Originally Posted By BrigmanMT 2 Does anyone know if the surrounding areas will be affected with the dubt of the Nemo submarines? Are design changes going to occur in the circlevision/Matterhorn/Club Buzz area, alongside the new Monorial Station, and possible peoplemover track removal? I wrote the following in another section, and was wondering if anybody had any ideas of there own for this problem area, or if they had heard something: "Is it certain that the monorail station will not be moving? It is not what I want, but they could even move the station over to the old motorboat cruise dock (there is enough room and the beam is straight). They should really take advantage of getting to destroy the current station, and mess around with the always crowded corridor between Circlevision/Club Buzz, Matterhorn, Monorail, Autopia exit, and the sub queue. It would be nice if the new station and sub attraction would finally put some pressure on enhancing the transition space between Circlevision and the Matterhorn. That whole area under the monorial and between the prince/princess bathrooms and by the pay phones has always seemed confused. They now have an oppertunity to create a new transition space, plus improve the area for parade viewing and guests flow during the parades and fireworks (which is horrible in this area). Heck, readjust the Tomorrowland rocks and Ariel's grotto while they are at it, and really enhance this area, which has always been confused and a mess during the busy season. The 50th Anniversary has provided Disneyland with its highest attendance since Indy and the Electrical Parade. I hope those in charge are sitting back and taking notes for these problem areas. I think the park can really grow its capacity, enhance its show, and please more guests with the lesson the operators learn from this busy season. The Matterhorn/ Castle/ Circlevision corridor is currently of the major problem areas, this gives them the oppertunity to change that, I hope they take it. Think how tough it will be to navigate this area with parades and firworks if Nemo debuts and no changes are made to the current setup."
Originally Posted By Darkbeer Everything I know about the Monorail refurb has no track being replaced, though the other half of the rails is supposed to be stripped. The Monorail station will remain at the same location, as will the Subs load at the old loading area below. Those won't change. But expect major remodeling/removal of the area, except for the beams and support posts. The elevator HAS to be moved, and a new alternate viewing area has to be built. (The alternate viewing area will allow those who can't handle the sub stairs a chance to watch a video of the ride, along with a few surprises, think the 4D movies...) Of course, the Subs will have FASTPASS, so they will have to allow for the machines, and address traffic flow in the area also. The Speed Ramps will be removed, and don't expect to see any moving ramps/escalators to access the Monorail. One plan I heard about even eliminates the elevator, as they had the ramps at a low enough elevation to allow all guests to use them. Should be interesting to watch what happens, supposely work in the area will start in January, but still allow the Monorail to operate (Downstairs construction).
Originally Posted By trekkeruss <<The Monorail station will remain at the same location, as will the Subs load at the old loading area below. Those won't change.>> That makes sense, because moving them would be an unnecessary expense.
Originally Posted By oc_dean >>The Speed Ramps will be removed, and don't expect to see any moving ramps/escalators to access the Monorail.<< So .. then how will we be gett'n up there? Mary Poppins ubrella??? :O)
Originally Posted By trekkeruss There's this anti-gravity technology... quite ingenious in it's simplicty. I believe it's known as S.T.A.I.R.S.
Originally Posted By gadzuux I too think the monorail station should be moved. I'm sure they won't, but I can think of plenty of benefits to it. I have two possibilities - one is in the back of the park, just east of the parade gates, the other is the back side of the buzz building. The rear park location would actually open up an area of the park to guests that isn't available now. Since a monorail station generates a lot of foot traffic, it would actually increase the overall capacity of the entire park by creating a new area that could hold a high number of guests. The second location is just west of the current station - the long blank stretch of wall that is the back of the 'buzz' building. There are some planters and the old PM track along here, but as BMT states, it's not very 'magical'. Relocating the platform to this area would free-up the sub loading area as well as open up a better view from TL terrace. Even the earlier suggestion of using the straight stretch of track along the motorboat dock would also be preferable to the current location. The new nemo subs, autopia, the the TL DLRR station are more than enough to keep that area of TL well populated throughout the day. Moving the monorail station away from this congestion can only help.
Originally Posted By trekkeruss The only qualm I would have about moving the monorail station to near the parade gates is that it ould be completely out of theme to Fantasyland.
Originally Posted By gadzuux Think of it as 'adjacent' to fantasyland. It would be in it's own area apart from everything else (other than the DLRR - which steams right by there - maybe they could move the current FL/TT DLRR location to this new transit plaza too. And technically it would still be in tomorrowland, just not a part that has any foot access to the rest of TL.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros If the congestion in that area is so bad, why do they insist on adding FastPass to Nemo. The only thing that it has ever done is make the traffic worse wherever it goes.
Originally Posted By BrigmanMT 2 I am surprised that they would add Fastpass to nemo, and I am pretty disappointed. Just look at Buzz, the fastpass machines are placed in a space about 50% the size of the indoor queue, while guests wait outside in plain metal chain switchbacks. On the same note, Star Tours is a much better experience without fastpass, but they need to remove those machines to create some new walking space, they could even keep the cover over the area, they just need to open it up to fight the congestion. When Push and the Trashcan Trio are drawing big crowds, this part of the land becomes a horrible bottleneck. The area needs all of the walking space it can get. As for the Monorial stopping at the motorboat lagoon, the current area (at the proper height level) is masked very well from Fantasyland. They have those big ugly Light Magic towers, and lots of full trees. Guests would enter and exit from the lagoon side (like they do now) and head down a ramp over the water. Most of this process would be compeltely hidden from the guests of Fantasyland. It could be done fairly easily, in the current setup there will hardly be any space for a shop, let alone fastpass. Are they really going to close the Autopia Shop without a replacement? A 2-story queue building would allow similar store space to remain. I think now is the time to compeltely remove a station from the park and get started on making Disneyland a true resort district with an additional parking structure, A family friendly pleasure island, multiple transportation services, new hotels, and other diversions. Eventually the beam must be widened, I think it is too bad they are not getting started on this now. Antoher way to increase capacity with the current setup would be to add an additional car on the front and back of the current trains. Access would be allowed between the 2 nose cones and the cars nearest to them. The stations would not have to be expanded, while capacity would get a slight increase. New trains could easily handle this extra weight, but I was wondering if the current beams could support this addition. Does anybody know if this weight on the beams would even be an issue?
