After stripping Walt Disney World of the Reedy Creek Improvement District and replacing it with the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, and the new Board he appointed realized that Disney had essentially stripped the new Board of any power, leaving both of them a little embarrassed.
As a way of getting back at Disney, Governor DeSantis and the Florida Legislature stripped Disney of the ability to regulate the 15-mile Disney World Monorail System. A bill signed by the governor eight months ago gave the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) the authority to inspect and oversee the privately-owned transportation system.
One slight issue is that the FDOT had never conducted monorail inspections, and with the new law, the FDOT took over inspections not just at Disney World but also the people-mover trams at Orlando International Airport, Tampa International Airport, and Miami International Airport. So, it has taken them some time to get acclimated to monorails.
FDOT District Five Public Information Director Cindi Lane told Click Orlando:
Being that this is the first time that the State has had oversight, FDOT is doing its due diligence to thoroughly complete the review while ensuring the safety of travelers. The Department continues to work with Disney on necessary information for the non-structural portion of the (monorail) system.
Lane also said that Disney World had provided the FDOT with manuals and safety records for its monorail systems. However, the agency has not yet produced any written reports on Disney World's monorail system, as it is required to do after a field inspection, which is required every one to two years.
As a part of the law, the FDOT is required to create minimum safety standards for the usage of monorail systems, but it has yet to comply with that part of the law.
The FDOT now has the authority to shut down the Disney World Monorail System at any point or for any infraction, which would wreak havoc on the Disney transportation system, especially for guests heading to the Magic Kingdom.
And that is the fear of the Disney World. The monorail system is no longer in their control and can be shut down at someone else's request.
The Disney Monorail System
The Walt Disney Company has operated a monorail system for the past 65 years, first at Disneyland in California and then at the Walt Disney World Resort in Central Florida. The Disney World monorail has two separate lines that span 15 miles.
The first line runs from the Magic Kingdom Ticket and Transportation Center to Disney's Polynesian Resort, The Grand Floridian Resort, Disney's Contemporary Resort, and finally ends at the Magic Kingdom.
The second line takes guests from the Magic Kingdom Ticket and Transportation Center to EPCOT. But before entering the EPCOT station, the monorail loops around Spaceship Earth and gives guests a birdseye view of the entire park.
We will continue to update this story at Disney Fanatic.
Honestly I would trust the monorail system being overseen by WDW WAAAYYYY more than being overseen by any government regulators!
Just another plot from who else Ronnie
He likes making it hard to live in Florida
The clown made us number one for the highest in the country for homeowners insurance and car insurance, yeah he’s doing a great job in Florida thank God he won’t be president ! And yes we had slavery in the South I didn’t know you could change history!
Disney needs to update their policies. Turn transportation failure and delays around on the State DOT. If they fail to facilitate or provide services that were pre-paid, then they would be liable for damages to the affected parties. Make it so that park tickets/hotel stays include a “guaranteed monorail service”. Now if the state DOT doesn’t provide, they are on the hook.
It took way too long for the FDOT to take over all those transportation systems. Disney has done a heck of a job, taking care of its transportation service. As a fact, originally, the Disney Monorail System was supposed to go as far as the Orlando Int’l Airport. Never happened. The same applies to MIA, MCO & TPA, now they will need to be bound to FDOT Rules, regulations, and whatever they want to throw them.
Personally, I worked the Monorail system for almost 30 years, I have seen the system operate in an unsafe mode MANY times. To give FDOT the power to inspect, and control the safety of the Monorail, will put Disney in a posistion where they will be more accountable for issues on that system. It was approximatly 15 years ago that a young man died while piloting a Monorail, due to Disney’s blantent disregard of safety
Austin..you accuse DISNEY of neglecting the MONORAIL, yet you do not give specifics..what proof do you have that to support your accusation…a formwr employee? lol.
Google the accident. It did happen and Disney was found to be in violation and fined.