Anybody heard possibility of WDW connecting monorail to more or all resorts?

[jimmytammy]

My DW said she read a post somewhere on this website that WDW was planning on connecting some or all of the resorts to the monorail system this year but with theme park attendance being low they decided to nix that idea for awhile.

Is there any truth to this, or is it just rumor? If it is true, that would be outstanding.

 

[toefungus]

This year, no. In the future, probably.

 

[Lesley]

Rumor....with no real reliable evidence either way. I was told (by a cm.....which means almost nothing from a rumors pov) that there were plans to connect all the parks, DTD, and WWoS, with resort connections by peoplemover sorts of systems. Sounds great, but I'm not holding my breath. There's no evidence the current management is willing to spend anything on something that wouldn't directly and immediately generate a profit.

 

[disneycub]

Heard from a CM early in December that all plans to connect all resorts to the theme parks via monorail were scrapped due to 9/11.

 

[raidermatt]

From various posts and articles, the consensus seems to be that some plans do exist for expanded transportation of some kind in WDW, but have been tabled due to cost.

Its expensive, and unless they start charging to use it, there's no direct revenue stream. That's a bad combination given the current regime.

 

[jimmytammy]

raidermatt

Your tag referring to L. Zep is from Fast Times at Ridgemont High (Im old enuff to remember). After seeing your picture, you look very familar, SO are you who I think you are, or in other words, you, your tag and that movie all have some association to each other. Am I correct or am I just seeing things?

 

[JungleMansion]

I had heard CM's talking about first connecting DTD with the Monorail System, and then they'd go from that. But this was about a year ago I had heard this, so who knows what plans are now.

 

[Dznefreek]

This rumor has been around FOREVER.

When Epcot was built pilings were driven for a run to Disney Village Marketplace (now DTD).

 

[ohanafamily]

It would be nice, but my thoughts are that it would be more expensive for the current regime. Maybe it will happen as a show of vision when Ei$ner leaves?

I can hope, Transportation can be a big issue........

 

[kaabost]

This would be so neat! A monorail and/or TTA-like system throughout the world would really set WDW apart from other theme parks IMO. Also, Walt was all about that kind of stuff. It does seem odd that there is a little bit of "futuristic" transportation (monorail) but mostly plain, boring, normal, slow, etc. transportation (busses). I wish that they would make this their next big project. I feel that it would really add to the whole WDW feeling and I would imagine that it would REALLY boost hotel reservations. In this instace, free usage of WDW transportation may actually be viewed by the guests as a PERK!

 

[Panthius]

Is the monorail free to use for non-resort guests? If this is the case, I believ eDisney is doing two wrong things here. First, they are taking away a possible motivator to have people stay onsite, and second, they are missing out on a possible revenue stream. I believe that Disney should expand the monorail, the specifics of which I will leave up to those who know better, and then start charging non-Disney resort guests to ride the monorail.



The idea of having this "charge" for using the monorail for non-resort guests will not only result in a perk for onsite guests, but it will also help offset the costs for any monorail expansion and also get rid of the ugly, smelly, environmentally unfriendly busses (I wonder how the monorail and busses compare as far as their affect on the environment).

Pan

 

[ohanafamily]

Panthius, there is a problem with charging; the logistics of it, and the enforcement. It might wind up costing more for the added personnel than you would make; how much could you charge? Also, the momorail is one of the 2 ways to get to MK from the parking lot... you can't charge for that leg...

 

[EUROPA]

Originally posted by Panthius
Is the monorail free to use for non-resort guests?

When you drive to the MK there are only two ways to get to the MK from the TTC. Boat and Monorail.

 

[HB2K]

I think there is some merit in the whole on-site guest get free transportation but off-site guests can still get access to it via a payment system...

What if you segregate the MK Express & Boat Launch from the rest of the loading stations? Then have turnstiles to the rest of the transportation areas which branch out to the rest of the world? To get access, you insert your resort room key, your transportation AP or your one day transport ticket?

Could it work?

(DISCLAIMER : I'm not saying it will happen, I know Disney too well at this point. I'm just brainstorming with you all!)

 

[Lisa P.]

Transportation between the Disney parks is included with park hopper passes (and is naturally a selling point for them). IF Disney were to begin charging offsite guests for this service, all the old park hopper passholders would have to be grandfathered, to honor the commitment Disney made when they sold those passes.

IF this were to happen, the amount of car traffic traveling on Disney property would likely increase... substantially. Offsite guests may become less likely to park hop altogether. When they got into their car to do so, they may be more likely to go offsite for a meal break and/or may not return later in the day. Further, Disney encourages park-hoppers to visit their minor parks and DD, by including transportation and "plus" visits with their mult-day hopper passes.

