Rumor New Monorails Coming Soon?

[BoarderPhreak]

What? Nothing wrong with the monorails. Move along, move along.

 

[ABQ]

WHAT???!!! I want that job, the monorail tug driver! That looks so cool!

One could argue that these days, he's the hardest working man in WDW.

 

[Lensman]

I just know that his personal Twitter blocked me years ago.

Badge of honor!

 

[Monorail_Red_77]

One could argue that these days, he's the hardest working man in WDW.

another failed opportunity for AAA sponsorship. You know, keeping the highway in the sky traffic free..... LOL

"This scenic tour on our highway in the sky sponsored by AAA" Maybe they could chip in for a guest audio loop too.

 

[Horizons78]

Everybody wants new trains.

But what about just 9 new tractors?

Problem solved.

 

[montyz81]

Everybody wants new trains.

But what about just 9 new tractors?

Problem solved.

Replace the tractor's gas engine with an engine from a Model S Tesla and now we are talking cost efficiency.

 

[Kamikaze]

from what I understand the skyliner is pennies compared to monorails from a cost perspective.

Except for when Disney pays 10x the going rate for gondola lifts.

 

[Horizons78]

Replace the tractor's gas engine with an engine from a Model S Tesla and now we are talking cost efficiency.

Solid thinking.

So 9 tractors and a supercharger.

 

[Rich Brownn]

20,000 died because it was extremely slow loading, had no ability to retrofit for handicap access, took up massive amounts of space and was (honestly) pretty expensive to operate for as lame as it was.

20K was a nostalgic treat, and I miss it, but I also realize it was just not a ride that would impress anybody now without the nostalgia factor built in. They looked cool, but its a ride that I am happy is gone. The worst part of the whole process was that the lagoon sat empty for years with no replacement.

Not too mention constantly leaking into the men's dressing room and the fear it might become unsafe (I was originally hired for 20k back in the day and they had to drain it because the water level was dropping - it was leaking - again - so I was moved over to Grand Prix).

 

[ScoutN]

Given that Ive been on both the old rides and the new version/replacements, WDW got the better outcome.

Thanks for the chuckle.

A well-rounded experience that last a pretty balanced amount of time vs a one-pump jump mini coaster. LOL

 

[Thelazer]

Still amazes me, that the Orlando Intentional Airport, has (and HAS HAD) fully automatic trains for years now and Disney can't get this right.

Even more amazing when you think..

Disney has a IN HOUSE dept that wrote the software for test track, which does a TON more stuff than a Monorail would be required to do.. uses more or less the same concepts (location of car on track, speed, seat-belt status, location of other cars on the track, etc) and yet they still cant get this right.

 

[Lensman]

Still amazes me, that the Orlando Intentional Airport, has (and HAS HAD) fully automatic trains for years now and Disney can't get this right.

Even more amazing when you think..

Disney has a IN HOUSE dept that wrote the software for test track, which does a TON more stuff than a Monorail would be required to do.. uses more or less the same concepts (location of car on track, speed, seat-belt status, location of other cars on the track, etc) and yet they still cant get this right.

Brownfield development is often much harder than greenfield.

Also, most people think it's way less fun.

It's definitely way harder to get get funding as well.

Not an excuse, I just want to make sure that people appreciate the difficulty of working within the constraints of an already existing system.

 

[matt9112]

Maybe, but they're building the Skyliner. It's not proof of anything, but it's at least evidence in the direction that they're not afraid to invest in infrastructure.

i agree but the skyliner will have direct ROI
hotel room rates going to be sky high like a 747 not to mention DVC sales. so to me the skyliner is only justified because it will generate revenue.

 

[msg7]

Still amazes me, that the Orlando Intentional Airport, has (and HAS HAD) fully automatic trains for years now and Disney can't get this right.

Even more amazing when you think..

Disney has a IN HOUSE dept that wrote the software for test track, which does a TON more stuff than a Monorail would be required to do.. uses more or less the same concepts (location of car on track, speed, seat-belt status, location of other cars on the track, etc) and yet they still cant get this right.

I wouldn't use the MCO tram as analogy to the monorail. They're 2 different types of systems. (APM shuttle vs. monorail) Think something more along the lines of the Las Vegas monorail. Also, I think the problem is the aging trains more than anything. Vegas' system is running fine and if it weren't for the aging trains, WDW's probably would be too...

 

[draybook]

I just know that his personal Twitter blocked me years ago.

I'm not allowed on Twitter at all. Apparently, they aren't as flexible as Facebook when it comes to posting different views.

 

[Thelazer]

I wouldn't use the MCO tram as analogy to the monorail. They're 2 different types of systems. (APM shuttle vs. monorail) Think something more along the lines of the Las Vegas monorail. Also, I think the problem is the aging trains more than anything. Vegas' system is running fine and if it weren't for the aging trains, WDW's probably would be too...

Eh, I agree on the ageing trains (though MCO's trains aged a bit more gracefully..)
But tech wise, it's still electric motors, rubber tires and a concrete beam-way.

What I'm saying is, this isn't magic rocket tech involved anymore.

 

[lazyboy97o]

Eh, I agree on the ageing trains (though MCO's trains aged a bit more gracefully..)
But tech wise, it's still electric motors, rubber tires and a concrete beam-way.

What I'm saying is, this isn't magic rocket tech involved anymore.

There are no other trains to avoid with the airport trams. They just go back and forth.

Even attractions are not an entirely good comparison. A transit system has to be more flexible. Certain attractions can and do ‘cascade’ into a shut down if there is a delay loading or unloading a train. The monorail needs to be able to handle delays in real time, not shut down and be manually reset.

 

[GCTales]

Question- I am seeing people post on other sites that Disney has made official announcements / releases that confirm that new monorails have been ordered, but no links.

I know about Gurr's statement, but that is not an official announcement. What I have seen from our insiders on here, they believe something is / may be executed with Bombardier, but no firm details.

Everything else appears speculation / guesswork on our part (which has been pretty good- like with the gondola system)

Am I missing something?

 

[Bender123]

Thanks for the chuckle.

A well-rounded experience that last a pretty balanced amount of time vs a one-pump jump mini coaster. LOL

Im an old guy...I know those rides and have ridden them both more times than I can count. They are old, ugly, slow, cramped and boring. Sorry...nostalgia and length cant save that one. The ride was more valuable for the view than for the actual attraction. Thee was something great about seeing a giant crystal blue lagoon with subs going around. I get it. It was neat. It was/is also firmly rooted in the 1950s and it shows.

My daughters (Twin 12s and 15) thought the DL subs were, in order, "lame", "boring" and "that was the dumbest thing Ive ever been on...and Ive seen Stitch".

To each their own, but IMHO and the opinions of my Disney obsessed family, it is/was a ride that is far past its time, except for those with a nostalgia connection.

 

[Figment2005]

Eh, I agree on the ageing trains (though MCO's trains aged a bit more gracefully..)
But tech wise, it's still electric motors, rubber tires and a concrete beam-way.

What I'm saying is, this isn't magic rocket tech involved anymore.

They are far from the same thing. One (MCO) is a single tram that goes back and forth between two stations. No other vehicle occupies the same lane. The other (monorail) is in a constant loop and can share the same beam with up to 5 other vehicles. Apples and oranges my friend.