Something has been bothering me for a very long time regarding the topic of monorail expansion. We always tend to hear how an expansion is "in the plans" for WDW. The company realizes it needs an expansion logistically, but the project never seems to get the green light since there will be no "financial payback."
In the long run, a monorail expansion would recover its investment due to reduced operations costs. Think about it for just a minute.
Add a new line:
-Starts at EPCOT
-Goes to the international Gateway to serve the Premium Epcot Resorts (there IS room there--anyone else remember the old tram station?)
-Hit the Studios
-Hit the Animal Kingdom Lodge
-Hit the Animal Kingdom
(-If you really wanted to go nuts, have it stop at Blizzard Beach and maybe even the Coronodo too)
Now think of the Bus routes that could be removed. Let us assume that anytime a guest would have to change monorails more than once to reach a destination, a bus route would still be provided.
-The Yacht/Beach/Boardwalk to Animal Kingdom line is gone
-Swan/Dolphin to Animal Kingdom is gone
-Animal Kingdom Lodge to the Animal Kingdom is gone
-Animal Kingdom to the Studios is gone
-Animal Kingdom to the Epcot is gone
Five routes gone. Now I am fairly certain (I will look into it) that operating expenses PER PASSENGER are lower for the monorails than the bus routes (monorials also add more value* to a guest's visit, but that is another story).
Okay. So we have an obviously large initial investment. However, the savings in operating expenses (along with intangible benefits such as less road congestion, pollution, and faster travel time) would recover that initial capital expense over the years. Now, I don't claim that the investment would pay for itself in 5 or 10 years, but I find it hard to believe that it would take more than 20 years.
Who knows. I am really just sitting here battling insomnia. Maybe I am nuts.
*read as "magic"
In the long run, a monorail expansion would recover its investment due to reduced operations costs. Think about it for just a minute.
Add a new line:
-Starts at EPCOT
-Goes to the international Gateway to serve the Premium Epcot Resorts (there IS room there--anyone else remember the old tram station?)
-Hit the Studios
-Hit the Animal Kingdom Lodge
-Hit the Animal Kingdom
(-If you really wanted to go nuts, have it stop at Blizzard Beach and maybe even the Coronodo too)
Now think of the Bus routes that could be removed. Let us assume that anytime a guest would have to change monorails more than once to reach a destination, a bus route would still be provided.
-The Yacht/Beach/Boardwalk to Animal Kingdom line is gone
-Swan/Dolphin to Animal Kingdom is gone
-Animal Kingdom Lodge to the Animal Kingdom is gone
-Animal Kingdom to the Studios is gone
-Animal Kingdom to the Epcot is gone
Five routes gone. Now I am fairly certain (I will look into it) that operating expenses PER PASSENGER are lower for the monorails than the bus routes (monorials also add more value* to a guest's visit, but that is another story).
Okay. So we have an obviously large initial investment. However, the savings in operating expenses (along with intangible benefits such as less road congestion, pollution, and faster travel time) would recover that initial capital expense over the years. Now, I don't claim that the investment would pay for itself in 5 or 10 years, but I find it hard to believe that it would take more than 20 years.
Who knows. I am really just sitting here battling insomnia. Maybe I am nuts.
*read as "magic"