How would you feel if Disney created a subway system?

[SheilaHeartsDisney]

What if throughout the WDW Resort there was a underground transportation system that provided access to every hotel, theme parks and DTD attraction? Imagine being able to get to your destination quickly and at anytime of day without having to stand in the heat waiting for a bus or ferry boat?

I always thought Disney should create a system for Premier Guest or VIP that allows them to beat the crowds during early morning Peak Season. SO...imagine being able to be dropped off INSIDE the park as opposed to outside?

For those like myself who have experience with Subway's...I would LOVE to see an idea like this come to life. May be wishful thinking but I think this would be awesome.

I like the idea.

 

[brerrabbit]

I live on the Texas Gulf Coast and we have issues with building anything underground. While the issue that most people associate with this type of building is "the water table" that's really not the total story. I am by no means an expert in geology but in my part of the world the issue is what type of soil you have. We have something reffered to as gumbo, which is a heavy mostly clay based soil. You can build anything you want but have to be extrely careful because the soil contracts and expands greatly with rain. Literally in our area you can never empty your pool becuase the weight of the water is what holds it in the ground. Empty you pool and get a heavy ground soaking rain and the next thing you know the ground will float the pool four feet into the air. Dig a hole several days after a good rain and the hole fills up with water. It's the same principle as drilling for oil. The weight and pressure of the ground will force liquids through it to seek areas of reduced pressure. Poke a hole on the ground and the ground literally squeezes water to the hole or the area of reduced pressure.

I think WDW is a sandy loam with a lot of water but the same priciple applies. While such a system would be nice, the cost would be astronomical.

 

[NLD]

I'm fine with the buses, just wish they'd add more of those. But even then... there's usually enough, it's just certain times there seem to be glitches with how often they come.

If they're going to sink that kind of $$ into something at Disney, I'd rather it be more attractions in the park.

Give DHS and AK some more rides! Add another TS to AK. Add a decent CS to DHS.

The ratio of hotel rooms to attractions gets more and more out of whack. Right now, the bus system works okay to get me where I want to go. What doesn't work so well is running out of TSM fastpasses at 10 a.m. even during "slow" periods because it's only one of TWO family-friendly rides (no height restriction) at DHS.

 

[DopeysGal82]

It would be AMAZING! I mean who can deny that

BUT it would be an extreme expense and take forever (I mean just look at the 2nd Avenue subway line NYers), and would be a HUGE undertaking and mess, even if they COULD do it.

Even expanding the monorail is prohibitively expensive.

I think they COULD invest in more frequent buses so that the lines and waits are shorter. I'd support that!

 

[Cheshire Figment]

What is needed is the People Mover but with enclosed cars and a control panel. You would select either the Park or Resort you want. The system will then take you from one to the other with a computer controlled switching system. And it would include the Swolphin, the water parks and the miniature golf courses.

One thing is it would have to be restricted to Resort Guests, requiring a valid KTTW to dispatch a car. This would be for personal and property security.

 

[Brian Noble]

How would you feel if Disney created a subway system?

Wet, most likely.

 

[joelkfla]

What is needed is the People Mover but with enclosed cars and a control panel. You would select either the Park or Resort you want. The system will then take you from one to the other with a computer controlled switching system. And it would include the Swolphin, the water parks and the miniature golf courses.

That is known as PRT, for Personal Rapid Transit. The concept has been around for decades, but no one has been willing or able to plunk down the cash and take the risk on a full system yet.

Just in the past year or so, the first 2 publicly operating systems have opened, one in Masdar, UAE, and the other at Heathrow Airport in London. But they are essentially single-line systems with intermediate stops; there still does not exist a system where the vehicles automatically switch through a network of guideways to a destination.

One thing is it would have to be restricted to Resort Guests, requiring a valid KTTW to dispatch a car. This would be for personal and property security.

I don't think I agree with that, but off-site guests might have to buy some sort of daily or weekly transportation pass to use the system.

I would love to see a PRT system at WDW, but I don't think it could handle the number of guests traveling at park open and close times. For that reason, I think it's unlikely we'll ever see it.

 

[chartle]

What is needed is the People Mover but with enclosed cars and a control panel. You would select either the Park or Resort you want. The system will then take you from one to the other with a computer controlled switching system. And it would include the Swolphin, the water parks and the miniature golf courses.

One thing is it would have to be restricted to Resort Guests, requiring a valid KTTW to dispatch a car. This would be for personal and property security.

like this?

http://www.autointhenews.com/google-drives-toward-an-automated-future/

 

[Guyton dis lover]

I live on the Texas Gulf Coast and we have issues with building anything underground. While the issue that most people associate with this type of building is "the water table" that's really not the total story. I am by no means an expert in geology but in my part of the world the issue is what type of soil you have. We have something reffered to as gumbo, which is a heavy mostly clay based soil. You can build anything you want but have to be extrely careful because the soil contracts and expands greatly with rain. Literally in our area you can never empty your pool becuase the weight of the water is what holds it in the ground. Empty you pool and get a heavy ground soaking rain and the next thing you know the ground will float the pool four feet into the air. Dig a hole several days after a good rain and the hole fills up with water. It's the same principle as drilling for oil. The weight and pressure of the ground will force liquids through it to seek areas of reduced pressure. Poke a hole on the ground and the ground literally squeezes water to the hole or the area of reduced pressure.

