Disneyland Monorail System

I was looking back at the WESTcot plans and especially what was to become of the Monorails and Peoplemover systems.

The Monorails opened INSIDE a theme park. A couple years later expanded to the Disneyland Hotel station. Whereas the Walt Disney World Resort and Tokyo Disneyland Resort monorail systems are stationed OUTSIDE of the park. This creates better efficiency as far as patrons with theme park tickets.

Placing a monorail station within DCA would cause more headaches for both Cast Members and guests. Especially when guests don't understand the system and CMs will continually have to explain that the ticket the guests have does not grant them entrance into DCA when they only bought a DL ticket.

SO, to make matters easier, a station that is located JUST OUTSIDE of a second main gate for DCA would help matters. There once was a separate hotel entrance for Paradise Pier Hotel guests between Dino Shack/Corn Dogs and Souvenir 66 store. That was closed down quickly.

But a gate west of where Burger Invasion once stood may be a good solution. A benefit for hotel guests to escape "out the back" and cross Disneyland Drive. Also for those who parked in the Simba Parking lot to elevate traffic exiting the Main Gate. And to those entering the park, they will already be occupying the back end of the park. Of course Main Street, USA was designed so people would have to funnel through the shops...

Guests may exit at this new station and banter later if they want to enter DCA park. Disneyland Theme Park tickets will still have to be required to board the monorails due to the Tomorrowland station.

MONORAIL ROUTE: Instead of the monorail beam making a right after the Grand Hotel, it would make a left to the new station. Afterwards, it would make a right across Disneyland Drive, ride alongside the driveway to Simba Parking Lot, then a right between Paradise Pier and Disneyland Hotel, then a right after ESPN Zone and a new Downtown Disney station over the parking lot between the Valet/Drop Off and self-parking. Then the train continues over Disneyland Drive and remains the same from here.

With this new system, a third monorail train will HAVE to be reconsidered for normal operation.

Matterhorn Mountain Bobsled Queue

THEME PARK: Disneyland, CA

ISSUE: Chain queue that extends around the perimeter base of the mountain. The West side is often closed to make way for parades. The East side becomes clogged with pedestrians in two-way traffic. The South side becomes pinched in the most crowded days of peak season.

SOLUTION: An underground-type winding queue similar to Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and Pirates of the Caribbean queue themed as a natural underground sinkhole.

LOCATION: North side of the mountain. Between the load station and food stand and face painting. The walkway closet to the face painting would remain concrete. But the walkway that cuts through the middle of the area where the drinking fountain is, will be themed as a bridge crossing over the sink hole. Trees will branch out from the bottom of the sinkhole and provide shade, ala POTC.

ENTRANCE: Relocated under the monorail beam by Autopia where the old smoking area used to be. Will have a similar ramp that leads underground ala Knott's Berry Farm's Ghost Rider. First leading underground alongside the monorail beam towards Submarine Lagoon. Then a switchback to the sinkhole.

WHEELCHAIR ACCESS: Utilize East chain queue through exit due to possible stairway design ala BTMRR that leads from underground basin to covered ground level load station, the Swiss Chalet.

PHOTO REFERENCES:

http://www.kingsnake.com/westindian/sinkhole1.JPG

http://studentloancenter.com/uploads/sinkhole.jpg

http://islandlass.wordpress.com/2008/03/07/yucatan-4/

ADDITIONAL THEME: Vintage photos of bobsled races. Antique bobsled on display. Supplies stored for venturing up the mountain such as crates, lanterns, ropes, hooks,