Limited Monorail? NOOOOOOOOO

[Tigger's ally]

And yes everyone can have an opinion but unless you are in the persons shoes that is actually staying there during the time of this issue, I pretty much considered yours invalid.

Thanks for you consideration.

 

[mevelandry]

I just wish some people would realize that the monorail CAN be very important for some other people (for accessibility reasons or just because of their itinerary) and just respect their choice/reasons instead of making fun of them/complaining about them.

 

[xipotec]

I wasn't burned by acid or something - it's just they're terribly comfortable, I think everyone will be wearing them in the future.

You keep using that word, I do not think it means what you think it means....

 

[xipotec]

Actually there are deluxe resorts with no monorail service. Ones that actually cost more than the Contemporary resort. You can't claim the monorail resorts are the most expensive resorts because they have the monorail. That is simply not true. Having the monorail might add to their value over-all, but it still doesn't rank as the number one thing that drives the cost of
And as someone who has stayed at deluxe resorts, I can testify to the fact that they have the worst transportation service out of all of the resorts. The buses are much more reliable than the monorail.

I totally disagree with everything said here. The bus does not hold a candle to the monorail as an experience or as a convienence.

Disney buses stink.....

I do so love the launches thou

 

[DaisyD]

I just wish some people would realize that the monorail CAN be very important for some other people (for accessibility reasons or just because of their itinerary) and just respect their choice/reasons instead of making fun of them/complaining about them.

Exactly. When you are taking someone in their 80s that uses and ECV, the monorail is a huge feature we depend on. Why they don't close it and work at NIGHT when the park is closed is beyond me. Why do it when people are using it during the day. If it were that much of a safety issue they wouldn't run it at all, not just close it during the day.

 

[DPCummerbund]

Exactly. When you are taking someone in their 80s that uses and ECV, the monorail is a huge feature we depend on. Why they don't close it and work at NIGHT when the park is closed is beyond me. Why do it when people are using it during the day. If it were that much of a safety issue they wouldn't run it at all, not just close it during the day.

It's not a safety issue in terms of guest safety. As the previous poster said, the construction of the DVC Villas at the Grand Floridian is interrupting the monorail. If it's a safety issue, it's in terms of worker safety as they complete VGF.

As for why they are closing during the day instead of at night, there are two options:

1) Maybe they are working on it at night too.

2) If they're not working on it at night, perhaps there are reasons that the construction can't be done at night. Again, they're doing major construction. It's possible that whatever they're doing would interrupt GF guests throughout the night, and closing the monorail for limited hours may be the lesser of two evils compared to the sound of jackhammers keeping GF guests awake at night.


It does stink for those people who wanted to use the monorail, but Disney wouldn't close it unless it was a necessity.

In general, I agree with all those posters who said that Disney should have given guests more notice. However, I can't think of anything that affected guests could choose to do instead - monorails don't serve any other resort areas, so it's not like switching to a different hotel would make any difference.



Construction of VGF interrupted the WDW monorail on several other occasions earlier in the project too:
http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2011-07-11/the-daily-disney/os-disney-world-monorail-hours-20110711_1_monorail-trains-monorail-fleet-zoraya-suarez

It sounds like they followed a similar plan back then: announcing construction only a week or so before it happened, and then closing it for limited hours during the middle of the day.

When I saw the Grand Floridian DVC construction begin, I wondered whether it might affect monorail operation, but it looked to be far enough from the rail. The GF DVC doesn't have its own stop, so there's no inherent reason to think that it should have done so. However, we have known for months that the GF DVC would open in October 2013 - just weeks away. So, for those of you who absolutely need the monorail, you might want to plan your visits in future years to avoid the completion date of the Polynesian DVC, just in case!

On the other hand, it sounds like the Polynesian resort itself may require more extensive renovation. If they have to essentially rebuild the Grand Ceremonial House, you can bet that the monorail will be impacted. I would recommend following Tikiman's various news sites.

Monorail interruptions aren't new to Disney. The Disneyland monorail is more of a ride than a transportation feature, but it closed for an extensive amount of time from 1999-2001 as California Adventure and the Grand Californian were built. It could be worse...