I think WDW is a sandy loam with a lot of water but the same priciple applies. While such a system would be nice, the cost would be astronomical.

This is exactly right. They have sink hole all over the area. A subway would not work.

 

[joelkfla]

like this?

http://www.autointhenews.com/google-drives-toward-an-automated-future/

No, more like this CNN story.

The PRT's start at 4:15 into the video linked from the article.

 

[archimedes76]

Not only would it be very expensive, I just don't see Disney putting money into an investment that they would likely not see a return on. The money being invested now is on things like attractions, which drive people into the stores and restaurants they are also building, which is how they get their money back. I don't imagine there would be too many people flocking to Disney to ride the subway/monorail resulting in people spending more money on property, at least not enough to cover the investment.

 

[BeerMe]

you mean sky-higher?

Or is skyer higgher correct?

Billions to expand the monorail - absolutely no return either.

 

[joelkfla]

Here's a promotional video of the Heathrow PRT in action.

Looks like a rather bumpy ride!

 

[DRDISNEYMD]

I like a PP's idea that if Disney were to implement a new form of transit, it should be able to transport ALL resort and park guests to ALL of the resorts, parks and DTD.

I'll take it a step further and add that Disney should tear down the monorail completely and build a new monorail that provides access directly from Orlando's airport. Guests should be able to walk off the plane and board a monorail that stops at their resort. Magical Express can still operate the baggage feature. There would be three lines -- Airport to Resort -- Resorts to Parks -- Parks to Parks.

I'm sure Disney could qualify for some GREEN dollars (federal funding/grants). The upfront costs would be offset eventually by savings in high fuel costs and bus maintenance over several year while helping the environment -- and it would boost tourism too, I would even support a transit surcharge added to each park ticket. This summer I rode on some really old buses, I was just hoping we would make it from point A to point B.

 

[goofyernmost]

I can't even imagine that...what is it about 24 miles from the Airport to WDW? That's a pretty big chunk of change. I would prefer something new/old like updated people movers. Monorails? Been there...done that!

 

[chartle]

I like a PP's idea that if Disney were to implement a new form of transit, it should be able to transport ALL resort and park guests to ALL of the resorts, parks and DTD.

I'll take it a step further and add that Disney should tear down the monorail completely and build a new monorail that provides access directly from Orlando's airport. Guests should be able to walk off the plane and board a monorail that stops at their resort. Magical Express can still operate the baggage feature. There would be three lines -- Airport to Resort -- Resorts to Parks -- Parks to Parks.

I'm sure Disney could qualify for some GREEN dollars (federal funding/grants). The upfront costs would be offset eventually by savings in high fuel costs and bus maintenance over several year while helping the environment -- and it would boost tourism too, I would even support a transit surcharge added to each park ticket. This summer I rode on some really old buses, I was just hoping we would make it from point A to point B.

I can't even imagine that...what is it about 24 miles from the Airport to WDW? That's a pretty big chunk of change. I would prefer something new/old like updated people movers. Monorails? Been there...done that!

Wasn't that the plan for the high speed rail that got killed?

 

[A Mickeyfan]

Actually you can very safely build tunnels even under the watertable. Most tunnels where I live are. (in the Netherlands) It just would be very expensive. It's simply cheaper to have busses with airconditioning.

tunnels under water yes, that is how they are in the NY/NJ area where I am originally from.. but down here in FL it it swamp land and you cannot build tunnels in/on swamp land. You would have to build up to build down as they did at the Magic Kingdom.. they built that land up so they could build the underground tunnel system ... Disney would never do that to support a transportation system around their entire resort.. it is too late to do it now. That would mean they would have to knock everything down and built up the grounds so they can build under...

 

[A Mickeyfan]

Wasn't that the plan for the high speed rail that got killed?

High speed rail was going to have a stop from the airport to Disney, but that wasn't going to be the only stop. It was going to link Orlando and Tampa.. it wasn't just for Disney. The Governor of our great State stopped that project. He felt it would run the State of Fl and it's tax payers too much money in the long run for the up keep.. I think he was nuts! It would have created jobs for our State (that we need) it would have linked to major cites to make it easier for those who work in them to commute.. We are more than just a tourist State..but some seem to forget that.. and our Governor is one who forgets.

 

[Planogirl]

As a PP said, the Dutch have done it and they are certainly soggy there. However I do wonder about the sinkholes.

The cost would be outrageous too of course. I would personally rather see more monorail but that's not likely either.

 

[RedfromNL]

JDucky There's a difference between going thru the ground/rock *under* a river and building it, essentially, *in* the river!

AMickeyfan tunnels under water yes, that is how they are in the NY/NJ area where I am originally from.. but down here in FL it it swamp land and you cannot build tunnels in/on swamp land.

Here we have been experimenting with a new technique (succesfully) where they basically build the tunnel on dry land and then sink it into the river or canal. It is cheaper than tunneling.

And much of the Netherlands used to be swamp or lake, plenty of tunnels here.

But the real issue isnt technical possibility. It IS possible. (I work for en engineering company that designs quite a few of those tunnels )It is simply cost and the availability of alternatives.
Here we have limited space, tunnels are often the only option. In Florida there is plenty of space so no real need for tunneling.

What would be the best option is simply a form of light-rail, a tram-system. Just as easy to use but cheaper to build. Plenty of space on the side of the roads.