MONORAIL CLOSURE - What a BUMMER!

[PAcpl]

Of course you bring it up to the front desk, that is there job to listen to the customer. They usually ask about your stay and such. And if they cant help you then they call for a manager and so forth. We had some minor issues at WDW resorts in the past, the front desk listened, made note of it, and if they could not resolve it, then they got a manager and all was well.

I agree, I would let the front desk know as well. It can't hurt and you're right, they always ask hour your stay was. I wouldn't berate the CM, but I would absolutely let them know you had an issue.

We had a major issue at AKL on our last trip. We checked out as we were switching resorts. DH told the checkout person, when asked if our stay was ok, that he was unhappy with an incident that occurred. Off we went to the park. Later on while we had some downtime, DH felt the issue needed further addressing, so now we are at a different hotel. He went and talked to their front desk about the incident so he could get a manager's number at AKL, they got a supervisor, who would not give DH the number, but took DH's info and got the message to the supervisor. Manager called DH, they discussed the issues and concerns and the matter was resolved. It was probably handled best the next day bc DH was fuming the night before. AKL handled it well.

Sounds like DH did a good job and I am glad Disney took care of your issues.

It is mind boggling to me that there are some out there that think WDW can do no wrong, but I am sure they are the first ones complaining elsewhere. Would they not complain if there meal was bad at restaurant, or would they just be glad they had the money to eat out. Would they not return a shirt if they got it home and there was a stain on it, or should they just be happy they can afford a shirt. It is insanity.

It isn't so much that Disney can do no wrong, in MY opinion it is more about picking your battles. The monorail, to me, is not an issue to go nuts over. You can still get around, albeit a little more inconvenient, but you can still get around.

See this post from the last time we stayed at the BWV. Mold is a battle worth fighting and Disney went out of there way to fix OUR issue. I am sure the mold/mildew issue is still there, but they went out of the way to make our vacation better.

Black Mold at BWV

I ask some of you if you paid for AKL savannah view and for some reason they could not release the animals into the area during your stay, yet you paid extra for that, would you not complain, this is the same for a MONORAIL resort. You are paying to be on the monorail. If they can not provide that, then the decent, good business thing is to let the customer know!

That's a terrible analogy. I am paying higher prices/points to get a Magic Kingdom view, Boardwalk View, Savannah View. Not a monorail ride.

 

[Angel Ariel]

That's a terrible analogy. I am paying higher prices/points to get a Magic Kingdom view, Boardwalk View, Savannah View. Not a monorail ride.

It's not a "monorail ride" that you're paying for at monorail resorts - it's the convenience of the monorail transportation being available in your hotel lobby.

 

[maxiesmom]

I think people have a right to complain about not being informed by Disney, regardless of whether or not it ends up affecting them. Disney's lack of communication, IMO, is a separate issue from whether or not the monorail refurb negatively affects someone's experience.

I can pass on what I was told when I complained about something being closed for my stay a few years back: "Disney can shut down anything they like, and not tell guests ahead of time". And that lovely phrase was said by a resort manager, or someone passing themselves off as the manager.

At least Disney has made it public knowledge via the web site. That is a step in the right direction. I also think they are not sending out a general e-mail as the closure won't be for all of the days they have given, and not for all of the time frame they have stated. They don't want to upset guests ahead of time, especially if they may end up not affected by the closure.

In their view better to deal with guests who are actually affected at the time then upset a bunch of guests ahead of time. Some needlessly.

 

[Mkrop]

I agree, I would let the front desk know as well. It can't hurt and you're right, they always ask hour your stay was. I wouldn't berate the CM, but I would absolutely let them know you had an issue.



Sounds like DH did a good job and I am glad Disney took care of your issues.



It isn't so much that Disney can do no wrong, in MY opinion it is more about picking your battles. The monorail, to me, is not an issue to go nuts over. You can still get around, albeit a little more inconvenient, but you can still get around.

