Monorail expansion pieces actually built

[Timekeeper]

As I've suggested in other threads, I would settle for even a people-mover-style "monorail." As it stands, it's often more convenient for me to drive my own vehicle between parks rather than wait for the buses (especially when there's a queue and guests have to wait for a couple of buses before getting on one).

 

[PyroKinesis]

As it stands, it's often more convenient for me to drive my own vehicle between parks rather than wait for the buses (especially when there's a queue and guests have to wait for a couple of buses before getting on one).

Part of the whole theme/amusement park experience is parking in the parking lot (no matter how far back) and walking up to the main entrance. The excitement mounts incredibly.

 

[Timekeeper]

Part of the whole theme/amusement park experience is parking in the parking lot (no matter how far back) and walking up to the main entrance. The excitement mounts incredibly.

Agreed. For some reason, upon reading your comment, this is what immediately came to mind:

Cue slow motion running toward park entrance...

:ROFLOL:

 

[PeterAlt]

Does anyone know if Disney lost the rights to monorail/peoplemover systems when they sold it to Bombardiar? If so, this explains why they are hesitant to invest more in these systems because they now have to pay Bombardiar up the ying yang in licensing rights (in addition to construction costs)!

 

[Timekeeper]

Does anyone know if Disney lost the rights to monorail/peoplemover systems when they sold it to Bombardiar? If so, this explains why they are hesitant to invest more in these systems because they now have to pay Bombardiar up the ying yang in licensing rights (in addition to construction costs)!

Here's a fun read:

http://www.yesterland.com/monoraillegends.html

Note that "There is Monorail right-of-way through Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort," as described in the above link.

And here's an "Actual image from a 1977 booklet, Your Complete Guide to Walt Disney World," also from the above link.

 

[AEfx]

As I've suggested in other threads, I would settle for even a people-mover-style "monorail." As it stands, it's often more convenient for me to drive my own vehicle between parks rather than wait for the buses (especially when there's a queue and guests have to wait for a couple of buses before getting on one).

Same here. I can almost always get there more quickly via my own vehicle. When I think of all the wasted hours I spent waiting for those dang buses, I kick myself.

My car is just as magical, even more so - I can play Disney music, control my own temperature, and not enclosed in a small space with people hacking and coughing and spreading germs.

It may not be energy efficient, but I pay a lot of cash to be down there, and I am not going to sit all day and waste time with buses that don't have a time schedule - I waited 90 min for a bus from the TTC to AK one day, and it only came after I went to the ticket booth and complained and they called one.

That coupled with the fact that I refuse to leave the resort up to 3.5/4 hours early to get to the airport, and Disney used to let you schedule later if you asked - but no, I'm not going to spend half the afternoon as a single traveler with no luggage sitting in the Orlando airport when I could have spent another hour or two park going. Solution to both problems : drive myself. I haven't regretted one moment of it ever since.

 

[Timekeeper]

No monorail discussion would be complete without paying homage to the "original monorail"

:ROFLOL:

 

[BalooChicago]

They are called "footers" not "footings".

No, they are not. "Footing" is the correct term for the element of a foundation which distributes the load to the soil in a "spread footing" type foundation. Footings are most common in residential construction. The monorails would not use spread footings. They most likely used drilled piers/caissons or possibly pile type systems.

 

[PyroKinesis]

No, they are not. "Footing" is the correct term for the element of a foundation which distributes the load to the soil in a "spread footing" type foundation. Footings are most common in residential construction. The monorails would not use spread footings. They most likely used drilled piers/caissons or possibly pile type systems.

You're wrong. I have watched construction on multiple things for years. They are called footers. End of story. Any response to this post by you will just end up with you being put on my ignore list.

 

[Monty]

You're wrong. I have watched construction on multiple things for years. They are called footers. End of story. Any response to this post by you will just end up with you being put on my ignore list.

You're both right... So stop arguing

Footer: A construction term that can be used in parallel by builders as an acceptable substitute for the word footing.

