Any plans to extend the monorail system?

[BettyCv]

It just seems like such a shame that the monorail only runs between MK and Epcot, and the three resorts. Were there ever any plans for it to be larger? Or are there any future plans to enlarge it?

Just curious...

BettyC

 

[TheRustyScupper]

1) There have been a lot of rumors and "trial ballons".
2) There is always planning, but no firm commitment.
3) The expansion is a capital imprvement HUGE cost.
4) You can buy a lot of buses and drivers for that money.

5) They have toyed with monorail and light-rail expansions.
6) Even if approved, I wouldn't look for anything in the near term.

 

[apagano]

3) The expansion is a capital imprvement HUGE cost.
4) You can buy a lot of buses and drivers for that money.

And that's why the monorail will probably never be expanded. It's just not cost effective, especially when you consider that riders don't pay a fare to ride. The best you can hope for is a more efficient bus system.

 

[Yzma and Kronk]

When we were there last, Monorail driver told us that it would cost approx. $1M per mile - therefore not cost effective.

 

[seashoreCM]

You can have a lot of fun and enjoyment riding the monorails that exist today.

IMHO the only place that needs a monorail or tram or alternate transportation is the stretch from Marketplace to West Side at Downtown Disney. Too much traffic congestion there. Buses work fine everywhere else, and even give better service to the resorts because you don't have to get out and make a transfer or connection halfway through your journey.

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[jasmine206]

This should probably be posted on the rumors board......but we asked our monorail driver this very question while we were riding in the front with him last week. We love the WL and would love to see an extension over there and he said that the only thing he's "consistently" heard was that it could be extended "when the 5th park goes in". Of course we got really excited about the possibility of another park and he said that the rumor for that is that it would be a villain themed park with a concentration on thrill rides - basically to compete with IOA and Universal. BUT...., as we discussed further, the expansion in the East as well as the general lack of funds, are the reasons that these are all simply ideas and rumors at this point.

Aahh rumors - but how great would a whole park dedicated to thrill rides with a villain theme be??? Just the hopes for it makes us glad to be DVCers!

 

[InstImpres]

Originally posted by jasmine206
"when the 5th park goes in". Of course we got really excited about the possibility of another park and he said that the rumor for that is that it would be a villain themed park with a concentration on thrill rides

Fuuny -

We were told the same thing by our bus driver 2 years ago exvept he said it was alredy in the works and I have yet to see real mention of it.

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

Personally, from the admittedly low amount of experience I have had, I prefer the buses to the monorail!
For me.. so far... everytime..
monorail= excrutiatingly slow. Mind-numbing slow... takes forever to get somewhere.

buses= pretty darn fast and straight shot.

So I'm okay if they don't expand the monorail.

Well, unless they put monorails to get you to your far back building at the resort. LOL

 

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

LOL... as a former Monorail Pilot, the rumor mill about the Monorail Expansion is always spinning...

However... I can guarantee you... it will not happen. And for two reasons: Money & Logisitcs.

Money: The estimate someone gave for $1m per mile is not accurate. That cost was for back in 1970 when the original monorail was built. Today, its around $98m-$109m... Each new train would be about $25m, give or take. Stations are expensive. And a new Monorail Shop would be extremely expensive.

So, even with a short addition, you can see how much the cost escalates. Potentially $1 Billion... And considering we are a non-revenue generating department... it's really not cost effective. By the way... Epcot only cost $800m to build. Not sure about DAK, but it's simmilar.

(Source: Las Vegas monorail system... same type of system we use... currently being built for $109m per mile. $17m for a four car train system... our system uses 6 cars, so $25m is an estimate)


Now onto reason number two... why you really don't want a Monorail Expansion. LOGISTICS.

A Fixed guideway system would NOT work at Walt Disney World. It just wouldn't. Our crowd dynamics and traffic flow are just too extreme. In addition, routes would require transfers to get places. The concept of changing trains to get to Epcot from a MK Resort already baffles many people... others hate it. It's time consuming, and complicated.

People want a DIRECT route to the theme parks. As much as y'all might hate the busses... currently, they are fast, efficient, and not as environmentally unfriendly as you might think. We can work with crowd dynamics. We can shrink and grow as demand dictates. We can go off route.

Anyhoo... I can go into more depth as needed, however, I must jet for now.