 

[disneyandme]

For those who don't think it's a big deal to have the monorail closed, imagine if the International Gateway was closed right now for two weeks for a large part of the day (no walkway, no boats) and you were staying at the Deluxe resorts nearby. Wouldn't you be irritated that you had to catch the bus to the front of Epcot and a bus back when you planned on the convenience to walk in and out each day? Imagine having children in strollers that now had to be folded up for the bus or an ECV/wheelchair that now had to be loaded up.

 

[Missyrose]

For those who don't think it's a big deal to have the monorail closed, imagine if the International Gateway was closed right now for two weeks for a large part of the day (no walkway, no boats) and you were staying at the Deluxe resorts nearby. Wouldn't you be irritated that you had to catch the bus to the front of Epcot and a bus back when you planned on the convenience to walk in and out each day? Imagine having children in strollers that now had to be folded up for the bus or an ECV/wheelchair that now had to be loaded up.

I hate to quibble, but your analogy is a bit off. The monorail is just one of the transportation options for the monorail resorts. There's also boats (Poly and GF) and a walkway (CR). So if you want to make an analogy between the monorail resorts and the Epcot resorts, it isn't closing the International Gateway. Disney isn't closing the MK entrance to monorail resort guests, they are simply taking away one of the transportation options. If the Friendship Boats were down during the middle of the day (which they have been before), then Epcot resorts guests have the options of walking or taking the added buses Disney will provide.

Is this shutdown an inconvenience? Absolutely? But vacation ruining? Not by a long shot

 

[Nancyg56]

Is this shutdown an inconvenience? Absolutely? But vacation ruining? Not by a long shot

I think that we all have reasons for booking resorts and we all budget our finances to pay for the amenities that we find important. While I agree that the monorail shut down is not going to be a deal breaker for most people, it is shallow to think that what may be an inconvenience to one may be shattering to another. Monorail resorts are unique because of the ease and convenience that the monorail offers and this mode of transportation can make the difference between a transportation nightmare and a vacation that is manageable.

I am the last person to suggest that Disney should modify their repair or shutdown schedule, and that is in regards to attractions, transportation and resorts and restaurants, but I do believe that there needs to be a better way of notifying guests when a major advertised convenience is going to be disrupted. For those who cannot modify their plans, I can certainly understand the distress. I am not at all sure what Disney can do to rectify the situation, but I really do believe that they have the means to contact guests so that in the event they need to make alternate arrangements, they can. Disney sure knew how to contact guests to remind them to make ADR"s and they know how that there was a change in timing for the HDDR, so they do have contact information to reach out when they want to.

My point is simply that no one can determine what benefits individual resorts offer to guests that if removed or reduced, will negatively impact their stay, so it is not fair to declare that the monorail problem would not ruin a vacation. That decision should have been left up to the guests, and not be left until the guest checks in.

 

[DPCummerbund]

I am not at all sure what Disney can do to rectify the situation, but I really do believe that they have the means to contact guests so that in the event they need to make alternate arrangements, they can.

I sort of agree with you in theory, but here's my question:

Some of the posters have said that they wish Disney notified them earlier. What, exactly, could guests have done differently if they knew about this ahead of time? Disney is already accommodating guests with more buses and boats. They can still get to all the parks. What other plans could guests make?

The only thing I can figure is that some guests - like those in this thread who have several relatives with ECVs - might reschedule or cancel their reservations altogether. But even if you had a month's notice instead of a week's notice, how much could you actually change? Would you really cancel your plans to go to WDW a month out & reschedule an entirely different vacation just because monorail service is going to be spotty?

Some people in this thread will probably answer "YES!" But I would guess that the number of people for which this is true is minuscule. The number of people wanting to complain about this is large, but the amount of people who would actually change their plans is rather small.

Secondly, from Disney's perspective, catering their press releases to a very small group just so that small group can decide to NOT give Disney their money doesn't seem like a worthwhile business decision.

Lastly, it's very possible that they don't know a month ahead of time EXACTLY when work will need to be done in that specific area. Construction projects get delayed. If you announce in September that the monorail will be impacted during the second week in October, but then a few weeks later you find out that it will affect the third week in October (or even more likely, the project gets extended), you've got just as many angry people.

