Step up, step down: Monorail and Transports(buses)sheer stupidity??

[flynnibus]

Another 2 cents ,last night (12-16-17)there where approximately 70,000 in MK. At around 11:30 pm the ferries and monorails could not keep up with demand to bring people back to TTC. So bus runs where set up to help ( yes there was a line there as well). But the point being this underscores the usefulness and diversity of the busses to jump in under just about any situation and help. No special loading docks required. "Load & Go" and at times 2 busses loading simultaneously.

That's nice.. but doesn't negate that if a bus load takes 10mins instead of 4... even loading one bus is more effective than two. The penalty the buses (and crowds) take from ECVs at the parks, especially in the evenings is crippling.

And it wouldn't take much to allow loading multiple buses from the same platform if the platform were raised and the same size as the loading areas now. The number of potential loading spots is small... not infinite. A simple gate like the form used on the monorail platforms could be used. Or simply keep the holding pen away from the edge, thus allowing one gate to service any spot along the platform.

 

[flynnibus]

Gates dictate where boarding occurs. You cannot just pull up another vehicle and board.

Just don't put the gate so close to the edge/door.. and your problem is solved.

The vehicle then becomes the barrier itself to falling off the edge in the majority of the area.

 

[flynnibus]

We need to redo all the what? because OsbourneCox doesn't like the method in place?

You are seriously trying to say the bus waits are a non-issue at park close? You're gonna be in the vast minority here... especially when people see bus after bus pre-loaded with ECV groups... and every bus takes forever to cycle due to that.

 

[lazyboy97o]

Just don't put the gate so close to the edge/door.. and your problem is solved.

The vehicle then becomes the barrier itself to falling off the edge in the majority of the area.

That requires more space actually designed for double loading at stops.

 

[flynnibus]

That requires more space actually designed for double loading at stops.

It just reduces the holding pen capacity of the platform... But like most things, you trade things in the design if that is what is more important to you. It doesn't make it not possible, you just trade some queuing capacity to open up what could be significantly more useful.

Besides.. if you dispatch buses faster, you need less queuing

 

[lazyboy97o]

It just reduces the holding pen capacity of the platform... But like most things, you trade things in the design if that is what is more important to you. It doesn't make it not possible, you just trade some queuing capacity to open up what could be significantly more useful.

Besides.. if you dispatch buses faster, you need less queuing

You wouldn’t really be losing queue capacity as the boarding area would have to be enlarged to properly accommodate double boarding. It is currently not a planned activity and tends to involve people walking into the roadway.

I’m still not convinced level Lodi g of the buses is going to significantly improve load times. The kneeling is a fairly short process. The delay is everything between with actually loading and securing the wheelchair or ECV.

 

[DisneyJoe]

I find there is much delay when people won't move as far back on the bus as they should, they walk on and stand there leaving huge gaps when they should be pushing back.

 

[MisterPenguin]

Is this really a huge problem?

Wow, after a bunch of posts someone finally said it.
I have been waiting for this.


This was the underlying point of my rhetorically laced question: TIME

It is not much fun waiting for loading and/or unloading of chairs come 12:30 nighttime after a long day in the parks
Or trying to make that FP time window, meet your party or be on time for a dinner reservation.

The ECVs are slowing things down... mostly because the number of them keep increasing. Going back years, there would occasionally be an EVC needing special attention to board a bus. Then it became common. Then occasionally there'd be 2 EVCs waiting for a bus. Then that became common.

Buses are now fitted to handle 2 EVCs. And loading 2 EVCs can be quite long. And if just about every bus is experiencing it... it's slowing everything thing down. (Of course, I'm referring to the times when you start to get full buses.)

There really needs to be something to speed up the process... because... it's only going to get worse. The number of EVCs is only going to grow.

Imagine if you're the fifth EVC to pull up to a bus at night leaving the park. You have to wait for the third bus to come to get on, even if the bus doesn't fill up because the bus can only handle two EVCs at once. In my mind, I call that the busageddon. Disney's going to hear from EVC users who have to wait an hour to get on a bus. And from guests if every single bus all the time without hardly any exception has to load 2 EVCs.

The gondolas won't have that problem. And whatever future transport @marni1971 keeps hinting about also better not have that problem.

 

[Randyland]

The original Monorails were indeed the same level as the platform, or maybe 1 inch higher....

