Large Piece Falls off Monorail - Being Evacuated

[Disney Analyst]

Here's the problem: If they try to do any type of work, people lose their minds. They are replacing the doors on the Contemporary which requires downtime of a couple of days, and it was like they announced that they were bulldozing the Castle around here.

Exactly, it is a transportation system.. and like any other city, they can't just shut it down... so they have to get creative with how they run it. For example, in Vancouver they will have limited trips after say 9 pm while they perform maintenance on one side of the track etc. That'll go on for a number of weeks, they don't shut it down, but they shut down one side, or do limited train traffic to work on tracks. Or run less cars at night and do maintenance on trains not in use. Mind you, the system also shuts down at 1:30 AM and doesn't reopen until 6 I think... and they perform most of their maintenance then.

 

[Kamikaze]

http://www.inquisitr.com/2485835/wa...-guests-stuck-for-hours-evacuated-from-train/

http://www.orlandoweekly.com/Blogs/...been-a-monorail-accident-at-walt-disney-world

http://www.inquisitr.com/4298787/mo...wn-and-large-metal-part-falls-off-near-epcot/

There's plenty of data waiting to be found. You wanted facts, right?

You're kidding, right? It stopping on the track is hardly an 'incident', but if you want to label it that, fine, I'll allow it.
Lets try this again: How many different 'incidents' have there been in 46 years? You found 3 - one of which is this one from today. We all know about the only meaningful incident prior to today, so clearly that one. But as far as actual serious incidents, there aren't many.

I'm also going to tell you my personal opinion on the monorail - its an inefficient system for WDW's guest flow and should be eliminated completely as a transportation system. I've said this before if you go back and look at my posts.

 

[mousehockey37]

Here's the problem: If they try to do any type of work, people lose their minds. They are replacing the doors on the Contemporary which requires downtime of a couple of days, and it was like they announced that they were bulldozing the Castle around here.

100% This ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Guests to WDW can't fathom closures. This is proven by countless threads here and elsewhere about how vacations are ruined and such because favorite rides/attractions aren't open. Well people, let this small example be something that stands out!

Yes, it's WDW. Yes, it'd be great if everything were always open. Sadly, things break. These transportation options are used and abused heavily on a daily basis, the rides go through far worse abuse. Things strain and break and need downtime.

This is one of the reasons I think they got rid of the 24 hour events. There literally was no downtime for maintenance to maintain the rides.

They'll patch Blue up and it'll be back running again, but people need to learn that if something has to go down for a major refurb, that it's for their safety to do so. Not because Disney is trying to be a PITA and ruin their vacation.

 

[WEDwaydatamover]

There are no other vehicles operated by Disney World management that have more documented images of damage available online than the monorail system. From completely flame scorched-out cabins to multiple nose collisions.

Clearrrrrrrrly they need to overhall the system. Just from a liability standpoint. Everyone in the know sees and is aware of the aging fleet and infrastructure. I don't think they can sweep another tragedy under the rug God forbid, no matter how many kind gestures petty cash allows Georgie.

 

[Kamikaze]

Oh, are we suddenly limiting facts that we will accept to singular kinds of incidents now?

Well, I was replying to a post about the cars coming off the cable, so, yes. Thats exactly what I said and why I tagged Lift Blog, to see if that specific thing had ever happened before.

 

[Kamikaze]

If they could build two new trains they could cycle the old ones out two at a time and do a top to bottom refurb with no impact on the operation.

They really should replace the trains one or two at a time, but you're right. They have nothing spare after the accident rebuilds, so they'd have to order new ones. But then you have to ask the question - is it the trains themselves, the actual system, or both?

 

[Kamikaze]

Exactly, it is a transportation system.. and like any other city, they can't just shut it down... so they have to get creative with how they run it. For example, in Vancouver they will have limited trips after say 9 pm while they perform maintenance on one side of the track etc. That'll go on for a number of weeks, they don't shut it down, but they shut down one side, or do limited train traffic to work on tracks. Or run less cars at night and do maintenance on trains not in use. Mind you, the system also shuts down at 1:30 AM and doesn't reopen until 6 I think... and they perform most of their maintenance then.