Read more: http://www.answers.com/topic/footer#ixzz1i81PfUex

 

[Timon]

You are onto something. In an early concept art of Horizons you will see a monorail beam to the north side of the pavilion (between Horizons and Wonders of Life). This is still path that may be used of they decide to expand the monorail from Epcot to Downtown Disney. Plans have not been completely written off for this expansion to ever happen.

But I can tell you now that the area in the photo is no longer there.

Picture - Wrong spot, the larger rectangular spot just north is a pylon foundation. The Florida pylons usually had 6 to 9 pilings pounded down to rock. They were united in a huge cement block. In the block are two large tubes where the track pylon rebar was cemented in, to support the vertical pylon. For years these two holes simply had a sheet of plywood over them. That foundation was the furthest East of Ave. of the Stars. This is part of the extra cost when building in Florida sand. In Las Vagas, they drill straight down 20 feet, add a form and rebar, fill and finished. The other foundations lead straight West to the current EPCOT loop for two switches in a "Y" look for the double LBV track. We were told these foundations were put in to minimize the in-park disruption (no pilings to pound). As far as I know, none have been removed, although I think one would have to now be under the WOL service driveway, today.

Here's a rare photo of Epcot when the Loop foundations are going in to show size of the unifying block. (Those of you who think these are Innoventions foundations, are forgetting Innoventions has a tunnel basement which hasn't been dug yet in this picture.)

 

[S 2]

WHAT IF:

 

[Goofyernmost]

Please, in all that is holy... do not start this train wreak of a thread back up again. We let it die a merciful death years ago, there is no need or desire to start CPR at this point.

 

[S 2]

Nothing is ever dead on the interweb

 

[marni1971]

You're not the professor again are you?

 

[wm49rs]

Nothing is ever dead on the interweb

Although, perhaps it should be after 5 years....

 

[Brad Bishop]

I'll grant you it's probably the best looking monorail expansion map. Doesn't make any sense, though - not the design.. I think that's one of the better ones.. The fact that buses are cheaper and more fluid - not as sexy.... but you can't get past cheaper and more fluid.

 

[S 2]

I'll grant you it's probably the best looking monorail expansion map. Doesn't make any sense, though - not the design.. I think that's one of the better ones.. The fact that buses are cheaper and more fluid - not as sexy.... but you can't get past cheaper and more fluid.

The design did its best to use existing track and roads to avoid having to develop swampland which could add to the cost. I also thought a little more should go into EPCOT so that the future begins upon parking (A futuristic parking pod near where the buses pickup could pick parking issues, maybe a connector to International Gateway?) and several lines could be seen joining towards Spaceship Earth as cars approach the parking. Also, the parking trams go into woods before re-emerging at the entrance. Walt was big on anticipation from the moment you arrived on the property and I tried to tap into that. It also bugs me all the existing parking at the TTC being so close to the lakes, even with the trees its a giant cement eyesore so I wish they would pull those back a little, make room for a few more resorts or even a fifth theme park (eventually, it IS already on there Master Plan in that area East of the current TTC). The park would then mirrors the MK on the opposite side of Bay Lake. What I envisioned though, was a "Walt Disney World Hotel" around that spot the way DL Has the Disneyland Hotel. and the next theme park south or southeast of it on the land north of EPCOT... This hotel would be the only able to link to any resort directly from the hotel lobby. All Premium/Moderate Resorts are linked in and I definitely think Disney would want Disney Springs to be on there somehow. I think an investment in an infrastructure of this scale, along with a Disney World Hotel and a new investment into EPCOT--A Sweden with a Matterhorn would be a start, (I'm nervous about a Guardians of the Galaxy anything in there I really hope they fit in some actual science and technology, a Tron coaster would be better in my opinion)... Animal Kingdom and DHS will both be full parks by then and be giving EPCOT a real run for its money...

 

[S 2]

 

[JohnD]

"Imagineering". Just saying.