See this post from the last time we stayed at the BWV. Mold is a battle worth fighting and Disney went out of there way to fix OUR issue. I am sure the mold/mildew issue is still there, but they went out of the way to make our vacation better.

Black Mold at BWV



That's a terrible analogy. I am paying higher prices/points to get a Magic Kingdom view, Boardwalk View, Savannah View. Not a monorail ride.

Well thank you for the nice words.

But I disagree with you, now a monorail is not a big deal, but when my kids were little and we were traveling with my mom it was a big deal. And I paid to be in a Monorail resort to USE the monorail. I might have had a Bay Lake View or a view of a parking lot, but if I paid to be at the monorail I expect it to be operational, and if it is not to be informed, told what the alternative transporation was, and be able to make my decision from there. Like I said if I had a reservation today and WDW contacted me and said no monorail btw 11-7, I would say no big deal. My kids are older and we can deal. But when we had strollers I would want that info so we could see if it was worth the hassle, if the alternatives were acceptable, and then maybe we would switch. Although even now we use our DVC in places where the least amt of buses need to be taken ( we wont be staying at AKL again) bc DH hates the buses but doesnt want a car. So I would want to know so we can decide if boats are ok for DH or should we go back to BW or BC where we can walk or do boats.

 

[2012DisneyWorldBride]

There is always the buses and the boats. Hey... If anyone wants to complain about there trip staying at a Monorail resort... I'll gladly take their place and take a bus or boat!

 

[mom2rtk]

There is always the buses and the boats. Hey... If anyone wants to complain about there trip staying at a Monorail resort... I'll gladly take their place and take a bus or boat!

You too can stay at a monorail resort. All you have to do is pay the crazy inflated prices the people complaining about no monorail are paying. There really isn't a shortage of rooms available to book.

 

[maxiesmom]

You too can stay at a monorail resort. All you have to do is pay the crazy inflated prices the people complaining about no monorail are paying. There really isn't a shortage of rooms available to book.

Those prices are always crazy inflated, even when the monorail is running!

 

[morethananyonex]

Those prices are always crazy inflated, even when the monorail is running!

That they are!

Was curious to see how much it would cost to stay in the main building at GF, consider my mind blown.

 

[mom2rtk]

Those prices are always crazy inflated, even when the monorail is running!

Aren't they? We stayed there a couple times back in 04. Back then you couldn't even request theme park view. We moved after our first night when one came open and they assured us they were working on a way of reserving a certain view. I guess they also figured out how to charge for it!

We stay at value resorts now so we can stay longer. Well, until they call and tell me I won one of those vacations they are giving away.

 

[flicx]

I just got finished looking at rooms in that time frame with a discount. Quite frankly there is no way on gods green earth I would even remotely think about paying 4 to 5 hundred a night without the monorail! There are many people myself included who think the monorail is crucial in order to stay at the "monorail resorts". I would be furious if Disney knew that the monorail would be down during my stay and have paid those kind of rates. Only to find out after I got there and shelled out primo bucks like that. That is sneaky to say the least. Like another poster said these are deluxe resorts and included among them is their flagship resort. It would be an entirely different story if Disney had a special rate and let people know why the rate was lowered ahead of time. I can't see how anyone can justify this?

 

[Mkrop]

I just got finished looking at rooms in that time frame with a discount. Quite frankly there is no way on gods green earth I would even remotely think about paying 4 to 5 hundred a night without the monorail! There are many people myself included who think the monorail is crucial in order to stay at the "monorail resorts". I would be furious if Disney knew that the monorail would be down during my stay and have paid those kind of rates. Only to find out after I got there and shelled out primo bucks like that. That is sneaky to say the least. Like another poster said these are deluxe resorts and included among them is their flagship resort. It would be an entirely different story if Disney had a special rate and let people know why the rate was lowered ahead of time. I can't see how anyone can justify this?

Because it is Disney and they have pixie dust....

 

[flicx]

Because it is Disney and they have pixie dust....

