Any thoughts about Epcot monorail starting this summer?

[lynnfitz]

Just wondering what people thoughts are the chances of the monorail to Epcot will be running this summer. We normally stay at Bay Lake, and it's always a nice option to take the monorail over to Epcot-Thanks!

 

[skeeter31]

Just wondering what people thoughts are the chances of the monorail to Epcot will be running this summer. We normally stay at Bay Lake, and it's always a nice option to take the monorail over to Epcot-Thanks!

Given that it didn’t open with the return of park hopping, they’re just not seeing a demand for it, so it could be closed for a long time. At least until Poly reopens in the summer, but could even be closed until capacity is back to 100%

 

[Dug720]

Given that it didn’t open with the return of park hopping, they’re just not seeing a demand for it, so it could be closed for a long time. At least until Poly reopens in the summer, but could even be closed until capacity is back to 100%

Since Park Hopping just starting today, I don't think they can yet confirm that there's not a demand for it. If they start seeing longer lines for the Park to Park busses at MK going to Epcot (or the other way around), they may rethink the decision not to open it.

 

[lynnfitz]

Ok thanks, I guess time will tell, good thought about the lines being longer for the parks between MK and Epcot. Not a deal breaker if we stay at BL or not, but it is nice to have if we want to venture over to Epcot.

 

[cyndiella]

I believe it's closed until the construction in Future World is done... They don't want people to see that going on (think construction walls). So, hopefully when that area (seen from the monorail is done) they'll start it running again.

 

[yulilin3]

I believe it's closed until the construction in Future World is done... They don't want people to see that going on (think construction walls). So, hopefully when that area (seen from the monorail is done) they'll start it running again.

It's closed cause they're saving money in any way possible. Once attendance is able to rise again and some of the guidelines are relaxed and they see a real need for it, then they'll bring it back.

 

[Heather07438]

With all around attendance down resort-wide, it probably is much less efficient compared to cost-per-guest on buses. I just don't think there's enough people needing it to make operating worthwhile until reduced capacities are no longer needed.

 

[Dug720]

I believe it's closed until the construction in Future World is done... They don't want people to see that going on (think construction walls). So, hopefully when that area (seen from the monorail is done) they'll start it running again.

Only they had no issues with the views of the France construction from the Skyliner...

 

[DL1WDW2]

Just wondering what people thoughts are the chances of the monorail to Epcot will be running this summer. We normally stay at Bay Lake, and it's always a nice option to take the monorail over to Epcot-Thanks!

Would love to just see an occasional monorail making the Epcot run.
Has anybody seen any life or even the Cleaning piece of machinery that is similar to the maintenance I have seen at Disneyland...

 

[Ladyandthepuppies]

I have been hearing at work (economic forecasting*) that we should start seeing a return to normalcy by September if the vaccine is working. By September anyone who wants the vaccine should have been able to get it, and in the polls enough people said they wanted it that we should start seeing herd immunity. If the vaccine is truly 95% effective, and if there aren’t widely spread mutated strains of COVID that aren’t covered by the vaccine, and if distribution goes well, then we can assume “back to normal” after 10 months of distribution. If the vaccine distribution goes better than expected, more people get it than anticipated, and the summer weather helps to lower the cases, it could be earlier. I would guess we’ll see the monorail by fall at the latest, but maybe by summer. “Back to normal” will also depend on the scars left on our national psyche, i.e., will people feel safe and comfortable in crowds after a year + of social distancing? And if we have a K shaped recovery, Disney’s earnings may not be what they once were for months after COVID restrictions are gone, so they may continue cost-cutting measures. I don’t know what the cost-benefit analysis is on the monorails so I don’t know if closing them is saving significant dollars but I kind of doubt it.

*I should stress that I myself am not an economist, I just work with the economists. So this is what I’m hearing and I think I’m conveying the gist but there are a lot of factors in the analysis and I haven’t seen all of the research myself.

 

[KrazeeK120]

I have been hearing at work (economic forecasting*) that we should start seeing a return to normalcy by September if the vaccine is working. By September anyone who wants the vaccine should have been able to get it, and in the polls enough people said they wanted it that we should start seeing herd immunity. If the vaccine is truly 95% effective, and if there aren’t widely spread mutated strains of COVID that aren’t covered by the vaccine, and if distribution goes well, then we can assume “back to normal” after 10 months of distribution. If the vaccine distribution goes better than expected, more people get it than anticipated, and the summer weather helps to lower the cases, it could be earlier. I would guess we’ll see the monorail by fall at the latest, but maybe by summer. “Back to normal” will also depend on the scars left on our national psyche, i.e., will people feel safe and comfortable in crowds after a year + of social distancing? And if we have a K shaped recovery, Disney’s earnings may not be what they once were for months after COVID restrictions are gone, so they may continue cost-cutting measures. I don’t know what the cost-benefit analysis is on the monorails so I don’t know if closing them is saving significant dollars but I kind of doubt it.

*I should stress that I myself am not an economist, I just work with the economists. So this is what I’m hearing and I think I’m conveying the gist but there are a lot of factors in the analysis and I haven’t seen all of the research myself.

Everything I’ve read indicates that children won’t be able to be vaccinated until sometime in the fall, and they are a significant percentage of the population. I’m a little hesitant to think about a return to normal until late 2021.

 

[DisneyFive]

So the only Disney transportation from MK to EP currently is by bus? (I know this could change at any time) Just confirming and planning for our upcoming July/August trip.

Dan

 

[DL1WDW2]

Update today from WDNT that monorail line will be further delayed .
so I guess going from MK to Epcot would require a bus from Ticket Transport Center or returning to a MK Resort for the Epcot bus.

 

[subtchr]

So the only Disney transportation from MK to EP currently is by bus? (I know this could change at any time) Just confirming and planning for our upcoming July/August trip.

Dan

Correct. Starting about 1:30 each day.

Update today from WDNT that monorail line will be further delayed .
so I guess going from MK to Epcot would require a bus from Ticket Transport Center or returning to a MK Resort for the Epcot bus.

There are no buses to Epcot from the TTC. The bus to Epcot is from the MK bus area, starting about 1:30 each day.

 

[gharter]

I don't expect to see it operational until Park Hopping returns to "normal" or attendance increases a lot.
With decreased capacity and park hoping not starting til 2, the cost of running that line doesn't make sense.

 

[jordan13402]

at least I can still get to MK from the Poly by walking over to the TTC

 

[subtchr]

at least I can still get to MK from the Poly by walking over to the TTC

...or taking the resort launch. Or walking the path through the Grand Floridian.