Why isn't the monorail a single loop with a stop at the transportation center?

[Artemis Fowl]

I own at BLT and PVB and everytime I'm there I scratch my head about why the monorail doesn't just run on one loop instead of making us transfer to/from the epcot area. I'd guess that it's somehow more efficient, but I have a hard time imagining how.

The transfer doesn't seem to serve resort guests better. I'm sure someone here can explain to me the reason it makes sense to have the transfer area. This is genuine curiosity for me.

Thanks

 

[Sandisw]

When Epcot was built the monorail loop around the MK area was already built and set up.

At that point, I think trying to add third rail going around the MK area would have been tough..if not impossible. So they added the Epcot line to loop between the TTC and Epcot.

 

[Artemis Fowl]

If they redid the transfer station to be a junction, they wouldn't need another rail. That's the part I don't get.

 

[Sandisw]

If they redid the transfer station to be a junction, they wouldn't need another rail. That's the part I don't get.

But then you have resort people who would have to go to Epcot even when they didn’t want to…if it was a stop and not a transfer station.

So, I don’t see how you don’t need a third line…you’d need the resort one that just does the three resorts and MK, with a stop at TTC, the express on that just does TTC and MK, and then one that did Epcot with stops at the resorts as well.

if not, the Epcot one would have to enter the rail that stops at the resorts…which then clogs that up…or am I misunderstanding?

The way it is now makes a lot of sense because they are individual lines and you either visit MK or Epcot. Not both.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

You mean just like there's a transfer station for the Skyliner?

Ultimately timing is everything but if you had a single loop then everyone wanting to go to/from the MK would have to ride all the way to Epcot and back at some point and vice versa those going to Epcot would need to ride all the way to MK and back. For timing in theory the schedule ought to be that you wait no longer than a 1 way to/from (50% of that loop) vs the entire loop each and every time. And if you're only going to MK then you never have to do the loop to Epcot.

 

[Nursemanit]

I think people forget the ride to Epcot is pretty long.

 

[Chuck S]

Time, for one thing. Can you imagine wanting to go to EPCOT, and having to stop at MK, or wanting to go to MK and having to loop through EPCOT. Same reason that most resorts have direct busses instead of one bus route stopping at each and every resort. Plus each rail is LIMITED by power requirements to 4 trains, so only 4 trains on one LONG loop? Then supppose a transformer blows. A transformer could blow out on the EPCOT loop, shutting down ALL the monorails if it were a single loop. As it is now, if a transformer blows on the EPCOT loop, the other two loops can continue to operate.

 

[Robbie Cottam]

the monorails run when Epcot is closed….

it would also drive me nuts if I was staying BLT and had to goto Epcot on the way to MK

 

[Artemis Fowl]

the monorails run when Epcot is closed….

it would also drive me nuts if I was staying BLT and had to goto Epcot on the way to MK

I don't think many people ride the monorail from BLT to MK. That'd take more time than walking.

 

[Artemis Fowl]

Time, for one thing. Can you imagine wanting to go to EPCOT, and having to stop at MK, or wanting to go to MK and having to loop through EPCOT. Same reason that most resorts have direct busses instead of one bus route stopping at each and every resort. Plus each rail is LIMITED by power requirements to 4 trains, so only 4 trains on one LONG loop? Then supppose a transformer blows. A transformer could blow out on the EPCOT loop, shutting down ALL the monorails if it were a single loop. As it is now, if a transformer blows on the EPCOT loop, the other two loops can continue to operate.

I definitely did not think about power requirements to run the train.

 

[Robbie Cottam]

I don't think many people ride the monorail from BLT to MK. That'd take more time than walking.

judging by the line for the monorail in the am I think we could debate that, however,
MK to poly then after a long day in the park….

 

[Artemis Fowl]

You mean just like there's a transfer station for the Skyliner?

