EPCOT tram issues

[CouchTater]

Tonight when leaving EPCOT at about 6:30 we went to the normal tram pick up area which was empty. We were directed to cross the street to be picked up in another area. The CM in that location
told us that wasn't correct and sent us back across the street to another location where there were several other people waiting. We were then moved again and then moved back. We then waited approx. 20 minutes for the tram. There was apparently only tram one running and the park was packed.There was a number of trams parked. One of the persons waiting told us they encountered the same situation at HS earlier in the day. We have never encountered such confusion and disorganization at the park before. Is this part of the new cutbacks?

 

[Accident]

Probably not. Transportation is fairly constant employee need to move everyone around and it's not something you would put a temporary employee to do. Shift changes seem more impacting these days which could be a cutback thing to have less overlap between shifts. Also the chairman is in town so who knows how he is mixing up the place,....

It is a little odd that everyone seemed to think something different, that's something new that i've never seen before. On the other hand I've been involved in some big bus scheduling screw ups and generally 1 day of some mess turns into many years of flawless service.. unfortunately it sucks if your stuck in the bad day.

 

[CouchTater]

It wasn't a big deal to us as we are AP holders and there often but have never encountered this.It's always such a well oiled machine. To a first timer it would seem that Disney doesn't have their act together. Most people chose just to walk to their car rather than wait. But as we were in the very back of the parking lot we chose to wait.I thought maybe it was a marketing strategy to push their new "preferred parking".

 

[CAS239]

I always just walk. Waiting for the trams take so much longer.

 

[Justin91]

If we have an ADR at Ohana for 8:00, and we are wanting to take the tram, what time should we try to get in line at the tram at Epcot?

 

[zaccaglin]

If we have an ADR at Ohana for 8:00, and we are wanting to take the tram, what time should we try to get in line at the tram at Epcot?

Trams only serve the parking lot. If your at Epcot and are looking to get to the Poly for Ohana you'll need to tie the monorail system. You'll take the Epcot monorail from the parks front entrance to the TTC (Ticket and Transportation Center). From there you'll board the Resort monorail and take it to the first stop which is the Poly. Disney recomends 90mins when using Disney transportation. Your looking at about 30mins of travel without ANY delays, and delays do happen. I say leave Epcot at 6:30 then enjoy the sights at the Poly if you arrive early. Lots of great things to see.

 

[jlovesee]

We were at EPCOT today too, and noticed they were only running one tram, this is NOT usual, and both my husband and I believe its another cut back. We also noticed a lot of places and rides were lacking in the AC department, (Spaceship Earth, Imagination, etc), these are not GOOD things folks. Its Disney being cheap.

Jennifer

 

[OKW Lover]

We were at EPCOT today too, and noticed they were only running one tram, this is NOT usual, and both my husband and I believe its another cut back.

I'm confused. If its not unusual, how can it be a cutback?

 

[ravenclawtrekkie]

I worked at Epcot yesterday and as I was waiting in the break room to clock out, I heard some of the parking folks saying they were having technical problems with some of the trams. If a tram doesn't successfully complete a safety checklist, it can't be run.

 

[cel_disney]

I'm confused. If its not unusual, how can it be a cutback?

Look closer at your quote - they say it's 'not Usual', not 'not unusual'....

 

[maxiesmom]

We were at EPCOT today too, and noticed they were only running one tram, this is NOT usual, and both my husband and I believe its another cut back. We also noticed a lot of places and rides were lacking in the AC department, (Spaceship Earth, Imagination, etc), these are not GOOD things folks. Its Disney being cheap.

Jennifer

People have complained about the lack of AC for years, so that is not a new cut back, if it is one. I find many places too cold, so I think what is a comfortable air temp varies greatly from person to person.

People are getting way too out of hand with jumping on the Everything That Goes Wrong Is A Cut In Service train. When the parks are open year round stuff is bound to break down and need service.

 

[kandb]

I'm confused. If its not unusual, how can it be a cutback?

She said "usual" NOT "unusual"

 

[Victoria3]

Every time I've gone to Epcot they've only ever had one tram running. I always walk.

 

[joelkfla]

I remember during the slow periods after 9/11 they sometimes stopped running the trams entirely, and had a few cm's shuttling elderly Guests in golf carts.

So I would not be at all surprised if tram service were cut back again. After all, you can hardly afford to run trams when you're only charging $20 a vehicle, and Guests can always pay the extra $15 if they have trouble making the walk. [sarcasm off]

 

[Nancyg56]

An Epcot CM said that they were experiencing technical issues.

 

[maxiesmom]

I remember during the slow periods after 9/11 they sometimes stopped running the trams entirely, and had a few cm's shuttling elderly Guests in golf carts.

So I would not be at all surprised if tram service were cut back again. After all, you can hardly afford to run trams when you're only charging $20 a vehicle, and Guests can always pay the extra $15 if they have trouble making the walk. [sarcasm off]

I was at WDW that October, and they were using trams, not golf carts. You must have hit some really slow days!

 

[joelkfla]

I was at WDW that October, and they were using trams, not golf carts. You must have hit some really slow days!

It may have been mostly during the Jan.-Feb. doldrums.

 

[joelkfla]

An Epcot CM said that they were experiencing technical issues.

That's always what cm's are instructed to say. Either that, or "We are constantly re-evaluating our offerings to maximize the Guest experience."

 

[Dismama2boys]

That's always what cm's are instructed to say. Either that, or "We are constantly re-evaluating our offerings to maximize the Guest experience."

Except that up thread a CM reported hearing other CM's discussing it amongst themselves. That wasn't PR.

 

[Jadyreen1282]

Walk it if you can. Going back and forth you could have been to your car.