When the "new Delta Monorails" were made to replace the original Monorails, it was a fast decision based upon the Monorail fire which burned car # 6 of Monorail Silver, down the the frame right on the Epcot rail.

The construction of the new Monorails was contracted out for as quick a replacement as possible for the old Monorail system.

In effort to increase Monorail capacity, Disney considered having the new Monorails made with limited seating, and added standing room.

Disney surveyed guests waiting in line for the Monorail, asking them if they would rather wait for the Monorail and have a seat, or if they would rather wait half of the time, and stand on the Monorail...

Commonsense dictates that if you are going to stand in line anyway, then you might as well stand in line less time, and stand on the Monorail... you are standing anyway!

So the new Monorails were designed with 1/2 the amount of seats,and room for standing guest which would almost double the Monorail Guest capacity.

To create standing room on the Monorail, the Monorail had to be larger in height, and the doors would automatically open and close using a similar system as those doors on the Buses.

The door system requires a glide hinge on both the top and bottom of the door of the Monorail, and this makes it impossible for the platform to be at the same height as that of the Monorail guest rider's floor unless there would be a large gap between the Monorail and the platform, creating an unsafe area for a foot to fail between the Monorail and the platform.

In addition, the Monorails now being larger and taller, had to run on a track designed for the old Monorails; Stations and access to the stations were all designed for a certain size Monorail, and when the new Monorails started service, they did not fit the access openings requiring the continued use of the old Monorails until the roofs were raised and the access openings were widened.

Disney had to close 1 Monorail track at a time for months as these alterations were made, to allow for the use of the new Monorails

The twist to this story is that the new Monorails do not really carry more guests then the Original Monorails did, because people simply do not pile in to the standing area as Disney thought that they would.

A very tiny amount of time was saved with loading and unloading, and all the efforts resulted in the same wait times... only now, 1/2 of the guests had to stand.

Now, with the Automatic Pilot driver-less system upgrade to the Delta Monorails, wait times are even longer, because the Auto Pilot drives the Monorails slower, and with jerky responses.

Wait times are largely based upon how many monorails are on the rail at the time.

 

[Walt d]

Is there a legitimate reason as to why the Monorail loading and unloading platforms are lower than the train which creates a step?

And similarly why do the Transports have built in stairs which cause monster delays with chair loading. These buses should have never been built with steps.

Both train and bus should have an exact same height loading dock or platform so stroller, chair riders can move aboard and disembark without any inconvenience nor delay.

Millions of guests use these two so why are they not built properly for streamlining and greater efficiency??

Your question oabourne im sorry that your having a problem at the parks.that some one is physically challeged, at the monorail the loaders, and unloader cast members are happy to help you, just ask them. When you go into the magic kingdom on the left side, stop into city hall.and tell the cast member the problem that you are having. Then maybe the minnie van would work out better for you.in getting around the park, i under stand that there is a cost. In its use. Im just a disney fan trying to help out. Have a good xmas.osbourne..

 

[DisneyJoe]

I mentioned this in the other thread but there needs to be separate buses/shuttles just to pick up EVC people. These buses would go to the same bus stops as the regular bus but just pick up EVCs. It would be alot more efficient and wouldn't cost them that much more.

You'd need to provide the same "every 20 minute service" and that couldn't be done without large labor and equipment costs, logistics with bus stops too.

 

[Goofyernmost]

No. Mears buses have more steps than Disney's. Not fun after you've run 13.1 miles....

Seriously, you can run 13.1 miles but a couple of extra steps up on a bus is a chore for you? You need to find some other excuse if you want to get actual sympathy. Maybe something like..., during my 13.1 mile run my left leg was bitten off by a rogue Alligator and getting up those extra steps is a real hassle.

Spoiler

They have more steps because the baggage compartments under the floor require more height then the standard "city" buses do.

 

[LAKid53]

Seriously, you can run 13.1 miles but a couple of extra steps up on a bus is a chore for you? You need to find some other excuse if you want to get actual sympathy. Maybe something like..., during my 13.1 mile run my left leg was bitten off by a rogue Alligator and getting up those extra steps is a real hassle.

Spoiler

They have more steps because the baggage compartments under the floor require more height then the standard "city" buses do.

It's the steps down that are the problem....

 

[NelleBelle]

That's ok @LAKid53, as a fellow runner who's done the 1/2, full, and goofy marathons at WDW, I totally understand about the stairs! I can easily sympathize with you!!