New Disneyland Mark VII Monorail

Post by **YZFDonor** » Jan Tue 22, 2008 11:01 am

I am odd man out... I LOVE the look of the Mark IV and VI from WDW. I think the DLR Monorails have always lookd short, stubby, and bulbous. I don't care much for curves with one exception. I like straight lines and angles.

Post by **Dr. Ravenscroft** » Jan Wed 23, 2008 12:29 pm

YZFDonor wrote:I am odd man out... I LOVE the look of the Mark IV and VI from WDW. I think the DLR Monorails have always lookd short, stubby, and bulbous. I don't care much for curves with one exception. I like straight lines and angles.

Well the number one reason it is that short is because of the crazy turns it makes. If the WDW monorails tried anything close to what the DL monrails do they would break. But other than that......to each his own.

Junglecsipper · Post by **Junglecsipper** » May Fri 16, 2008 5:06 pm

http://www.mouseplanet.com/articles.php?art=dl080331xx

Monorail testing

Esmeralda · Post by **Esmeralda** » May Sat 17, 2008 9:41 am

Thanks for the link Junglecsipper! Can't wait to see them on person. Off to plan next Disneyland vacation...wish I had more than 2 weeks off per year!

elizabethswann · Post by **elizabethswann** » May Mon 19, 2008 2:32 pm

Does anyone know exactly when they'll be using the new monorails? I'm growing tired of seeing the Year of a Million Dreams one.

Post by **Dr. Ravenscroft** » May Tue 20, 2008 10:54 am

capnjacksparrow wrote:Does anyone know exactly when they'll be using the new monorails? I'm growing tired of seeing the Year of a Million Dreams one.

Depends on the trials runs, if it goes well (from now on), we could see the new ones taking over sometime in June. If they have more problems, like the ones they had with the red one, then we might not see them until close to the holidays i.e. thanksgiving/christmas season.

disneydreamer58 · Post by **disneydreamer58** » May Tue 20, 2008 12:02 pm

ugh, I was so hoping to ride the new red one when I am there next month

elizabethswann · Post by **elizabethswann** » May Tue 20, 2008 2:53 pm

Dr. Ravenscroft wrote: Depends on the trials runs, if it goes well (from now on), we could see the new ones taking over sometime in June. If they have more problems, like the ones they had with the red one, then we might not see them until close to the holidays i.e. thanksgiving/christmas season.

I have seen pictures of the red one doing trial runs on the recent update on Westcoaster.net. They look amazing! But I do hope that we'll get them soon.

disneydreamer58 · Post by **disneydreamer58** » Jun Tue 24, 2008 9:26 am

Spoke with one of the monorail people while waiting in line. At this time there is only 1 monorail running and it's 22 years old! The other 2 old ones just gave out. This one hanging in there is amazing when you think it runs 17 hours a day 7 days a week in the summer. I made me appreciate the ole gal even more when climbing aboard.

The wait times are a little long since there is only 1 running. The other 2 new ones, once they put them on the track the "new and improved" stuff they added just wasn't working on the "old track". So they have to re-do and un-do and re-test and do many more test runs. They don't expect the new ones to be out on the tracks for service for some time, he said probably not for a few more months. The new Monorails have to have a certain amount of "run time" on the track after they fix all the bugs before the can put them in service. Most testing is done after hours (dang it!), the lady said to look at the "wheel house or turn house" not sure what she called it when we went around the bend at Tomorrowland you can get a glimpse of it. A glimpse is right, it was like zoom, oh was that it....ha ha ha

I was sad not to see more monorail action as I have always loved seeing them going about their business on the tracks above. With just one in service you are like "oh look the Monorail just went by".

The people at the Tomorrowland station said they would love to see the People Mover back as well, cause they hate looking at the empty track, but that since it was a slow ride and people would get out of the cars and hop from car to car that it is very unlikely they will ever bring the People Mover back. The one guy said that kids and people are so disrespectful and don't know how to act/behave in this day and age that it is sad because that is the main reason they removed the PM. He said "my Mom and Dad would've boxed my ears if I misbehaved, but now days you have parents who are misbehaving and passing along that behavior to their kids, it affects those of us who grew up respecting this park and it's sad".

Heavy stuff dude, and unfortunately sad but true!

bamato · Post by **bamato** » Jun Tue 24, 2008 9:46 am

It would appear from when I was reading mousetimes a few weeks ago that the new monorail is plagued with problems. No AC, windows don't work well, and it's too heavy and large. Apparently this is due to a new company designing the new monorail....

