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4 July 2007: New water fountains at the Transportation and Ticket Center
The construction walls shown below on the 14 June update have now been removed to reveal some new water fountains.
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Above: The new fountains at the entry to the monorail
Below: The new fountains at the entry to the ferry
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14 June 2007: Construction walls at the Transportation and Ticket Center
A couple of construction walls have just popped up around the TTC. Specifically, one is located at the entry to the monorail and the other at the entry to the ferry. There is no information yet about what is being done. Thanks to ScottJ for the photos.
8 May 2007: New bus enhancements
The new bus system that is being rolled out seems to be based on a system by Clever Devices, information at http://www.cleverdevices.com/system_solutions.html#Anchor-Smart-41427
8 May 2007: New monorail handrail configuration trial
Disney is planning on testing a new handrail configuration on Monorail Lime during the next few weeks. The center stanchion has been removed from all of the cars and replaced with 4 stand-alone poles. There is going to be a 2 week trial where Lime will be put on the Magic Kingdom Express Beam to test the efficiency of this system. If it proves successful, Disney is looking to implement it on all 12 of the trains.
7 May 2007: New bus enhancements in operation
A member of our discussion forums got to
experience the new bus system in operation over the weekend. See this
thread for more information
http://forums.wdwmagic.com/showthread.php?t=178823
See the November 16 2005 update below for information about the changes
to the bus system.
9 April 2007: Bus fleet enhanced with interior LED displays
It's been a long time since we had an update on the bus enhancements, but we are now finally seeing some physical changes to the fleet. All busses are being equipped with LED displays inside the bus, ready to display information to guests. Currently, they only display the current date and time.
16 November 2005: Bus fleet enhancements
It has been a long time since there have been any significant changes to the WDW transportation system, and it now seems that this department is about to get a big rehab. As part of the Magic in Motion system, the WDW bus fleet will see enhancements both backstage, and onstage, taking place over the next two years.
The control system will be enhanced with cameras at resort and park stops, so that central command can monitor queues, and dispatch buses as and where needed. GPS tracking of buses will also give the controllers the capability to know exactly where every bus is on property.
For guests, improvements on board will include onboard background music, audio/video messages, and new artwork on the busses themselves and the loading areas.
Whilst all this is good news for the bus fleet, it does further underline Disney's commitment to the bus fleet, and probably is a sign that any monorail expansion remains in the background.
19 February 2005: Ferry Boat video
Video
Clip - Ferry Boat ride at Sunset
16Mb, WMV, 5 mins
19 January 2005: Automated gates on the monorails
The monorail stations are set to get automated entry gates (similar to rollercoaster gates at boarding). The Magic Kingdom station should be first to be complete, by March 2005.
1 May 2003: Monorail Updates
All twelve Mark VI Monorails are getting updated computer control systems. Monorail Yellow has already been upgraded with the new computer/console, and has been running on the system for a couple of weeks now. The cab console now features a touch screen windows based operating system, with more detailed malfunction descriptions, more flexible control over air conditioning units throughout the train and door operations, completely automated spiels, and more diagnostic information for the maintenance staff.
1 May 2003: Update
The photo below is indeed a prototype model. It was used in the design phase during work on the Mark VI Monorails. This original shell has moved around from storage yard to storage yard, until it finally ended up where it is now. Its ultimate destination is disposal at a landfill site.
18 September 2002: Monorail Body
This Mark VI monorail body shell was spotted around WDW. It is just the body shell, no chassis, wheels, motors, doors, windows, or hatches, but it does have seats! If anyone knows what this is all about, I'd like to hear. Possible theories are that it is an original prototype design that was made back in the mid 80's when Disney was changing the design.
15 March 2002: New Monorail Videos
Video
Clip 1 - The WDW Monorail System
9Mb, Real Video, 5 mins, Video by Fantasia Boi
Video Clip 2 - Monorail at Epcot
2.8Mb, Real Video, 1 min, Video by Fantasia Boi
26 February 2002: Monorail Ride through Epcot in 1994
Thanks to Popkid for this ride through of Epcot during 1994. Look at for World of Motion and Horizons!!
Video Clip1
3.5MB, Windows Media, 320x240, 2mins
13 April 2001: A History of the Monorails
The Mark VI Monorail Trains at the Walt Disney World Resort incorporate more than 30 years of Disney research and development of the monorail technology. The Walt Disney Company has been operating monorail systems for more than 30 years.
In Florida, the Walt Disney World monorail system has been in operation since 1971. In 1982, the system was expanded with a four-mile extension to Epcot, and in 1990 and 1991 new trains were delivered.