Even now, I have yet to see an official ending date for this construction. Yes, Disney people are probably experts in building resorts by now, but all the projects are different - they're not building tract houses here. Their main priority is undoubtedly the completion of the VGF for all those guests who have reservations for opening day.

 

[Nancyg56]

The only thing I can figure is that some guests - like those in this thread who have several relatives with ECVs - might reschedule or cancel their reservations altogether. But even if you had a month's notice instead of a week's notice, how much could you actually change? Would you really cancel your plans to go to WDW a month out & reschedule an entirely different vacation just because monorail service is going to be spotty?

Some people in this thread will probably answer "YES!" But I would guess that the number of people for which this is true is minuscule. The number of people wanting to complain about this is large, but the amount of people who would actually change their plans is rather small.

Secondly, from Disney's perspective, catering their press releases to a very small group just so that small group can decide to NOT give Disney their money doesn't seem like a worthwhile business decision.

Lastly, it's very possible that they don't know a month ahead of time EXACTLY when work will need to be done in that specific area. Construction projects get delayed. If you announce in September that the monorail will be impacted during the second week in October, but then a few weeks later you find out that it will affect the third week in October (or even more likely, the project gets extended), you've got just as many angry people.

I think that notifying guests and allowing them to determine if the monorail reduced schedule is going to be a problem is the right thing to do. I have no idea how any individual guest is going to react or what changes that that person would feel the need to make, but guests should be allowed to decide for themselves if this inconvenience merited changes.

What is a minor annoyance to me may be a very alarming problem for another. For instance, when AKL was undergoing construction, I chose to stay elsewhere. I simply did not want to pay for the pleasure of construction noises. I knew about teh construction and chose to pay for a different resort. In this case, Disney now knows that the disruption n monorail service is a problem for some guests, and I do not see why they do not offer the opportunity for guests to change resorts, change dates or cancel altogether. Simple good will and common courtesy IMO.

I doubt many people would make changes, but that it is not an issue for me or for others should not negate that it may be a major problem for some and they may want to make alternate plans.

 

[Missyrose]

I think that notifying guests and allowing them to determine if the monorail reduced schedule is going to be a problem is the right thing to do. I have no idea how any individual guest is going to react or what changes that that person would feel the need to make, but guests should be allowed to decide for themselves if this inconvenience merited changes.

What is a minor annoyance to me may be a very alarming problem for another. For instance, when AKL was undergoing construction, I chose to stay elsewhere. I simply did not want to pay for the pleasure of construction noises. I knew about teh construction and chose to pay for a different resort. In this case, Disney now knows that the disruption n monorail service is a problem for some guests, and I do not see why they do not offer the opportunity for guests to change resorts, change dates or cancel altogether. Simple good will and common courtesy IMO.

I doubt many people would make changes, but that it is not an issue for me or for others should not negate that it may be a major problem for some and they may want to make alternate plans.

Has anyone actually reported Disney refusing to move them to another resort if they feel inconvenienced by the monorail shutdown?

 

[pieface]

D.P. are you Zorro or batman

 

[DPCummerbund]

D.P. are you Zorro or batman

Ummmm... neither? I'm a retired ship captain, currently living in Patagonia. Does that answer your question?

 

[DPCummerbund]

What is a minor annoyance to me may be a very alarming problem for another. For instance, when AKL was undergoing construction, I chose to stay elsewhere. I simply did not want to pay for the pleasure of construction noises. I knew about teh construction and chose to pay for a different resort.

How did Disney treat the AKL construction situation? Did you find out on your own, or did Disney notify you directly ahead of time - and if so - how much warning did they give you?

I'm just curious as to whether Disney is handling this situation any differently than other interruptions.

For example, they're doing all kinds of construction at the Poly now too. I would imagine that guests of the Poly are none too happy, but I have not looked for threads on that yet. However, I do know that they're re-categorizing some rooms. For example, if a particular room usually has a "theme park view" but now have a view of construction walls, it's now a "garden view". So, those guests are either getting reassigned to a different room, or a refund.

I don't know if/whether Disney notified Poly guests about the construction, and whether it has followed a similar pattern to other construction projects.

