Dvc Monorail Resorts

[WDW LOVR]

If anyone has already suggested this, I apologize for the repeat. And maybe this is a little selfish (as we own at SSR), but maybe by asking the question we can prod Disney in the right direction.

How great would it be for a Monorail line to be laid from Epcot to DTD/SSR by way of OKW? Think of how much more efficient it would be getting from those resorts/DTD to Epcot and MK. How much less polution would there be with out the need for buses that could be replaced by the Monorail?

Think big Disney! How many more people would go to DTD if they didn't have to mess with the bus service there and back. Think of the increased $$$$.

Ok, now I'm not stupid enough to think that I'm the only one who has thought of this, and I'm also not stupid enough to think that this one post will make a difference, but it's nice to dream!

 

[rocketriter]

Many people who've discussed this in the past have put it in terms of how the monorail would help people at OKW and SSR get to the parks more easily. You have a nice point about traffic in the other direction, and how it would benefit DD.

The last time we stayed at WL we went to DD one evening. bus transportation took over 90 minutes each way, pretty much destroying the evening and our interest in spending much money in the stores.

Of course, plans have been drawn up for running the monorail all over the property for years but for many reasons (expense, overloading the transportation center, swampy land under the pylons etc. etc. etc.) they never have been executed. I don't know why, myself. The monorails are reasonably fast and gracious, and they preserve that Disney mood so much more effectively than a fleet of buses.

 

[Desperado]

I thought I've read info on the rumors board before about the possibility of using light rail instead of the monorail. I believe it is cheaper to build. I always thought it had potential for a unique Disney style transportation experience and would be great for DVC resorts.
http://disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=518013&highlight=+light++rail
http://disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=499811&highlight=+light++rail
http://disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=468634&highlight=+light++rail
http://disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=305222&highlight=+light++rail
http://disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=482512&highlight=+light++rail

 

[WDW LOVR]

Rocket, That is why we have started paying for a cab to take us "home" after an evening at DTD. It's the best $15 (or cheaper) that you'll ever spend. And think of it this way. That $15 is only the cost of 2 drinks at the Rose and Crown Pub.

 

[Chuck S]

Well, personally, I do think part of the fun of Disney is the variety of transportation available. And I like the monorails but...

As for a monorail line for OKW, since our dues covers transportation costs, and monorail tracks and stations are big bucks to build, I doubt we'll ever see that type of system at OKW...now a less expensive system, perhaps light rail, peoplemover, etc would also require stations, and any fixed track system would require several train changes to reach all 4 parks and all resorts...unless they built a huge system on a single loop. BUt it certainly wouldn't be as speedy as the busses, if it had to stop at several stations before your final destination, and again, DVCers would share that cost, which surely would be more expensive than busses.

The best DVC could hope for. as far a monorail, is the rumored resort that would replace the Contemporary garden wings...but if SSR has several more years of selling to do before that could ever be considered.

 

[tjkraz]

Originally posted by WDW LOVR
How many more people would go to DTD if they didn't have to mess with the bus service there and back. Think of the increased $$$$.

Not to sound cynical, but that argument only goes so far. 8 years ago the Disney suits convinced themselves that FastPass would drive profits through the roof at DisneyLand by giving people all that extra shopping and dining time. Never happened. And now they're pulling FastPass from many attractions due to the negative impact on the park as a whole.

If Disney really wanted to get the most bang for its buck from a monorail extension, I have to think that somehow linking the Epcot resorts and MGM to the line would be the first project on the table. Architectural concerns notwithstanding, in that one relatively small georgraphic area you've got four resorts with thousands of guest rooms, plus one of the theme parks.

At OKW and SSR, you've already got a captive audience. Worrying about occupancy levels at those resorts is a trivial concern to Disney because the number of rooms booked for cash is tiny.

Having monorial access to Downtown Disney would be nice, but I can't believe it would be higher on the list than MGM or DAK. In fact, it could easily morph into a negative due to the proximity of the non-Disney-owned resorts in the DD area. There's no question that people staying at those resorts would make the trek to DD just to get a free ride on the monorail to the MK or Epcot.

 

[DaveT1]

TJ,

I agree with your thoughts and order of priority, Epcot resorts, MGM, and DAK. Wouldn't that be nice.

I would think however they could restrict access in DTD by having you insert your room keys for access or hand stamps on the way out?

 

[OneMoreTry]

The investment in any such system would not be recouped. It would not increase profits as far as I can see.


But since we're dreaming, I would love to see DVC lounges in some of the parks!! Air conditioning. Comfortable seating. A place for the kids to chill in the afternoon. Occasional character visits. And they could serve overpriced food to make a profit. Would that increase park usage by DVC members?? It might.

 

[vernon]

It's a nice idea, but IMHO it's only practical if it's part of a WDW wide transportation policy to make all the WDW resorts and attractions connected on one system.

