NoChesterHester
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Rumor- WDW to get new monorail trains in near future
- Thread starter baylaketower
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Welcome to the forums. Prepare for battle.
articos
Well-Known Member
Love.
openendedsky
Well-Known Member
I've read a lot in here but just joined, so I'm hoping I can actually contribute to the forums. Thanks.
hiptwinmama
Well-Known Member
I have no idea what to think of this, except maybe the will and maybe they won't.
However, I really hope they keep with the classic WDW monorail design, with maybe just a few subtle changes.
However, I really hope they keep with the classic WDW monorail design, with maybe just a few subtle changes.
openendedsky
Well-Known Member
I know how to use the search function, thanks.
menamechris
Well-Known Member
Looking forward to hearing your contributions and having tons of great discussions in the future. On that note - yes, monorail expansion to all 4 theme parks would be amazing. Will it ever happen? Not a chance. But yes, I think most everyone agrees it would be amazing if they did. Now that we have that out of the way - WELCOME!
Oh, and yes, a 5th gate would be amazing. No, that's not happening either. Whew! Glad we got that out of the way.
openendedsky
Well-Known Member
Hah, yeah, I figured as much. I hope to stick around for a while on here, thanks! And honestly, I'm perfectly content with four parks for the time being. It's been so long that I feel like I'm almost going to the parks for the first time-again.Looking forward to hearing your contributions and having tons of great discussions in the future. On that note - yes, monorail expansion to all 4 theme parks would be amazing. Will it ever happen? Not a chance. But yes, I think most everyone agrees it would be amazing if they did. Now that we have that out of the way - WELCOME!
Oh, and yes, a 5th gate would be amazing. No, that's not happening either. Whew! Glad we got that out of the way.
PirateFrank
Well-Known Member
saxamoophone
Active Member
That's a good point. They pretty much built half of a new monorail from scratch ( not sure the % of zombie-rail in it) after the crash.
It'll be interesting to see what happens. Do they expand the monorail system (rumors have been around for years of course)? If they do, do they make it compatable with the existing system? Big question would be do they want to make another service area for the trains, or keep the area behind the MK.
I'd also keep an eye on the Maglift Monorail that a company is trying to install between OIA, The convention center, and Disney. They claim they can get costs down to $20 million a mile. Right now, modern monorails cost up to $100 million a mile. I believe a lot of the cost savings come from the fact the beams don't need to be powered, and don't *have* to be elevated. At $20 million a mile (dual tracked) you could build out the Disney system for under $200 million. Not sure if that's low enough for Disney to seriously consider going forward, but I'm sure they will be watching this Orlando project!
disneyflush
Well-Known Member
It would be rad if the monorail were extended. It would cost a lot though, just say $2 billion. Disney wouldn't just throw $2 billion dollars away though. That would be silly.
saxamoophone
Active Member
Exactly. Any monorail upgrades need to make sense $$$$ over bus transportation. But if you could automate the system..hmmmm...gets more and more tempting
Macca250
Well-Known Member
Hey, first time contributor here! If the monorails ever were extended to all four parks, do you not think it could mess up the scenery of the resort? I'm not really a fan of the concrete beams as it is; some areas of the track seriously need cleaning! I'm not sure putting layers of concrete beams all over WDW is the way to go, especially considering HS and AK don't really fit the theme of futuristic transportation like the SSL and EPCOT do. Then again I'm up for any way to make getting around easier so I'm not sure...
Buried20KLeague
Well-Known Member
Bulldog1653
Active Member
Hello all,
It's been a long time since I've posted here. Those of you who might remember me know that I am a HUGE advocate of monorail expansion and am in favor of phasing out or drastically reducing the bus services.
The cost is the first major drawback for the monorail system. In 1971, when WDW opened, the cost was roughly $1 Million per mile. The second major drawback is some environmental concerns. There are protected wetlands in the area and getting approval to do ANY kind of expansion work would take years to be approved (especially with the incompetent politicians and crybabies) if ever.
What are the upsides? Well, for starters, monorails have a large passenger capacity (360 people total) as opposed to the Disney Bus system (average bus handles anywhere from 70-80 people). If the monorail system was to be expanded, they would easily reduce the environmental impact because they operate on electricity. The buses all operate on diesel fuel and that in and of itself is a huge cost and environmental impact. Here's something to consider as well: The bus stations in use at places like Downtown Disney and Animal Kingdom could easily be modified to handle monorail trains. There could be a large elevated platform added to handle trains going 2 different directions.
Years ago, I was talking with a Disney Monorail Pilot and he was telling me that there had been some discussion about adding a monorail line to Orlando International Airport to the Disney properties. The problem they ran into was Sea World and Universal Studios wanting to add spurs to their resorts. Disney said "no problem, just pay for your end of it and you supply your own monorail trains." Needless to say, they backed out and fought it to the point where Disney all but gave up.
