Disney News

Category: Transportation

  • New Monorail Fleet Could Be Headed To Walt Disney World Resort

    New Monorail Fleet Could Be Headed To Walt Disney World Resort

    Speculation about Disney upgrading the monorail fleet at Walt Disney World has been going on for sometime.  There has been a series of recent mishaps with the current fleet and after a video of a monorail transporting guests with the door open made headlines, it seems that Disney may finally be making a move to purchase a new monorail fleet.

    Internal sources are reporting that Disney has ordered a new fleet of monorails to replace the fleet currently in operation, according to a report from WDWNT .

    The fleet currently in operation — known as Mark VI monorails — has been in use since 1989, when Disney started replacing the Mark IV. The final Mark IV monorails were finally replaced in 1991 after having been in operation for twenty years starting with the opening of the resort in 1971.

    Bombardier of Canada — the same company that built the Mark VI trains for Walt Disney World —will be building the new fleet, according to the report. The mark VI cost the company about $3.5 million per train when they last replaced the fleet in 1989.

    Bombardier’s current line of monorails is called the INNOVIA 300 series, but if Disney continues with the current numbering system the new monorail fleet would be the Mark VIII.  Mark VII is currently the model used at Disneyland Resort in California which were put into operation in 2008.

    The infamous open door incident on Monorail Red back in January may have been what sparked the decision, but the fleet has been under scrutiny since the automation system failed back in 2009 causing a crash that killed Monorail pilot Austin Wuennenberg. That started a long list of problems that this fleet has weathered in recent years. Last summer a piece of Monorail Blue just fell of while it was in transit above the parking lot at Epcot. Also multiple breakdowns last summer plagued the fleet, at times leaving guests to have to find alternated transportation to their destinations.

    With the current fleet approaching 30 years of usage it’s no wonder they’re in major need of replacement. They held up for quite some time, longer than any other Disney Parks monorail fleet, but it is definitely time for them to make their way into the history books.

     

  • Disney Minnie Van Service Expanding to Orlando International Airport

    Disney Minnie Van Service Expanding to Orlando International Airport

    Walt Disney World’s popular Minnie Van Service will now be offering transportation to Orlando International Airport. The polka-dotted transportation option currently transports guests to locations on property.

    Through a collaboration with the rideshare service, Lyft, guests at select resorts can arrange their own private Disney vehicle right from the Lyft app on their smartphone. With Minnie Van service, Disney cast members will then pick you up and take you to wherever you want to be at Walt Disney World Resort.

    Well now you can end your vacation in Disney Style to grab that one last bit off magic before you hit the sad flight home. But it will run you $150 bucks. Currently point-to-point trips on Walt Disney World property cost $20.

    According to fliers passed out at Disney’s BoardWalk Inn, the polka-dotted service is now offering transportation services from select Disney Resorts for airline departures from 9:00am through 12:00am.

    The price is steep when you think about the fact that they already have a complimentary airport bus transportation, Disney’s Magical Express, for hotel guests. Though that’s better know as the Tragical Express and perhaps riding in your own personal Minnie Van will put one last smile on your face as you bid farewell to Walt Disney World.

    It does allow you to ride in privacy however and not be bound to the Magical Express schedule. This service accommodates up to six guests and provides two versatile car seats so even the tiniest of passengers can travel in style!