The Mark VI trains are a high-capacity design that includes improved air conditioning and door systems, and various improved safety features. The trains began operation in 1990, replacing the earlier design which had been used at the Walt Disney World Resort since 1971. By early 1991, the complete 12-train fleet was in operation.
The six-car trains, 203.5 feet long and able to carry more than 360 passengers, travel over a 13.7-mile system of elevated beamway. The purpose of the monorail system is to carry guests to the Magic Kingdom and Epcot theme parks. The system has seven stations serving the theme parks, resort hotels and parking areas. On a typical day, over 150,000 guests will ride the monorail system.
The monorail trains travel on a 26-inch-wide precast concrete beamway supported by tapered concrete columns. The distance between columns is approximately 50 feet. The beams and columns are constructed in sets of six; the six beam lengths are post-tensioned together to form a single 600-foot length of structure. The height of the beam ranges from 18 feet to over 60 feet at its highest elevation.
The narrow concrete beamway is a very cost-effective elevated structure, since is uses much less concrete and steel than conventional elevated railway tracks. Also, the lightweight structure can have a positive impact on an urban environment and is compatible with many types of architectural styles.
The monorail trains run on rubber tires and are powered by a 600-Volt DC propulsion system. The trains pick up electrical power from a metallic busbar along the side of the beamway. The train propulsion system includes eight DC motors rated at 113 HP each.
The most visible change in the Mark VI trains is the re-designed interiors, which include additional standing room during peak travel periods. Also, the improved sliding-door systems make it more convenient to get on and off the trains.
The Mark VI trains also include on-board monitoring systems and improved communications and control. The bodies of the new trains are made of a high-strength composite honeycomb material for the best combination of high strength and low weight.
The forerunner of the modern monorail systems was tested in Germany in the 1950s, catching the attention of Walt Disney, who was then planning the Disneyland theme park in Anaheim, Calif. Walt brought the monorail concept to his park, and when the Disneyland monorail system opened in 1959, it was the first new-style monorail to operate daily in the United States. Since then, the monorail design has evolved through six generations of monorail trains, resulting in the Mark VI trains now in use at the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida.
July 23 2000: Several tidbits revealed in recent reception at the Contemporary
Al Weiss gave a speech revealing the future of WDW to newly hired or promoted Cast:
- New state of the art transportation system.
Weiss stated "in two years, we are committed to drastically reducing the number of buses
required to fulfill our internal transportation needs." He put the two
year date on a "transport system which will whisk guests from the airport to a new
hub on property in five minutes." High speed rail, the rumors have
been around, Weiss seems to lend credibility to this rumor here.
- Weiss also revealed all resorts will be fitted
with digital TV's, which will have internet access and interactive capabilities.
- The development of airport lounges and playzones
for families traveling to WDW, with access to dining reservations, park planning and a variety
of other Disney services.
19 June 2000: Monorail Co-Pilot
New co-pilot licensing that are given out if you ride up front in the monorails. Thanks Now Inc for the scans.
8 April 2000: AK Bus stop construction news from Jim
The construction at the Animal Kingdom next to the bus stop area is another platform for Disney buses. Not a light-rail stop. The current load zone area is too congested and this will help spread the crowds out plus with the Villas at the Wilderness lodge opening up this year and the Safari Lodge opening next year and the 6000 room budget resort opening in early 2002, another platform is needed. They are also adding another load zone at the Magic Kingdom for the new resorts.
23 January 2000: New Transportation and Ticket Centre
As part of the proposed upgrade plans to the WDW transportation system, a brand new TTC is planned be built. While information is still sketchy, we do know that it will be in a different location to the current TTC, and will interface the new monorail expansions and the other 2 transport systems (one of which is a light rail system). Progress on this project is well forward, ground clearing and drainage preparation is set to be soon underway.
On the monorail expansion we have be informed that current plans show routing to 5 major parks?!? It appears that the monorail will link all parks and the TTC, with Downtown Disney and the resorts being linked by the remaining 2 new transport systems.
22 August 1999: Everything you want to know about parking trams!
Here are some interesting stats on those great trams that zip us from the parking areas to the front gates of the parks.