They could definitely do work on the trains at night, after system closure. The beam though, they can't, because it goes right by their three most expensive resorts. So any beam work has to be during the day and results in closures of the system. Its a definite problem, especially since they can't move guests from TTC to MK efficiently enough without the monorail.

 

[mousehockey37]

There are no other vehicles operated by Disney World management that have more documented images of damage available online than the monorail system. From completely burned out cabins to multiple nose collisions.

Clearrrrrrrrly they need to overhall the system. Just from a liability standpoint. Everyone in the know sees and is aware of the aging fleet and infrastructure. I don't think they can sweep another tragedy under the rug God forbid, no matter how many kind gestures petty cash allows Georgie.

As was said in another recent monorail thread, perhaps the new pilot-less system they're working on installing is a precursor to something else. So they are working on the issues related to nose to nose impacts. That's why they have limited monorail hours on certain days of the week now.

Could a new fleet of monorails be concocted? Probably. Could they be fitted to ride the same beams that are already there? More than likely.

Is the monorail system ever going to be a true, high capacity people mover? No. But it's still an option that exists that keeps people off of buses (which are full), boats (which if the ferry, are full) and get them to the resorts, TTC, MK and Epcot.

 

[RustySpork]

Well, I was replying to a post about the cars coming off the cable, so, yes. Thats exactly what I said and why I tagged Lift Blog, to see if that specific thing had ever happened before.

That's not entirely what you were replying too though. Let's revisit that quote.

Unlike gondolas, monorail cabs can't fall off the tracks onto the ground, right?

You can view this two ways. The first way, the gondola falls off the cable and hits the ground. Ok, fine. The second way, a gondola in some way hits the ground. I presented a gondola hitting the ground. You can choose not to accept that, ok, fine. That doesn't make it less legitimate.

You're kidding, right? It stopping on the track is hardly an 'incident', but if you want to label it that, fine, I'll allow it.
Lets try this again: How many different 'incidents' have there been in 46 years? You found 3 - one of which is this one from today. We all know about the only meaningful incident prior to today, so clearly that one. But as far as actual serious incidents, there aren't many.

I'm also going to tell you my personal opinion on the monorail - its an inefficient system for WDW's guest flow and should be eliminated completely as a transportation system. I've said this before if you go back and look at my posts.

It doesn't matter if you allow it or not, there's plenty of data and you can either accept it or ignore it. What you do with it is your choice. I've met my obligation.

They're in the news tonight for a reason, and that fact provides significant validation to those of us who think the monorails should be outright replaced.

You're welcome to disagree.

 

[Dead2009]

View attachment 210498

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http://www.inquisitr.com/2485835/wa...-guests-stuck-for-hours-evacuated-from-train/

http://www.orlandoweekly.com/Blogs/...been-a-monorail-accident-at-walt-disney-world

http://www.inquisitr.com/4298787/mo...wn-and-large-metal-part-falls-off-near-epcot/

There's plenty of data waiting to be found. You wanted facts, right?

That moment when 50% of the hits on Google are literally the same article, just worded differently. Also that moment when you search something overall on here and it brings up the post...and all of the replies with it.

 

[aladdin2007]

There are no other vehicles operated by Disney World management that have more documented images of damage available online than the monorail system. From completely burned out cabins to multiple nose collisions.

Clearrrrrrrrly they need to overhall the system. Just from a liability standpoint. Everyone in the know sees and is aware of the aging fleet and infrastructure. I don't think they can sweep another tragedy under the rug God forbid, no matter how many kind gestures petty cash allows Georgie.

This, TDO is going to run it into the ground until there is a major fatality, again.... then the lawyers and bean counters will say no more monorail etc. The day is coming sadly...... The company should be ashamed when they are sitting on so much money, they can easily afford a new fleet or overhaul it. After almost 50 years its getting pretty bad inside and out, yet they do nothing.

