The Extraordinary Story of the Disney World Monorail
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- The History of the Disneyland Monorail
- Walt Disney World Monorail System: A Vision for the Future
- Designing the Walt Disney World Monorails
- Building the Monorail System
- Expansion and Upgrades
- Tragic Events and Safety Measures
- Maintenance Challenges and Refurbishment
- The Future of the Walt Disney World Monorail System
- Conclusion
The Walt Disney World Monorail System: A Modern Marvel 🚝
The Walt Disney World Monorail system is a technological marvel that has been captivating millions of visitors each year. Since its introduction in 1971, this custom-built transit system has become an integral part of the Disney experience for both new and returning guests. With its sleek design and futuristic appeal, boarding the monorail offers a thrilling and unique observation spot to take in the wonders of the resort. But did you know that Walt Disney World was not the first Disney property to have a monorail system? Let's delve into the history, design, challenges, and future of the Walt Disney World Monorail System.
Introduction
Imagine the excitement of watching the sleek monorail train pulling up to the station as you step inside, ready to embark on a journey high above the resort. The Walt Disney World Monorail System is not just a mode of transportation, but an attraction in itself. With its over 14 miles of beam-way, the monorail glides through the resort, providing guests with a comfortable and efficient way to travel between various destinations. But before we dive into the magic of the Walt Disney World Monorail System, we must first explore its roots at the Disneyland Resort.
The History of the Disneyland Monorail
On June 14th, 1959, Walt Disney introduced the Disneyland Monorail as part of his first major expansion project. Unlike its successor, this monorail system was primarily designed as a ride-attraction, entertaining visitors at Walt's original magic kingdom in Anaheim, California. Engineered by Disney legend Bob Gurr, the Disneyland monorail rode atop a concrete beam-way in Tomorrowland, offering a non-stop journey back to Tomorrowland Station. It was the first daily operating monorail system in the Western Hemisphere and aimed to showcase the potential of reliable and safe public transit for the future.
Walt Disney World Monorail System: A Vision for the Future
When Walt Disney conceptualized his Florida Project in 1965, he envisioned a larger monorail system that would connect the resort airport, entrance complex, industrial park, EPCOT, and the Theme Park Resort. Traveling by monorail was meant to be the exciting and futuristic way to explore the expansive property. However, after Walt Disney's untimely passing in 1966, changes were made to the resort's plans, and the EPCOT project was put on hold. This decision redirected efforts towards completing the theme park resort complex, with the hope that future executives would determine the next phase of construction.
The resort complex, originally designed with a massive man-made lagoon surrounded by four resort hotels, a transportation and ticket center, and the Magic Kingdom theme park, provided the perfect infrastructure for interconnecting a monorail system. Given the expected levels of traffic, two separate lines were constructed—one servicing each station, while the other offered express service from the transit center to the theme park.
Designing the Walt Disney World Monorails
Renowned Imagineer Bob Gurr was once again called upon to design the new monorails for Walt Disney World. As the system needed to accommodate a higher capacity than the Disneyland versions, the design departed from the whimsical rocket ship concept. Gurr drew inspiration from the stylish and modern Lear-jet, incorporating its sleek look into a larger 5-car monorail with a total capacity of 200 seated passengers. Ten Mark IV monorails were ordered from Martin Marietta at a cost of $6 million per monorail.
The Mark IV monorails featured an interior height of 5' 10", providing seating room only. Each cabin was divided into four aisles, each with two rows of seats, allowing for a densely packed but efficient passenger arrangement. With a width of 8' 4" and a length of 171 feet, these monorails weighed a staggering 122,600 pounds when fully loaded with passengers.
Building the Monorail System
To support the dimensions and weight of the Mark IV monorails, the Walt Disney World beams were larger and stronger than their California counterparts. Measuring 26 inches wide, double the length of the Disneyland beams, and with a minimum depth of 48 inches, these beams were fabricated in Washington state. High-strength concrete was poured around a honeycomb cage of welded rebar, which provided additional strength to the frame. The beams were hollow at the core to maintain a weight under 50 tons each. The construction process involved shipping the beams by freight train to Tampa, Florida, and then trucking them to the resort, where they were lifted into place by cranes.