Length: 171 feet
Weight empty: 12 tons
Weight full: 24 tons
Cars per tram: 7 cars
Seats per car: 6 seats
Occupancy per seat: 5 persons
Total occupancy: 210 persons
Maximum speed: 14 mph
Old engine type: 8 cylinder
New engine type: 5 cylinder turbo charged
Number of trams WDW owns: 28 trams
Cost per tram: $1 million each
5 May 1999: More transportation news from John.
I've seen the "7 gate scenario" map at the monorail shop, and the proposed monorail route wasn't going through the Swan/Dolphin. It comes off the Living Sea side of the EPCOT station, through the old tramway between Yacht/Beach and Dolphin, between Boardwalk and the waterway that leads to Studios, stops there, continues to World of Sports, and eventually crosses 192 and goes to the proposed attraction and several hotels on the other side, eventually finishing just short of the Interstate 4/World Drive interchange. I believe that the Swan/Dolphin were originally designed for the monorail to go through, but I am pretty sure that that is not feasible at this time.
There was also a "people mover" coming off the Universe of Energy side of the EPCOT station and going across the parking lot and EPCOT Center Dr. to Port Orleans/Dixie Landings. That is probably what the West Virginia U/Morgantown looking project refers to. Oddly, it didn't go any further, such as to Old Key West.
There was also "light rail" that went from Disney's Animal Kingdom to World of Sports, Downtown Disney, and out to the east, probably connecting to the proposed light rail that would run down International Drive and E/W to the airport, if it ever gets built.
There is also a lot of road construction around the Osceola Parkway, it looks like it is connecting EPCOT Center Dr./536 to "the road that nobody uses". That would allows lot of guest and cast members who stay/live out 192 to get off that "less than ideal" road.
To clarify the 7 gate scenario.
The "7 gate scenario" refers to the existing 4 parks plus 3 more, although it doesn't specify what form they would take; e.g., World of Sports isn't considered a "gate" in that sense; it's really the master plan for longterm expansion, including parks, hotels, transportation. I remember spending a lot of time years ago looking at the original plan that was in Communicore West @ EPCOT; curiously, it is now in the "training room" at Westgate, which is the building to the left of the tram station on the parking lot side of the 7 Seas Lagoon where the monorail, parking, and bus cast members costume, break, etc. It's fun to see what was done, what hasn't been done yet, and what has been added. That original plan shows things like Old Key West years before it was ever built. It also shows the Mediterranean themed hotel (now "Venetian or Venezia"), another hotel between the Contemporary and the Lagoon, and an Asian themed hotel on Bay Lake north of the Contemporary, really east of the northeast corner of the M
25 April 1999: There are rumours that Disney has placed an order for 32 new monorails from their manufacturer. It is not clear whether these are all for WDW, or a mix of WDW and DL and maybe even Tokyo Disneyland.
5, December 1998: Malcolm Ross, vice president of the Disney-MGM Studios, says a transportation master plan now being put to paper will reduce the park's reliance on buses, but he stopped short of confirming unofficial reports that the company plans to invest between $800 million to $1billion in expanding the monorail. "We're looking at expanding the monorail, but we also have four or five other systems we're looking at," says Ross. Whichever is chosen, though, says Ross, "We'll have to get there soon."
28, November 1998: Link sent in my Brian (WVU Graduate who used the system) shows the system in detail.
http://weber.u.washington.edu/~jbs/itrans/morg.htm
News just in from Bryan....
23, November 1998: I've just learned that Disney is considering installing a whole new transportation system for Walt Disney World. The new system is going to replace the bus system and possibly the monorails. Imagineers have been visiting West Virginia University (WVU) to study their form of mass transit called the PRT.
The system they are looking at is called a "horizontal elevator" system. What this means is that a Disney guest will call up a car at any transit station and select where he/she would like to go. That car would then travel directly to the destination without stopping at other stops like the busses do now.
WVU currently has about 200 cars running on their transit system the cars are also pretty small ( capacity 8-10 riders). I'm sure Disney will need a lot more cars and will probably design them to hold more passengers. The technology is already in place and has worked flawlessly at WVU for over 8 years.
From what it sounds like Disney will build new transit terminals at each park, resort and other entertainment complexes (probably 20-30 in all) The transit system they are looking at is an elevated rubber wheel system. Kind of the same thing they use at the Orlando airport. The difference between those kind of systems and the new Disney system is that the guest can select their final destination. The cars are computer controlled and can easily switch from track to track. During low transit times the cars can automatically relocate to where expected crowds will be at a later time.
From what I can gather, it sounds like construction could begin by the end of 1999. This would put the entire project completion around 2002 or so... Just in time to get the bugs worked out for Disney's possible hosting for the Summer Olympics?
This sounds like a really cool project. My source tells me that Disney is pretty excited about this system and feels that they are going to begin development of the WDW system in the near future!