tim5055 120 Posted January 12, 2015 Report Share Posted January 12, 2015 Well, I've scrolled past this thread several times thinking - Ah, Lou has everyone brainwashed. Disney just replaced the trains a few years ago. I guess it's true, time does move faster as you get older. According to the Monorail Society Disney replaced the original monorails at the 17 year mark (1971 - 1989). The replacement monorails have now been in service for 25 years (1989 - 2014) .... can that be true? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ependydad...Doug 176 Posted January 12, 2015 Report Share Posted January 12, 2015 Knock on wood, we've never experienced a monorail issue while we were at Disney; that we know of, at least. There's still time... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BradyBzLyn...Mo 2,023 Posted January 12, 2015 Report Share Posted January 12, 2015 The replacement monorails have now been in service for 25 years (1989 - 2014) .... can that be true? I can't even imagine how many people they've transported in those 25 years. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Travisma 1,317 Posted January 12, 2015 Report Share Posted January 12, 2015 If you think about it, any transportation on a "closed" system will cause havoc when it breaks down. At least Disney has a way (most of the time) to get a breakdown out of the way. In the real world, if a train breaks down blocking road crossings and the track, it can be hours before a suitable engine is located and routed to move the break down. Are the monorails perfect, no, but I feel they have done a great job, and I couldn't imagine Disneyworld without them. I'm just glad that our family was able to enjoy riding with the engineer in the front car before they stopped allowing that. I'm sad that my granddaughters won't be able to enjoy that experience. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BradyBzLyn...Mo 2,023 Posted January 12, 2015 Report Share Posted January 12, 2015 At least Disney has a way (most of the time) to get a breakdown out of the way. The real problem ends up being the transportation backlog when it happens, and the subsequent scramble to get the buses and boats to pick up the slack. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Travisma 1,317 Posted January 12, 2015 Report Share Posted January 12, 2015 The real problem ends up being the transportation backlog when it happens, and the subsequent scramble to get the buses and boats to pick up the slack.And I'm sure it all boils down to $$$. They don't want to fire up extra transportation if the monorail is going to get moving in 5 minutes. But then the 5 minutes turns into 10, 20, 50 etc because they couldnt do a quick fix, and now they missed the sweet spot of getting the alternative transportation moving into place before a huge backup occured. It's like a municipality planning for a snowstorm. Do you bring your people in on OT before the storm hits and burn thru your budget, or wait until it hits and save $$, but then the roads may be so bad the plow drivers can't get in. I'm sure Lou would be more up on their contingency plans. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
tim5055 120 Posted January 12, 2015 Report Share Posted January 12, 2015 I'm sure Lou would be more up on their contingency plans. contingency plans = more busses BradyBzLyn...Mo 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BradyBzLyn...Mo 2,023 Posted January 12, 2015 Report Share Posted January 12, 2015 And I'm sure it all boils down to $$$. They don't want to fire up extra transportation if the monorail is going to get moving in 5 minutes. But then the 5 minutes turns into 10, 20, 50 etc because they couldnt do a quick fix, and now they missed the sweet spot of getting the alternative transportation moving into place before a huge backup occured. And depending on the day and time of day, a massive backup can occur in a matter of minutes. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Clark W Griswold 24 Posted January 13, 2015 Report Share Posted January 13, 2015 I also have great memories of my family and I riding in the front with the driver. The view going around spaceship earth was the BEST! It usually meant having to wait a monorail or two to get up front but it was worth it... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Travisma 1,317 Posted January 13, 2015 Report Share Posted January 13, 2015 To me that experience was better than an E ride. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
h2odivers...Ray 952 Posted January 13, 2015 Report Share Posted January 13, 2015 I also have great memories of my family and I riding in the front with the driver. The view going around spaceship earth was the BEST! It usually meant having to wait a monorail or two to get up front but it was worth it...My DD was lucky enough to ride up front before they quit allowing it. Too bad she doesn't remember it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Millermouseketeers MaryAnn 150 Posted January 16, 2015 Report Share Posted January 16, 2015 I also have great memories of my family and I riding in the front with the driver. The view going around spaceship earth was the BEST! It usually meant having to wait a monorail or two to get up front but it was worth it...We were also lucky enough to ride up front & the kids loved it. Yes always worth the wait. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Katman1356...Jason 1,140 Posted January 16, 2015 Report Share Posted January 16, 2015 I'm just glad that our family was able to enjoy riding with the engineer in the front car before they stopped allowing that. I'm sad that my granddaughters won't be able to enjoy that experience.If any of you make it out to DL you can still ride in the front out there. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
h2odivers...Ray 952 Posted January 16, 2015 Report Share Posted January 16, 2015 If any of you make it out to DL you can still ride in the front out there.That's good info. Thanks. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ependydad...Doug 176 Posted January 16, 2015 Report Share Posted January 16, 2015 I'm just glad that our family was able to enjoy riding with the engineer in the front car before they stopped allowing that. I'm sad that my granddaughters won't be able to enjoy that experience. If any of you make it out to DL you can still ride in the front out there. I read that out loud to my wife and she got that gleam in her eye. I wouldn't be surprised if we see DL in 2016 or '17. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Katman1356...Jason 1,140 Posted January 16, 2015 Report Share Posted January 16, 2015 I will verify its still true this summer when I am there. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Travisma 1,317 Posted January 16, 2015 Report Share Posted January 16, 2015 If any of you make it out to DL you can still ride in the front out there. So if it's safe enough for DisneyLand, why not DisneyWorld? Do they have better trained engineers out there? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tri-Circle-D 2,059 Posted January 16, 2015 Report Share Posted January 16, 2015 I will verify its still true this summer when I am there. I can verify that it was still true on December 8, 2014 when I rode the Disneyland monorail. TCD Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Katman1356...Jason 1,140 Posted January 16, 2015 Report Share Posted January 16, 2015 So if it's safe enough for DisneyLand, why not DisneyWorld? Do they have better trained engineers out there? They dont have the switch track WDW has to get the Epcot Monorail back to the maintenance area. Theirs only go in one direction and they will not leave the station till the one in front at the other station has left. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BradyBzLyn...Mo 2,023 Posted January 16, 2015 Report Share Posted January 16, 2015 They dont have the switch track WDW has to get the Epcot Monorail back to the maintenance area. Theirs only go in one direction and they will not leave the station till the one in front at the other station has left. Thanks for clarifying. I was wondering myself. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DramaMama .......... Janet 75 Posted January 20, 2015 Report Share Posted January 20, 2015 On this last trip our boys got into asking for the transportation cards. This led to me telling the nine year old he (and his dad and I) had ridden up front in a monorail and why they don't allow it anymore. So sad. I understand it from a safety and liability issue, but after all the OSHA and upper level Disney safety guards where put into place after the accident it seems safer to me than standing near the front of a crowded WDW bus. I know we got a special monorail card for our son when we rode up there, but he was two at the time..... what in the world did I do with it??? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Starbuc71 162 Posted January 21, 2015 Report Share Posted January 21, 2015 Bring back the resort guest only monorail. Almost missed last ohana reservation due to tired sweaty, rude and some stupid people packing the resort monorail just to get back to the TTC. If I were paying GF prices I would be pissed. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
K2P2mom 2 Posted January 25, 2015 Report Share Posted January 25, 2015 Since 1978, my first night at Fort Wilderness included chili at the campsite, a ride on the boat over to the Contemporary Resort and then...a ride on the monorail!! I can't imagine a first night without this. The look on my boys faces when they got to ride "up front" was priceless!!! I can't imagine our first night back in November without it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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