 

[Micca]

We discussed this during our December trip noting that it wouldn't take much to make WL a monorail hotel. It would seem the increase in room rates would pay for it pretty quickly.

 

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

Originally posted by Micca
We discussed this during our December trip noting that it wouldn't take much to make WL a monorail hotel. It would seem the increase in room rates would pay for it pretty quickly.

Possible, yes. Feasible within reason, No. WL is a little bit too far southeast. Remember, the Resort Beam is the interior beam... so any rerouting would also effect the exterior (Express) beam, which is something you really don't want to do. Re-routing to the WL would also add some corners that might be a bit tight. And the station platform would be on the wrong side of the resort.

To top it off... the Resort Monorail already is crowded enough... I don't think it has the capacity to handle more people.

 

[ducklite]

Not unless something incredible happens to Disney stock and the company begins to make huge profits.

Even at that there are SO many things that would NEED to be done before they could do something they "want" to do.

The monorail is slow and cumbersome, and not efficient. For taht reason alone I don't expect they'll ever expand it.

As a stockholder I'd be mighty angry if they did, to me it's a waste of money with no return on the investment.

Anne

 

[erikthewise]

Obviously a lot of US have plans to extend the monorail! Let's all dream on...

I'd rip out the circle route in Future World. It's cool, but it has to go. Then extend the monorail along the west side of Epcot, down to Epcot Resorts Boulevard (don't ask me about crossing the gully -- I'm not in the mood for reality right now) and making a stop near the Yacht Club for the benefit of the Epcot resorts. Then on across Buena Vista Avenue to MGM!

Next a right turn to run parallel to Buena Vista, eventually crossing over to make stops at CSR, AK, and AKL. (We don't want it to stop at All-Stars -- too many passengers! ) Of course it would be double-tracked the whole way, with no need to change platforms. Of course with 5 more stops it would take longer than the bus, but it would be more fun!

As Tyler points out, all we need is a sugar daddy to drop $1B on this pathetic fantasy.

 

[BCV23]

I love it, Erik! The monrail is so much more fun than a bus! Sorry, Tyler!

 

[walt's assistant]

As a 30+ year WDWer, I agree with Tyler (Chip 'n Dale Express) on one point, disagree with another. The cost to expand the line is simply enormous. That alone makes the point moot.

However, the logistical advantages of having an express monorail from one side of the property to another could be big, especially as the Kingdom continues to expand. What are the prime routes to consider? I couldn't say for sure.

From a purely sentimental standpoint, I will never forget my first monrail ride ever. It was on Monorail Red. One of the coolest things from my childhood....from that point on I wanted to be a Monorail Pilot!



WA

 

[seashoreCM]

>>> (We don't want it to stop at All-Stars -- too many passengers!)

I am led to believe that, if in a long shot and blue moon, a monorail is built near but not into the All Stars, then all the All Star guests will be bused and dumped at the nearest station wherever that is, CSR, AK, BB, or a new Transportation and Ticket Center II.

Where would a fifth park go? Looks to me that all the land north of 192 is used or needed for green space buffer zones. Someone (at One Man's Dream at MGM) was tellint me that Disney is obliged to leave a lot of green space.

Meanwhile there was an old rumor that the residents of Celebration were promised a theme park near them. And there is a large empty area south of 192 and near Celebration taht looks like a good site for a fith theme park.

 

[ducklite]

I believe that Disney pledged to leave 40% greenspace...however that includes areas like buffers, so it's not as much as it might sound. There's still plenty of space to expand, although no cash at this point. Frankly until they have finished developing the Asian initiatives and the bottom line increases substantially in Florida and CA, I don't see any major infrastructure changes. One thing I'm sure they won't be doing is building new hotels rooms in FL(other than DVC which has a very fast ROI and cash influx). They've already got that 6000 room white elephant at PC. Frankly I'm not even sure that the DVC at Eagle Pines will ever be built...a lot will depend on how well DVC Saratoga (the old DI) sells. If anything I think that DVC will venture out and build possibly in CA. Or perhaps the Northeast where they have a HUGE concentration of DVC members.

New attractions in existing theme parks, sure, we'll see those, and more and more of them will be built in partnerships with outside investors (ala Rock N Roller Coaster). But a new theme park? Nope. Simply put, there's no cash.

Anne