Rumor from a Monorail worker.

[Buried20KLeague]

Look, if you connect the parks, hotels, retail, nighttime entertainment, etc. with a system that has low operating costs, you are effectively keeping people on the property because taking the monorail (or other mode of fixed route electric transit) costs less time and is more convenient. Leaving the gates and driving to a hotel or going someone to eat or shop in a car or bus would become a secondary option and no longer the preferred option, and would be chosen out of necessity or other reason. Keeping guests on property makes revenue on so many levels. It indirectly creates revenue for the company that it would likely pay for itself in just a few years, but there is no way to actually measure which revenue came from keeping guests from leaving.

Havin full monorail service to all locations would be the ONLY way my family wouldn't rent a car on our Disney trips like we have for literally ever trip we've ever taken to WDW.

 

[cspencer96]

Also, they have Reedy Creek, their own government that could raise a guest tax on hotels, tolls, etc. to pay off a bond sale that could pay for it.

By the way, this is the only case that I am aware of where a private corporation is allowed to own branch of government. This is part of the ideals of fascism. Not saying Disney is fascist, but we should be aware of this fact, and let it slide just this once.

Just to be clear, they don't own the government, per se - they just control it, and maintain control of it at all costs by annexing and de-annexing land from the district. Golden Oak is no longer a part of Reedy Creek, but is still under RC Emergency Services jurisdiction. It's more like a pseudo-government, so I'm not sure any bond sales to pay for infrastructure improvements for a private landowner (which, technically, is all TWDC is to RCID) would be allowed or even a good idea on the part of either side. Disney already gets enough flak for everything they have made the people of Florida pay for (albeit without recognizing that they truly have paid their fair share).

 

[PeterAlt]

Why not just post the full size images with proof of their authenticity?

Because my iPad isn't giving me that option. Just click the picture and you can see the full size

 

[alissafalco]

Because my iPad isn't giving me that option. Just click the picture and you can see the full size

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.

 

[articos]

I changed my avatar picture with proof this isn't true. This is a picture is a plan from the 1990's to extend the monorail to DHS.

The LBV model is circa 1976/77. The picture with the Studios expansion is somewhere 89-93. There's a picture with the full alignment floating around out there somewhere.

 

[WDWFanDave]

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.

We were also there last week, and made our way to WDW by car this year. It was, by far, the best trip we've had in some time because we didn't use the bus system once. On the days that we did some park hopping, I estimate we saved several hours of wait time.

There is little doubt that any future trip we take to WDW where we might opt to fly will include a rental car.

As to the monorail...I have always loved it, from my very first trip in 1979. I'd enjoy seeing it restored to something respectable, perhaps with some simple mildew removal at the beginning of that process (along with many of the rides at WDW). I don't see the huge benefit in expansion, I'd much rather see that money put to better use.

 

[ParentsOf4]

I changed my avatar picture with proof this isn't true. This is a picture is a plan from the 1990's to extend the monorail to DHS.

I believe most realize that WDI comes up with many plans. However, it's the senior executives in Burbank that control the purse strings and they rarely untighten these.

To paraphrase "The Right Stuff", "You boys know what makes these attractions go up? FUNDING makes these attractions go up. No bucks, No Buck Rogers."

 

[monothingie]

Here is a questsion for the knowledgable ones out there: How does Disney handle large capital investment programs and projects? What kind of return on investment does the board of directors require for a large CapX program? Not that this rumor is true (cool if it was), but a $2B investment in transportation over, say, 10 year or 20 years, doesn't seem that large. What was DCA, like $1.5B over the course of 5 years? What return on investment are they seeing from that so far, what is the target %, and over how many years? For that matter, was the original monorail expansion, from the TTC to EPCOT, part of the EPCOT construction budget, or was that a separate CapX project? I know how the aerospace and defense industries do it...is a company like Disney in the entertainment industry the same?

I've always wondered this too. Given the whole RCID thing could they be eligible for federal and state dollars for mass transit projects. Also, would they be able to bond money much like municipalities, counties, and states at extremely low rates and tax free?

 

[Camera1950s]

First of all I would love to see a real expansion of the monorail system. However, transportation is a lot like the IT department of any company. Until the internet became useful IT was always an expense center. It existed because it is needed but at as little cost as possable. Therefore, I believe there will be improvements to the system only because a monorail system is seen as a part of the Disney magic but it will be the least they can get away with. Until there is a way for the system to be a profitable part of the business insted of a cost center it will always be a low budget afair. I do remember when MK first opened and you bought a ticket book the first ticket was for transportation. Perhaps that should be started again some how.

