Personal Pod Transport Arriving Soon?

[disnyfan89]

I think that this system could be a success fairly easily. I think a good way to start off would be to build a pod station at the TTC. From there the pods could travel to AK and DHS plus a loop that connects the water parks and DTD. Don't bother connecting any of the resorts. Then all the resort busses would travel to the TTC only. Once at the TTC you can pick your destination. If you're going to a theme park you hop in a pod or on the Monorail. If you are traveling to a Resort you just hop on the resort bus. Over time the larger resorts could be added to the line or you could connect all the deluxe resorts as an added perk for staying at one.

If this is done I think it could be highly effective and would cut down on the cost of fuel and busses greatly. Instead of having hundreds of busses traveling to several different locations from one location they all just have one route. Also, the TTC can be then used to its fullest as (*gasp*) a transportation center.

As for a panic scenario it would never happen. Just like any transportation system is monitored so would the pod system. If a break down was to happen an individual monitoring the system could then connect via a radio signal to the pod alerting the individuals inside the situation.

 

[Missing20K]

Just print "DON'T PANIC" in very large, very friendly typeface on the windows.

 

[bugsbunny]

The infrastructure required to build that kind of elevated contraption is right up there on a scale of what it would cost to build monorail infrastructure. You still end up needing to build something high enough to allow for traffic underneath, so that means the higher it goes, the beefier it needs to be to be able to withstand 120mph hurricanes. And that means mega bucks to make it higher and stronger, not to mention how hard it is to find solid bedrock to set the foundations on when the entire state of Florida is basically floating.

Plus, moving things by electric motors requires DC power, which is SUPER inefficient for long distances. The monorail has transformers all over the place to allow for the incoming AC power to be converted to DC to drive the motors. So if you start building these pod tracks all over the place, you nee a lot of power stations and transformers all over the place. One goes down, that section of track becomes unusable. That doesn't stop one pod, it would stop all of them in that section.

Which brings us to the next problem, which is currently a night mare for the existing monorail. The power goes down, now what? Wait for the FD to get there so all these fat over priviliged Americans can climb down? I'd pay to see that!

In the end, I doubt you will EVER see more monorail extentions or a pod system. The infrastructure is uber expensive as well as the maintenance and power requirements for it.

Disney can't even do something as simple as a dining plan becuase it costs too much money for them, so I doubt they would sink a 1/4 billion dollars into a train just to move people around. Not to mention that the Teamsters or whatever union the bus drivers have will go nuts over a plan like that!

 

[dandaman]

I'm sure there would be a "calming voice"(female) to tell you "not to panic" and whatever system "is in place to move you towords your destination". :lol:

"Hello. I'm Mary. I am programmed to talk to you in a calm non-threatening DESTROY! DESTROY! *BOOM*"


:lookaroun

 

[DisneyMusician2]

I think that if the resort continues to expand, the current transportation model will simply not work.

This sounds interesting and innovative as a SUPPLEMENT to the bus system. Don't build them going everywhere, integrate them with bus systems, especially after a fireworks show. Let them only go to certain locations after a major event, perhaps places Monorails and Boats don't go, and split the locations with the bus services.

Seems like the logical solution to me.

 

[wayneway]

Disney Legend Bob Gurr has been involved in a concept like this for a while, more info at the link below::wave:

http://www.smartskyways.com

 

[pilka214]

i don't know if this makes as much sense to some people as it does to me, but at the rates that the buses runs from resort to park, maybe some pod-trams??..... i mean if set up correctly maybe only from one point to another and on ground level. i couldn't see if it could be any slower than buses, plus less liability and no gas.

 

[RAXIP]

Plus, moving things by electric motors requires DC power, which is SUPER inefficient for long distances. The monorail has transformers all over the place to allow for the incoming AC power to be converted to DC to drive the motors. So if you start building these pod tracks all over the place, you nee a lot of power stations and transformers all over the place. One goes down, that section of track becomes unusable. That doesn't stop one pod, it would stop all of them in that section.

The ULTra PRT cars are actually battery powered, so the electricity does not need to be sent over long distances and each car is individually powered.

I found this great video on YouTube that explains the ULTra PRT system

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7hgipbHBK8

 

[ChrisFL]

As I've posted in previous threads here, one of the interesting sites about this:

http://www.taxi2000.com. There are a lot of benefits to this type of system and I think it could do a lot for WDW.

Specifically, Runs between DTD and Epcot and Epcot to DHS would be bery good.

