Disney Ends Evening EMH Monorail Service

[Sammie]

Dancnorris, wanting things to stay the same is understandable. But if anything I have learned recently with DVC, as Dean has told us many time, you bought the right to stay at BLT with at least one month booking advance booking over members that do not own there.

And basically that is all you are entitled to with your $85,000 dollar purchase. If you considered your purchase an investment you are really going to be upset.

You did not buy monorail access, you did not buy those 500 locations they tell you about, or access to Disney cruise line, or Adventures by Disney.

I understand really I do because we have been going to Disney for almost 30 years and it was hard for me at first to remove the pixie dust from my eyes and see it for what it is. Simply a timeshare purchase and nothing else.

I wish I could tell you when you write them they will care. But honestly they don't.

They were very interested in you when you bought and now they have your money and even if you sell, someone else will take your place.

Welcome to DVC.

The only thing I can say, is if the monorail is going to come back up to previous hours it will be when the DVC at the Grand Floridian opens. Because then it will matter to them.

 

[webcs]

In a question to DVC on how late eaters will get out of, for instance the poly to old key west, i was told "walk to the ticket center".

That will help in a downpour, thank you. Clearly the people answering the emails have not eaten there. Cant walk after pigging out. LOL.

 

[dancnorris]

Dancnorris, wanting things to stay the same is understandable. But if anything I have learned recently with DVC, as Dean has told us many time, you bought the right to stay at BLT with at least one month booking advance booking over members that do not own there.

And basically that is all you are entitled to with your $85,000 dollar purchase. If you considered your purchase an investment you are really going to be upset.

You did not buy monorail access, you did not buy those 500 locations they tell you about, or access to Disney cruise line, or Adventures by Disney.

I understand really I do because we have been going to Disney for almost 30 years and it was hard for me at first to remove the pixie dust from my eyes and see it for what it is. Simply a timeshare purchase and nothing else.

I wish I could tell you when you write them they will care. But honestly they don't.

They were very interested in you when you bought and now they have your money and even if you sell, someone else will take your place.

Welcome to DVC.

The only thing I can say, is if the monorail is going to come back up to previous hours it will be when the DVC at the Grand Floridian opens. Because then it will matter to them.

Thanks for your response. I know very well what I purchased and what I did not purchase. Monorail service is not guaranteed. But if you read the contract, neither is the operation of the Magic Kingdom. While smart lawyers included this language for obvious reasons, they are kidding themselves if they think that they can discontinue services as they please as long as the lights in the building stay on. Yes, they have my money. However, they do not have a gaurantee that I will actually come back. The money I would spend at Disney over the years greatly exceeds my initial investment in DVC. Furthermore, reputation matters. If there product suffers and existing members are unsatisfied, it WILL impact future sales. That is simply a fact. Plus, I would actually consider an add on myself at Grand Floridian, or at least I would subject to this issue being resolved.

I do not view my purchase as an "investment" seeking a monetary return. I am not nearly that foolish. But it is an investment committing a meaningful part of my life to future vacations at WDW. I want those vacations to live up to the promise of Disney's founder and my experiences over the last 30 years. Anyone else on this board should want that also. I know you are just being a pragmatist, and I appreciate that. But as long as we live in a country where we are free to make our own choices, the consumers still matter to any successful enterprise. No company, mouse, television studio (ABC), theme park, or any other for profit enterprise can persist at length without regard for customer service. Are we entitled to every benefit ever offered to any DVC member? No. But, in my personal opinion, this is not a perk...it lies at the heart of the consumer experience they are trying to sell me (and others) for unconscionable amounts of money...

 

[Sammie]

Thanks for your response. I know very well what I purchased and what I did not purchase. Monorail service is not guaranteed. But if you read the contract, neither is the operation of the Magic Kingdom. While smart lawyers included this language for obvious reasons, they are kidding themselves if they think that they can discontinue services as they please as long as the lights in the building stay on. Yes, they have my money. However, they do not have a gaurantee that I will actually come back. The money I would spend at Disney over the years greatly exceeds my initial investment in DVC. Furthermore, reputation matters. If there product suffers and existing members are unsatisfied, it WILL impact future sales. That is simply a fact. Plus, I would actually consider an add on myself at Grand Floridian, or at least I would subject to this issue being resolved.

I do not view my purchase as an "investment" seeking a monetary return. I am not nearly that foolish. But it is an investment committing a meaningful part of my life to future vacations at WDW. I want those vacations to live up to the promise of Disney's founder and my experiences over the last 30 years. Anyone else on this board should want that also. I know you are just being a pragmatist, and I appreciate that. But as long as we live in a country where we are free to make our own choices, the consumers still matter to any successful enterprise. No company, mouse, television studio (ABC), theme park, or any other for profit enterprise can persist at length without regard for customer service. Are we entitled to every benefit ever offered to any DVC member? No. But, in my personal opinion, this is not a perk...it lies at the heart of the consumer experience they are trying to sell me (and others) for unconscionable amounts of money...

