Lifespan of a monorail? Then what happens?

[Frugal Fairy Tales]

Will Disney ever replace the existing monorail(s) at WDW with a new one?

 

[_19disnA]

I recall seeing some threads in the past about Disney working on a plan to purchase new monorails, but haven't seen anything recently. When we were last there in 2019 some of the existing monorails were being 'refurbished' and updated with new interiors or the exteriors were being repainted. Assume some sort mechanical/electrical work was also being done. Obviously, they can extend the life by replacing things that wear out over time. Eventually the mechanical/electrical parts also wear out and part of the decision to buy newer cars would probably be based on the economics and availability of repair parts/feasibility of servicing them compared to totally new cars.

 

[mom2rtk]

Well let's hope they have a plan since they're adding that big new tower full of additional monorail riders at the Polynesian.

 

[Lewisc]

Well let's hope they have a plan since they're adding that big new tower full of additional monorail riders at the Polynesian.

Why do you think Disney completed the walkway to the MK?

 

[mom2rtk]

Why do you think Disney completed the walkway to the MK?

Do very many people actually start their day with a 3/4 mile (or more) hike when there's a monorail station at the resort?

 

[Lewisc]

Do very many people actually start their day with a 3/4 mile (or more) hike when there's a monorail station at the resort?

As opposed to guests who started their day with a half mile walk from their car to the TTC?

The walkway is an alternative to guests who don't want to wait 45 minutes for a monorail

 

[lockets]

I don’t think they’d ever replace it completely. Just keep it fixed or maybe do an overhaul at some point if need be. But with chapek maybe it will be replaced, expanded, IP themed and assigned an upcharge

 

[_19disnA]

I think expanding the monorail is unlikely due to the high cost of the track/layout. Not sure there are many other places for it to go at Disneyworld besides the current layout. I would suspect if they ever purchase new cars, they will want them to be compatible with the tracks they currently have.

 

[DL1WDW2]

I don’t think we are discussing an expansion or change to the track. ..
Especially since they just rebuilt the entire Poly Station and entrance!
We are discussing purchasing more monorails . Because the guest count exceeds the legal passenger limit to accomadate all the passengers.
Technically the resort guests are paying for this in their resort fees and have paid extra for this level of service that Disney can not provide .
Not that anybody at Disney cares about this!
They have gotten away with the monorail resort deluxe upcharge for so many years now .Why think about honesty now?

 

[CarolynFH]

Here's a discussion from a couple of years ago: https://www.disboards.com/threads/when-will-we-get-a-new-fleet-of-monorail.3810891/