Originally Posted By CMM1 MK has the train going around the outside of the park which provides a way for park guests to get back to the main entrance without walking all the way from Frontierland or Tomorrowland - would EPCOT guests benefit from a transport system (perhaps a shuttle system of some kind) that would start over by Universe of Energy and run out to the American Adventure or even as far as the France Pavilion? It would seem that such a system would (1) make it easier for tired guests to get back to the park entrance after walking the length of World Showcase; (2) help disperse the crowd for the evening fireworks show by making it easy to get out to the far reaches of World Showcase; (3) provide means of emptying out the park faster after the show. Such a system could run in the backstage area without theming (but with appropriate paneling or tunnels to avoid guests seeing backstage areas). EPCOT used to actually have double-deck buses going around World Showcase but I believe they got rid of those buses due to the danger of having moving vehicles in an area with so much foot traffic.
Originally Posted By Chelledun Personally, I love to walk and the exercise that I get at Epcot is a HUGE plus, especially with all the eating I do on vacation! That said, it must be tough for people who don't walk so easily. It would be nice to have something to help them get around, and it certainly wouldn't take anything away from those who don't use it. It would also probably be used by people who are staying at the Epcot hotels in the boardwalk area to get to the front of the park more quickly upon park entry through the International Gateway.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros Although it would be nice to have, I really don't think that there is enough demand for it. They have the Friendships that take you across the World Showcase Lagoon, which I think is enough. To build some sort of transit system that went around the park, it would be very expensive. I would love to see something like a PeopleMover, that surrounds the park, but I think it would be too complicated to build without destroying the current sight lines in the park. To avoid blocking the World Showcase Pavilions, it would have to go behind them or underground. It would be very difficult and time consuming to build underground, and due to the variation in size of the pavilions, it would be difficult to get stations in places that would be convenient to walk to, that are also along the route. I would like to see it happen, because it would be a nice addition, but I really don't think there is that great of a need for it and it would be very difficult to build.
Originally Posted By CMM1 The system could be totally above ground (in fact, being Florida, it would probably have to be!) You could just put up boards, signs or other barriers to keep the backstage area out of sight. I don't think you could have a system going completely around EPCOT - there is the channel going under the bridge between England and France that would demand some kind of bridge or tunnel that would be very costly and difficult to work into the configuration. But if you could run the system behind Universe of Energy, MS, Test Track and then behind the World Showcase buildings to an endpoint at Morocco or France, the only real big problem would be bridging the canal that the fireworks show staff brings the barges into the lagoon from. One would think that the resturants in EPCOT might benefit from such a system as it would allow guests with park hopper passes or even APers easier access to those establishments.
Originally Posted By mickey_ring There used to was a double-deck bus going around World Showcase. That was a good way to get from Future World over near American Adventure.
Originally Posted By BlazesOfFire The boatds arent enough? I know they are slow but it is something. i really like Epcot how it is, without a transport system, so people dont miss out on all they have to offer
Originally Posted By trekkeruss EPCOT didn't need one, and Epcot doesn't need one. would it be neat and convenient? Sure, but a transport system is unnecessary. They have the Friendship boats for those whose legs are tired. I'd rather they pour money into new attractions than transportation around the park.We probably won't get either anyway... they'll buld some feature that requires a additional cost.
Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom As pointed out there are the boats which do help considerably. As also indicated when EPCOT CENTER initially opened they had the double decker buses. Which really helped a lot. Walt Disney always knew that moving people around a park was an essential ingredient to the park. This is the reason why when he designed the MK he had, the train, horse drawn trolleys as well as the sky ride to help keep the flow moving. EPCOT is much larger than MK. And has much fewer modes of transportation. It would be difficult now to bring back the buses as the crowds around the Showcase lagoon are significant. But some form of transportation that didn't take away from the appearance of the World Showcase would be appreciated by many I believe.
Originally Posted By AuroraRose I for one would welcome something in addition to the boats, even a dock in every other country that made a circular trip around world showcase lagoon would be helpful, the trip around the lagoon seems soooo long at the end of the day when you wind up opposite an exit.
Originally Posted By ssWEDguy You know what I want? An Epcot extension to the monorail. Get off the monorail at the station out in front of Epcot, and then transfer over to the new beam. That monorail would take you down to an International Gate station. From there on to the Boardwalk Resorts -- Maybe another station near the Swan & Dolphin. Then all the way to Studios. From there it could loop around to go back up World Drive and back to the Epcot station.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 I'll take an extension of the monorail-- but really would not want to see anything different than that.....
Originally Posted By TDLFAN I think the people mover concept in the original EPCOT plans laid out by Disney himself would have been of great benefit to the park. If done well, and integrated well into the current EPCOT Center design.
Originally Posted By ssWEDguy >> I think the people mover concept in the original EPCOT plans laid out by Disney himself would have been of great benefit to the park << Oh, I agree with you 100%. I just don't think it will ever happen. The extension of the monorail probably won't either, but I think it would stand a better chance than an in-park PeopleMover. Besides connecting one end of Epcot with the other, it would also provide added park access to Epcot area resort guests, AND Studios access.
Originally Posted By trekkeruss TDLFAN, I was sure you would say that as fat as Americans have become, that a system that would make it easier on people would be the last thing the World needs. LOL.
Originally Posted By TDLFAN Oh, one more thing... as fat as Americans have become, a system that would make it easier on people would be the last thing the World needs. >> I just don't think it will ever happen.<< As if...
Originally Posted By ssWEDguy >> I am not in favor of such a thing at Epcot. << Ok.... why not? Are your reasons fiscal, theming, visual, crowd control, what? I think a monorail through Epcot would theme well. Adding all the Epcot resorts to the monorail system would tie them into the same system that the MK resorts enjoy. And then connecting to Studios is just a hop over the road further, thus providing access to that park.