 

[UberMouse]

Did someone say $1,000 in US dollars?

 

[wdwfan4ver]

I have a hard to see a real Monorail expansion at this time. I do think Disney will be forced to do Monorail expansion or get their current monorails replaced sometime within the next 20 years.

Disney's free transportation isn't that great for some things.

Downtown Disney already was mentioned from a bus standpoint, but there is an issue for taking a boat to Downtown Disney also. Boats are great from leaving Downtown Disney to Port Orleans French Quarter, but are they not great from picking people up from the French Quarter dock. What happens is while they drop people off French Quarter before Riverside, Guests waiting at the Riverside dock get pick up before the guests at the french Quarter dock do. That means there is no or little seats for people waiting at the French Quarter dock as a result.

If a person leaves their hotel to a non monorail hotel for a ADR, you have to do to catch multiple buses as one of the example of where Disney's free transportation isn't a great option.

 

[montyz81]

I am amused by this thread! Would rather see big projects that involve new rides and fixing broken ones than an expansion of the monorail... I doesn't really see the point of expanding it when buses are cheaper and much more cost effective. I would only want to see this if and only of the problems that DAK, DHS, and Future World have are addressed. The monorail isn't that big of a deal compared the other things that need work in the world. Minnie, Goofy, Donald, Daisy and Pluto are all in agreement on this...we just had out monthly meeting in Cinderella's Castle (Don't tell anyone but we brought some Butterbeer over from the Three Broomsticks because we needed some good stuff to drink while discussing the parks. Don't worry though. We finished with some Dole Whips)

I guess the question is if the Monorails are still run and owned by a different company with a different budget and timeline (some offshoot of WED)? I am probably really showing my ignorance here. I absolutely love the engineering of the monorails but I must admit, I have not followed up on how they are built/managed and by who. I am thinking that maybe this supposed money is similar to how money gets allocated for resorts/DVC vs rides. Just a question I guess, don't flame me for my ignorance.

 

[flynnibus]

I guess the question is if the Monorails are still run and owned by a different company with a different budget and timeline (some offshoot of WED)? I am probably really showing my ignorance here.

Back in the day.. Walt kept some of the attractions (including the monorail) as owned/operated by his companies, instead of by the actual Disney company. Much like originally WDI was a seperate company, and how Walt actually licensed his name and likeness to the company.. (who says he wasn't a money guy?? ). But that has all long been acquired and merged back under the true parent company.

 

[montyz81]

So every rumor is routed in some level of truth, so the saying goes. I am hoping at the very least we will see some new trains running around in the next few years. Is this a Myth? Is it Plausible? Is it Confirmed?

 

[Master Yoda]

So every rumor is routed in some level of truth, so the saying goes. I am hoping at the very least we will see some new trains running around in the next few years. Is this a Myth? Is it Plausible? Is it Confirmed?

New trains are plausible and somewhat inevitable.

 

[puntagordabob]

Oh.... Oops !

sigh..... was hoping the pic was of pylons..... but yes those are sadly storage trailers

 

[RunnerEd]

We live in south central Alabama and have the luxury of driving to WDW. We normally stay at AKL and, without a doubt drive to every park except MK. We have experimented with having one parent, one kid ride the bus while the others drove (our youngest actually like the bus; she's 5 and will get over it). For the 3 parks that we drive to, about 90% of the time the drivers were waiting inside the entrance to the park for a minimum of 10 minutes and, at one point, up to 35 minutes!

Monrail service throughout the resort or some of the other more futuristic systems would be quite welcome.

 

[wm49rs]

New trains are plausible and somewhat inevitable.

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

If one is going to make repeated claims of having evidence, but not be forthcoming with it and make it difficult to see what is presented, then yes, it is going to raise valid questions and criticisms. It is not disrespectful, as the enthusiasm for the subject is apparently not being well researched and the evidence is not well presented.

Repeated over and over again, to boot.....

 

[puntagordabob]

If one is going to make repeated claims of having evidence, but not be forthcoming with it and make it difficult to see what is presented, then yes, it is going to raise valid questions and criticisms. It is not disrespectful, as the enthusiasm for the subject is apparently not being well researched and the evidence is not well presented.

It isnt the point flynnibus was making about the OP's knowledge of the subject matter that is the issue....its the last part "... but not schooled enough to know how to research his desires."... that was imho a personal attack on the OP's intellect and education......

 

[flynnibus]

It isnt the point flynnibus was making about the OP's knowledge of the subject matter that is the issue...

See wm49ers post... He got it, you didn't. The pattern has been repeated for the last week+