Universal Orlando Resort Expansion (Part 1)

[Scott W.]

I could be wrong here but wasn't one of the reasons for going against skyplex project traffic congestion?

If this be the case how could they possibly not go with a different form of transit system to those that go on roads?

I think it depends on the route the monorail takes and where it stops. If it offers people easy access to Universal where they can bypass a lot of the crap on I Drive, it's not going to be in the shop owners interest.

 

[JungleSkip]

I'm quoting you, but not directly replying to you. Using your post as an example.

People complain about Disney and say buses are archaic and there's no excuse for the lack of monorail expansion, yet are fine with buses for Universal. I just don't get it. Why does Universal get treated differently and why should we expect less from them?

I'm fine with buses altogether. Disney missed its opportunity to expand their monorails a long time ago.

But Disney and Universal are under COMPLETELY different circumstances in this situation. Disney owns all the land their monorail would go over. Universal doesn't own the vast majority of the area a monorail would have to travel over. They'll have to win over a ton of people to even make it a possibility.

 

[UK-Trigg]

I'm fine with buses altogether. Disney missed its opportunity to expand their monorails a long time ago.

But Disney and Universal are under COMPLETELY different circumstances in this situation. Disney owns all the land their monorail would go over. Universal doesn't own the vast majority of the area a monorail would have to travel over. They'll have to win over a ton of people to even make it a possibility.

helping to ease traffic congestion would be a huge selling point.

 

[JungleSkip]

Reese of traffic congestion

And maybe that will work, who knows.

But Universal's not going to want to cater to the rest of the businesses around and have stops for them, and the businesses are not going to want to allow a huge bypass to potential customers.

 

[Nick]

I'm fine with buses altogether. Disney missed its opportunity to expand their monorails a long time ago.

But Disney and Universal are under COMPLETELY different circumstances in this situation. Disney owns all the land their monorail would go over. Universal doesn't own the vast majority of the area a monorail would have to travel over. They'll have to win over a ton of people to even make it a possibility.

Universal's situation is more complex, yes, but I don't see how it doesn't pass. It would seem to be something people living in the area would love (as it would keep a significant amount of cars off the road) and the county would like it for the same reason, maybe a stop to the convention center would have to be added (and I don't see Uni opposing potential extra customers). It would be Rosen that would throw the biggest fit... but i'm sure something could be worked out.

 

[JungleSkip]

Universal's situation is more complex, yes, but I don't see how it doesn't pass. It would seem to be something people in the area would love (as it would keep a significant amount of cars off the road) and the county would like it for the same reason, maybe a stop to the convention center would have to be added (and I don't see Uni opposing potential extra customers). It would be Rosen that would throw the biggest fit... but i'm sure something could be worked out.

We'll see. I hope something like it happens, but I'm not holding my breath.

 

[UK-Trigg]

And maybe that will work, who knows.

But Universal's not going to want to cater to the rest of the businesses around and have stops for them, and the businesses are not going to want to allow a huge bypass to potential customers.

Whether it be monorail, light rail or buses the fact that we are even discussing this is so exciting. The future is sure going to be fun however it plays out.
Let the good times roll Uni fans :thumbsup:

 

[Scott W.]

Whether it be monorail, light rail or buses the fact that we are even discussing this is so exciting. The future is sure going to be fun however it plays out.
Let the good times roll Uni fans :thumbsup:

Speaking about the future discussions, when construction starts on the 3rd gate, we're going to have some great photos from the Orlando Eye.

 

[UK-Trigg]

Speaking about the future discussions, when construction starts on the 3rd gate, we're going to have some great photos from the Orlando Eye.

I was only thinking that yesterday, I did wonder if they did season passes LOL.

I have heard that tickets sales for the eye are down on projections, this could well give them a huge boost.

 

[s8film40]

In my head I vision a dual beam, it's still quite a bit of distance but using your idea with the hub, since it's a circle, you could use that to loop the track around back to the other side. That way the trains are always heading in the same direction. What I meant by the loop for MK is that it loops around the lagoon.


I thought you were being sarcastic at first but that does make sense.

This is roughly the thought I had. You couldn't do a loop around that hub as people need to be able to go in and out.

 

[s8film40]

I was only thinking that yesterday, I did wonder if they did season passes LOL.

I have heard that tickets sales for the eye are down on projections, this could well give them a huge boost.

