Disneyland General
Topic: new monorail trains

#	Author	Message
41	FerretAfros Thu 12/6/2007 5:38p	Well the themes aren't quite as extensive as those of DL, where the landscaping is a good portion of the theming, but the buildings themselves are definately themed to different areas of the world with a good dose of fantasy thrown in. Sure, there isn't really anything that looks like a realistic place out there, but it is themed to be more of a fantasy world. Just for reference, what would you say Critter Country is themed to be?
42	DlandDug Thu 12/6/2007 8:49p	Back on topic, the new monorails, as I understand, will be completely new inside and out. It is true that up until the present, the monorails have been running on their original 1959 gimbles. The problem is that many parts for the gimbles are no longer available after nearly fifty years. Whenever something wore out or broke, it had to be custom made. This got rather expensive. Under the previous management of Disneyland (Pressler/Harriss), the decision to eliminate the monorails entirely was actually entertained. Cooler heads prevailed, however. Monorail Orange was taken away, disassembled, and reverse engineered. The gimbles on all the new trains will be replaced with ones that use standard parts that are readily available. The art that we have seen of the new monorails was, I believe, originally leaked to the internet via an incautious posting on the manufacturer's site. This was removed, leading many to conclude that the images were a hoax. But then the same exact images showed up at public presentations by Disney. Here's Matt Ouimet at the February, 2006 "Roundup of Community Leaders:" http://www.laughingplace.com/N ews-PID510140-510145.asp (scroll down the page) So... we can reasonably expect that there will be new Disneyland monorails, and they will look just like the ones shown in the renderings. Unless, of course, it doesn't happen.
43	Hans Reinhardt Thu 12/6/2007 11:06p	"Just for reference, what would you say Critter Country is themed to be?" Well, before WDI screwed up the area with Winnie the Pooh it was an extention of Frontierland, themed to backwoods America. Sorry, but calling Tivoli a theme park is a stretch in my opinion.
44	FerretAfros Thu 12/6/2007 11:11p	I guess it's more of a "themed park", than the modern idea of a "theme park." I can definately see how DL has very strong roots there, and it pioneered the concepts behind the fantasy themed environment, but it doesn't really hold a candle to modern Disney parks. To keep things fair though, comparing DL on opening day to a lot of what we have now, I wouldn't be surprised if it didn't pass a lot of people's definition for theme park. The bare bones lands seem pretty reminiscent of DSP (granted I've only seen 50's DL and DSP in pictures) in the general lack of complete theming (there didn't seem to be many trees keeping the themes going). It's easy for me to see how you would disagree with Tivoli, but to me it is more of how the definition has changed with time than a modern day perspective looking back.
45	Hans Reinhardt Fri 12/7/2007 10:59a	When Disneyland opened each area of the park had a specific theme, mission, and purpose that was supported by clever details right down to the employee's costumes. In my opinion the park's lands were more clearly defined and far more ambitious in what they set out to achieve then than they are today. The fact that Disney is rehabbing a near 50 year old Monorail System rather than replacing it with something more in line with the future of public transportation is a case in point.
46	FerretAfros Fri 12/7/2007 12:38p	What exactly would you propose they replace it with that is more futuristic? Some sort of computer controlled personalized PeopleMover might be nice, but there really aren't that many places a system like that woudl go within DLR. It's nice to think that they might update it with something new some day, but given the small size of the resort (for right now at least, since everything other than the PPH is right off of a single walkway), it really isn't nessecary to have much more than the current configuration.
47	aracuanbird Fri 12/7/2007 1:14p	The first/oldest debate is common in many types of attractions. Zoos in Philly and Chicago both claim similar status. But my question on theme parks is this: why would having multiple fantasy areas (as with Disneyland) make that park legitimately "themed," whereas having a single fantasy area doesn't qualify a park as being themed? If that is the criteria, then how is Disney-MGM a theme park?
48	Hans Reinhardt Fri 12/7/2007 2:44p	"What exactly would you propose they replace it with that is more futuristic?" I have nothing to propose. But then again, I'm not an Imagineer. "but there really aren't that many places a system like that woudl go within DLR." But isn't that what WDI was once so good at doing? Coming up with creative and ambitious solutions to problems? There was a time when DL was more than just a collection of rides, the themes really meant something and there was a sincere effort put forth to not only entertain but to educate. "But my question on theme parks is this: why would having multiple fantasy areas (as with Disneyland) make that park legitimately "themed," whereas having a single fantasy area doesn't qualify a park as being themed?" Has anyone claimed that? I said that Tivoli isn't a theme park because park does not have themed environments. Just having a themed ride or two scattered about does not make it a theme park.
49	FerretAfros Fri 12/7/2007 3:50p	"If that is the criteria, then how is Disney-MGM a theme park?" I would say that MGM has at least 2 different themes. There is clearly the 1930's Golden Age of Hollywood areas of Hollywood Blvd, Sunset Blvd and parts of Echo Lake, and there is also the distinctly modern backlot area where there are the facades of the different streets, tram tour, and LMA. While these are the only two very distinct themes I can think of (well, RNRC sort of has its own thing going on entirely), there are enough variations on it to keep it interesting.
50	oc_dean Fri 12/7/2007 9:23p	>>>>>>> 2001DLFan Sun 12/2/2007 9:54a <<oc_dean: >>Meanwhile,I really like what they did with the Nemo sub promotion on one of the trains.<< They changed it to reflect The Year of a Million Lame Promotions.>> That's just totally tacky. It's one thing to have an attraction promote another attraction (synergy), but it's quite another for an attraction to promote a PROMOTION. <<<<<<<<<<< LOL :O) Well .. they have had to "relaunch" this extremely lame promotion for the umpteenth time ..... Now .. they can ~relaunch it~ ;) every time that Monorail train makes a loop from TL to DtD~!!!! And I bet you ...... some people STILL don't know what it's all about. I recall the 25th, 30th, 35th, State Fair, Blast to the Past ..... THEN we knew what to expect and see and experience. This one seems to be in some kind of cloak. Maybe the Klingons or Romulans must (inadvertantly) be helping Disney marketing teams!! HA-HA!

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