PeterAlt
Well-Known Member
Because much of that was swamp. Cheaper to build elevated tracks in this case than to recondition the land.
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New Monorail Fleet for WDW
- Thread starter SPMTCP2003
- Start date
raymusiccity
Well-Known Member
"Whoops, there goes another rubber tree plant!"....
Captain Neo
Well-Known Member
There is absolutely no truth to these rumors
Darth Tater
Well-Known Member
Why is everyone always so skeptical of these "heard it from a CM" types of rumors? Those are usually the most accurate kinds.
Captain Neo
Well-Known Member
Because I just talked to lee Macdonald and he said there are no major capex projects planned for the resort in the next 5 years. Right now there big focus is NGE and that's where all the money went into.
Tramp&TheLady
Member
And Bob Iger is still the CEO.
Tonka's Skipper
Well-Known Member
I have to admit I always LOL at these rumors about expansion of anything. There is always the same few that don't believe it and comment like *this is absolutely not true*, like they have any inside information about it. Then you have the ones that say *this is a done deal, its going to happen*.
Lets be real here...............it is possible a Monorail expansion?, yes it's possible, the size of the barn is not the issue, it's whether it's worth the costs, especially as monorail rails systems have come down greatly with the new techno, its more possible.
Now before anyone jumps up, please do a little on line research, the systems are cheaper, especially when you make use of new techno and company system for things like track that are in production. The biggest cost savings will be the fact of labor costs dropping as the new trains will be automated. Over years and the reduced buses needed, that will add up.
All that said, does that mean it is absolutely going to happen, no it does not! However I do believe new trains are on the horizon.
My own opinion is a new *pod/light rail* ground and partially elevated system, will connect some parks, DTD and resorts, etc.
I also see that in the last 2 years of so, the purse strings have been loosened and the Iger bean counters have been pushed aside. Look at the new attractions being added, both announced and *likely*. The many full and reimagined ride refrubs, a return to a standard of upkeep and maintenance of years ago. All good things.
AKK
Lets be real here...............it is possible a Monorail expansion?, yes it's possible, the size of the barn is not the issue, it's whether it's worth the costs, especially as monorail rails systems have come down greatly with the new techno, its more possible.
Now before anyone jumps up, please do a little on line research, the systems are cheaper, especially when you make use of new techno and company system for things like track that are in production. The biggest cost savings will be the fact of labor costs dropping as the new trains will be automated. Over years and the reduced buses needed, that will add up.
All that said, does that mean it is absolutely going to happen, no it does not! However I do believe new trains are on the horizon.
My own opinion is a new *pod/light rail* ground and partially elevated system, will connect some parks, DTD and resorts, etc.
I also see that in the last 2 years of so, the purse strings have been loosened and the Iger bean counters have been pushed aside. Look at the new attractions being added, both announced and *likely*. The many full and reimagined ride refrubs, a return to a standard of upkeep and maintenance of years ago. All good things.
AKK
lebeau
Well-Known Member
Since when? I don't think I've ever seen one that was accurate. Ever.
SirLink
Well-Known Member
The real person you have to contact is Spirit, remember Leemac is the one who said OLC weren't interested in Cars Land on their RoA ... he might not be quite as connected as he was 5+ years ago.
devoy1701
Well-Known Member
sure it is. regardless of when they decided to do an expansion (should have been done 24 years ago) it will eventually pay for itself with helping to eliminate some dependency on bus routes.....eventually.
You know there was a time when TWDC did things not because of their independent ability to have a positive ROI too. And there was a time when Shareholders were happy to let the TWDC do whatever they wanted with P&R because they knew that in the end it would help increase the value and experience the company provided.
devoy1701
Well-Known Member
I think that would be a good idea. if they made the parking garages large enough, they could definitely make it a central hub much like how Uni operates. Then they could tear down the TTC to make room for the Poly DVC.
montyz81
Well-Known Member
So Disney Springs isn't a CapEx?
Not really. Monorail beams and supports are still made of steel and concrete and are very labor intensive. All of those things are exponentially more expensive than than they were when the Epcot line was built and the prices on those commodities continue to rise at a rate greater than inflation.