You are right that Disney parks does not have your money, but that is why I would right to Disney not DVC. DVC will tell you they had nothing to do with this decision, which I am sure they didn't.

And Yes I agree you are preaching to the choir on this one. But honestly the ways things have gone lately, I have accepted the reality that the Disney of today is not the Disney of former years.

Some things have improved, much in my opinion has declined.

I am just glad I bought my DVC early and at a much lower rate to have already recouped my initial outlay.

With the current thought process of Disney and DVC, I could not honestly recommend buying anymore.

I think Disney and DVC will continue to focus on customer service but the focus has shifted from retaining loyal return guests and DVC members to focusing on sales to new members and new guests.

If they can get enough of those, they don't have to bother with the other.

Personally re: EMH changes and the monorail, I think the next step could be to cancel the EMH all together. They have already cancelled evening ones at DAK. Then possibly they will wait for awhile and bring it back as a free perk for certain level rooms or even certain number of DVC points. Hence the tier reward program that has been bounced around.

Those that don't qualify for it for free would have to pay extra for it.

Because what Disney does can sometimes be seen as madness but there is always a method to it.

With this new LILO system they have the ability to do many things that would limit some guests and allow others and it can all be put on the resort ID card.

 

[bicker]

This change is NOT minor.

How are you measuring it? I'm comparing the number of hours of the curtailment against the total number of hours operating. By that objective measure, it is a minor change.

I bet that if we measured the total number of passengers carried before the curtailment and compared that to the total number of passengers carried after the curtailment - another objective measure - that again we'd see that the change is minor.

From what you wrote, you're measuring it based on how it makes you personally feel. I can't fault you for that, but you should grant that that's not the way anyone else would be expected to measure it, and surely it would not be reasonable to expect Disney to measure it that way.

 

[TisBit]

In a question to DVC on how late eaters will get out of, for instance the poly to old key west, i was told "walk to the ticket center".

That will help in a downpour, thank you. Clearly the people answering the emails have not eaten there. Cant walk after pigging out. LOL.

I guess it would be the same way you get to any resort....take the DTD bus and either the boat or a bus back to OKW. You can also take the bus to the MK and an OKW bus from there. This is the reasoning that will not save the monorail from closing, really there is not much if any REAL argument that the monorail HAS to be in operation.

 

[hakepb]

I will say the EMH running until 3am/4am has always seemed excessive to me. I always felt sorry for the CM's that had to work those nights. (And its not a 5 day a week deal that would make for a "normal" 3rd shift, so how many CM's are forced to take an extreme late shift? Or do they all prefer working without the sun/heat of the day?)

I do think an evening EMH needs to be 2 hours (due to built-up lines in the day) perhaps parks should not be open past 11 to the public?

 

[Simba's Mom]

I guess it would be the same way you get to any resort....take the DTD bus and either the boat or a bus back to OKW. You can also take the bus to the MK and an OKW bus from there. This is the reasoning that will not save the monorail from closing, really there is not much if any REAL argument that the monorail HAS to be in operation.

Maybe we can hope that what will happen is that bookings at resturaunts on the monorail line will decrease for those times, as now it's just too much of a pain (too time-consuming) to get back to your hotel. Then Disney will figure out that the end of EMH monorail service is the cause and reinstitute it.....
Nah, unfortunately there'll probably still be enough people reserving at resturants on the monorail line.
I wonder, was it my dream that I read that Disney had reconsidered and MIGHT be continuing the resort monorail, just discontinuing the express monorail? Or was that just one of my Disney dreams?

 

[Sammie]

I really do not think this change is permanent, I was told they are doing it to allow them to do much needed beam maintenance.

 

[honeymo78]

There is also the possibility of a monorail resort bus loop since I'm sure disney is aware of the large number of monorail resort guests visit other restaurants on the loop. If they do that, the "large inconvenience" will be lessened quite a bit. Of course we won't know anything for sure until the MK line shuts down in a few weeks.

 

[twinklebug]

I really do not think this change is permanent, I was told they are doing it to allow them to do much needed beam maintenance.

Maybe they could possible clean those things while they're at it?

Don't know which company it was, but there's a commercial out there that features WDW trip planning, and in one video shot they show a monorail passing over, highlighting a large mildew ridden section of beam.

 

[BCV23]

In a question to DVC on how late eaters will get out of, for instance the poly to old key west, i was told "walk to the ticket center".

Bad advice indeed as there are no buses to WDW resorts from the TTC these days.