That pixie dust must be close in price to gold dust!

 

[PAcpl]

Is it difficult to get a cab at the Contemporary or are they readily available like they are at the Boardwalk?

 

[jk and ek]

Is it difficult to get a cab at the Contemporary or are they readily available like they are at the Boardwalk?

not sure, but i'm 100% positive a cab driver isn't going to drive anybody anywhere for free....unlike the monorail.

also, the OP of this post (and as do i) have infants and i'm pretty positive most parents don't feel comfortable riding around in cars without a car seat.

 

[Mamapapa]

The monorail, to me, is not an issue to go nuts over. You can still get around, albeit a little more inconvenient, but you can still get around

. Says the person without twins.... until you've tried to get around with infant twins, you have no idea how import that monorail really is!

 

[PAcpl]

not sure, but i'm 100% positive a cab driver isn't going to drive anybody anywhere for free....unlike the monorail.

also, the OP of this post (and as do i) have infants and i'm pretty positive most parents don't feel comfortable riding around in cars without a car seat.

Sorry you're inconvenienced and I understand it will be difficult with an infant.

Does anyone know if it is difficult to get a cab at the Contemporary or are they readily available like they are at the Boardwalk?

 

[jk and ek]

sorry for not thinking you were asking a sincere question and assumed you were bing obtuse...there's been a lot of snark/sarcasm happening in this thread. my mistake!

 

[Mkrop]

Sorry you're inconvenienced and I understand it will be difficult with an infant.

Does anyone know if it is difficult to get a cab at the Contemporary or are they readily available like they are at the Boardwalk?

It has been a few years but I remember them being there and you can always ask bell services to call one.

 

[kaytieeldr]

So, is your assertion that it is incumbent upon the vacationer to take the time each day (for months and months) to google all of the amenities they're hoping to use, just in case a closure of that amenity is announced? Doesn't that seem inefficient and silly to you?

Front page of the DIS Forums updates its updates regularly. No need to Google anything, hourly or daily if one visits here with any regularity at all. The information about themonorail downtime was posted here as soon as it was announced by Disney - December 18. The other unofficial sites would be as efficient (for the few whose primary siurce the DIS isn't ).

I have a trip coming up this weekend and have received 2-3 emails every day this week about booking FP, online checkin, activities available, etc. I don't see why it's unreasonable to think that WDW could use that email capability to inform its guests of things as major as the main form of transportation from/to a resort being shut down for the majority of each day.

That's Marketing. This is Facilities. Operations doesn't typically notify clients in advance of internal work, especially when alternate arrangements have been made.

Sorry I don't see it that way. The monorail resorts have great location but if I have to ride a bus from GF or poly or contemp ,to the magic kingdom, and epcot there is no way I begin to pay the absolutely crazy prices they ask for rooms there. The monorail not only offers the fastest transportation to the parks it also is nice for hotel guests to get to dinner reservations at other resorts on the monorail line and shop at others too. It is my opinion that with out the monorails those hotels are worth half the price.

In an ideal world, sure. When the monorail trains are running smoothly with no delays, interruptions, or breakdowns, you're right. But you're talking about a 40+ year old system that's had no major replacements or repairs for 20 years or so - not because they're not necessary, but because guests get so angry at being inconvenienced.

The monorail isn't the fastest route om the Contemporary the Magic Kingdom. or almost everyone, that would be the walkway to the park, since the monorail makes three stops first. Even coming back to the hotel, by the time you walk in the opposite direction to the monorail, you could have walked halfway to the Contemporary. That doesn't even account for time spent waiting for the monorail.

 

[cseca]

Sorry you're inconvenienced and I understand it will be difficult with an infant. Does anyone know if it is difficult to get a cab at the Contemporary or are they readily available like they are at the Boardwalk?

I think the last couple of times we were there we always saw at least 1 yellow car just hanging out by the drop off area.
And if there isn't, as PP said bell services can get one pretty quickly.