Monorail Expansion

DisneyProjectTracker · Post by **DisneyProjectTracker** » Aug Fri 12, 2005 2:18 pm

Club33Hopeful wrote:What is the cost of all of those busses and bus drivers? Also, you cannot factor the cost of guest satisfaction.

Well, as far as I know the cost of the bus drivers and just regular upkeep of the buses and also gas I guess is alot less than building all new monorail stations and tracks and trains.

Club33Hopeful · Post by **Club33Hopeful** » Aug Fri 12, 2005 2:44 pm

DisneyProjectTracker wrote:
Club33Hopeful wrote:What is the cost of all of those busses and bus drivers? Also, you cannot factor the cost of guest satisfaction.
Well, as far as I know the cost of the bus drivers and just regular upkeep of the buses and also gas I guess is alot less than building all new monorail stations and tracks and trains.

That is true just about anywhere you find monorail systems. It is usually when they look at hidden costs, such as environmental cost, guest satisfaction cost, and increased guest traffic in certain areas to name a few, when it becomes worthwhile. Also, organizations are more likely to build a project like a monorail when they are thinking long term. Disney has shown us repeatedly that they are only looking at the bottom line right now. Think of it this way. What is the cost of the monorail expansion and increased operating cost over 50 years? Compare that to all of the costs of operating all of those busses over the same 50 years. I would put money on the monorail being considerably cheaper.

bartman454 · Post by **bartman454** » Aug Fri 12, 2005 4:49 pm

Club33 you have got it dead on, I dont know if I could say it clearer than that. Monorails are just so much nicer as well.

Jack

G2-4T · Post by **G2-4T** » Aug Fri 12, 2005 8:01 pm

Both Club33 and bartman have it right on, nicely phrased.

DisneyProjectTracker · Post by **DisneyProjectTracker** » Aug Sat 13, 2005 9:40 am

Oh trust me. I would love to have monorails instead of the buses, but the funding for the monorails come out of a different budget than people think. Plus the electricity for them is not cheap either. Not saying that they don't run their own power plants, but you have to ask is it economic for them to be building monorails again? Some say yes, some say no. It's all how you look at it.

jgreco · Post by **jgreco** » Aug Sat 13, 2005 10:41 am

i think they need to have the aerosmith ride electro magnetic rail technology on the new monorail system...0 to Magic Kingdon in 2.8 seconds...WHOOOOSHHHH

Manncab · Post by **Manncab** » Aug Sat 13, 2005 12:39 pm

i doubt its eviromental concerns since if disney wanted to build a nuclear power plant or its own int. airport they have had the permission to do what ever they wanted since the property was sold to them in the 1970's , i believe its due to costs concrete is just exspenive and only getting higher

Club33Hopeful · Post by **Club33Hopeful** » Aug Sat 13, 2005 2:18 pm

Manncab wrote:i doubt its eviromental concerns since if disney wanted to build a nuclear power plant or its own int. airport they have had the permission to do what ever they wanted since the property was sold to them in the 1970's

Hmmm. Nuclear power. That would be a disaster for Disney's image.

Club33Hopeful · Post by **Club33Hopeful** » Aug Sat 13, 2005 2:29 pm

From http://www.monorails.org/tMspages/Why.html :

Surprisingly, Walt Disney World's Monorail System near Orlando, Florida, has one of the highest riderships of all monorails. Well over 100,000 passenger trips are recorded each day on the 14 miles of beamways (a far higher ridership than most USA light rail systems).

You cannot tell me with one of the highest riderships of all monorails, it is not cost effective. Monorails have very low operating costs compared to other systems. As for the environmental concerns, I was not talking about for the monorail. I was talking about the environmental concerns for running all of the busses.

Monorails are quiet, and can operate without drivers.

G2-4T · Post by **G2-4T** » Aug Sat 13, 2005 7:01 pm

Yeah - and ever look at the price of diesel these days? Not going to get any cheaper, but electricity can come from solar, wind [we have a lot of wind farms up here] and more. Calgary Transit's LRT is 100% wind powered from a farm in rural Alberta. So it isn't like we're going to run out of that soon. Smoky noisy bus vs. silent monorail on windpower... Oh gee, let me think which most prefer to see and ride. But the everlasting cheapos in charge say - why change? I can see the meetings "Costs money upfront even though we could save it long term - but I'll be gone in a few years so whatever. Now where's will someone pass those jelly filled donuts?"

DisneyProjectTracker · Post by **DisneyProjectTracker** » Aug Sat 13, 2005 10:25 pm

But you have to realize that the electricity that powers the monorail can come from any source. Whether it be nuclear, which would be highly doubtful. Solar power, wind power, fossil fuels or anything. Of course I know hydro power is out of the question, since Florida doesn't have any dams in central Orlando. I just think that it's a bit expensive and rediculious to be adding more monorails to the mix. It's like bitting more than you can chew.

cruiseguy7011 · Post by **cruiseguy7011** » Aug Sun 14, 2005 12:33 am

I've only been to wdw once. but don't most of the busses go to the resorts instead of the parks. and it's almost impossible to connect all of the hotels to the parks via monorail. Not quite sure about it. I love the monorail though and would want to see it everywhere.

Post by **js3901** » Aug Sun 14, 2005 1:11 am

I think it could be easily done to extend the monorail to every park. I would highly doubt they'd extend it to each resort, as there are alot of different hotels. But, I think that if they build a new centralized Transportaion center where all monorails meet, and have the buses running from there to the resorts, logistics would be simple.

Manncab · Post by **Manncab** » Aug Sun 14, 2005 2:02 pm

what is all this about wind power ? this is fla ever hear of hurricanes ? those suckers will be blown down like a pine tree

solar power...

Florida the sunshine state, lightning capital of the world, tornado leader of north america, a thunder storm ala monsoon season that lasts from april to september, gaurenteed to rain 3 day out of every 7 days, solar power wouldn't even power the head lights of the monorails

and for those of you who don't know about the fact that when disney bought the property the fla lesiglator gave him little know rights of ownership that is generaly given to militay instalations such as the abilty to build a large international airport, a nuclear power plant, cut down every tree and fill in every marsh, as well as a no fly zone with in 4 miles of the park, as well as have there own police force. that is the reason why no orange county police or state troopers are ever seen on the roads of the resort. its history folks read a book

like i said earlier concrete is expesive in fla due to all the repairs and rebuilding due to 2 years of bad hurricanes - also a little know fact that half of all concrete is imported from india and south america, hince the shortage its like oil , you short supply it and the price goes up

Post by **js3901** » Aug Sun 14, 2005 2:24 pm

I think the solar power idea would work. just look at the Energy pavillon in EPCOT. The roof of that building is covered in solar panels which power the building/attraction inside. Even a cloudy, rainy day would yeild some power to store in the batteries. so long as it is day time and not so dark the street lamps come on, there'll be power.