Rumor from a Monorail worker.

[PeterAlt]

A quick point - Even though Walt's original idea for EPCOT was never realized, his vision for WDW was designed around a monorail and people mover system. We could realize that part of his dream at least!

 

[wm49rs]

A quick point - Even though Walt's original idea for EPCOT was never realized, his vision for WDW was designed around a monorail and people mover system. We could realize that part of his dream at least!

Delete everything after "realized" and you'll be on the mark....

 

[bubbles1812]

A quick point - Even though Walt's original idea for EPCOT was never realized, his vision for WDW was designed around a monorail and people mover system. We could realize that part of his dream at least!

Who is this "we" you speak of? Fans? We can't do much... Also, I don't think the company cares all that much about "Walt's vision" anymore. I think that ended for the most part when Roy Disney left. Plus, I don't think Walt ever envisioned the additions of DHS or DAK so it's kind of a moot point to talk about them in terms of what Walt had in mind for WDW.

 

[mickey2008.1]

Pipe dreams. Monorail trains replacement is inevitable, just a matter of how long, could be 2 years, could be 10 years, but will happen. track expansion very unlikely. Bashing the current system, well hey, it's free! Or so to speak, deluxe resorts pay for it, but they also get boats, views, and a whole lot more. So it's not just the monorail that deluxe resorts get. We never have a car, because we know how to use the current system to our benefit, and if it does not, get a taxi. Appreciate what we currently have, otherwise it will be a land of parking lots and garages.

 

[Clever Name]

This talk of expanding the monorail has no basis in reality. The monorail is a gimmick. It's an attraction. People like it because it's unusual and because it gives the appearance of being efficient and modern. In reality it's very old technology and it costs a small fortune to run the trains. Obviously, WDW needs to modernize the system just to save some money in it's operation. That's why they need to junk the electric motors and replace the the trains with modern diesel engines. They'll run better, cheaper and cleaner for the environment in every aspect and WDW will become "Greener" in the process.

 

[Computer Magic]

I am consistently amazed at what the avaerage guest will put up with from WDW's ridiculous transport system.

Last week, it took me 50 minutes to get from the DD Marketplace to the WDW Swan (my goal was the YC, but I realized I could do better on foot than waiting for the bus to finish at the Swan and then drive to the Dolphin and then go to the YC). Someone staying at the BW would have been looking at a 70-80 minute trip from the Martketplace to their hotel. And this is convenient? This is why people shout about not renting a car? People paying some of the most inflated hotel rates in the country?!?!?

Lines have always been WDW guests biggest 'complaint' ... Disney sure has fixed that with FP and soon FP+.

I'd hate to see their transportation solution.

I agree, you hear all this talk about Disney wantng people spending money and not waiting around. How much potential spending is being wasted by waiting in the bus line or sitting on the bus. I noticed Disney has changed their amount of time to get from one place to the other. It use to be an hour and not it states 1.5 hours.

I remember a time you wouldn't wait 15 min for a bus.

Maybe their new system will allow our smartphone to follow the bus route and know when the bus is close....lol :lookaroun

 

[c-one]

 

[Tim Lohr]

Back in the mid '80's there was talk of putting in some kind of monorail from WDW to the Orlando Int'l Airport... instead they came up with the Magical Express Bus System. Every time I hear rumors of "expanding the monorail" this is the first thing I think of.

Sure it'd be great, in theory, to have monorails everywhere, but it's a lot easier to add, remove, and reroute buses and boats as needed. Not only is it real expensive to build/maintain monorails, they're also stuck following the track, and lately they've been expanding the road and bus routes ...so sorry to be a partypooper, but I really don't see this happening

 

[ChrisFL]

Back in the mid '80's there was talk of putting in some kind of monorail from WDW to the Orlando Int'l Airport... instead they came up with the Magical Express Bus System. Every time I hear rumors of "expanding the monorail" this is the first thing I think of.

Well there's the maglev train or some kind of fast train idea...which has been talked about in the 80's, 90's, 00's, 10's...probably 20's, 30's, 40's....

 

[Tim Lohr]

Well there's the maglev train or some kind of fast train idea...which has been talked about in the 80's, 90's, 00's, 10's...probably 20's, 30's, 40's....

I think the main problem is that when you've got 20 some resorts, a bus is a much more direct route from "point A to point B", then laying any kind of train track and interchange stations to connect everything

Like say hypothetically, if you're at the Beach Club and want to go the MK using nothing but monorails, you've got to walk in the back gate of Epcot, out the front gate, wait for the monorail to the Ticket Center, then change over to the MK monorail.

To me, when they added a bus stop out front of the MK, it was basically like admitting that "this monorail thing really isn't a great way to move people around" and now they're expanding the MK bus stop

 

[s8film40]

I agree; new trains are more the likelihood than new lines to run them on.

From the friends I have in the know Disney can't get one without the other. Apparently they have looked into new trains, however the WDW order of only 12 trains is to small to make it worth it for Bombardier. Either a larger order or an order of the newer updated trains is necessary to make it practical.

 

[menamechris]

Wow - this thread is still going?

 

[miles1]

Just speculating, but possibly with gas/diesel hitting $6.00 a gallon this week in California it has the Anaheim folks starting to think about alternatives to the buses?

 

[janoimagine]

Wow - this thread is still going?

And going ... and going ...

 

[GeneralKnowledge]

An expansion will never happen. Quote me on it. If it does, everyone on this thread gets $1,000, guaranteed.

I'm posting in this thread just to call dibs on my $1,000 on the off chance this ever happens. You've gotta play to win!

Edit: I just realized this statement is the only reason this thread is almost 10 pages. I don't feel nearly as clever any more.

 

[JWG]

From the friends I have in the know Disney can't get one without the other. Apparently they have looked into new trains, however the WDW order of only 12 trains is to small to make it worth it for Bombardier. Either a larger order or an order of the newer updated trains is necessary to make it practical.

I don't know - Anaheim added 3 new trains a few years back. I'm sure there are options that include new trains without expanding the system.
Maybe not Bombardier, but options.

 

[menamechris]

I am perplexed. Part of me feels like today's TDO is so business-trained that they have been socking away money for years for the eventual replacement of the trains. The other part of me thinks they are the spiritual type that just pray the currents trains last long enough that they won't have to deal with it...

 

[lazyboy97o]

Just speculating, but possibly with gas/diesel hitting $6.00 a gallon this week in California it has the Anaheim folks starting to think about alternatives to the buses?

Why would the Disney people in Anaheim care? Disney doesn't run much of a bus fleet at the Disneyland Resort.

I don't know - Anaheim added 3 new trains a few years back. I'm sure there are options that include new trains without expanding the system.
Maybe not Bombardier, but options.

The Mark VIIs reused the Mark III chassis, the Mark V bodies and had some rather extensive issues when first delivered. Not exactly a model to follow.

 

[Magikal]

Really big slingshot at each resort

LOL! With a human cannon option if the line is too long!
And I'm in for a cool G!

 

[Magikal]

That doesnt work. Everyones Avatar comes up far away and blurry. Thats why everyone is complaining for you to just post the pics. Try to do it from a regular computer not the ipad.

Maybe it's a platform issue cuz I was able to click (tap) & then pinch/zoom just fine on my GSIII.
Just a thought.