Limited Monorail? NOOOOOOOOO

[Shaden]

We stayed at the Contemporary in June....we used the monorail once the entire time. We never took it to or from MK....much much easier to walk.

When we booked the Contemporary, it had nothing to do with the monorail. It had to do with the location as a whole. Watching the fireworks from the hotel. Walking to and from MK. The amazing views of Bay Lake at night and in the morning. The size of the rooms. The all around amazing service. The monorail is one small part of the experience at the Contemporary. We would stay there again if there was no monorail at all.

I just don't understand people letting something like the monorail being down ruin their trip. I get that it's expensive. Believe me I do. We are planning on getting 2 rooms at the Contemporary in April for 7 of us and we would never expect any type of compensation if the monorail was down. They are doing what they should be doing...offering alternative transportation options. It's not like you suddenly can't get there. Maybe it's because of everything we have been through the past few years but the monorail being down wouldn't even be a blip on our radar. And honestly, I don't think Disney owes anyone anything because of this. Again, I would never expect compensation. Things happen. That's life. It is what it is and if the monorail being down is your biggest complaint right now, count yourself lucky.

I just can't wait to be back at the Contemporary next year (monorail or no monorail!)

And what would you do if they boarded up your windows ? So you didn't have a view ? Would you complain then ? Would you demand compensation ? And as for "count yourself lucky" lol. If that's the case then no one ever should complain about anything, including things they pay for. There is always a worse place you could be. But that doesn't really hold out when you are paying thousands of dollars to Disney in exchange for a monorail resort, or for any service. By that logic the next time you pay for a car and you get a 10 year old piece of crap, you should just say, "well, I wont let this ruin my driving experience". You get what you pay for, and the OP paid for a resort with a fully functional monorail.

You might not book Monorail resorts for the Monorail, but other people do, and they have paid for the monorail. If its not being offered, in the same way it was sold ie: running all day every day as the most convenient and "Disney" way to and from the parks, then compensation should be provided.

 

[I Love Pluto]

We expected a refrigerator this summer. We didn't get one!

I do agree, however, that a MONORAIL resort should include a monorail!

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

We expected a refrigerator this summer. We didn't get one!

I do agree, however, that a MONORAIL resort should include a monorail!

The monorails are still there. There are just a few hours every day (not rush hours by any means) that you need to take a bus, boat or walk. Geez.

 

[saltooni]

This is a little disappointing because it is also during the MNSSHP, where visitors will be piling in to the parks during the closed monorail times. I know it wont effect the express monorail BUT still interesting.
I am staying at OKW and see the limited boat hours as well, really?
Also, the railroad is down during that time (Yes, that has been posted for a while) but it is still all the FUN and memorable means of transportation.
11am-6pm is a crucial time for those that have lunch ressies on the monorail system and also those that have little ones they would like to get down for a nap.
We spend half a day doing the monorail resort crawl. I guess we will have to adjust our hours.

 

[pieface]

They should give a room discount you are paying for the convenience of being on the monorail fast trip to magic kingdom. Being crowded on a bus or boat is not worth the extra money for staying on the monorail resort. I love the Poly but would be very unhappy if I paid that much money to stay there and would have to take a bus. I always rent a car and would rather stay at animal kingdom lodge and drive. Animal kingdom is a lot cheaper and a wonderful resort. They ought to work on it at night and not screw over the people who paid for the convenience. It's a money thing there going to make a lot of money on what there doing with no benefit to the people who are inconvenienced the time the monorail is down. I never looked to be compensated for anything but would be ticked off for this inconvenience.

 

[nhfd155]

Peter Pan and the Walt Disney Railroad are both down for our trip next week! Maybe I should try to have my park ticket compensated!

Or...... maybe I'll just enjoy the rest of my trip anyway. I am not going to be at work, but at the happiest place on earth having a blast. Definite inconvenience, but none the less we will be OK. We have ressies at the Poly during the planned outage but I'm sure we'll get there by boat or bus.

 

[maxiesmom]

Peter Pan and the Walt Disney Railroad are both down for our trip next week! Maybe I should try to have my park ticket compensated!

Or...... maybe I'll just enjoy the rest of my trip anyway. I am not going to be at work, but at the happiest place on earth having a blast. Definite inconvenience, but none the less we will be OK. We have ressies at the Poly during the planned outage but I'm sure we'll get there by boat or bus.