Originally Posted By trekkeruss <<I am surprised that they would add Fastpass to nemo>. I am surprised you would be surprised. As much as many here don't like FP, it's one of the features Disney is proud to offer. <<On the same note, Star Tours is a much better experience without fastpass, but they need to remove those machines to create some new walking space, they could even keep the cover over the area, they just need to open it up to fight the congestion. When Push and the Trashcan Trio are drawing big crowds, this part of the land becomes a horrible bottleneck. The area needs all of the walking space it can get.>> I know they put the Astro Orbiter at the entrance to TL to give the land movement, but I have always felt that it was the most bubbleheaded decision. What a nightmare. <<As for the Monorial stopping at the motorboat lagoon, the current area (at the proper height level) is masked very well from Fantasyland.>> I realize that area is hidden from FL proper, but the Monorail as a concept is a part of TL. That's why I think the station should stay in TL, not off in some corner. <<[longer] trains could easily handle this extra weight, but I was wondering if the current beams could support this addition. Does anybody know if this weight on the beams would even be an issue?>> I think a longer train would not be a problem at all. While the overall weight of the train would go up, the weight seen by each beam section would not.
Originally Posted By BrigmanMT 2 My issue with Fastpass on Nemo is more of a space thing. The machines and their servicing area would take up 1/4 of the enclosed queue area (if they use the buzz format). The added signage and entrances and exits of fastpass distribution areas, along with the many numbers for wait times and current times, and return times, and start times... can cause some confusion in a crowded area. Just check out the mess that occurs on a moderately crowded day in front of Indiana Jones. If fastpass, and the many signs and extra queue entrance were removed, traffic flow would be much smoother. The location of the subs provides a similar pinch point. It is currently a well traveled area where guests are constantly passing by, just like the adventureland location. A few signs and a couple different entrances and castmembers could really clog up this space. Tomorrowland alone already has 3 examples of this type of situation. The buzz entrance that protrudes out into the path. The Autopia Fastpass and queue entrance that causes confusion between the train station and hatmosphere displays. The Star Tours distribution area when Push or the Jamitors and around. My problem with Nemo fastpass is not just with the system, it is what it will do to the surrounding area and general circulation through the land. On top of that Space/Buzz/Autopia/Nemo will all have fastpass. Man, it would be great if the bottom story of the Carousel Theater became a long air conditioned people-eating show again. That would be a great place to wait out a fastpass time, since the only other option is to backtrack out of the land. A peoplemover opening in tandem with Nemo would also help a lot. With a peoplemover and some action in the sub lagoon, Disneyland could once again show its superiority over WDW's Tomorrowland.
Originally Posted By ChurroMonster "Push" and "Trashcan Trio"? Is garbage what the world of tomorrow is all about?
Originally Posted By iluvdisneyland "Eventually the beam must be widened, I think it is too bad they are not getting started on this now." Eventually, unless the Company plans to keep having to build custom trains with very little capacity as compared to a true transportation monorail. "Antoher way to increase capacity with the current setup would be to add an additional car on the front and back of the current trains. Access would be allowed between the 2 nose cones and the cars nearest to them. The stations would not have to be expanded, while capacity would get a slight increase. " There is a lot more to it than that. To allow car-to-car access, the train has to sit higher on the beamway. What currently blocks access car-to-car is the load wheels, and that's because the trains sit so low. In order to make the train stand higher, the trains overall heighth gets higher and trains overall width has to get wider. The current beamway can support neither. "but I was wondering if the current beams could support this addition. Does anybody know if this weight on the beams would even be an issue?" Disneyland's beamway is not intended for a full size true monorail. Theoretically, it's a possibility, but we also have to take into account that the beamway is 46 years old.
Originally Posted By ChurroMonster Unless the Monorail is converted into a functional and high-capacity transportation system, it should simply be removed. Almost nobody goes on for just the ride because the lines are prohibitively long and the experience isn't exactly compelling.
Originally Posted By idleHands As it pertains to the Monorail, "Tomorrowland" is aptly named. You have to wait till tomorrow, before you can board it.
Originally Posted By Kylesmom Even tho I never ride it anymore, it would be sad if they eliminated the monorail. It's such and integral part of D-land, just raze the Matterhorn while you're at it.
Originally Posted By DlandDug So "almost nobody" rides it because the lines are too long? Think about that... I would never confuse anecdotal information with statistical information. Every time I ride the Monorail (which is fairly often), there are many, many guests taking the round trip, and enjoying the views of Disneyland, DCA and the surrounding area. If I had my druthers, there would be a stop in DCA, and the line would be extended deeper into the hotel district. Meanwhile, it's just fine. Can't say that of many other 46 year old theme park attractions, eh?
