Disney Ends Evening EMH Monorail Service

[cel_disney]

I was wondering if this might be tied to needing maintanance time on the monorails? Summer hours seem especially taxing?

I do think it will be unfortunate for guests leaving EPCOT, but at the same time - it was not THAT much easier to take the monorail back to BLT late at night! While we didnt have to take our kids out of the stroller - it took FOREVER (an hour at least!)...a 15 minute bus ride would have been preferable!!

 

[Mickey'sApprentice]

I'll put my money on CR being added to the WL boat loop.

 

[Buckeye Fan]

I was wondering if this might be tied to needing maintanance time on the monorails?

That's exactly where my head went. Wonder if they have to do some kind of longer term, major overhaul and figure they will use the evening hours to accomplish it? Who knows.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Actually, given that during EMH the parks have many fewer guests, because only Disney resort guests are allowed on the attractions, it makes a lot of sense. Given that there are fewer guests around, they don't need to operate the higher-volume/high-cost transportation.

I dunno.... Evening EMH always seem pretty busy to me. Yes it's only resort guests, but they are all jammed into one park.

Just more Disney cutbacks.

MG

 

[Maistre Gracey]

I was wondering if this might be tied to needing maintanance time on the monorails? Summer hours seem especially taxing?

I doubt it.. WDW has been handling summer crowds for many years, so why the change now?
Besides, maintenance is generally a function of man-hours, so if you have fewer hours you can always add more men (or women).

MG

 

[wildernessDad]

There goes part of the sales pitch for DVC GF.

I definitely agree with you there. It makes me wonder if they're going to add a pathway to the GF from the MK.

 

[wildernessDad]

I'll put my money on CR being added to the WL boat loop.

Oh, I hope not.

 

[MiaSRN62]

Wow....two "thumbs down" from me on this one ! We ALWAYS do EMH evening in the MK. I sure hope they plan on adding more busses then---because they're always packed. When we stay at BLT, walking is gonna be a nice perk. But I certainly feel for people who book and stay at the Poly and GF. I'm sure they always felt the cost of the room was worth having that monorail perk when they wanted it.

 

[Sammie]

Honestly I am not surprised, it stays broke down so often lately. Every trip we see it stuck on the track. I think they are trying to limit the time used to try and keep the system running. Several people who work the monorails say it is so outdated and parts are impossible to get and they pretty much have to make them.

Sadly though I think this will increase people trying to park at the Contemporary and walk over.

Actually maybe Jim Lewis decided this would be a great way to push BLT, the only DVC that you can walk to after EMH.

 

[paults]

OH MY, how are all those people that park in the MK resorts lots going to get back to their resorts
hey they could just discontinue EMH all together

 

[E&K's Dad]

Here is the response I received from MS regarding my concerns about the change. . .not much different than we saw from the original inform from WDW Magic. Not much help but at least they heard my opinion.


Thank you for contacting DISNEY VACATION CLUB®.

We appreciate your interest in the Monorail Service. I do apologize for
any inconvenience. WALT DISNEY WORLD has decided to make some changes
to the Monorail System so that we can adjustments to our operations to
accommodate for planned transportation maintenance. Effective July 11,
2011, the EPCOT Monorail System will be closing 1 hour after EPCOT
regular operating hours. Effective August 1, 2011, the Magic Kingdom
Monorail System will be closing 1 hour after Magic Kingdom regular
operating hours. Buses and watercraft (where applicable) will be
transporting guests back to the resorts during the Evening Extra Magic
Hours.

Please let us know if we can be of any further assistance.

 

[eliza61]

Well that sucks.

I dunno.... Evening EMH always seem pretty busy to me. Yes it's only resort guests, but they are all jammed into one park.Just more Disney cutbacks.

MG

to me too. We love the evening EMH's especially since my kids have gotten older.

I view it as just another cutback also.

 

[Sammie]

I wish they would bring back E-Tickets, I would gladly pay if they would actually limit the number they sell.

 

[DisneyLover1217]

This is really disapponting since we stay at the Polynesian for the convenience of the monorail, for both MK and Epcot. Do the boats even run after EMH? Will that even be an option? Obviously for Epcot it would have to be bus or rental.

 

[WilsonFlyer]

I can't believe I haven't seen anybody mention these two things in this thread or the other, already gigantic, thread over on the Theme Parks forum.

1) They are adding that small spur at Epcot for the tractor. Maybe they need more downtime to tie it into the mainline.

2) The monorail at WDW is WAY OLD and outdated. They upgraded the monorails to Mk 6's (?) at DL not too long ago. Maybe we're going to finally get our long-awaited upgrade and some things need to be done to accomodate that.

Sorry. Just trying to be optimistic and hope the change isn't permanent and actually has a short-term reason. I also sincerely believe this.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Sorry. Just trying to be optimistic and hope the change isn't permanent and actually has a short-term reason. I also sincerely believe this.

Thanks for the optimism brought into the thread!!
Now, please pass the pipe...

MG

 

[Donut23]

I can't believe I haven't seen anybody mention these two things in this thread or the other, already gigantic, thread over on the Theme Parks forum.

1) They are adding that small spur at Epcot for the tractor. Maybe they need more downtime to tie it into the mainline.

2) The monorail at WDW is WAY OLD and outdated. They upgraded the monorails to Mk 6's (?) at DL not too long ago. Maybe we're going to finally get our long-awaited upgrade and some things need to be done to accomodate that.

Sorry. Just trying to be optimistic and hope the change isn't permanent and actually has a short-term reason. I also sincerely believe this.

Monorail cars were replaced at 20 years. The beancounters apparently feel that was premature and plan to run the current fleet another 10 - 15 years according to transportation insiders. This certainly makes monorail resorts far less appealing to DH and myself.....especially when you pay a premium for the convenience of the monorail.

Know how DH reacted.......: He's right. The view from the inside isn't always .... pretty.


sorry to not have good news.

 

[BUDDYBEAR]

i hate that what is next

 

[bicker]

I wish they would bring back E-Tickets, I would gladly pay if they would actually limit the number they sell.

I don't recall that E-Tickets were ever limited with regard to how many they sold. I believe guests were able to buy them as they wished, and then able to bring them back on subsequent visits, even.

 

[granmanh603]

I don't recall that E-Tickets were ever limited with regard to how many they sold. I believe guests were able to buy them as they wished, and then able to bring them back on subsequent visits, even.

I don't think it was called an E ticket but before EMH for free, they had a ticket that you could buy for like $10 for 3 hrs after park closed and it was limited number sold for WDW resort guests only. It was only at MK . We did that and it was nice and not crowded but as for EMH now...most times it is way to crowded especially MK and DHS , when there last month they were even giving out fast passes on some rides... everyone there seems to head to SM at MK and to RNR or TSM at DHS.