Exactly!

People are so quick to point fingers at Disney and call any increase in costs a "money grab". Money won't fix having the monorail down, but that doesn't keep people from putting their hands out. Mirror mirror.

 

[NurseDisneyworld]

I'm just insulted that Disney has the manpower to put notification fliers under thousands of doors, but no one can press "send" to let those visiting during the next couple of weeks that the monorails will be down. I had to find out this morning, by chance.

 

[TagsMissy]

OP I feel for you but at least you get a couple weeks advanced notice which is far better than us getting stuck *on* the monorail a couple times this past trip and finding issues on the resort monorail when various parks were closed ((we got to TTC from Epcot)) then had to do a bit of a mad scramble to get to our resort!

You can at least plan for these closures, we could not. And being stuck on the monorail when it's packed mid span is not fun...

They need to fix the issues at some point. When you go to a themepark and a main attraction ride is down you don't get a discount, the resorts won't get you one either as you are paying for accommodation and Disney is adding other modes of transportation to get you to where you need to be during these limited times during the day.

It sucks but it's better than the alternative of the system constantly breaking down.

 

[ArwenMarie]

Nope, you're right... as it's Disney, the prices would probably go up.

"Due to guest demand, we have decided to remove the unsightly concrete beams and posts from outside of our most expensive resort hotels, which will also reduce the noise levels in rooms close to the old track. Because of the cost of the exciting new boat and bus opportunities that we will now be offering to our guests, there will be a price increase for these newly improved hotels..."

Only half-joking.

Andre

Well done LOL

 

[spritna]

I find it funny that no monorail throws that big of downer in your vacation but its all ok if you get compensated? Your still out of a monorail. Thats the problem with the world...nobody wants to give without getting something in return.

 

[dischic89]

Peter Pan and the Walt Disney Railroad are both down for our trip next week! Maybe I should try to have my park ticket compensated!

Or...... maybe I'll just enjoy the rest of my trip anyway. I am not going to be at work, but at the happiest place on earth having a blast. Definite inconvenience, but none the less we will be OK. We have ressies at the Poly during the planned outage but I'm sure we'll get there by boat or bus.

Exactly!

People are so quick to point fingers at Disney and call any increase in costs a "money grab". Money won't fix having the monorail down, but that doesn't keep people from putting their hands out. Mirror mirror.

First off, no one mentioned their trip being completely ruined by not having monorail access. Secondly, comparing a park ticket (a flat rate item based on number of days, park hopper, etc.) to a resort stay that is clearly part of tiered system makes no sense. As was hypothetically questioned before, would the monorail resorts cost the same if they did not offer the monorail as an amenity? Of course they would not. If the monorail were to be down consistently during my stay, I think it is entirely justified that I would want compensation. Not because I'm greedy. Not because I hate Disney. Not because I think I am 'entitled'. Simply because I am not getting a service that I DID in fact pay for.

 

[ArwenMarie]

I find it funny that no monorail throws that big of downer in your vacation but its all ok if you get compensated? Your still out of a monorail. Thats the problem with the world...nobody wants to give without getting something in return.

If it was me, I would ask for a discount if this happened to me on my trip. I would probably be turned down. Then I would ask to be moved to a moderate. If I am going to be riding a bus to MK and Epcot and I don't have easy access to the other two monorail resorts and their restaurants, I will pay half the price instead, thank you very much. That's just what it's worth to me...everyone has their own calculations and priorities.

It's not about what Disney has to do. I'm sure, legally, they are covered, and there are differences between what they have to provide in a hotel versus what they choose to provide.

However, I think this speaks to their customer service, or lack of it. I always tell this story, but we went to Great Wolf Lodge this past spring, and I had a rude encounter with a worker. I went to the hotel manager, absolutely not looking for anything, just to tell him. He goes in his office, comes back out and said he was going to take 10% of our entire stay, food and lodging. Which ended up being about $150 total off. Just for one relatively minor complaint about one worker.

So there are differences in how these things are handled across the hotel industry, and Disney is choosing to handle them a certain way, and that is their choice.

 

[nhfd155]

As was hypothetically questioned before, would the monorail resorts cost the same if they did not offer the monorail as an amenity? Of course they would not.