 

[spiceycat]

In a question to DVC on how late eaters will get out of, for instance the poly to old key west, i was told "walk to the ticket center".

ask the bus driver when you leave. there is a boat and the ferry - you can walk over to the TTC and still take the ferry (I hope) and then get on the bus to go back to OKW. (TTC is the ticket center)

but might also ask - there are times when the resorts buses come to pick up at the Polyn - don't know if it is because of the show - or other things.

if all else fails - have the front desk call security - they will get you back to OKW.

 

[castleri]

The last two trips we had issues with the monorail and once had to take the bus from the t&t center to EPCOT. If they can get some of this maintenance done by curtailing service a couple of times a week so most likely they have a standard number of hours to work each night I think that is probably better than shutting down the entire line for a given period of time. At least this way everyone can have the monorail experience if they wish during regular hours. Our family is different in that we look on the bus travel as part of the WDW experience and the younger children think it is a great "ride". Hopefully the changes will be temporary and they can get the work done that will keep the whole system from permanently failing.

 

[Sammie]

The last two trips we had issues with the monorail and once had to take the bus from the t&t center to EPCOT. If they can get some of this maintenance done by curtailing service a couple of times a week so most likely they have a standard number of hours to work each night I think that is probably better than shutting down the entire line for a given period of time. At least this way everyone can have the monorail experience if they wish during regular hours. Our family is different in that we look on the bus travel as part of the WDW experience and the younger children think it is a great "ride". Hopefully the changes will be temporary and they can get the work done that will keep the whole system from permanently failing.

Exactly

 

[jade1]

At least this way everyone can have the monorail experience if they wish during regular hours.

Been busy this weekend, but it sounded like the resort monorail would stop at 7PM (8PM) on MK party nights (over 1/2 the nights in October for example) meaning no monorail return from EPCOT's "regular hours" of 9PM (plus Illuminations).

Has that changed? TIA.

 

[aan1701]

The last two trips we had issues with the monorail and once had to take the bus from the t&t center to EPCOT. If they can get some of this maintenance done by curtailing service a couple of times a week so most likely they have a standard number of hours to work each night I think that is probably better than shutting down the entire line for a given period of time. At least this way everyone can have the monorail experience if they wish during regular hours. Our family is different in that we look on the bus travel as part of the WDW experience and the younger children think it is a great "ride". Hopefully the changes will be temporary and they can get the work done that will keep the whole system from permanently failing.

Well said. If anything the new Disneyland monorails taught them is they are very expensive and need to be done right. So if maintaing the fleet, which they have to make the parts for because the manufacturer no longer does because of how old the trains are, then by all means shut down the trains a little earlier.

 

[DebbieB]

Been busy this weekend, but it sounded like the resort monorail would stop at 7PM (8PM) on MK party nights (over 1/2 the nights in October for example) meaning no monorail return from EPCOT's "regular hours" of 9PM (plus Illuminations).

Has that changed? TIA.

Disney has said a decision has not been made regarding party nights. I personally think they will keep it running at least part of the night, it would be a mess trying to get the crowds out after the fireworks and the second parade, considering thousands parked at the TTC. Far more people park at the TTC for a party than for EMH.

 

[jade1]

Disney has said a decision has not been made regarding party nights. I personally think they will keep it running at least part of the night, it would be a mess trying to get the crowds out after the fireworks and the second parade, considering thousands parked at the TTC. Far more people park at the TTC for a party than for EMH.

Thanks, we split with BLT and BCV so not super relevant for us, but have we some friends (WDW Rookies) are asking me about GF vs YC and I want to be upfront with them on transportation.

 

[dancnorris]

Been busy this weekend, but it sounded like the resort monorail would stop at 7PM (8PM) on MK party nights (over 1/2 the nights in October for example) meaning no monorail return from EPCOT's "regular hours" of 9PM (plus Illuminations).

Has that changed? TIA.

DVC Member Satisfaction called me after I wrote to complain. They confirmed two things:

1. At present, unless there is an uprising, the change is PERMANENT.

2. If MK closes before Epcot, the monorail will close 1 hour after MK closing regardless of whether Epcot is still open for its regular hours. Therefore, in the low season (i.e., DVC season), when MK closes at 7 or 8, you will not be able to get back to the monorail resorts from Epcot after Illuminations, even when there is no EMH. You can ride the monorail to the TTC, but the Resort monorail will be closed.

As I said to the DVC representative, that strikes me as CRAZY. The response I got was crickets. I think DVC is not happy about this, and they are hoping that enough people will complain to get this to change eventually. But Disney is stuborn.

If you go in the low season, you can basically write-off riding the monorail to Epcot from BLT, POL, or GF, whether you are going for EMH or not.