Challenging day at MK

[PeterPanic]

Enchanted Tales With Belle

Well, I'll be...never would have guessed that.

 

[Schmeck]

Uh, in my book it is... OP didn't cause the monorail to break down. OP didn't fail to react to the transportation system bottlenecks.

OP's not at fault at all here, in my opinion. Disney owes its guests quick, reliable transportation from the TTC to the MK. Without it, the flaw in the TTC design concept becomes perfectly clear...

And if they had gone to Universal Studios, they wouldn't have had to wait for ANY transportation...

The ferry can take many, many more passengers than the monorail - and the OP voluntarily hopped out of the ferry line to take the resort monorail. Staying in the ferry line most likely would have gotten them there within the hour, IMO.

 

[paintnolish]

Op, sorry you had to deal with that annoyance! Disney transportation is generally a good service, and we've used it many times; this time, however, we are driving our own car to the parks. Thanks for reminding me why!

 

[kandb]

OP-you sound like a nice guy. I don't blame your wife either for asking to move/turn off the generator, I would of done the exact same thing. I don't know people chime in and say "you shouldn't of asked to move the generator because you are not GF guest". What the heck does that have to do with anything? You have to be a GF guest to not want to hear a loud smelly generator???

 

[kandb]

Paintnolish-even if you drive your car to the parks, for magic kingdom, you still have to park at the ttc and take either the monorail or ferry to actually get to MK. This is what the OP did as well.

 

[Magpie]

Op, sorry you had to deal with that annoyance! Disney transportation is generally a good service, and we've used it many times; this time, however, we are driving our own car to the parks. Thanks for reminding me why!

Actually, if the OP had used one of Disney's busses from a Disney resort, he wouldn't have had any of the problems he did. The resort bus would have dropped him off right at the front gate.

The decision to drive to the Magic Kingdom (which may have been unavoidable if he was staying off-site) is actually what precipitated this whole series of unfortunate events.

 

[TJBerry]

In fact, if the OP had used one of Disney's busses from a Disney resort, he wouldn't have had any of the problems he did. The resort bus would have dropped him off right at the front gate.

The decision to drive to the Magic Kingdom (which may have been unavoidable if he was staying off-site) was actually what precipitated this whole series of unfortunate events.

He was driving from home.

 

[paintnolish]

Sorry, let me be more specific: I don't want to be at there mercy all the time! I'm tired of waiting in bus lines. Last time, we did use the busses even though we had a car because baby ds went through a stage where he hated his carseat, and riding the busses cut down on the screaming we had to hear; however, I feel like we wasted a lot of time waiting while we could've been driving MOST places.

 

[paintnolish]

*their

 

[Magpie]

He was driving from home.

So, yes, it was unavoidable in his case.

Though, I have to say, if I'd arrived at the TTC to see a crowd of people that size waiting for the ferry and the monorail broken down, I'd have turned to the kids and said, "Guess what? We're going to Epcot! Everyone back to the car!"

I've done it before. So, actually I rather admire the OP's persistence!

 

[Magpie]

Sorry, let me be more specific: I don't want to be at there mercy all the time! I'm tired of waiting in bus lines. Last time, we did use the busses even though we had a car because baby ds went through a stage where he hated his carseat, and riding the busses cut down on the screaming we had to hear; however, I feel like we wasted a lot of time waiting while we could've been driving MOST places.

Maybe it's because we stay at Pop Century (which I've heard has the best busses), but I've never had to wait more than 15 minutes for a bus at Disney, even during busy times. Usually I only wait about five or ten minutes.

We timed our travel time on the bus... It's just 10 minutes to Epcot and Hollywood Studios. It's about 15 minutes from the Pop Century to Animal Kingdom (unless we stop at Blizzard Beach first, then it's 20). And it's 20 minutes to get the Magic Kingdom.

Honestly, I think the bus gets us to the parks faster than the car does most of the time, since we never have to hike through parking lots or wait for the parking trolley to take us to the gate. Plus, we have more freedom to park hop if we want, without having to go back to retrieve the car. We like starting our morning in Hollywood Studios and taking a boat to finish off our day in Epcot.

Edit: But I can definitely see how a car might be preferable with a baby. Less standing, and guaranteed seats!

 

[katiee37]

OP--so sorry you had to go through all of that! I've gotten stuck on the monorail before back in 2009, while it was on the tracks near the Polynesian but not at the actual station. At least you had the ability to get off once you realized it wasn't going anywhere; I was stuck. I'm hoping the monorails aren't in too bad shape when I go in January--I was planning on doing the ride over to MK from Epcot a few times.

 

[polyfor4]

I guess we're fair weather vacationers because that would have totally ruined my day. Especially since we are usually staying at a monorail resort, I would have been livid. I love Disney, recently had a great trip, and will be back soon BUT I'm glad to see these opinions voiced because Disney needs to listen. I have been shocked in the past two years how much cast member service has gone down. Our good friends live close to Disney and they said literally their whole neighborhood has complained about poor Disney service more recently. That's not to say there aren't the exceptional cast members but 50% of the time on my trip a week ago, the cast members were disgruntled and often rude. And back to the monorail, it needs some TLC. Especially with the poly getting a DVC, that's too many guests relying on it plus a lot of people paying a huge premium for it. Sorry to rant but the monorail and cast member service have let me down in recent years. Thank you OP for sharing your story, maybe the Disney ears will listen. Also I'm glad you were able to salvage your day- a day at disney is better than a day at home

 

[A Mickeyfan]

Oh, I think I get it now. Since I decided to take an alternative route, on a monorail that I was told was open for business, it was my fault that I got stuck at the GF. Makes sense. My bad. Next time I guess I could just park at the CR and walk, that way I can make sure I won't get stuck anywhere.

