Monorail Parking (all others will be towed at owner's expense)

[February]

You've got that right about the monorails being the coolest trains in the world, BW. ever since I was a toddler and took the egg cartons from the fridge, emptied them out and drew a stripe down the side and then put my Weebles in them to play monorail, I've been hooked. My older sisters used to take a box and cut out a "Contemporary Resort" for me to drive them through. I even had the Mickey weebles from the old Mickey Mouse Club set (long since lost in a basement flood in the old family house :( . Those were the toys that defined most of my childhood.

To this day, to me there is just nothing better than watching those white trains with the colored stripes (and the cool nosecones!) gliding through the sky above WDW.

And I have the kitchen to prove it. Monorails, everywhere.

I have to take more pictures of it. I have only one pic at the moment- of my Contemporary model with the Red train going through it above my kitchen cabinets- that I just took recently- was about to post cause I thought Randy would enjoy it.

I wish I could've shown him how I've used the die-cast trains around the rest of the kitchen too with the signage and all from the larger train kits. I think he would've gotten a kick out of it, like I got a kick out of his set up. . .so elaborate and intricate *sniff*

Sorry for the ramble. . .just can't see Monorails mentioned on this forum without thinkin of Randy. So sad tonight.

Bru

[Rob562]

Everyone seems to be talking about having a new Monorail. That is not what is needed.

We need the Wedway People Mover!

There would an elevated track with terminals at each park, including the water parks and miniature golf courses, and each resort. Possibly multiple terminals at DTD.

There would be main lines and hubs. Each of the vehicles would have a small control panel and you would indicate your destination and press a <START> button which would close the doors and start your car moving. The central computer system would know your destination, move you from the terminal onto a main line at high speed, and have high-speed junctions to move your vehicle, by the most direct route, to your destination.

The cars would have some kind of enclosure to protect the occupants from the weather.

Actually, that's pretty much exactly what a PRT (Personal Rapid Transit) system is that Mad Maxx mentioned. A number of companies have developed various PRT systems (I know Raytheon was testing their PRT2000 system a couple towns away from where I live)

While we're talking about transit systems, am I the only one that noticed that Siemens has a train and transit system division? ;)

Lastly, I know I've posted this link online recently, but I'm not sure if it was here on SGT or not. Either way, it's still an interesting thing to watch... It's the part of the original EPCOT film that dealt with the transit systems Walt envisioned for the Florida property.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gBNfauF6IHc

If you're interested in seeing it all, this film is part of the "Tomorrowland" DVD set from the Walt Disney Treasures collection.

-Rob

[Cranbiz]

Does that mean that we will go from Bombardier to Siemens monorails???

[February]

Above my main coffee cup (the most important) cabinet. Across from it are several die cast monorails under the Walt Disney World light up sign. . .across the way is "Epcot" and on top of my fridge. . .the Castle.

It's cooler than it sounds. I just got done reworking it all. I have to take more pictures.

[Zazu]

I have to cast my lot with those who say that a PRT system is what WDW needs. If done well, it could replace all of the buses, monorails, and many of the watercraft, providing huge savings in labor hours.

I've been involved for several years now with a study group that's been looking at the possibilities here. We have taken some measurements of the present mixed-mode system, and come to a few conclusions.

In short, we think it is feasible. It would, however, be the largest PRT system ever proposed -- the number of route miles, stations, total vehicles, passengers/day, and passengers/hour/station would all set records.

Fortunately, PRT systems are modular. They can start doing useful work as soon as there are two stations, and the traffic will grow with the system. Sadly, one of the biggest economic advantages is the elimination of other modes of transit. You can't save the cost of the Bus Garage until you eliminate the last bus. Still, it can start small and grow.

A number of years ago Disney looked at adding monorail connections to the Studios, Animal Kingdom, and Downtown Disney. The price tag came to about $1 billion (yeah, that's a b). For this price, a pretty substantial PRT system could be built, and it would likely cost less to operate and would certainly provide better service.

For example, you enter the cabin, insert your KTTW card (or AP or whatever), and a touchscreen panel lights up *in your preferred language* and lets you select your destination. If you're stying on site, one option is "my resort". If you're a day guest, an option would be "parking lot". And yes, the system would remember where you had parked and take you to *that* lot and *that* row.

While a lot of work has been done, there's more yet to do, and some of it will have to wait for Disney's cooperation in releasing traffic data. (Hey, it could happen!) The study group isn't looking at specific technologies, as those are evolving (and dying) too fast for specific consideration at this point. We have defined some minimum standards, such as accessibility, but these can be met in a number of different ways.

If anyone here has a background in heavy number crunching or real-time simulation programming, we might have a seat open, but we are trying to keep the group small enough that all can participate and contribute. Don't look for an announcement from us anytime soon -- unless I happen to come across a billion dollars and decide to invest it!

[EeyoresButterfly]

The PRT sounds really neat, I think I would like to see that! I can pretty much take or leave the monorail. I only enjoy riding it if I can be in front and see the track. It's similar to my flying issue, the idea of lack of control. I don't like being in the regular cars and not being able to see the rail that is supporting me. I always have this vision in my head of guests deciding to all go to the same side at the same time and the monorail falling of the tracks. (I know it can't happen, but I still think of it).

I had a really bad monorail experience my first CP. I was by myself in a car and there were apparently some very unruly children upfront? How did I know this? The intercom was on the whole time. I could hear the kids screaming and the driver and mother trying to get them to sit down and behave. It was quite frightening. The worst was when I heard the driver say, "Don't touch that" and then the mother said, "Look, now you broke it." We stopped almost immediately after that exchange and sat there for five minutes with no reason given. I got off that monorail in tears and avoided them for a long time after that.

[dazyhill]

Above my main coffee cup (the most important) cabinet. Across from it are several die cast monorails under the Walt Disney World light up sign. . .across the way is "Epcot" and on top of my fridge. . .the Castle.

It's cooler than it sounds. I just got done reworking it all. I have to take more pictures.

Did you buy that model of the Contemporary Resort or build it yourself? It's awesome!

[February]

I wish I built it! It's one of the ones they sold a few years back, you can still find them on ebay at inflated prices, of course. . .have the Grand Floridian station set up in a different room too.

I just wish I could complete my die cast set- am missing a few colors and saw that they went back to red last time we were in WDW! UGH! I may have to start watching the auctions again. . .

I was just thinking how Randy made his contemporary light up from the inside. I'm going to have to work on making mine do that. . .it was so awesome.

[ktulu]

West Coaster has pics of Red running the beam at DL, still testing though. PM if you need the link.

[dazyhill]

Thanks for the info on the model Bru. I go on eBay daily and I'll have to add this to my list of things to look up!
I have been putting off buying a Disney toy train and monorail. No room. :(