Tonka's Skipper
Well-Known Member
Not really, do a little look online, the established companies have pre designed systems that are pretty reasonable for today and less that 10-20 years ago.
If the prices are to be based on Epcot re costs of 30- 35years ago, of course they are more expensive.
However its not only the building/start up costs to be considered.
For discussion,
Let say they do extend to the 2 parks AK and HS.........let say the reduced labor costs in monorail drivers on the system(updated the present trains)....say 25 people per day (2 shifts). Say they remove 50 buses from the system with the new Monorails, that 100 drivers a day (2 shifts).
That's 125 people X 8 hour shift, that 1000 hours a day at $25.00 a hour( when beanys and etc are added in), that $25,000 at day X 365 X 20 YEARS, THATS ABOUT $182,500,00, not counting increased labor costs over 20 years. Also not counted is the cost of the buses, replacement buses and maintenance and labor costs there.
This makes the whole systems more palatable.
As I said before, its not a *already done deal*, and its not going to be cheap, but its not impossible either.
The *POD* systems are cheaper yet, at mostly ground level, the track would cost the same as a 2-3 lane road(that's a total of 1 or 1 1/2 lanes in each direction in Florida.
If you extend the line from the TTC to DHS and AK the only guests that will be on it are those that are park hopping or coming from the 3 monorail resorts, which is a fraction of the guests. The only way for you to see significant labor savings is to include the resorts which could eliminate busing.
If you have data on a less expensive system feel free to post it.
ToTBellHop
Well-Known Member
Well that's certainly not true. There are plenty of capex projects ongoing. We have FLE completing, Disney Spring starting, an expansion to Disney's Best-Kept Secret, Avatar, and the DHS project. Plus work at Epcot. There's actually a LOT going on at WDW right now. More than we've seen this millennium.
devoy1701
Well-Known Member
prberk
Well-Known Member
The same corporate management that thought letting Johnny Depp make Tonto into a crazy character and take over top billing to commandeer "The Lone Ranger" away from a good story and right into the ditch was a good idea? The same one that beautifully managed "John Carter"?
I remember the last person that tried to tell everyone that he was "WINNING"...
Sometimes slow and steady (i.e., slow and reasoned capital investment) wins the race. The Animal Kingdom was huge expense, but now a lot of people I know think it is one of their favorites. The monorail itself was also a huge expense, and despite complaints sometimes here, is an iconic image that the company benefits from in intangible ways that do not show on income statements except overall attendance AND savings on bus diesel.
And as for maintenance and upkeep, which you mentioned in an earlier post, you cannot tell me that there is not a comparable maintenance cost (after construction) to buses and roads, especially with the cost of diesel and the shorter life and greater start-stop wear-and-tear of buses.
I do think that any monorail expansion would have to be well-thought-out, but I think that if so it could be helpful in reducing bus costs and road gridlock -- and at the same time be something that guests would like.
I know all that. Your argument is that this gives Disney an advantage over the city of Las Vegas. It doesn't. Las Vegas doesn't need special permission to use government-like powers because it IS a government.
The benefit of Reedy Creek's bonds is that they're treated as municipal (i.e. governmental) bonds, which aren't taxable to the bond holder. Thus, bond holders demand lower interest rates because the interest they earn is tax free. That's it. Every single bridge or other state or local bond-funded project is treated exactly the same way. Disney's advantage over other companies is that Reedy Creek is treated as a city/town. There is absolutely NO advantage over OTHER cities/towns, which all get the same benefit. You obviously have a neat coffee table book about the founding of Walt Disney World, but you really don't know what you're talking about regarding tax law.
Tonka's Skipper
Well-Known Member
Who said they will not stop at other resorts along the way?, OKW, BC, BW, etc. What about the water parks and DTD. Anything is possible.
I have done that in the past, spent time to post sites and then all I got back was unsupported comments from folks only interested in saying it wont happen and didn't bother to support their comments.
We will just have to agree to disagree.
AKK