The biggest thing that bothers me is that Disney is very serious about being environmentally friendly and yet they keep using buses that are a joke at best. Their drivers work on their own timetable and seem to show up when they feel like it instead of keeping on a set schedule like they're supposed to.
It's been a long time since I've posted here. Those of you who might remember me know that I am a HUGE advocate of monorail expansion and am in favor of phasing out or drastically reducing the bus services.
The cost is the first major drawback for the monorail system. In 1971, when WDW opened, the cost was roughly $1 Million per mile. The second major drawback is some environmental concerns. There are protected wetlands in the area and getting approval to do ANY kind of expansion work would take years to be approved (especially with the incompetent politicians and crybabies) if ever.
What are the upsides? Well, for starters, monorails have a large passenger capacity (360 people total) as opposed to the Disney Bus system (average bus handles anywhere from 70-80 people). If the monorail system was to be expanded, they would easily reduce the environmental impact because they operate on electricity. The buses all operate on diesel fuel and that in and of itself is a huge cost and environmental impact. Here's something to consider as well: The bus stations in use at places like Downtown Disney and Animal Kingdom could easily be modified to handle monorail trains. There could be a large elevated platform added to handle trains going 2 different directions.
Years ago, I was talking with a Disney Monorail Pilot and he was telling me that there had been some discussion about adding a monorail line to Orlando International Airport to the Disney properties. The problem they ran into was Sea World and Universal Studios wanting to add spurs to their resorts. Disney said "no problem, just pay for your end of it and you supply your own monorail trains." Needless to say, they backed out and fought it to the point where Disney all but gave up.
The biggest thing that bothers me is that Disney is very serious about being environmentally friendly and yet they keep using buses that are a joke at best. Their drivers work on their own timetable and seem to show up when they feel like it instead of keeping on a set schedule like they're supposed to.
Eeyore13
Member
Another problem I always think of, is the fact that during the day busses rarely, if ever, fill up. So either guests will have to wait significantly longer if disney really cares about the capacity of the monorails, or they will run just about as often as the busses run.
Wait! Those things that ride along the one beam or "rail" at Disney are monorails? >>Mind Blown<<
nace888
Well-Known Member
Alright guys, after looking, the Innovia 200 will not work, even if there was another nose style put on, and I'll show you why. I dug up some research (basic searches) and got these measurements, which I'm sure will prove to be difficult in many places.
------------------------------Mark VI Monorail--------------------Innovia 200 Monorail
End Cars (with Cabs)-----40 Feet 5 Inches--------------------38.05 Feet
Regular Inner Cars--------28 Feet 2 Inches--------------------28.16 Feet
Train Width----------------8 Feet 4.5 Inches-------------------8 Feet 8 Inches
Skirt to Roof Height------10 Feet 5.5 Inches------------------11 Feet 2.5 Inches
Floor to Roof Height------5 Feet 10.75 Inches----------------7 Feet 1 Inch
Top Beam to Roof---------7 Feet 5 Inches---------------------7 Feet 10 Inches
These are just a few random measurements, that seem to be the most noticable... The Innovia 200s are a bit bigger... They may not be MUCH bigger, but they're larger, and I think that would prove to be problematic in areas.
If they were to get new trains, they'd have to be custom and fit the size they have now... I think in stations and the Contemporary the Innovias would NOT fit at all. The Mark VIs have like 4-6 inches under the floor platform above... Width I think serves a problem too at the Contemporary...
Long Story Short, GET TO DESIGNING DISNEY!! YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO USE INNOVIA 200s!!!
------------------------------Mark VI Monorail--------------------Innovia 200 Monorail
End Cars (with Cabs)-----40 Feet 5 Inches--------------------38.05 Feet
Regular Inner Cars--------28 Feet 2 Inches--------------------28.16 Feet
Train Width----------------8 Feet 4.5 Inches-------------------8 Feet 8 Inches
Skirt to Roof Height------10 Feet 5.5 Inches------------------11 Feet 2.5 Inches
Floor to Roof Height------5 Feet 10.75 Inches----------------7 Feet 1 Inch
Top Beam to Roof---------7 Feet 5 Inches---------------------7 Feet 10 Inches
These are just a few random measurements, that seem to be the most noticable... The Innovia 200s are a bit bigger... They may not be MUCH bigger, but they're larger, and I think that would prove to be problematic in areas.
If they were to get new trains, they'd have to be custom and fit the size they have now... I think in stations and the Contemporary the Innovias would NOT fit at all. The Mark VIs have like 4-6 inches under the floor platform above... Width I think serves a problem too at the Contemporary...
Long Story Short, GET TO DESIGNING DISNEY!! YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO USE INNOVIA 200s!!!
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