I actually just bought an AP. The Legoland Awesomer pass (which includes it) was BOGO. $75 for Legoland, the Eye, the aquarium and the wax museum isn't bad.

 

[UK-Trigg]

I actually just bought an AP. The Legoland Awesomer pass (which includes it) was BOGO. $75 for Legoland, the Eye, the aquarium and the wax museum isn't bad.

Ladies and gentlemen, we have found our first third gate construction photographer :thumbsup:

Really though that is one fantastic deal.

 

[s8film40]

Ladies and gentlemen, we have found our first third gate construction photographer :thumbsup:

Really though that is one fantastic deal.

Haha, coincidentally I'm about to head out today to go and see it for the first time since I got the pass.

 

[Mad Dog]

Remember the old Railround turntables.

 

[Scott W.]

This is roughly the thought I had. You couldn't do a loop around that hub as people need to be able to go in and out.

This is what I had in mind.

If the monorail track and station can be above the hub, I think it would work. Add a grand circular stairway in the middle of the hub going upstairs to the station. The station is around 65m long on the curve, about the same distance as the MK station.

The support over the road could be an issue but they could move the section that moves to 2 lanes slightly futher down the road or make the track join the road median further up the road.

Of they could even skip using the road median for this section until it reaches the Wet n Wild plot and have it at the side of the road. This might be easier as I don't know how much weight the road going over I4 could handle.

 

[s8film40]

This is what I had in mind.

If the monorail track and station can be above the hub, I think it would work. Add a grand circular stairway in the middle of the hub going upstairs to the station. The station is around 65m long on the curve, about the same distance as the MK station.

The support over the road could be an issue but they could move the section that moves to 2 lanes slightly futher down the road or make the track join the road median further up the road.

Of they could even skip using the road median for this section until it reaches the Wet n Wild plot and have it at the side of the road. This might be easier as I don't know how much weight the road going over I4 could handle.

Yeah that's a great concept although I don't think the loop is necessary and it would be more convenient to be at the same level as everything else. Just goes to show there are many ways that a monorail could be implemented here.

 

[WAJAS]

I think we are going to see a complete rebuild of the transport hub in the near future. Not only to accommodate for a new inter-hub transportation service (monorail), but also for a better bus drop off and pick up area and a more connected Volcano Bay tram station.

EDIT: I almost forgot. This rebuild would also allow for a more permanent security area to be built on a platform addition to the west of the current hub.

 

[s8film40]

I think we are going to see a complete rebuild of the transport hub in the near future. Not only to accommodate for a new inter-hub transportation service (monorail), but also for a better bus drop off and pick up area and a more connected Volcano Bay tram station.

EDIT: I almost forgot. This rebuild would also allow for a more permanent security area to be built on a platform addition to the west of the current hub.

Wouldn't be a bad idea. I think they could leave the structure roughly the same but rethink the way it works. Also make something more permanent for security. It would be great if a monorail or other transit is added if it could be behind the security line so one check is all yo need no matter where you park hop to.

 

[Scott W.]

Yeah that's a great concept although I don't think the loop is necessary and it would be more convenient to be at the same level as everything else. Just goes to show there are many ways that a monorail could be implemented here.

My reasoning for it is that you can have multiple trains on the same track without one going back and forth on the same bit of track. It should dramatically increase capacity with a twin track system.

I'm not actually sure what the height of the current hub is and what the average height of monorail track is. Rising it above the hub will allow for all the walkways to remain.

It would be a pretty great view when you arrive too.

You've got Hulk, JP, Hogwarts, Dragon Challenge, Rockit, Studios entrance, Transformers, Diagon, MIB, Nintendo if it gets put into Kidzone and Hard Rock Hotel.

 

[UK-Trigg]

My reasoning for it is that you can have multiple trains on the same track without one going back and forth on the same bit of track. It should dramatically increase capacity with a twin track system.

I'm not actually sure what the height of the current hub is and what the average height of monorail track is. Rising it above the hub will allow for all the walkways to remain.

It would be a pretty great view when you arrive too.

You've got Hulk, JP, Hogwarts, Dragon Challenge, Rockit, Studios entrance, Transformers, Diagon, MIB, Nintendo if it gets put into Kidzone and Hard Rock Hotel.

Looks fab, nice work Scott.