I don't know if pricing would change much if at all. It's a Magic Kingdom resort, not necessarily advertised as a monorail resort. The rate is due to the room and resort amenities. The proximity to Magic Kingdom is paramount. The views and even a short 5 minute bus ride will justify the rate. The monorail is a resort amenity but by no means is the whole reason the rate is what it is. I feel for those without notice. They are unable to change plans if they are shorted by having limited monorail use. I personally wouldn't use the monorail as a deal breaker or an excuse for a discount.


Someone else posted last week about a hypothetical situation regarding all star resort and Epcot. The jist of the comments stated that all star would not be considered a value resort if it was close to Epcot. The rates would probably be in the vicinity of a moderate. As they say in real estate.... Location location location

 

[hgeisler]

Then you can walk. If I remember right the resort monorail goes clockwise, which means that if you take it from CR to the MK, you have to go almost all the way around the loop and make three stops before you get there, which means that walking would be much quicker anyway. (If it goes counterclockwise, then obviously this applies to going from MK to CR instead.)

Yes, but say that you have an adr at GF or the Poly from CR. Then, you have to walk to the MK to catch a boat. In my case, dh, dd 5, ds 3, and ds 1 would have to walk, then hope our double stroller would fit.Not exactly covenient. I'm staying at CR in a couple of weeks as well. I'm not thrilled about the monorail situation, but we'll make the best of it, but if I did have that scenario I would not be pleased.

 

[hgeisler]

Yes, that is what I meant, part of the day. And I think if that ever happened, customers staying at those resorts would be quite annoyed. No one ever said this was a tragedy.

Especially since many people make adr's between 5-6 for dinner after a day at the park.

 

[carrie1626]

Yikes.

This is an absolute NO WIN for the WDW Resort.
I have no doubt even with compensation, persons would still complain from here to eternity about it.
I read all the comments and everyone has valid points.

I posted on another thread that I didn't think guests should expect "compensation". That's my opinion and it goes along with my feeling that we as a society are getting too used to entitlement.

I've changed my thoughts to: each reserved room night deserves a discount of some amount. I thought WDW should have notifed everyone beforehand but after more thought, I believe this was impossible to pinpoint exactly. The reason for those exuberant room fees are partly for the monorail.
The big 3 monorail resorts should accommodate their guests accordingly. For some: a personal cab ride. golf cart rides to the TTC. etc.

 

[maxiesmom]

I think it is entirely justified that I would want compensation. Not because I'm greedy. Not because I hate Disney. Not because I think I am 'entitled'. Simply because I am not getting a service that I DID in fact pay for.

I don't agree. If you choose to not use the monorail when it is up and running you don't get money off of your room. If you don't use the boats, you don't get money off of your room. There is no itemized line on your reservation for cost of the monorail. Your resort is a bundle. You don't pay for what parts you use and don't use.

Or should Disney make everyone take a lie detector test, and then ask if they intended to use the monorail? And only the ones who intended to use it between 11 and 6 get money off of their bill? As they are the only ones affected they are the only ones who would be entitled to any money off.

 

[dischic89]

I don't agree. If you choose to not use the monorail when it is up and running you don't get money off of your room. If you don't use the boats, you don't get money off of your room. There is no itemized line on your reservation for cost of the monorail. Your resort is a bundle. You don't pay for what parts you use and don't use.

off.

You are entirely correct. Your resort is a bundle, priced according to the amenities/features of the particular resort you are staying at. I've no interest in arguing my point; I know it won't help!

My point of posting in this thread was to make sure that people considering asking for compensation or a discount know that I don't think they are entitled/greedy/selfish/ruining American morals as some have said on this thread. If you don't feel you are getting what you paid for, speak up! It can't hurt.

 

[DPCummerbund]

Here I thought I was doing something good by booking on the ol' reliable monorail...

Regardless of the compensation issue, I had to laugh at this. While the monorail is certainly old, I have NEVER heard anyone describe it as "reliable"! It is, without a doubt, the most unreliable mode of transportation on Disney property.

I've never stayed at a monorail resort. One of those reasons is the price, but part of it is the unreliability of the monorail itself. Yes, you pay more for this feature, but as many posters have said, it's just one feature.

I would not count on Disney compensating me for a downed monorail, any more than I would count on them compensating me for bad weather, or closing Space Mountain or Thunder Mountain. But it DOES affect my decision as to which resort I want to stay at.