Monorail that runs thru Epcot--Where is it coming from and going to?

[ABE4DISNEY]

Okay, just a silly question for you all. My hubby asked me about the monorail that travels thru the Living Seas area of Epcot--where is it from and where is it going-- and I didn't really know the answer. Is it the line between the MK and Epcot and just briefly dips into Epcot? Or is this a separate line that goes elsewhere? I'm having a difficult time even picturing where the tracks go but I do know that it runs thru that portion of Epcot. TIA!

 

[DebbieB]

Okay, just a silly question for you all. My hubby asked me about the monorail that travels thru the Living Seas area of Epcot--where is it from and where is it going-- and I didn't really know the answer. Is it the line between the MK and Epcot and just briefly dips into Epcot? Or is this a separate line that goes elsewhere? I'm having a difficult time even picturing where the tracks go but I do know that it runs thru that portion of Epcot. TIA!

It's the line from the Ticket & Transportation Center, it goes through Epcot before arriving at the Epcot station. It's not the same monorail that stops at MK. You would have to switch trains at the TTC to get to MK.

 

[Nadjalu]

PP is correct. It is the line that runs from TTC to Epcot. (which is the line that goes between MK and Epcot, because there isn't really a line between MK and Epcot. You always have to transfer at TTC).

 

[ABE4DISNEY]

Thank you!! Obviously, we don't hop between parks very much!! That makes a lot of sense. Thanks so much!

 

[dudspizza]

if you want to see what the track looks like, do a quick google search for EPCOT and then click on maps. Click on the Satellite image and you can see how the track come in, loops around to the monorail platform at EPCOT.

It is simply running back and forth from the TTC.

http://maps.google.com/maps?client=...929,-81.548188&spn=0.007354,0.013368&t=h&z=17

Duds

 

[sharona]

If you are going from Epcot > TTC, does it also run through the park or is that only for TTC > Epcot?

 

[vicki_c]

If you are going from Epcot > TTC, does it also run through the park or is that only for TTC > Epcot?

No only coming into Epcot does it loop through the park.

 

[ABE4DISNEY]

if you want to see what the track looks like, do a quick google search for EPCOT and then click on maps. Click on the Satellite image and you can see how the track come in, loops around to the monorail platform at EPCOT.

It is simply running back and forth from the TTC.

http://maps.google.com/maps?client=...929,-81.548188&spn=0.007354,0.013368&t=h&z=17

Duds

Super cool! Thanks!

 

[EPCOT is a verb]

We like to take a monorail ride just to ride through Epcot. A fun trip.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

When coming from the TTC into Epcot the Monorail voice also gives the history of Epcot and points out their various attractions.

 

[mfisk]

If I were a Disney exec, I would re-route the track that currently loops around the EPCOT ball over to a new monorail station at the back entrance (International Gateway). There's even a space already as they used to have a bus stop there. That station would service EPCOT hotel guests making those hotels an even better place to stay.

After a stop at that station, the track would continue on south a short distance to another new station at... Hollywood Studios. And from there, back to the existing, EPCOT front entrance station.

I love the thought of being able to ride monorail to 3 parks from many hotels. I've heard the reasoning that the monorail will never be extended due to its expense and how much more efficient the buses are, but that's not a very "Walt" perspective. I hate the buses and think this moderate re-routing would add so much more magic to the total experience.

Thoughts?

 

[goofy4tink]

If I were a Disney exec, I would re-route the track that currently loops around the EPCOT ball over to a new monorail station at the back entrance (International Gateway). There's even a space already as they used to have a bus stop there. That station would service EPCOT hotel guests making those hotels an even better place to stay.

After a stop at that station, the track would continue on south a short distance to another new station at... Hollywood Studios. And from there, back to the existing, EPCOT front entrance station.

I love the thought of being able to ride monorail to 3 parks from many hotels. I've heard the reasoning that the monorail will never be extended due to its expense and how much more efficient the buses are, but that's not a very "Walt" perspective. I hate the buses and think this moderate re-routing would add so much more magic to the total experience.

Thoughts?

