Maleficent's Dad
04-01-2009, 07:04 AM
Great news from today's Orlando Sentinel!
Disney Announces Major Expansion to Their Monorail Transportation System
April 1, 2009
F. Neiman, Associated Press
Joe K. Stere, Orlando Sentinel
In a surprising statement this morning, the Walt Disney Company announced a major transportation expansion which has most people smiling with delight.
“We’re proud to unveil a four year expansion plan for our Florida Property,” stated Margaret Tischner, head of Walt Disney World’s Transportation. “For years our guests have been asking when we would expand the monorail. Well I’m happy to tell you, we have heard you, we have listened, and now we are taking action!
“For the first time in our history,” she continued, “guests staying at a moderate resort will have the same access to the monorail that was previously only available to guests in some of our deluxe resorts. Those staying at Port Orleans Riverside, Port Orleans French Quarter, Old Key West and Saratoga Springs will have monorail stops at their resorts. The new monorail will begin service in 2012. The first stage of our plan is to provide service to Downtown Disney. By 2014 we hope to expand this monorail line to include the Animal Kingdom.”
The current monorail in Walt Disney World has a circular loop that serves the Magic Kingdom and three resorts. There is also a track which services Epcot, although no resorts have stops along the Epcot route. These monorail resorts have long since demanded top dollar for stays there. Disney uses the “on the monorail” location to fetch higher room prices.
For years, the monorail has been a Disney staple. Originally operating in California at Disneyland, the larger, two track system in Florida, has come to define swift, modern transportation.
As Tischner alluded, guests have always wanted more monorail.
“I’m so excited!” said Maria Vasquez, a guest currently staying at Port Orleans Riverside. “We’ve always wanted to stay at a monorail resort, but we never wanted to spend all the money to do so. Now, maybe we’ll be able to do it!”
The same sentiments rang true with owners of Disney’s timeshare.
“Old Key West is getting the monorail?” asked John Keegan, a Vacation Club member in disbelief. “Wow, never saw that coming. Guess my timeshare just became more valuable,” he added with a grin.
The new monorail system will connect two moderate resorts, two Disney Vacation Club resorts and Downtown Disney with the Animal Kingdom theme Park.
Disney refused to divulge specifics about their plans. They only stated that the new monorail line would use the Mark VII, which is the same monorail system in place in Disneyland Park in Anaheim.
Miss Tischner also had no word about monorail service to Disney’s Hollywood Studios or additional resorts.
Disney Announces Major Expansion to Their Monorail Transportation System
April 1, 2009
F. Neiman, Associated Press
Joe K. Stere, Orlando Sentinel
In a surprising statement this morning, the Walt Disney Company announced a major transportation expansion which has most people smiling with delight.
“We’re proud to unveil a four year expansion plan for our Florida Property,” stated Margaret Tischner, head of Walt Disney World’s Transportation. “For years our guests have been asking when we would expand the monorail. Well I’m happy to tell you, we have heard you, we have listened, and now we are taking action!
“For the first time in our history,” she continued, “guests staying at a moderate resort will have the same access to the monorail that was previously only available to guests in some of our deluxe resorts. Those staying at Port Orleans Riverside, Port Orleans French Quarter, Old Key West and Saratoga Springs will have monorail stops at their resorts. The new monorail will begin service in 2012. The first stage of our plan is to provide service to Downtown Disney. By 2014 we hope to expand this monorail line to include the Animal Kingdom.”
The current monorail in Walt Disney World has a circular loop that serves the Magic Kingdom and three resorts. There is also a track which services Epcot, although no resorts have stops along the Epcot route. These monorail resorts have long since demanded top dollar for stays there. Disney uses the “on the monorail” location to fetch higher room prices.
For years, the monorail has been a Disney staple. Originally operating in California at Disneyland, the larger, two track system in Florida, has come to define swift, modern transportation.
As Tischner alluded, guests have always wanted more monorail.
“I’m so excited!” said Maria Vasquez, a guest currently staying at Port Orleans Riverside. “We’ve always wanted to stay at a monorail resort, but we never wanted to spend all the money to do so. Now, maybe we’ll be able to do it!”
The same sentiments rang true with owners of Disney’s timeshare.
“Old Key West is getting the monorail?” asked John Keegan, a Vacation Club member in disbelief. “Wow, never saw that coming. Guess my timeshare just became more valuable,” he added with a grin.
The new monorail system will connect two moderate resorts, two Disney Vacation Club resorts and Downtown Disney with the Animal Kingdom theme Park.
Disney refused to divulge specifics about their plans. They only stated that the new monorail line would use the Mark VII, which is the same monorail system in place in Disneyland Park in Anaheim.
Miss Tischner also had no word about monorail service to Disney’s Hollywood Studios or additional resorts.