go to that resort. In order for that to happen with the trams would have to acend and decend those fairly high arching bridges which may have become an issue. Also now there is boat service to all resorts to accommodate people that either don't want to or cannot walk. Lastly the cost to run mutiple transport systems probably was not worth it.

 

[fillerup]

Here are a couple of pics that probably won't help much, but maybe somebody can take a guess.

The workers have very carefully removed the perimeter of sod, intentionally leaving the center oval.

 

[worldfanatic]

International Gateway has to be one of my favorite, somewhat hidden parts of WDW. There's nothing like staying at one of the resorts on Crescent Lake and being able to walk in and out of Epcot!

Agree completely!:sohappy:

Staying and walking from an Epcot resort to Epcot through the International Gateway is PURE MAGIC!!!!

 

[sillykid]

I know people keep saying before the boardwalk, but what did this tram exactly do? Which resorts were open and used a tram service?
Thanks in advance.

 

[Monorail Lime]

A section of the structure vanished overnight. It's interesting that they neatly removed part of it rather than simply knocking the whole thing down in one go. Perhaps the refurbishment our insiders mentioned is taking place elsewhere and the structure will be reassembled later on?

New vegetation is being planted in the area where grass was removed. I'll return with my zoom lens tomorrow and find out what the signs say.

 

[lazyboy97o]

International Gateway has to be one of my favorite, somewhat hidden parts of WDW. There's nothing like staying at one of the resorts on Crescent Lake and being able to walk in and out of Epcot!

Looking forward to our stay at Beach Club in June!

Is the body of water that sits between the Yacht and Beach Club Resorts and the Boardwalk Resorts also called Crescent Lake? I always figured that referred specifically to the body between the Swan and Dolphin, which is crescent shaped when viewed from above.

 

[t3techcom18]

Is the body of water that sits between the Yacht and Beach Club Resorts and the Boardwalk Resorts also called Crescent Lake? I always figured that referred specifically to the body between the Swan and Dolphin, which is crescent shaped when viewed from above.

Indeed it is!

 

[TimNRA757]

Amazing how all those years it was there, and then as soon as I started working in the gateway area they decide to take it down.

 

[PhilharMagician]

A section of the structure vanished overnight. It's interesting that they neatly removed part of it rather than simply knocking the whole thing down in one go. Perhaps the refurbishment our insiders mentioned is taking place elsewhere and the structure will be reassembled later on?

New vegetation is being planted in the area where grass was removed. I'll return with my zoom lens tomorrow and find out what the signs say.

Thanks for the pic and I look forward to your zoom photo's.

I personally cannot imagine that they would cut it up and remove sections to be refurbed. It looks like that structure will be gone for good. Since they are leaving the turnaround intact by the looks of it, there may be tram use in the future for the gateway. Most likely as Steve said to cover conventioneer's moving in mass between their resort and Epcot.

 

[Monorail Lime]

Roughly half of the remaining structure was removed last night. Only a small section at each end now remains.

No pictures due to this morning's storms.