 

[Nancyg56]

How did Disney treat the AKL construction situation? Did you find out on your own, or did Disney notify you directly ahead of time - and if so - how much warning did they give you? I'm just curious as to whether Disney is handling this situation any differently than other interruptions. For example, they're doing all kinds of construction at the Poly now too. I would imagine that guests of the Poly are none too happy, but I have not looked for threads on that yet. However, I do know that they're re-categorizing some rooms. For example, if a particular room usually has a "theme park view" but now have a view of construction walls, it's now a "garden view". So, those guests are either getting reassigned to a different room, or a refund. I don't know if/whether Disney notified Poly guests about the construction, and whether it has followed a similar pattern to other construction projects.

There was plenty of discussion about construction, with schedules posted. I knew it was happening, and even though I had heard that guests were moved as much as possible if they were booked, I did not want to chance it. I opted to reserve a different resort. I do not know how the resort handled guests who had booked prior to the construction schedule was released. I think that situation is different than the one that the monorail resorts are experiencing in that there really was no notification to guests who had already booked.

Missy- I have not read anything here about how Disney is handling guests who want to change resorts.

 

[Shaden]

edited out ...

 

[midge3426]

Basically, Disney dropped the ball. They plan for major construction months and even years in advance. They have an obligation to post on their web site any construction issues that may affect a guest's stay at their resort. I know that construction lags behind schedule at times, but they have a pretty good idea at the beginning of a project what is affected and when that would happen. They knew in January that they may have to close the monorail and approximately when that would happen. If not, then they need to terminate some managers. Disney owes their guests superior communication. The monorail is an amenity that is promoted for that resort. Whatever reason someone chooses that resort is their business and if the monorail closure affects their stay, then they should be able to cancel without penalty, be moved to another resort, or given a discount. Again, Disney needs to communicate better with their guests or potential guest. It is their responsibility.

 

[DPCummerbund]

There was plenty of discussion about construction, with schedules posted. I knew it was happening, and even though I had heard that guests were moved as much as possible if they were booked, I did not want to chance it. I opted to reserve a different resort. I do not know how the resort handled guests who had booked prior to the construction schedule was released. I think that situation is different than the one that the monorail resorts are experiencing in that there really was no notification to guests who had already booked.

Missy- I have not read anything here about how Disney is handling guests who want to change resorts.

I guess I'm still a little confused. Are you saying that Disney contacted you ahead of time? Saying that there was "plenty of discussion" and "schedules posted" sounds like it was on DIS or another place. Did Disney contact you, or did they post information months ahead of time on their own website? If they offered to rebook people who weren't happy, are they doing so now as well?

Basically, Disney dropped the ball... Again, Disney needs to communicate better with their guests or potential guest. It is their responsibility.

When the Poly construction started (last week?), it seems like it was a surprise to everybody. A press release about the Poly DVC went out the day construction started, & the press release was so "low key" that many people didn't believe it was real (at least until the fences went up).

I haven't tracked all of Disney's construction announcements. But in at least 3 monorail stoppages & the Poly construction, no official announcement was made ahead of time. From what I remember of the VGF, construction had already started before Disney announced it - the joke at the time was that since no announcement had been made, you could point out the new building to cast members and they would pretend to look all around and say "What new building?"

In reading the thread about the Poly construction, it seems to be having little impact on current guests, unless you're walking to the TTC (except, of course, for the monorail outage, and there's a big argument about the monorail there too).

It seems like Disney just doesn't announce its construction plans ahead of time. In general, it appears that they don't want to give you the chance to reschedule - they would rather minimize its impact on current guests & try to accommodate people who are unhappy.


I could see why some people wouldn't like this strategy, but it does appear to be consistent over the last several projects.

 

[DaisyD]

There was plenty of discussion about construction, with schedules posted. I knew it was happening, and even though I had heard that guests were moved as much as possible if they were booked, I did not want to chance it. I opted to reserve a different resort. I do not know how the resort handled guests who had booked prior to the construction schedule was released. I think that situation is different than the one that the monorail resorts are experiencing in that there really was no notification to guests who had already booked.

Missy- I have not read anything here about how Disney is handling guests who want to change resorts.

I did get a letter from the Poly last month about construction on the beach near Sunset Point so they do know to alert people incase of any issues. I still haven't gotten any letter or call from the in relation to the monorail closing. I think we should have at least expected a warning and not waiting til check in.