Also, this would help to renew people's sense of awe like the Monorail and peoplemover did so many years ago.

Buses...there's nothing magical about them.

 

[ewensell3]

Plus, moving things by electric motors requires DC power, which is SUPER inefficient for long distances. The monorail has transformers all over the place to allow for the incoming AC power to be converted to DC to drive the motors. So if you start building these pod tracks all over the place, you nee a lot of power stations and transformers all over the place. One goes down, that section of track becomes unusable. That doesn't stop one pod, it would stop all of them in that section.

The Morgantown PRT @ West Virginia system uses AC on the rails which is converted to DC in the cars. And there are systems which are completely AC, including the motors.

It wouldn't take much to implement a backup battery with just enough power to get to the next station during a power outage. Or make the onboard battery (or supercapacitors) the primary power source, charged via induction whenever the car is stopped at a station. That way you do not have a "third rail" anywhere in the system to deal with.

Unfortunately I agree with the general concensus. As much as I'd love to see an advanced transportation system covering the entire "World", busses are cheap and easy to implement. As "unmagical" as they seem at times, it the best they can do for the time being. In my opinion, we're more likely to hear about the busses being converted to alternative energy sources than see the installation of a whole new transportation system.

 

[unkadug]

The infrastructure required to build that kind of elevated contraption is right up there on a scale of what it would cost to build monorail infrastructure. You still end up needing to build something high enough to allow for traffic underneath, so that means the higher it goes, the beefier it needs to be to be able to withstand 120mph hurricanes. And that means mega bucks to make it higher and stronger, not to mention how hard it is to find solid bedrock to set the foundations on when the entire state of Florida is basically floating.

Plus, moving things by electric motors requires DC power, which is SUPER inefficient for long distances. The monorail has transformers all over the place to allow for the incoming AC power to be converted to DC to drive the motors. So if you start building these pod tracks all over the place, you nee a lot of power stations and transformers all over the place. One goes down, that section of track becomes unusable. That doesn't stop one pod, it would stop all of them in that section.

Which brings us to the next problem, which is currently a night mare for the existing monorail. The power goes down, now what? Wait for the FD to get there so all these fat over priviliged Americans can climb down? I'd pay to see that!

In the end, I doubt you will EVER see more monorail extentions or a pod system. The infrastructure is uber expensive as well as the maintenance and power requirements for it.

Disney can't even do something as simple as a dining plan becuase it costs too much money for them, so I doubt they would sink a 1/4 billion dollars into a train just to move people around. Not to mention that the Teamsters or whatever union the bus drivers have will go nuts over a plan like that!

Transformers are for raising or lowering the voltage. It has nothing to do with converting AC to DC. That is accomplished via a rectifier circuit which could easily be incorporated into each vehicle. Almost every piece of electronic equipment in your house has a built in rectifier circuit. :wave:

 

[Rosso11]

Unfortunately I agree with the general concensus. As much as I'd love to see an advanced transportation system covering the entire "World", busses are cheap and easy to implement.

They are definitly easy to implement but I wouldn't say they are cheap. I did a quick google search on the average cost of a bus and they range from $250,000-$500,000 a piece. With the giant fleet Disney now has to maintain and fuel maybe they are finally getting serious about a new form of transportation.

 

[imamouse]

These pods remind me of the transportation on Nomanisan in The Incredibles. :lol:

I'd love to see something like this at WDW. I think another good use would be large university campuses and major airports (like the system being installed at Heathrow - according to the video).

 

[lwalker8]

I can see a transportation system like this one becoming a reality at Disney and at many airports provided they can regain the high profits they enjoyed during the 90's and a few years ago over a number of years consistently without a big economic hit. It would be an expensive undertaking that would require huge confidence in the economy and the future of the parks. It would certainly be the first time since EPCOT opened that Disney took seriously their pledge to spur development of technologies.

 

[jt04]

The infrastructure required to build that kind of elevated contraption is right up there on a scale of what it would cost to build monorail infrastructure. You still end up needing to build something high enough to allow for traffic underneath, so that means the higher it goes, the beefier it needs to be to be able to withstand 120mph hurricanes. And that means mega bucks to make it higher and stronger, not to mention how hard it is to find solid bedrock to set the foundations on when the entire state of Florida is basically floating.