I get your drift, you do not like being told you are wrong ... and no, unless you are a guest or eating at the CR, you cannot just park there and walk, or did you not remember that one. It isn't like just jumping on board the monorail, security will stop you and ask where you are going. Depending on time of day, and how busy they are, you may end up with a 3 hour parking permit, and they will time you. I have seen cars towed...

Face it, you made a poor decision by getting on the resort monorail. Had you not done that, it would not have taken you 2 hours to get into the park. Had you been like many who do not know about the resort monorail going there (yes, not all know about it, which explains why the lines are shorter that way), you never would have done it Live and learn, short cuts are not always the fastest way to get to where you are going

 

[Minerva Mouse]

What a shame that you couldn't just walk over that imaginary bridge from the GF to MK. That would have took, maybe 15 minutes!

 

[Rivergirl2005]

I was there that day!!! I totally feel ya, we decided to stay in line for the ferry.....took a whole hour we didn't arrive until 10ish.... I still am not sure what happened to the monorail that day!

 

[DaisyDew]

I get your drift, you do not like being told you are wrong ... and no, unless you are a guest or eating at the CR, you cannot just park there and walk, or did you not remember that one. It isn't like just jumping on board the monorail, security will stop you and ask where you are going. Depending on time of day, and how busy they are, you may end up with a 3 hour parking permit, and they will time you. I have seen cars towed...

Face it, you made a poor decision by getting on the resort monorail. Had you not done that, it would not have taken you 2 hours to get into the park. Had you been like many who do not know about the resort monorail going there (yes, not all know about it, which explains why the lines are shorter that way), you never would have done it Live and learn, short cuts are not always the fastest way to get to where you are going

Yes, how dare he take advantage of all the different transportation options WDW has available! Shame on you, OP! Next time you'll know better than to listen to a CM trying to help you get to the MK faster.

Goodness knows, we can't ever say Disney has a terribly-maintained monorail system. Nah, must somehow be the customer's fault.

 

[A Mickeyfan]

Yes, how dare he take advantage of all the different transportation options WDW has available! Shame on you, OP! Next time you'll know better than to listen to a CM trying to help you get to the MK faster.

Goodness knows, we can't ever say Disney has a terribly-maintained monorail system. Nah, must somehow be the customer's fault.

My point is being missed here. He took "advantage" of an option for resort guests who are paying up the ying yang to stay there (have you paid those prices, I have) and then they are all shuttled like cattle to the smaller boats to the MK since the monorail stalls. So, there you have guests from the CR (who could not or decided not to walk for some reason), guests from the Poly, guest from the GF and guests who are not paying the Monorail Resort prices waiting on this long line to get to the MK. It was "his" decision to jump on that monorail. He should not be complaining about the long line there, nore should he complain about the generator. Yes, he took "advantage" of the monorail service to get to the MK, instead of using the Ferry. So therefore instead of waiting an hour for the Ferry, he waited 2 for a small boat..
It amazes me how some do not get my point. Yes, he can take it if he wants to but do not blame Disney for that decision. He could have waited like the other MK park guests, and let the Monorail Resort guests have the shorter wait time. I know if I am paying $400+ per night, I don't want to wait in line with every Tom, Dick and Mary because they took "advantage" of what they thought was going to be a short cut and increase my wait times

As I have stated and will state again, he has every right in the world to complain about the express monorail going down and the long lines at the ferry. Disney should have gotten buses out and shuttled the MK park guests over that way, but to complain about being over at the GF, that was his choice to to that route... Disney didn't shuttle him there....

as far as his little comment about parking over at the CR, I have stayed there and come back to the resort from another park only to find I could NOT find a spot.. hmmm would it be due to people parking there when they want to just walk over to the MK. When I am paying the money to stay there, I want the parking spot that comes with it.... I should not have to circle around for 20 minutes or pay for Valet Parking just to park my car (and then there was a fee for it, not sure if there still is for resort guests)

 

[mesaboy2]

My point is being missed here. He took "advantage" of an option for resort guests who are paying up the ying yang to stay there (have you paid those prices, I have) and then they are all shuttled like cattle to the smaller boats to the MK since the monorail stalls. So, there you have guests from the CR (who could not or decided not to walk for some reason), guests from the Poly, guest from the GF and guests who are not paying the Monorail Resort prices waiting on this long line to get to the MK. It was "his" decision to jump on that monorail. He should not be complaining about the long line there, nore should he complain about the generator. Yes, he took "advantage" of the monorail service to get to the MK, instead of using the Ferry. So therefore instead of waiting an hour for the Ferry, he waited 2 for a small boat..
It amazes me how some do not get my point. Yes, he can take it if he wants to but do not blame Disney for that decision. He could have waited like the other MK park guests, and let the Monorail Resort guests have the shorter wait time. I know if I am paying $400+ per night, I don't want to wait in line with every Tom, Dick and Mary because they took "advantage" of what they thought was going to be a short cut and increase my wait times

You might want to take up your grievances with WDW management. The resort monorail is not exclusively for resort guests, though you clearly believe that it is.

Signed,
The Riff-Raff

 

[A Mickeyfan]

You might want to take up your grievances with WDW management. The resort monorail is not exclusively for resort guests, though you clearly believe that it is.

Signed,
The Riff-Raff

I know it is not, but when it comes to times like this, they need to do something for the guests who are paying premium prices as opposed to those that hop on to get there faster.... not saying he wasn't allowed, just saying he really should not be complaining. Then to want to move a generator because it is loud.. sorry, but I do not agree there. It is possible it was there because the least amount of rooms were in that area. Like I said, you are paying big bucks to stay there.. and you don't want to hear a generator because a park guest wants it moved away from the line they are on for the boat???? Yes, you are hearing it too while on that line, I get that part