On another thread here, I was talking about Disney Springs and DTD, mentioning this thread because of what was discussed about DTD, parking garages, and why or how it could be tied into a future monorail expansion project. I was asked to bump this thread so that the topic could be discussed instead of discussing it there, which would be very much off topic. Now, back to getting those images posted... (sigh)
A nuclear power plant, a working city and an international airport were also in the plans at one point as well. Just saying.....
That one's easy to handle, charge for parking.My question would be...why would they expand DTD, build parking structures to accommodate additional need due to the expansion, and then build a monorail to a park? They have been fighting the free parking problem with direct transportation to a park for years, why would they all of a sudden decide that this would be OK to do? They don't want people using DTD as a jump off point, taking up parking spaces that might be used by shoppers? Makes no sense to me at all. Maybe to the resorts but that would be hugely expensive. I don't think it could ever come to be.
On the surface yes, but when you ask people to pay to park in a place that only offers retail (basically) establishments you encounter a whole lot of people that will not go there. The retailers would not pay the kind of rent that I'm sure they pay, when the number of shoppers go to the free mall down the road. It is acceptable to charge for parking for an entertainment venue, but not for a retail venue. If charging for parking were doable, they would have done it years ago, even without the parking structure.
When was the last time you parked in a structure for free? There are different expectations for surface parking and structure parking. There are also other lifestyle centers, including Downtown Disney Anaheim, which charge for parking. Add in the option of utilizing any of various tiered or validation schemes and it could easily be done. It would also mean that direct transportation to the parks could be reinstated. Especially when the parks close earlier, buses going straight to Disney Springs would help divert more on-site guests.
That's an unfair comparison. We all know that those plans died Walt Disney died.
So did the expanded monorail. Reality is sometimes a cruel thing and alters plans of the mighty. That concept has been off the boards for a couple of decades, it is not going to be resurrected. Sorry, but if I'm wrong I will happily apologize to all.
We know about only the footers within the Epcot Center construction zone. I suspect that there might be more in other places but I just don't know. Still researching.
Sorry but you're wrong. I've heard from multiple credible sources that it's been on-again off-again on-again off-again. Rumor is that it's on again. That map from the 90's shows it was one again at least once during the 90's.
There is a huge difference between DTD Anaheim and DTD Florida. The main one being that the parking structure in Anaheim is for the parks and DTD. The biggest difference is that they are all together in one spot. One usually doesn't go to one and not the other. In Florida the locations are separated by miles and you go to DTD always specifically and it is to spend money other than park admission. You don't have to walk by it on your way back to your car. You have to make a special trip to go there. Mostly at DTD people go to catch a break from the parks and paid admission. To get a little Disney for free. While there they spend money that they can justify because they aren't spending money on park admission. No retailer can afford to charge for parking when there are other options available. If you don't believe that look around and see what happened to downtown districts in any city. In the comparison between the two the prime factor will always be location, location, location.
I don't think I am quite ready to admit I'm wrong based on Rumor. When it's there I will believe it.
Let me make clear that I'm not saying this will happen or that Disney has decided to green light it. What I'm saying is that there are plans, buried footers, etc. already in place - just in case they ever decide to go through with it. The new automated systems (which they already said they will upgrade to) reduces cost dramatically (to the point where it's cheaper to operate than buses). Naturally, any frugal company with enough capital would elect to extend it.
Downtown Disney Anaheim has its own surface lot separate from the Mickey and Friends Parking Structure with its own, different pay scale system paid as one leaves. Both the Americana at Brand and The Grove also charge for parking. It does not have to be $15 when you enter, but a variety of prices based on time and purchases as one leaves. It can easily be structured so that only those there long enough to be avoiding parking fees at the parks would be paying the same or more.
I'll buy that monorails might be less expensive to operate than buses, the problem is that that cost difference is not enough to justify the Herculean cost it would be to build the thing. Spending a billion to save even $500 million is a bad move no matter which way you look at it.