Plus, moving things by electric motors requires DC power, which is SUPER inefficient for long distances. The monorail has transformers all over the place to allow for the incoming AC power to be converted to DC to drive the motors. So if you start building these pod tracks all over the place, you nee a lot of power stations and transformers all over the place. One goes down, that section of track becomes unusable. That doesn't stop one pod, it would stop all of them in that section.

Which brings us to the next problem, which is currently a night mare for the existing monorail. The power goes down, now what? Wait for the FD to get there so all these fat over priviliged Americans can climb down? I'd pay to see that!

In the end, I doubt you will EVER see more monorail extentions or a pod system. The infrastructure is uber expensive as well as the maintenance and power requirements for it.

Disney can't even do something as simple as a dining plan becuase it costs too much money for them, so I doubt they would sink a 1/4 billion dollars into a train just to move people around. Not to mention that the Teamsters or whatever union the bus drivers have will go nuts over a plan like that!

"over priviliged Americans"?

I take it you are excempting yourself from that category.

 

[luckyeye13]

That style people mover would be perfect for a loop between the Epcot WS gate past the resorts and to DHS and back.

I may be biased, but I think the Friendship Boats do a mighty fine job of transporting Guests between Epcot, the Epcot Resorts, and the Studios. :sohappy:

 

[jt04]

I may be biased, but I think the Friendship Boats do a mighty fine job of transporting Guests between Epcot, the Epcot Resorts, and the Studios. :sohappy:

I don't disagree. And I would hate to see them leave. Rather it would be nice if they converted them to private party boats with all the amenities. The problem they have as transport vehicles is that they are not continuous load as a Wedway-esque people mover system would be.

How cool would it be to be able to walk out the front gate of DHS hop on a people mover and be at your hotel or Epcot within 10 minutes or so?

 

[luckyeye13]

I think that this system could be a success fairly easily. I think a good way to start off would be to build a pod station at the TTC. From there the pods could travel to AK and DHS plus a loop that connects the water parks and DTD. Don't bother connecting any of the resorts. Then all the resort busses would travel to the TTC only. Once at the TTC you can pick your destination. If you're going to a theme park you hop in a pod or on the Monorail. If you are traveling to a Resort you just hop on the resort bus. Over time the larger resorts could be added to the line or you could connect all the deluxe resorts as an added perk for staying at one.

If this is done I think it could be highly effective and would cut down on the cost of fuel and busses greatly. Instead of having hundreds of busses traveling to several different locations from one location they all just have one route. Also, the TTC can be then used to its fullest as (*gasp*) a transportation center.

As for a panic scenario it would never happen. Just like any transportation system is monitored so would the pod system. If a break down was to happen an individual monitoring the system could then connect via a radio signal to the pod alerting the individuals inside the situation.

Today, if I want to go to Animal Kingdom from the All-Star Resorts or Animal Kingdom Lodge, I hop on a bus. You are telling me that it would be more efficient to, instead, ride a bus from the All-Stars or DAK Lodge to the TTC and then hop on a pod to DAK. I fail to see how going away from my final destination and then back towards it is more efficient that today's setup.

Even when trying to get from one resort to another or from a park to Downtown Disney, most people will choose a transfer point that is close either to their origin or their destination. For example, it is unlikely that someone going from DAK to DTD will go all the way to the Contemporary or Wilderness Lodge to change buses. Instead, if they chose a resort close to DAK, they would change at DAK Lodge, one of the All-Stars, Pop Century, or, possibly, Coronado Springs. On the DTD side, Saratoga Springs comes to mind as the most likely transfer point.

 

[MGMBoy]

That would be the most feasible thing to do. Those things require tracks and since they only hold a few people there would have to be a lot of them.

What about replacing the internal bus system at Fort Wilderness?

 

[disnyfan89]

Today, if I want to go to Animal Kingdom from the All-Star Resorts or Animal Kingdom Lodge, I hop on a bus. You are telling me that it would be more efficient to, instead, ride a bus from the All-Stars or DAK Lodge to the TTC and then hop on a pod to DAK. I fail to see how going away from my final destination and then back towards it is more efficient that today's setup.

Even when trying to get from one resort to another or from a park to Downtown Disney, most people will choose a transfer point that is close either to their origin or their destination. For example, it is unlikely that someone going from DAK to DTD will go all the way to the Contemporary or Wilderness Lodge to change buses. Instead, if they chose a resort close to DAK, they would change at DAK Lodge, one of the All-Stars, Pop Century, or, possibly, Coronado Springs. On the DTD side, Saratoga Springs comes to mind as the most likely transfer point.

It was just an example of what could be done.