ECV unloading issues on Monorail

[Julylady]

Hi All
I don't normally post on this Board, but we had an experience that I wanted your opinion on. My Mom and I were at WDW last week staying at the Contemporary. She did a weekly scooter rental (from Randy's, GREAT SERVICE!!).

Boarding the Monorail was never an issue since there was always an attendant available to put down the ramp. However, many times during our trip there was no attendent to put down the ramp as we exited the monorail at EPCOT or at the TTC. I would need to jump off and locate someone and alert him/her that we needed assistance. Now, I understand that at times we need to wait our turn because the attendant is helping someone else. We had occasions when there was no attendant to be found! One time, I had to go and knock on the monorail door and have the driver come and assist us.

Is it normal not to have an attendant greet an incoming monorail? Have they cut positions or staffing and this is the result?

The reason its an issue for us is that we are planning another trip next August. My Mom was planning on spending some time alone using the Monorail to get around. (I will be busy with another commitment.) She is now very scared about going off alone. She doesn't know what would have happened if I wouldn't have been with her to track down someone to help her.

Any insight? Was there something we missed?

Donna

 

[goofieslonglostsis]

Sorry to hear about your experiences, Donna! Never ran into such a structural problem myself, mostly a once-in-so-many-times thing. While I haven't stayed at monorail resorts, I've gotten onto it many times. And no, this is not normal as far as my experiences go. It very rarely happened to me, maybe twice in like 29 days at the World. Been there as recent as sept. 26th.

Basically it could be 2 things going on;

- the folks at the Cont not radio'ing ahead that you are coming and want to get off at that particular station
- the problem being with the staff at Epcot/TTC.

You can probably only guess about what it could've been.

What can you do? Please follow up with WDW about this. Not only does that gives them a shot of finding out where things could've gone wrong for you, but it is the only way to inform them about what is going on and pressing for improvement.

I can understand your mom now being wary of staying at a monorail resort for August. Discuss it with her to see what might ease this for her. Maybe it's enough to do the monorail like 5 times together with you. After 5 good experiences, she'll be confident enough to do it on her own. Don't know if that would/could work for her of course! That's why talking is so important. But if such a thing might to the trick, it could be very worth it to invest like 2 hours into doing this before you all hit your regular schedules.

Another option in easing her fear might be her taking the bus to Epcot. Not everybody likes that option, so again; something to discuss.

Or what about staying at an Epcot resort? She could drive right to Epcot and DHS. Depending on which parks she wants to do most, this could be a great option.

You had a very bad experience that shouldn't have been. That probably -hopefully, it'ld better be! - is a bad bad fluke thing. Tell WDW about it and talk to mom about what would make her feel more confident about getting around alone. Good luck!

 

[Bete]

I would think there would be an attendant on both ends. It sounds like someone is not doing their job. That sounds like a lawsuit ready to happen.

If mom is really scared I would book a resort that has bus transportaion like AK Lodge. Personally, I wouldn't take a chance being alone on a monorail based on your story. I sure don't want to make another loop with the monorail, either; because, there's no one waiting to get me off.

If you insist on a monorail resort then I would make sure the front end is told to have someone ready on the back end when you get off as you ride it.

 

[maroo]

We had this problem in Sept. I didn't think much about it, because I had been so many times and never had a problem.

But does someone have an email address where I can send an email? Because I am willing to report what happened to us (very similar issue) in Sept, since it appears to have happened before?

 

[Julylady]

Thanks for the quick replies. My Mom went to Guest Services at EPCOT to discuss the situation with someone and all they did was give her a card with a name and address for her to lodge a complaint. They told her to be sure to request a response or nothing will happen (!!!).

She was planning on writing a letter today. I told her I would post on this Board to see if you'all had any insight.

We are considering staying at either Beach Club or Boardwalk next August for the very reasons suggested.

My guess is they have fewer attendants working the stations than they used to. When we discussed the situation with the attendant at the Contemporary he said we should always tell the attendant where we planned to exit and we did! However, when you board the EPCOT monorail at TTC or vice versa, they should KNOW you are getting off, right?

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Every time I go to MK (which is usually several times a month) I will use the monorail. And most of the time I am traveling by myself. I have never noticed any problems related to this. Maybe once every couple of months there my not be anyone immediately there, but I have never been stranded on one of the trains.

 

[mrsksomeday]

This happened to us last October going to Epcot to catch our LeCellier reservation. I got out, waited for a CM to get the ramp for Bill and no one was around. I was worried it would shut the doors and he would be taking another ride .

I shouldn't have done it, but I knew where the ramp was and I put it where it is supposed to go and Bill got off. I was putting it up when a CM finally decided to stroll up to where we were, if we weren't almost late for our ADR she would have gotten an earful.

I am going to make sure anything and everything I find issues with gets reported right then and there. There is no reason for them to have not known assistance was needed when we arrived there. They can radio ahead.

 

[SueM in MN]

We have run into the problem a couple of times during our many trips. The problem seems to be not radioing ahead or the CM who was there when the call came was rotated to another position and did not pass the message on. Also, the CM may be on the wrong side of the track if the call doesn't come in quickly enough.
We have not been stranded, but have taken DD off once without the ramp (were using manual wheelchair) and once another guest got off and hunted down a CM for us.
If you are at a WDW resort when this happens, you can use the button on your room phone to contact transportation. We have the resort number and a general WDW number programmed into DH's cell phone. Call one of those numbers (both are answered by a call center) and get transferred to Transportation.

If you have not already made reservations, you may want to look into staying at one of the Epcot area resorts. That way, she could drive the ECV to Epcot and the Studio or take the boats to either park.

 

[honugirl]

I had this problem last year every time I rode the monorail. I could get on, but I always had to hunt down someone to get off. Often I was worried my partner would get off and I'd be stuck on there going for another ride.

 

[clkelley]

Just an FYI, we rode the monorail recently and hubby had his ECV. When we boarded, we were told by the CM handling the ramp for us at boarding that it would be the driver helping us unload, so just to hang tight for a minute.

Also, to be honest, I don't even remember if we were coming from MK going to Epcot, or coming from Epcot, going to MK.

 

[kaytieeldr]

The address is wdw.guest.communications@disneyworld.com (and if I'm wrong, someone will correct me).

I got stuck on the monorail once. Traveling solo, I boarded at the TTC, bound for GF. A Cast Member said he'd call ahead. At the Poly, a CM asked if I was exiting there and on being told no, the GF, said he'd call ahead.

Monorail stopped at the GF and... nothing. Nobody came. No ramp. Door closed; at the MK platform, when asked by a CM if I was exiting, I said no and explained what happened. Again, was told he'd call ahead. Ditto for the Contemporary, the TTC again, and the Poly again.

The ONLY reason I was actually able to exit at the GF the second time around is that another passenger hunted down a Cast Member for me. I wasn't afraid, though - I was irate. That CM claimed "nobody told them" there was a Guest in an ECV trying to exit there. I still don't believe him - SIX CMs claimed they'd notify the GF. Surely one of them did.

I got a reluctant apology from him and a sincere one from the Lobby Concierge CMs.