Cheshire Cat · Post by **Cheshire Cat** » Jun Tue 24, 2008 11:08 am

but that since it was a slow ride and people would get out of the cars and hop from car to car that it is very unlikely they will ever bring the People Mover back

Is this what Disneyw ants them to say? I've never been on THE PeopleMover, but from pictures it looks much more likely that people could do that on the WEDway... but I've never heard of it happening. Maybe it's just those people from California that have urges to jump between slow moving vehicles.

disneydreamer58 · Post by **disneydreamer58** » Jun Tue 24, 2008 11:16 am

The PM cars were open cars so it was very easy to hop out or climb out and I saw kids hoping in and out of the cars way back in the 70's when I used to go to DL all the time. They would stop the ride and come tell them to SIT DOWN. So I totally believe what the cast members were telling me, cause I've seen it happen. Too bad for those of us who didn't abuse the ride and rules. If they enclosed the cars that would solve that problem, so I say ENCLOSE the cars and bring the PM back!

I sure hope they get the new monorail bugs worked out soon! They are putting an awful lot of stress on the ONE that is running. So if you ride her, treat her gentle and thank her for hanging in there! I am ready for them to get the "year of a million dreams" off her side and get the real monorail look back!

bamato · Post by **bamato** » Jun Thu 26, 2008 8:58 am

So the one that is running, is it an older monorail? Or are they limping along on one fo the new ones?

Post by **Dr. Ravenscroft** » Jul Sat 26, 2008 1:12 pm

After returning from Disneyland a few weeks ago, I know sorry for not posting earlier just been busy, I can safely say that Monorail red is Running all the time, sort of. It is in full service, BUT, it can't be run in temperatures higher than 80 degrees..........well it turns out that it is actually just 12 noon that they just stop it, then it comes back into service at around 6pm.

I rode it several times, it is nice inside, but I can see why they take it out of service so early. I rode it at around 7pm after it was sitting in the sun for about an hour after being in the round house. It was getting pretty hot in there already.

The reason it is so hot in there is that the California department that regulates the Monorails, I can't remember whether it is transportation or amusement, told Disney that the windows cannot open more than 2-3 inches. So if you are familiar with the back windows on full size vans you will know what they looks like, they open outward. also they have a air intake system, fan, that blows air into the cars. Funny, yet sad, thing is that that isn's enough, so they add forward facing air intakes on the roof, which only work when the Monorail is in motion (which is only 1/3 the time).

The new monorail DOES have air conditioning, BUT, if they run it they will blow the circuit for the entire system and all the monorails will stop running at random spots. I heard this from two separate CMs. This is truly a said state of affairs that one of the best design companies in the world would have SO many problems with one vehicle.

Apparently when Monorail Blue goes into service, it is on property now, it will have all of the same problems that Red has. and during the time when Red and Blue are running Purple will be sent out for a refit. This means that ONLY two half built monorails will be in operation when purple leaves. I say half built because they are going to have to take them, Blue and Red, out of service later when Purple comes back to fix all the problems.

OK so I have painted a very glib picture here haven't I? Now for some good news. Monorail Purple won't be leaving the property until the temperatures drop, so you will still be able to ride the monorail during the hottest time of the day. When Purple does go you won't have to look at that horrible Year Of A Million Dreams Decal it is dressed in, I truly feel sorry for it. Another positive note is that the new monorails have a very smooth ride, no joke there is really is SMOOTH. The interior is beautiful, it is bathed in a wash of blue light from the floor and the Monorail emblems.

That is about all I can remember right now, while it is slightly fresh in my mind.

P.S. I forgot to mention that they are only loading 15 people per car, just to keep it cooler. Which makes it more fun to try and ride the monorail considering that EVERYONE wants to ride the "pretty one".

elizabethswann · Post by **elizabethswann** » Jul Sat 26, 2008 9:41 pm

I went to Disneyland on the 4th, the day after they premiered the new monorail. We saw it twice in the station but I figured since it barely premiered, it wouldn't run the entire time. My family and I were hoping to go on it but, to our disappointment, it was the Year of a Million Dreams one. I had a feeling that they were still making some adjustments to it so that was probably why we didn't see it very much the rest of the day we were there. Hopefully soon we'll get to ride it.