Monorails - they should have expanded the system

[Taja]

Wow - I was going to call you on that figure but the Las Vegas Monorail (thanks, Google) was $87mil/mile which, from the articles I saw may have been slightly inflated based on political nonsense. The article I saw said it should have cost $50mil/mile.

Way cheaper, and more flexible, to just buy buses.

I always thought the monorail was a neat transportation system and kind of wished cities would adopt it rather than the current subways / light rail stuff. It *seems* like it ought to be cheaper to just build some pylons and beams down city streets rather than bore tunnels and build larger bridges to support the subways. Of course, that's all city-talk, not WDW-talk.

I think Disney sort of killed the monorail by showcasing it in his theme parks. It make it into a theme park attraction instead of a real transportation system in most people's minds.

When the first monorail was built in Disneyland, it was an attraction. I think it was a D ticket, but might have been a C ticket. It predated the Disneyland Hotel, if I remember correctly. I don't recall the monorail having any stations other than Tomorrowland when it was first built--but I was pretty young and unobservant! *LOL*

 

[deej696]

While I am a monorail lover (my favorite thing at WDW is to ride in front), I dont think its a wise use of capital, at least to the degree that its been talked about here. I have often pondered how much it would cost to at least link MGM to the Epcot line, but that only serves to benefit a)park hoppers between those 3 parks, and b)people staying at the monorail resorts. Expanding to include AK is out of the question due to location. So even if you only need a couple miles of track to make this happen, thats still at least $150 million, and to serve how many people? Not that many in the scope of the overall number of WDW guests.

I'd love to see it happen, but the fact it is it never will, and at the same time, I dont want to pay for it in the form of much higher ticket and room rates....

Now if Disney figured out how to "beam" people to any place on property like on Star Trek, well I'd pay extra for that....

 

[Suzanne74]

I love the monorail but seeing what the prices would be I too think it should never be expanded. I love the relaxing ride to Epcot and I LOVE staying at a monorail resort but there is no way other resorts could accomodate it. It is a feature that I think would end up boring if they kept adding onto it.

What I really wish they would do is have 2 sets of boats running between Epcot and MGM like the monorail has 2 rails around the MK resorts. One boat that stops at all the resorts and parks and another "express" that runs directly to and from Epcot and MGM non stop. That would be SO nice. All it would take is 2 sets of lines at each station and 1 or 2 more boats.

 

[Evil Princess]

Actually, what I would love to see is a fully-computerized automatic light rail system with 6-8 passenger individual cars.

Imagine eliminating ALL vehicle traffic on Disney property (except RVs and TTs going to Ft. Wilderness).

Imagine arriving at MCO and getting on your DME bus, then being driven to a central resort checkin facility. You are then shown to a rail car, you slide your Resort ID, punch in your destination on a touch screen and off you go directly to a dropoff point near your room.

Going resort to resort, no problem, just hop on the nearest car rolling by and punch in your destination, and off you go.

Can't figure out the touch screen system, no problem, if you don't input anything after a few minutes, the car will automatically direct to a "help" station where you can have a CM help you.

Worried about safety. If the worst happens and somebody you don't know jumps in your car with you, hit the big red emergency button, the door locks, and you are sped to an emergency station where police/medical help is there.

I do mean ALL vehicle traffic could be eliminated on Disney property. Several large parking lots could be built on the outskirts. A day guest lot, a resort guest lot for those driving in. This lot would also have a central resort check-in facility, and bell services to get your bags to your room. A couple of CM lots where CMs could be transported to a changing/costuming facility, then carried to an area backstage to enter their work area.

If a vehicle is disabled on the track ahead of you, the computer system could reroute you in a different direction, but still take you to your destination. Change your mind midway, or realize you forgot your tickets, no problem, just punch a few buttons on the touch screen and you are automatically redirected.

Sounds cool?? I think so. I'm also pretty sure that "somebody" at Disney has this idea on paper. Will it ever happen, who knows, but "this" would be the transportation system that would solve ALL of the problems, not just expanding the monorail.

That actually sounds like a NIGHTMARE to me.

I would much rather drive to my destination than rely on the buses, let alone be forced to rely on Disney transportation, whatever it may be.