Ultimately timing is everything but if you had a single loop then everyone wanting to go to/from the MK would have to ride all the way to Epcot and back at some point and vice versa those going to Epcot would need to ride all the way to MK and back. For timing in theory the schedule ought to be that you wait no longer than a 1 way to/from (50% of that loop) vs the entire loop each and every time. And if you're only going to MK then you never have to do the loop to Epcot.

I guess I was just thinking that when I'm returning from or going to Epcot and staying at an MK-area resort, it'd be nice to not have to transfer. It would be a long ride from MK to PVB if it were a single loop

 

[Artemis Fowl]

I think people forget the ride to Epcot is pretty long.

I must be, because I have this sticky recollection that the long ride is from the time attributed to having to transfer and wait for another train. Maybe I'm assuming it'd feel much faster than it really would.

 

[Brett Wyman]

Somebody would have to transfer somewhere with either choice

 

[Artemis Fowl]

probably wBut then you have resort people who would have to go to Epcot even when they didn’t want to…if it was a stop and not a transfer station.

So, I don’t see how you don’t need a third line…you’d need the resort one that just does the three resorts and MK, with a stop at TTC, the express on that just does TTC and MK, and then one that did Epcot with stops at the resorts as well.

if not, the Epcot one would have to enter the rail that stops at the resorts…which then clogs that up…or am I misunderstanding?

The way it is now makes a lot of sense because they are individual lines and you either visit MK or Epcot. Not both.

I guess I was thinking that you'd have a line that runs to Epcot, TTC, PVB, GF, MK, BLT and back to Epcot.
The other line would still run TTC to MK only.

This would be better for anyone staying at a MK resort going to or returning from Epcot.

It'd be the same for people going from TTC to Epcot (does this even happen? wouldn't drivers park at Epcot). It'd be the same for people going from Epcot to TTC.

It'd be worse for going from MK to BLT, PVB, or GF.

I can't see how things get clogged up if the TTC-MK express still runs.

I guess it'd be annoying to go from MK all the way to Epcot before getting back to PVB.

 

[Artemis Fowl]

judging by the line for the monorail in the am I think we could debate that, however,
MK to poly then after a long day in the park….

yeah. MK to PVB or GF after a long day would be the worst ride if it were a single loop

 

[Robbie Cottam]

another point. Every once in a while they have shut the power down and send the tractor to go get a broken down train…..

That would close the system for the rest of the day

 

[Sandisw]

I guess I was thinking that you'd have a line that runs to Epcot, TTC, PVB, GF, MK, BLT and back to Epcot.
The other line would still run TTC to MK only.

This would be better for anyone staying at a MK resort going to or returning from Epcot.

It'd be the same for people going from TTC to Epcot (does this even happen? wouldn't drivers park at Epcot). It'd be the same for people going from Epcot to TTC.

It'd be worse for going from MK to BLT, PVB, or GF.

I can't see how things get clogged up if the TTC-MK express still runs.

I guess it'd be annoying to go from MK all the way to Epcot before getting back to PVB.

Not being able to do the resort loop without heading to Epcot on the same line would not be seen as an improvement.

And, plenty of guests do use it to resort hop…the clogging up was referencing a way to have the current Epcot line feed into the resort loop, not make it all one large loop.

And, if the only way to get to MK was the express from TTC, then you’d have resort people having to transfer if they didn’t want to spend the extra 30 minutes heading all the way to/from Epcot

So, someone Is transferring no matter what.

 

[Robbie Cottam]

Some things are best left un-reimagined .

I think the monorail is one.

 

[Titanium]

I own at BLT and PVB and everytime I'm there I scratch my head about why the monorail doesn't just run on one loop instead of making us transfer to/from the epcot area. I'd guess that it's somehow more efficient, but I have a hard time imagining how.

The transfer doesn't seem to serve resort guests better. I'm sure someone here can explain to me the reason it makes sense to have the transfer area. This is genuine curiosity for me.

Thanks

I've often wondered why Disney doesn't build a resort and station on Epcot line. They'd have to probably add a train or two but I think just the old airport and woods abut the Epcot monorail. People LOVE the monorail resorts.