Disney does all it can to keep guests onsite for as long as possible... eating, shopping, sleeping... spending their vacation dollars. I cannot see how making the onsite inter-park transportation into a "fee service" for offsite guests (the majority of Disney park visitors) would serve this goal. JMHO.

 

[Panthius]

Didn't Disney used to only allow onsite resort guests to only use the monorail for free? I distinctly remember this from when I was younger and I stayed at the Poly many times that they needed to see my resort "id" to allow me to get on the monorail. I am not sure what happened at the TTC for those who drove onsite and parked there, but I am positive that monorail usage used to be a perk for onsite guests only. Also, there were Multi-day park hoppers back when this was the case which did not provide transportation, since transportation was an onsite perk.

As for charging for the use of the monorail, could Disney roll this charge into the parking fee? I am not sure how much it costs to park now, but they could bump up the cost per car as a "Disney Transportation Fee". For an expanded monorail system, I believe this would be well worth it.

Panthius

 

[Lisa P.]

Didn't Disney used to only allow onsite resort guests to only use the monorail for free?

Perhaps you are thinking of the Resorts Monorail that circles Seven Seas Lagoon clockwise and stops at each resort, plus the TTC & MK. There are times when they check IDs for using that one. But the express monorail that circles counterclockwise and only stops at MK & TTC has always been open to everyone. I'm pretty sure that I rode it in August 1972, less than a year after MK opened, while staying at an offsite campground. I know that I rode it in 1985.

Also, there were Multi-day park hoppers back when this was the case which did not provide transportation, since transportation was an onsite perk.

When we stayed at a motel offsite in 1985, we used park hopper passes (the old kind, where they stamped the date on each of the 4 days, as you used it). We used the monorail to hop between MK & Epcot (the only Disney theme parks open at that time), as part of those passes. I recall vividly the very first ride I took through Epcot at night, on that monorail!

Fun to look back and remember those trips! We had such wonder at seeing the dancing fountains in Epcot and that great big golf ball, lit up at night, on our first evening! Thanks for the reminder!

 

[vernon]

I did ask one of the monorail drivers this question last week. His view was there are NO plans to extend the monorail service to include the resorts.
My own view is also that to use the monorail service for connecting the resorts to the theme parks would be too expensive to do. I do think a tram/light rail service would be both more economic and technically easier (considering the large areas of soft ground on property). I do think that Disney stands to profit from having a WDW wide transport system that links the resorts. The hotels benefit from higher booking ratios as IMHO it's a major plus to staying on site PLUS their restaurants would get higher occupancy as people would take the opportunity to visit other WDW hotels to eat and check out the resorts instead of going off site to eat. The problem, IMHO , is that Disney is a large organisation with different profit "centres". The budget would go to transprtation, while the (potential) profits would be split between the parks, resorts and DTD. How you would account for that difference in profit/loss and costing would be a nightmare and I think the argueing about who pays for what will be the problem that will delay or even stop this project from coming togetherin the manner that is needed for WDW to grow and to offer the type of vacation destination it's charges warrent/demand.

 

[rangebob]

I would think if they were to start to charge for transprotation for off site guests is that they would need to charge for everything.

Think about it logically, you are paying for parking in one of the parks so then you should be entitled for free transportation around WDW. If you do jump to another park after you've paid at on you don't need to pay again at another locations so why pay for the transportation.

About the question about expanding the monorail lines to all parks and to some more resorts. I don't see it happening. If you've ever tried to talk to one of the operators during rougher weather they will tell you that it is a pain in the neck with multiple trains running at the same time.

 

[doubletrouble_vb]

I think the system they have now...transportation included in the ticket...works very well. Charging additional fees would be counterproductive. I will admit to staying on site, using the transportation system and never entering a park...but that was probably one of my most expensive trips (in terms of spending for meals & entertainment).

The obvious place to charge would be each profit centre that benefits from the expansion of the non-bus system. To me boats & light rail (maybe hover craft! ) would be the way to go. As each profit centre (mini-golf, hotel, DTD, waterpark & Animal Kingdom) is connected to the non-bus system they would be required to kick back additional money to the transportation cost centre.

If I ruled the World I'd start by installing light rail from DTD via the front of EPCOT terminating at YC/BC or Boardwalk. This would give both onsite and offsite guests the option of using EPCOT as a secondary TTC. Plus it would increase usage of Boardwalk restaurants and shops because right now its pretty hard to get to if you can't cut through EPCOT to do it.