Reasons why it shouldn't happen on an individual/ad hoc basis.

1) If there were more than one Disney division involved, each would be trying to push as much of the cost onto the others. Retailing ( DTD) would try to push the cost onto both Resorts and onto DVD (SSR and OKW), both (all three) groups would try to push the cost onto transportation, who would argue that retailing and resorts stood to make the profit $$S and DVD benefits from an improved service.

2)DVD (aka DVC) would pass on their costs to the members, few of whom IMHO would be prepared to accept the increase intheir dues.

3) OKW is sold out and SSR seems to be going along pretty well as it stands, neither need an extra (and costly) benefit to push sales.

4) There would be potential problems for parking at DTD. It would be open to abuse as park guests would try to park for free in DTD and use the transportation system. If DTD charged for parking, as the themeparks do, the businesses would complain saying it was hurting their business by a) the cost of parking b) the difficulty in parking at DTD as so many park guests were clogging up the parking lot and not spending money in the shops restaurants.


----------------
I think only as part of a WDW wide transportation policy is it worthwhile to look to add areas onto a grid for overall coverage.

HEre's a couple of ideas I had from a recent thread.

I think a system that linked ALL the resorts to ALL the parks and each other, would dramatically increase the ability of guests to justify the extra cost of staying on a WDW resort, would encourage guests staying at different hotels to travel between hotels to use the restaurants on property (few of which are profit making). It would be impractical time wise to have each and every resort and attraction on the same loop, but we have a "tram" system here in England near to my home that operates three separate loops with each of the loops sharing about 8 or 9 stops with the other two loops.

For example all loops would stop at MK, TL, Epcot , MGM, T+T, DTD.
Loop 1 would also include BB, AK, WWOS, AKL,All Stars and Corronado Springs.
Loop 2 would include OKW, PO, SSR, CBR,Pop Century, Fort Wilderness, WL
Loop 3 GF, Contemp, Y+B/Boardwalk, Poly
basically one Northern loop ( Loop 3) , one Eastern loop ( loop 2) and one Western loop ( loop1).

 

[manning]

Business groups.... what a joke!!!

 

[tjkraz]

Originally posted by vernon
Loop 2 would include OKW, PO, SSR, CBR,Pop Century, Fort Wilderness, WL

Good idea, but I still think there are flaws. Given that you have to plan for the highest volume periods, how long would the wait times be if you're at the last stop on the loop for an EMH morning during the Christmas holiday season? Monorail after monorail would fill up at POP (3000 rooms, maybe 6000 someday), CBR (2000 rooms), PO (3000 rooms), WL (1000 rooms), etc. Whichever resort happened to be at the end of that loop could conceivably see packed car after packed car drive by before an empty monorail arrived to claim the guests.

Once a monorail claims you, your next stop is a bottleneck at the TTC. Thousands of guests arriving to find an unknown wait time at the TTC to get to the Magic Kingdom.

Personally, I'd love to see a computer model that would show how effectively an enhanced monorail system would impact traffic flows.

Would it be more environmentally-friendly? Probably. Would it be the "magical" experience that some like to envision? I have my doubts.

And then there's the issue of cost. Construction costs for the 4-mile Las Vegas monorail expansion approached one BILLION dollars. I'm sure Disney's bean counters already know how many hundreds of busses they could buy for the same cost as building and maintaining a new monorail system, and can't find a way to justify the cost.

 

[spiceycat]

first the speed train will be built near where Pop century and the new Fairfield are - (also close to WWoS) - WDW had donated the land/

this will connect WDW with the airport.

when that is completely.

if the high speed RR is a good option - I would expect WDW to put it between Epcot and Studio then the Studio and AK. then and only then if the RR is a good investment and shows no problems (highly unlikely) - WDW might attach them to other places (water parks, other resorts) - but we are talking about 30 years down the road - lets see they get back OKW in 38 years - yea about the time that WDW gets back OKW - they might be putting a connection there (if then).

WDW is a business first - so they will get better transportation from each park to the other park first.

besides I am still hoping for the Cont wings to become a DVC resort say in 2006......Hope!!!

then if the RR pay off in a limited number of years - then maybe the other resort location - but don't count on it in your lifetime.

also you realize this will make the tickets go up again....they are already high enough.

Hey I would also love a DVC lounge in the parks - mother is 82 - even with a wheelchair the parks can be hard on her - of course I would also love a aircondition place to relax.....

 

[DrTomorrow]

While a monorail station at SSR would be nice (although some would still complain about the loooooong walk to it ), I just don't see it happening - Disney has so many better places to spend it's money.

And tjkraz, a followup to the LV Monorail: we were there the last week of September, and it was shut down indefinately due to safety issues (the web site even has a press release on how they've hired a consultant to 'fix' things); the LV cabbies were LTAO.

So, if you want to own DVC, and simply love a short (5-10 minute) trip to DTD/PI, it's obvious - buy at SSR!