Maelstrom Troll
Well-Known Member
or….you bring a brimmed hat. Fixed it!
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Lighthouse Point to welcome guests in Summer 2024
- Thread starter DCBaker
- Start date
Railking55
Active Member
Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point seems beautiful. I am looking forward to visiting.
TrainsOfDisney
Well-Known Member
Royal Caribbean figured it out.
Well, not necessarily- it could be the length is because of the depth, we don’t know it was for the environment.
The width is fine for trams I think, the pier just needed a turnaround area designed within it - I am sure that was doable without changing the environmental impact.
(And let’s be honest - nothing about this project was good for the environment.)
DisneyHead123
Well-Known Member
Fair point. Their pier looks wider though.
I think that’s a different way of saying the same thing though. It is the depth, but the only way of solving that problem (if they want to dock at a different depth) is by dredging.
I thought they said trams wouldn’t work there, but not sure where I read that.
TrainsOfDisney
Well-Known Member
Wouldn’t a wider pier be more difficult to put up shade structures? Either way, shade structures are easy and I’m pretty certain we will see Disney add them since this will certainly be a pretty big complaint.
I’m going to guess that’s a significant cost as well vs. making a pier a bit longer. I know a lot more about trains than I do about cruise ships and docks so maybe it’s 100% environmental but I’m guessing it’s more practical for a number of reasons including cost and construction time.
The only reason they couldn’t work is lack of a turnaround space - the dock being a bit larger to accommodate a tram space would have been very easy to do and they may even look into expanding it.
DisneyHead123
Well-Known Member
If a tram is a possibility I assume they’ll start running one at some point given the amount of negative feedback already. I was under the impression it wasn’t but I’m not an architect so who knows?
TrainsOfDisney
Well-Known Member
Well it needs a space to turn around - that is the issue.
ToTBellHop
Well-Known Member
The pier passes over a coral reef. A shorter pier would’ve required dredging through said coral reef. You could do that in the ‘90s but cruise lines are expected to consider the environment more now.
I do agree that attractive shade structures and painted walkways should be considered. Make it look fun, at least.
I do agree that attractive shade structures and painted walkways should be considered. Make it look fun, at least.
EOD K9
Well-Known Member
They could always attach an engine on either side, similar to the monorail.
TrainsOfDisney
Well-Known Member
That one I’m not so sure about - without a guideway I’m not sure if you can easily have a motor on both sides - you’d have to be able to lock the steering when in reverse for sure.
I’m not aware of this type of system in use anywhere, but if it’s possible I’d be curious!
Of course some type of guided people mover system could have been built as well. But the team turn around would have certainly been the easiest solution.
DisneyHead123
Well-Known Member
Can they move just the engine? Like if you’ve ever done a recreational steam train ride that goes up and back on the same track, at some point they de-couple the engine and send it to the other end of the train. Not sure if that works for trams.
TrainsOfDisney
Well-Known Member
Oh yes - my first job was at a tourist railroad - I know that process all too well! Haha.
I’m not sure how that would work on a tram. I’m sure it’s possible but I think it would be easier to just expand the dock to allow for a turn around.
And I could be totally wrong and maybe a tram already exists that can be driven from both ends.
DisneyHead123
Well-Known Member
What a cool first job! Watching the engine go by is always the highlight of those trips for my son.
Will be interested to see how the pier situation develops, if they do a tram, water taxi, or leave it as-is.
Chip Chipperson
Well-Known Member
According to Wikipedia, there are double-ended trams. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Typ...-ended tram has,a continuous segment of track.
TrainsOfDisney
Well-Known Member
The trams in that article are guided trams - which is different than the parking lot style trams that operate at Lighthouse and also the type they use in Bimini.
the guided trams listed are mostly light rail vehicles (aka trolleys) and the rubber tire trams would be the style that are used at Orlando international.
DisneyNorthFan
Active Member
Anxious to see the island firsthand. From the photos, it looks like an amazing beach and water, and I love that you can take a long beach walk. The buildings leave a little to be desired, based on how they come off in pictures. They feel "cheap" in some way that I can't quite explain. Amazing roof structures, but otherwise, boring, with what appears to be a colorful sticker and "builder grade" finishes on the buildings themselves. Maybe it will look better in-person, and I'm sure all will look better once the vegetation grows in a bit.
BrianLo
Well-Known Member
I think the pier walk is a bit comical. It's probably better than a tendering experience if you have fine mobility. It's a beautiful pier in terms of the curvature for photo ops of the ship. But every single content creator comments on it first thing. I've seen several people time it, which if everyone's inclination is to time something, it's too far.
Not mentioned here, but there were fly problems with the food service. That seems like something they'll rectify.
Now that said the destination itself looks great. In videos the beach is quite gorgeous and they really did a good job with all the elevated boardwalks. It's going to look awesome in a few years as the plants grow in. The structures I think are really nicely designed to blend in as the foliage grows around them.
It's almost the antithesis of Coco Cay. But I don't think that's a bad thing. It's easily the nicest beach and water of any of the cruise line private islands so that's really what they are leaning into. A pure beach day for the majority of guests. Coco Cay is a stepping stone to cruise operators building theme parks and Disney went the total opposite direction. It should be very complimentary to Castaway Cay.
Not mentioned here, but there were fly problems with the food service. That seems like something they'll rectify.
Now that said the destination itself looks great. In videos the beach is quite gorgeous and they really did a good job with all the elevated boardwalks. It's going to look awesome in a few years as the plants grow in. The structures I think are really nicely designed to blend in as the foliage grows around them.
It's almost the antithesis of Coco Cay. But I don't think that's a bad thing. It's easily the nicest beach and water of any of the cruise line private islands so that's really what they are leaning into. A pure beach day for the majority of guests. Coco Cay is a stepping stone to cruise operators building theme parks and Disney went the total opposite direction. It should be very complimentary to Castaway Cay.
DisneyHead123
Well-Known Member
I have read that the structures are not complete and more decor and theming will be added. I don’t think a ton more, but at least some touches to make it look less bare bones. Not sure why they took this approach - in the parks I can’t imagine them debuting a new land and saying “It’s partially done, we’ll add more later.” But maybe with international projects the timeline is slower so they have to get something out even if it means opening before the project is totally complete.