Monorail Closure Ending a Bit Early

[PapaGoofy]

The last day for the Monorail closure is scheduled to be March 21st.

Family is staying at BLT, and I had written customer service about this closure and my little ones. I received a call from them today giving me this is the date of scheduled maintenance ending.

I thought those of you arriving that last week of March might like to know.

 

[Figmentforever24]

The last day for the Monorail closure is scheduled to be March 21st.

Family is staying at BLT, and I had written customer service about this closure and my little ones. I received a call from them today giving me this is the date of scheduled maintenance ending.

I thought those of you arriving that last week of March might like to know.

What kind of work was being done exactly?

 

[PapaGoofy]

A few of the news and rumors bits have said that it had to do with upgrading the monorail to an automated system?

The customer service person mentioned that the upgrade was to maintain the safety of the guests.

 

[Figmentforever24]

A few of the news and rumors bits have said that it had to do with upgrading the monorail to an automated system?

The customer service person mentioned that the upgrade was to maintain the safety of the guests.

Man I wish they would give the monorail track a proper cleaning. The Epcot rail looked so good after it had been cleaned. But I guess I cant complain since they are actually investing into the monorail.

 

[rteetz]

A few of the news and rumors bits have said that it had to do with upgrading the monorail to an automated system? The customer service person mentioned that the upgrade was to maintain the safety of the guests.

automating the monorail train does not require long closures of the system itself. Yes they have updated the monorail system to an automated one and most of that is done as far as I know. Most of the work that was going on was refurb work. I have seen multiple pictures of work cars on the track at various points throughout the route. I'm sure a bit of cleaning as well as concrete work is being done such as if the concrete needs to be patched because it's cracked or something. The monorails unfortunately are very old and outdated. Disney will not update them or get new ones because the system is so expensive. That's also another reason you have not seen the track expanded at all since Epcot was built it has just gotten too expensive. One of the more recent monorails built in Vegas and Seattle has cost upwards of 20 million a mile for track.

 

[rteetz]

Man I wish they would give the monorail track a proper cleaning. The Epcot rail looked so good after it had been cleaned. But I guess I cant complain since they are actually investing into the monorail.

the work they are doing is strictly MK track no word on the Epcot line at this point.

 

[Figmentforever24]

the work they are doing is strictly MK track no word on the Epcot line at this point.

Oh I know I was just saying when they cleaned it a few years back. So do you know if they cleaned the inside of the monorails at all? I know last time we went some material was coming off the walls in the car as well as some mold was growing. They cleaned up the inside right....

 

[kneedeep]

The last day for the Monorail closure is scheduled to be March 21st. Family is staying at BLT, and I had written customer service about this closure and my little ones. I received a call from them today giving me this is the date of scheduled maintenance ending. I thought those of you arriving that last week of March might like to know.

Thanks for sharing! Great news for us since we will be at BLT 3/23-3/30.

 

[rteetz]

Oh I know I was just saying when they cleaned it a few years back. So do you know if they cleaned the inside of the monorails at all? I know last time we went some material was coming off the walls in the car as well as some mold was growing. They cleaned up the inside right....

I'm not sure if any interior work on the monorails has been done during this. Most of the work as far as I know is on the track.

 

[KYMickey]

automating the monorail train does not require long closures of the system itself. Yes they have updated the monorail system to an automated one and most of that is done as far as I know. Most of the work that was going on was refurb work. I have seen multiple pictures of work cars on the track at various points throughout the route. I'm sure a bit of cleaning as well as concrete work is being done such as if the concrete needs to be patched because it's cracked or something. The monorails unfortunately are very old and outdated. Disney will not update them or get new ones because the system is so expensive. That's also another reason you have not seen the track expanded at all since Epcot was built it has just gotten too expensive. One of the more recent monorails built in Vegas and Seattle has cost upwards of 20 million a mile for track.

Actually the one in Vegas is more like $500 million/mile!

 

[WallyBear]

We are heading to BLT in Nov and we chose that hotel in part because of the monorail. Does Disney post information in advance letting guests know when the monorail will be down?

 

[mickey2000]

I had a BLT for lunch today !

 

[PapaGoofy]

We are heading to BLT in Nov and we chose that hotel in part because of the monorail. Does Disney post information in advance letting guests know when the monorail will be down?

This is the very reason I had contacted Guest Service in the first place. It wasn't announced that the monorail would be down, until well after I had everything booked.

I would think you shouldn't expect any closures, if they have all the maintenance wrapped up this month. I wouldn't think they would have it down again that quickly.

 

[PapaGoofy]

Thanks for sharing! Great news for us since we will be at BLT 3/23-3/30.

We will be there for the same period. Best wishes for a great trip and a fully functional monorail!

 

[Figmentforever24]

I'm not sure if any interior work on the monorails has been done during this. Most of the work as far as I know is on the track.

Dang it. I was hoping they would clean the inside up real good. I went back in September and I almost didn't want to ride the monorail anymore after what I saw. But like I said before I am glad they are investing in the monorail PERIOD. Any investment is a good investment in my book.

 

[Donut23]

Dang it. I was hoping they would clean the inside up real good. I went back in September and I almost didn't want to ride the monorail anymore after what I saw. But like I said before I am glad they are investing in the monorail PERIOD. Any investment is a good investment in my book.

We ride the ferry partially because I'm stuck in a scooter now after an accident plus......the last time we rode the monorail it was mighty stinky. Phewwwwwwww! Besides, they breakdown too frequently now.

 

[rteetz]

Actually the one in Vegas is more like $500 million/mile!

bjustope went and looked up some info on the Vegas monorail. There was supposed to be an expansion of it adding 2.3 miles of track. This expansion never happened because it would have cost 400 million and the government did not want to help fund any of it.

 

[rteetz]

We are heading to BLT in Nov and we chose that hotel in part because of the monorail. Does Disney post information in advance letting guests know when the monorail will be down?

everything will be done by November for sure unless the monorail just falls apart. Disney wouldn't let the monorail be down during the summer or during the holidays.

 

[Tropical Wilds]

We are heading to BLT in Nov and we chose that hotel in part because of the monorail. Does Disney post information in advance letting guests know when the monorail will be down?

This monorail closure, which is only between 11:30am-7pm on weekdays, was informally announced in November, officially announced in December. I stayed at the Poly in Feb, I got an email, a letter, and a phone call letting me know about monorail closures and construction at my resort.

They don't keep these things a secret, though they may decide to do the work and announce it with only 60-90 days head notice. But once they do decide it, if you're impacted, you'll know. I doubt MK's would go down again, unless they service one of the stops as they're rumored to be doing with the Poly, but the EPCOT beams may be now due for a refurb. All depends. When/if those go down for maintenance, it can be promised it won't happen in Jan-March like this one was. In fact, correct me if I'm wrong, the last refurb for EPCOT's line was Sept-Nov.

But again, just speculation. No reason to panic that the EPCOT line will be down right now.

 

[Tropical Wilds]

Oh I know I was just saying when they cleaned it a few years back. So do you know if they cleaned the inside of the monorails at all? I know last time we went some material was coming off the walls in the car as well as some mold was growing. They cleaned up the inside right....

They did not refurb the interiors. There is one monorail down now, monorail teal, that may be getting an update on the inside. Presumably after the accident, monorail lime may be going next.

The work is only on the soundness of the beams around MK after they were damaged last year and again this fall due to unprecedented cold weather.