 

[trainplane3]

100% This ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Guests to WDW can't fathom closures. This is proven by countless threads here and elsewhere about how vacations are ruined and such because favorite rides/attractions aren't open. Well people, let this small example be something that stands out!

Yes, it's WDW. Yes, it'd be great if everything were always open. Sadly, things break. These transportation options are used and abused heavily on a daily basis, the rides go through far worse abuse. Things strain and break and need downtime.

This is one of the reasons I think they got rid of the 24 hour events. There literally was no downtime for maintenance to maintain the rides.

They'll patch Blue up and it'll be back running again, but people need to learn that if something has to go down for a major refurb, that it's for their safety to do so. Not because Disney is trying to be a PITA and ruin their vacation.

I agree with this so much it hurts. WDW is seen as a place where everything has to be working at all times. The people I saw that were mad when SM was closed for its "big" refurb a couple years ago really stuck out. I get Disney wants to make everyone happy but they really need to strong-arm it more and close whatever it is and fix it/refurb right. Sorry if this came off as sounding mean.

 

[InsideDisney]

The system is 45 years old even in TDA stuff fall apart... a week ago some kind of light fell off the clock tower in the 45 year old MSEP during a performance

 

[Kamikaze]

You can view this two ways. The first way, the gondola falls off the cable and hits the ground. Ok, fine. The second way, a gondola in some way hits the ground. I presented a gondola hitting the ground. You can choose not to accept that, ok, fine. That doesn't make it less legitimate.

Come on, guy, the quote is 'can't fall off the tracks onto the ground'.

There isn't any interpretation thats different. It contains 'off the tracks'.

 

[RustySpork]

Come on, guy, the quote is 'can't fall off the tracks onto the ground'.

There isn't any interpretation thats different. It contains 'off the tracks'.

At this point, I'm just going to choose to read that as "LALALALALALALALALA" and smack ignore.

 

[mousehockey37]

Come on, guy, the quote is 'can't fall off the tracks onto the ground'.

There isn't any interpretation thats different. It contains 'off the tracks'.

If something is suspended in the air, at some point gravity will win and it will come back to earth.

Remember, if things with this world didn't suck, we'd all fall off.

 

[larryz]

If they could build two new trains they could cycle the old ones out two at a time and do a top to bottom refurb with no impact on the operation.

And that would stretch it out for six years, thus making the accountants and suits very happy by not endangering their bonuses.

 

[RustySpork]

That moment when 50% of the hits on Google are literally the same article, just worded differently. Also that moment when you search something overall on here and it brings up the post...and all of the replies with it.

Yeah, I'm sure you've already sorted through all 151k hits to verify that.

 

[mousehockey37]

I agree with this so much it hurts. WDW is seen as a place where everything has to be working at all times. The people I saw that were mad when SM was closed for its "big" refurb a couple years ago really stuck out. I get Disney wants to make everyone happy but they really need to strong-arm it more and close whatever it is and fix it/refurb right. Sorry if this came off as sounding mean.

Mean and the truth get confused a lot.

Most of us know and can accept that certain rides need to be taken down for a lengthy refurb at some point. It's just the fact that it sucks if it's when you are heading there. I mean, it took me a few trips to get on Test Track. Did I complain? For a minute, then I said, ok well, maybe next time and got on with my day in Epcot.

 

[Nubs70]

I agree with this so much it hurts. WDW is seen as a place where everything has to be working at all times. The people I saw that were mad when SM was closed for its "big" refurb a couple years ago really stuck out. I get Disney wants to make everyone happy but they really need to strong-arm it more and close whatever it is and fix it/refurb right. Sorry if this came off as sounding mean.

WDW can be a place where things operate consistently at or above 95%+ of the time if there are sufficient plans and resources for preventative maintenance. WDW has at least 5-6 hours per day in which maintenance can be performed.