Thoughts? Heck yeah. The monorail is already a huge issue as far as maintainence goes. Anyone who has been inconvenienced by a section of the monorail being 'down' will attest to how bad it gets. And those breakdowns are becoming more and more frequent.
And, the cost to expand the monorail line, over to the back side of Epcot and it's resorts, is cost prohibitive. Hugely expensive.
Would it be nice? Sure it would. But I, for one, don't want to pay the increased costs for it via my resort cost or my park passes. The money has to come from somewhere...and it's usually from the guests.

 

[mfisk]

Thoughts? Heck yeah. The monorail is already a huge issue as far as maintainence goes. Anyone who has been inconvenienced by a section of the monorail being 'down' will attest to how bad it gets. And those breakdowns are becoming more and more frequent.

Ah, I've never experienced a monorail breakdown so that has definitely shaped my view. But I stand by my point: Replace the buses. Do something more mundane like the automated trains found in most airports. An underground subway system would be even better. Years to build and ultra expensive? Yep, but doesn't that pretty much describe everything we love about this place? They obviously reinvest X% into the parks. I'm just saying generally I would place new transportation as a higher priority than new attractions.

 

[goofy4tink]

Ah, I've never experienced a monorail breakdown so that has definitely shaped my view. But I stand by my point: Replace the buses. Do something more mundane like the automated trains found in most airports. An underground subway system would be even better. Years to build and ultra expensive? Yep, but doesn't that pretty much describe everything we love about this place? They obviously reinvest X% into the parks. I'm just saying generally I would place new transportation as a higher priority than new attractions.

I hear ya!!! I would love something more up to date and efficient than the buses, but....you can't go underground on too big a scale..it's all swamp so would be really hard to do. I'm not sure what I would like to see. A monorail that served all the deluxe resorts would be wonderful but cost prohibitive.
It is fun to think about though.

 

[ABE4DISNEY]

If I were a Disney exec, I would re-route the track that currently loops around the EPCOT ball over to a new monorail station at the back entrance (International Gateway). There's even a space already as they used to have a bus stop there. That station would service EPCOT hotel guests making those hotels an even better place to stay.

After a stop at that station, the track would continue on south a short distance to another new station at... Hollywood Studios. And from there, back to the existing, EPCOT front entrance station.

I love the thought of being able to ride monorail to 3 parks from many hotels. I've heard the reasoning that the monorail will never be extended due to its expense and how much more efficient the buses are, but that's not a very "Walt" perspective. I hate the buses and think this moderate re-routing would add so much more magic to the total experience.

Thoughts?

Aside from the maintenance and expense, I think this is a fabulous idea! Being a BWV owner, I would be greatly excited about this. (Btw, I also have NEVER experienced a monorail breakdown--are they really that frequent?)

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

(Btw, I also have NEVER experienced a monorail breakdown--are they really that frequent?)

Prior to my stay at the Contemporary in December 2009 I had never experienced a Monorail breakdown. If I was on a Resort Monorail that stopped on the tracks it was just for traffic clearence since there was another one at the Monorail station in front of us, so that was never an issue.

However in December 2009 I was on a Resort Monorail that was at the TTC and we were told to get off because a problem. Well when I got on at the Contemporary I remember smelling something that I thought was burning, so that might have been the problem. Anyway we were standing out there for at least 30 minutes until they decided to bring that specifc Resort Monorail into shop to be fixed.

A couple of days later I was walking to the Monorail station at the Polynesian and was told the Resort Monorail line was down, so something must have happened like a few days before that effected the whole line.

 

[mfisk]

For the record, the distance from where the track begins looping within EPCOT to the old bus turnaround at International Gateway is ~ 0.4 mile. The distance from there to Hollywood studios entrance is ~ 1.1 miles.

Even if you only did the EPCOT back entrance segment (and from there back to EPCOT front entrance), that would be of significant benefit for 5 resorts and 2 DVC's for only 0.8 mile of new track work. Probably even more significant for all the people wanting to dine at EPCOT park and resort restaurants.

Fun to consider!

 

[GetGlowing]

Brilliant idea. Since when does Disney worry about how much something costs? (snarky rhetorical question, btw )

While we're dreaming, let's add People Movers to the huge resorts like Coronado and Caribbean Beach. Walt would approve.