Jan 24,2017-Monorails had a few issues.

[Robo]

4:30PM Eastern Time:

I'm sitting in a stopped train between Grand Floridian & MK.
Waiting for a tow-tractor to pull dead monorail out of MK station.

 

[SorryI'mNotSorry]

Oh, lovely. I hope you didn't have an ADR to get to.

 

[Robo]

Oh, lovely. I hope you didn't have an ADR to get to.

Just coming back from O'Hana.

All is OK now, but a lot of folks are held up in delayed trains as they make the necessary beam switches to remove the crippled/dead train.

 

[MouseyMin]

This happened to me twice during my December trip. The trains really need some serious maintenance. They are very old now. I really think the entire system needs to be taken down for some period of time in order to completely refurbish the trains.

 

[stinkpickle]

Yep, I didn't step foot on the monorail during my last two trips there.

 

[dratomic]

Did they turn it off and on again?

 

[Robo]

Did they turn it off and on again?

I know that you're kidding, but yes, they DID do that.
And, a full reboot.

Didn't work.

 

[soniam]

Bummer. Hope everything works out quickly @Robo

 

[Twende]

So how long did you end up trapped in a stopped monorail? I bet you were glad to get off of it!

 

[Robo]

So how long did you end up trapped in a stopped monorail? I bet you were glad to get off of it!

It was about 20 minutes...
on a trip that should have taken about 3.5 minutes.

Certainly, not too bad in the scheme of things.
But, when you have no idea just WHEN you will be moving again, it can be disconcerting.

You don't know what plans you may have to miss.

As it turned out, we had a FP for Splash, which we decided NOT to go on, because
we also wanted to grab a good spot for "Once Upon a Time" and "Wishes"
and we knew that if we did go all the way back and ride Splash, we'd likely
miss a prime viewing spot when we finally got back to the hub.
Sometimes 10-20 minutes can make a big difference.

 

[Twende]

It was about 20 minutes...
on a trip that should have taken about 3.5 minutes.

Certainly, not too bad in the scheme of things.
But, when you have no idea just WHEN you will be moving again, it can be disconcerting.

You don't know what plans you may have to miss.

As it turned out, we had a FP for Splash, which we decided NOT to go on, because
we also wanted to grab a good spot for "Once Upon a Time" and "Wishes"
and we knew that if we did go all the way back and ride Splash, we'd likely
miss a prime viewing spot when we finally got back to the hub.
Sometimes 10-20 minutes can make a big difference.

You are right. 20 Minutes was fast for clearing a monorail with problems! Although I would have a hard time letting a FP for Splash go. I love riding that crazy thing! LOL!

I need to find a good place to watch Wishes from for this upcoming trip. Our last trip we had a FP+ for Wishes and we were able to sit in the area in front of Crystal Palace. It was perfect for my DH who detests standing in crowds (in some cases sitting on his scooter). Handicapped areas are always so crowded and they usually allow one person to join him and he likes to be surrounded by his grandkids. I understand this option is gone now or can you still go there but it is just not a roped off FP+ area now?

 

[megs1313]

On the 23rd, they had them shut down entirely for a little while as we were exiting MK, they were directing EVERYONE to ferry or bus. I was taking the bus anyway, but boy it sure seems like they are struggling with those monorails and i'm glad I wasn't having to get in the ferry line!

 

[Robo]

2. I need to find a good place to watch Wishes from for this upcoming trip.

1. I understand this option is gone now or can you still go there but it is just not a roped off FP+ area now?

1. It can vary, but that area is far from the only good Wishes spot.


2. Below offers many choices-

 

[Micca]

In the big scheme of things 20 minutes isn't too bad. The bigger bummer is how cool & iconic the monorail system is and how it's been allowed to deteriorate. I'm not certain they can ever get it sorted out.

 

[magicwdw]

We were at MK Tues 1/24 and were directed to either ferry or bus at around 8:45pm. The ferry was crowded but we were surprised how many people they can fit in there.

 

[ErinsMommy]

In the big scheme of things 20 minutes isn't too bad. The bigger bummer is how cool & iconic the monorail system is and how it's been allowed to deteriorate. I'm not certain they can ever get it sorted out.

I hope this isn't the case - and I'm sure the monorail resorts will take a huge hit when and if they decide to do a revamp of the line entirely which is probably why they haven't.

 

[GPC0321]

As someone who is finally going to live the dream of staying at the GF this December, I sure hope the monorails are working well. That quick jaunt to MK from the GF via monorail is so appealing.

 

[NS8VN]

I think we were on that monorail from Contemporary to Poly to drop our daughter at Lilo's Playhouse around 4:30. Have to say, I'm glad we missed that one. Although then we just missed the bus to Disney Springs so we were still waiting another twenty minutes. It is a shame to see it break down as often as it does. The Mk 6 is over 25 years old though, it might be time to retire them and bring in an updated model.

 

[Micca]

I hope this isn't the case - and I'm sure the monorail resorts will take a huge hit when and if they decide to do a revamp of the line entirely which is probably why they haven't.

I hope you're right! I'm thinking the line is fine, it's the trains that likely suffer from old age.

 

[Robo]

I hope you're right! I'm thinking the line is fine, it's the trains that likely suffer from old age.

I don't think that anyone is using the word "line" to specifically reference the "beams" or "tracks" of the system.
We are generally talking about the aging trains' electrical motors and control systems.