just got back, what's up with the monorails?

[hannymom]

we had a great time at Disney last week but every day we left the mk during the day, the monorail was down. and I don't think we made it once without having to stop on the track and waiting before we pulled up to loading dock. no problems with any of the rides at the park

 

[ArwenMarie]

Yikes. That stinks.

 

[d1gitman]

During our more recent trips, the few times we rode the monorail we ran into delays and stops on the tracks. It is quite the nuisance and for the few short times we've stayed at CR, very dissappointing. Being that it is simple technology, it seems odd that they have issues on such a regular basis. Too bad they couldn't modify the system to run continuous like the TTA. They could make bubble pods like the ones in the Incredibles. Then the monorail could be considered an attraction.

 

[islandtimect]

It serms like the monorail and many rides break down during the hot, humid and busy summer days.

 

[solstice621]

Ah! Don't tell me this. I go in a couple of weeks and I am terrified of getting stuck on there. Im claustrophobic to begin with, but there's something about being in that small, packed area, up in the air, no way off...ok, I'll stop now.

 

[DOOM1001]

Wouldn't the monorail stopping on the track be due to them waiting for traffic to clear?That pretty much happens all the time.

 

[rlovew]

Since the monorail crash a few years ago that killed at least 1 person this has been a common occurrence at all times of the year. They implemented more safety standards and if anyone is taking awhile to load/unload for whatever reason then most all of the other trains get stopped.

 

[wdwjeffc37]

Usually when the Monorail stops on the track it is because of traffic at the stations. When it is really busy in the summer unloading/loading can take longer than expected which delays the Monorail that is on approach. I don't considered it a "breakdown" if we eventually get to the station. More like a delay. A true breakdown shuts the whole system down until the broken train can be evacuated and towed off of the tracks. Busses are brought in to handle transportation.

 

[Robo]

Just in preparation for the new FP+ for the monorail.

Don't worry, you should still be able to get a FP at least 35 days in advance.




(By the way, this is just a joke.)

 

[BayouMickey]

Just in preparation for the new FP+ for the monorail.

Don't worry, you should still be able to get a FP at least 35 days in advance.




(By the way, this is just a joke.)

pfft yeah right we all know the real robo doesn't joke

 

[hannymom]

I get the delays, some were much longer than others but it was actually down during the day. everyone had to take the ferry. i'm not saying that is bad, we are always in such a hurry to get there and back, it was kind of nice to be 'forced' into taking the ferry. a very nice ride, even provided a bit of a breeze which was very welcome with all the heat! I am honestly not complaining, we had a very magical trip. I just never ran into that problem with monorails before.

 

[ArwenMarie]

Ah! Don't tell me this. I go in a couple of weeks and I am terrified of getting stuck on there. Im claustrophobic to begin with, but there's something about being in that small, packed area, up in the air, no way off...ok, I'll stop now.

Me too.

Good thing I always pack Xanax

 

[NYDisneyKid]

Just in preparation for the new FP+ for the monorail.

Don't worry, you should still be able to get a FP at least 35 days in advance.




(By the way, this is just a joke.)

Nahhh, you need a ressie to ride it 180 days out

 

[anjalee6]

I get the delays, some were much longer than others but it was actually down during the day. everyone had to take the ferry. i'm not saying that is bad, we are always in such a hurry to get there and back, it was kind of nice to be 'forced' into taking the ferry. a very nice ride, even provided a bit of a breeze which was very welcome with all the heat! I am honestly not complaining, we had a very magical trip. I just never ran into that problem with monorails before.

We were there last week and experienced the resort monorail being down after our Park Fare reservation. They had to bring repair equipment on to remove the down monorail and made everyone take alternate transportation. So I understand what you mean.. However, this has happened a lot during our summer trips so we didn't think too much about it although it was inconvenient.

 

[momof2n2]

Just in preparation for the new FP+ for the monorail.

Don't worry, you should still be able to get a FP at least 35 days in advance.

(By the way, this is just a joke.)

Touché.

 

[jw50]

During our more recent trips, the few times we rode the monorail we ran into delays and stops on the tracks. It is quite the nuisance and for the few short times we've stayed at CR, very dissappointing. Being that it is simple technology, it seems odd that they have issues on such a regular basis. Too bad they couldn't modify the system to run continuous like the TTA. They could make bubble pods like the ones in the Incredibles. Then the monorail could be considered an attraction.

The monorail trains at WDW are 24 years old and on the most heavily used monorail system in the world. What is surprising is that they don't break down more than they do, even with the routine maintenance they do on the trains every night.

And the monorail at DLR is considered an attraction.

 

[SkaGoat]

Being that it is simple technology, it seems odd that they have issues on such a regular basis.

I'm not sure you could consider it "simple technology". I mean, it's not flying to the moon, but it's not simple either. They've been building Boeing 747s since 1969, but they're not "simple technology".

They're also aging trains, and this time of the year is probably getting to the height of their design limits (highest number of passengers, highest operating temps, highest amount of traffic on the beam), late December is the only other time of the year they'll get this amount of traffic, and it's not 100 F temps at that time of the year.

The stops are because they have the most amount of trains on the beam as possible, and they must maintain their distance between trains, if one train is stopped too long in a station, it makes every other train on the beam have to stop as well.

 

[PeterPanic]

Rule of thumb...if the monorail stops when approaching a station and the announcement is made that they are awaiting traffic clearance, then you have two options. You can believe them (which is a good bet if the train starts moving again after just a few minutes) OR you can insist that they keep going and hope you live when they crash into the back of the train in front of them.

When you're in a car and you stop at a red light, does that mean that your car broke down?

I know that sounds a little sarcastic, but really I was just trying to make a point. What reason would we have to suspect anything else other then standard operating procedure? This is especially true when you consider that this minor stop has been occurring just about every trip I have made on a monorail since my first one in 1983. If the firetrucks with the extendable ladders don't show up and you are moving again very quickly, then there is nothing wrong. It's how they operate.

 

[GillianP1301]

First problem is, it's an old/antiquated system. Second problem is, they were never built with the intention to carry the amount of traffic they do today, which puts even more wear/pressure on the old/antiquated system.

I think it's one of those situations where it really needs to be completely replaced, but that's just not economically feasible, so it gets bandage solututions/maintenance to keep it going as best they can. It's the same as driving on old pot-holed filled roads that clearly need to be torn up and re-done, but get a bunch of quick fill instead.

Last year when we went, we were only affected on one day by a closure, and I considered that to be not so bad. I would definitely get frustrated if I were stuck on one though, but a few minutes for a train ahead to clear - that's not such a big deal to me.

 

[ArwenMarie]

I think it's one of those situations where it really needs to be completely replaced, but that's just not economically feasible, so it gets bandage solututions/maintenance to keep it going as best they can. It's the same as driving on old pot-holed filled roads that clearly need to be torn up and re-done, but get a bunch of quick fill instead.

I agree. And those hotel rooms aren't going to be worth the prices they charge without a monorail. But they just keep on building DVC on it as well.