Monorails

[Dizznee Freak]

Does anyone know if WDW plans to expand the outdated monorail system?

 

[WDSearcher]

There are currently no plans to do so.

 

[Bstanley]

Seems a bit extreme to call them outdated.

 

[Dizznee Freak]

I meant the fact that they only go to three resorts is outdated they easily could add AKL and WL

 

[WDSearcher]

I think "easily" might be overstating it. The money and logistics in adding monorail lines is what has kept them from doing it so far.

 

[Ducky4Disney]

From I was told by a monorail operator, whenever they plan a new resort or park, there is money built into the price to expand the monorail. They just never do it and slash the funds to lower the cost... I think. Or someone pockets it, I dunno. But it is planned into project, so I don't know why they don't do it.

Walt would've wanted it expanded.

Besides, why can't they go any faster than 40 mph? The monorail is designed to go really fast!

D4D

 

[Chuck S]

Ha ha ha ha, surely money being budgeted for a monorail line to each and every new park/resort then suddenly disappearing would have shown up somewhere in an audit of the books and been brought ot the attention of the board. Roy and Stan would have been using such info in their quest.

Walt would've wanted it expanded. Oh, please! Walt may also have scrapped the Monorails and replaced them with something faster and able to carry more people by now, provided he had the funds. But since no one has consulted with hm lately, any "What Walt would want" arguement is nothing but speculation.

While they have been designed initially to go faster than 40mph, I doubt it would be very comfortable (or even safe) for people standing.

 

[Snowgod]

Have you seen how much ME gets for a bonus?

 

[WDSearcher]

Originally posted by Snowgod
Have you seen how much ME gets for a bonus?

Yup. But, alas, it has nothing to do with building monorails. Apples and oranges. If his bonus went away tomorrow and got put back into "development" funds, additional monorails still wouldn't be built.

 

[ccotis]

I think AK is crying for a monorail line. I know that cost is always the reason given when monorail expansion is nixed, but does a monorail line really cost that much?

 

[Snowgod]

If you have to ask how much it will cost then you don't understand Walts way. If you build the monorail extension, the people will come and bring their money

 

[Cricket2]

Originally posted by ccotis
I think AK is crying for a monorail line. I know that cost is always the reason given when monorail expansion is nixed, but does a monorail line really cost that much?

I believe it is now cheaper to fly into outer space than build a quarter mile of monorail track.

JC

 

[DancingBear]

It's not just a cost issue, also logistics. A monorail is a very fixed, point to point system. Busses come to AK from many places on property. Additional busses can be added for the morning and closing time rushes more easily than capacity can be added and substracted from the monorail trains. The monorail is cool, but not necessarily the best on-property transit system.

 

[WDSearcher]

Originally posted by ccotis
I think AK is crying for a monorail line. I know that cost is always the reason given when monorail expansion is nixed, but does a monorail line really cost that much?

Monorail tracks cost just over 1 million dollars a mile (for double track). That covers concrete, electrics, superstructure (to sink the concrete pilings deep enough and support them in the very soft Florida soil), and labor. Doesn’t include any new trains that might need to be purchased to handle the extra routes. Those run about $11 million each. So you’re talking a fair chunk of change to add a route between Epcot (the closest station) and DAK. And, if you were going to DAK from, say, MK, you’d need to take DAK monorail to Epcot, switch trains, then take Epcot monorail to MK. It’d take probably twice as long as taking a bus.

To Snowgod's point ... I somehow don't think WDW would realize any incrimental attendance simply from a few more miles of monorail track. Now, if they're putting those tens of millions of dollars into new rides and attractions or a new parade or some sprucing up of older stuff, then I can see attendance taking a jump.

 

[DancingBear]

That $1 million/mile cost estimate seems low given these figures from a pro-monorail website:

http://www.monorails.org/tMspages/HowMuch.html

Lowest figure on that site appears to be $6.5 million. Don't know what's included in those figures--obviously WDW doesn't have any additional land acquisition costs involved.

ITA your other points.

 

[Dizznee Freak]

Money should be the last thing in the way. I mean how many visit WDW a year.? It would pay for itself in no time.

 

[mickeyfantroy]

I've always thought it would be great to have a centralized 'hub' like T&TC and have monorails expand out from there to various parts of the property. I've also wondered why there's no parking garages? Those huge lots take up a LOT of valuable real estate. And ain't very fun in the rain. For some reason any time I have to park at the end of the run furthest from the tram it's pouring raining when I leave.

 

[tjkraz]

Originally posted by Dizznee Freak
Money should be the last thing in the way. I mean how many visit WDW a year.? It would pay for itself in no time.

How do you figure?

Busses are clearly more economical. What is it about a monorail that makes you think it would generate additional revenue? Certainly many folks would choose the monorail over a bus if given the choice, but can you really argue that a monorail to AK would cause MORE people to visit WDW than would have otherwise chosen to do so?

 

[Chuck S]

Since monorail are a transportation component it does not have a separate fee...do you honestly think that the resort rates and park tickets should increase enough to cover the cost of building that expensive of a transportation system?

Since DVC resorts are pre-sold there is no increase there, except through member dues, and I'd hate to see that assessment.

 

[Dizznee Freak]

What I was saying is we all have to agree that the monorails definately add to the mystique of WDW. So they are very important, enough so to say money is no object. Let's understand I too understand the economics. All I was trying to convey was that WDW surely has a capital improvment fund and we ALL know they have incredible profit margins on merchandising at the parks so it would not take long to pay for an addition. Facts are people would rather ride on the monorails than the crowded buses.