The monorail track circled the Seven Seas Lagoon on a double-loop extending over 3.5 miles. The track had a switch near the theme park, allowing access to the spur line leading to the monorail storage facility. Two identical storage buildings were constructed, providing ample space for all ten monorails, along with an additional track for a cleaning and painting facility. One building housed the Walt Disney World Railroad trains on the bottom level, while the other accommodated a vehicle maintenance center.
Expansion and Upgrades
By the time Walt Disney World opened in October 1971, four monorails were ready for service, while the remaining six were delivered in the following months. However, as the resort experienced a surge in guests in early 1972, the monorail system faced challenges accommodating the influx of visitors. To alleviate the strain on the system, the Northern end of World Drive was closed, allowing parking trams to pick up guests at the transit center and transport them directly to the park gates. Despite the primitive air conditioning system of the Mark IV monorails, guests were forgiving due to the unique experience and panoramic views they offered.
Over the years, the monorail system continued to expand and improve. Monorails Coral and Lime were added in 1977, each featuring an additional cabin and increasing the train length to six cars. The capacity of existing monorails was also increased by adding a car to their length during refurbishments, accommodating 244 passengers. In 1982, the monorail line was extended to EPCOT, providing guests with a bird's-eye view of the park's future offerings.
Tragic Events and Safety Measures
While the Walt Disney World Monorail System has an impressive safety record, it experienced a tragic incident in July 2009. Monorails Pink and Purple were involved in a collision that resulted in the death of a monorail pilot. The company launched an investigation to prevent similar incidents in the future, leading to retraining measures for all monorail pilots. As a result, Monorails Pink and Purple were permanently retired, while Monorails Teal and Peach were introduced later, using salvaged portions of the previous trains.
In addition to accidents, maintenance issues and the aging of the monorails raised concerns. In 2018, a door malfunction on Monorail Red raised awareness of the need for refurbishment. As a response, Disney negotiated with Bombardier for a complete strip-down and rebuild of each monorail. The refurbishment process commenced in 2019, aiming to refresh the trains and ensure their continued operation.
Maintenance Challenges and Refurbishment
Maintaining the Walt Disney World monorail fleet poses unique challenges, considering the size, age, and complexity of the trains. While other vehicles typically last 20 years with regular maintenance, the Mark VI monorails surpassed this timeframe. Instead of replacing the entire fleet, Disney chose to refurbish each monorail individually. The process involved sending the monorails to Bombardier for a complete overhaul, from the interior to the exterior.
With the completion of the refurbishment project, the Mark VI monorails were equipped with advanced air conditioning systems, spacious cabins, large emergency exit hatches and windows, and state-of-the-art fire detection systems. Despite these enhancements, the monorails still required a monorail pilot onboard to supervise the automated computer driving system and take control in case of any malfunctions or emergencies.
The Future of the Walt Disney World Monorail System
While Disney fans have eagerly awaited the introduction of a Mark VIII Monorail to replace the aging Mark VI fleet, the company's current agreement with Bombardier for refurbishments suggests a different course. As the Mark VI monorails surpassed the 20-year mark in 2011, it is unclear when or if Disney plans to introduce a new fleet. In the meantime, the Walt Disney World Monorail System will continue transporting guests, with its 12 monorails and four tractors supporting maintenance and safety operations.
Conclusion
The Walt Disney World Monorail System stands as a testament to ingenuity, engineering excellence, and the continuation of Walt Disney's visionary legacy. From its humble beginnings at the Disneyland Resort to its expansion and transformation into a fully functioning transit system at Walt Disney World, the monorail has become an iconic symbol of the Disney experience. As technology advances and new challenges arise, Disney remains committed to keeping the monorail system safe, efficient, and capable of transporting guests for many more decades to come. So, the next time you visit Walt Disney World, don't miss the opportunity to travel on Disney's magical highway in the sky—an experience that continues to captivate and inspire visitors as it has for generations.
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