Monorail problems, July 5 & 6

[SRUAlmn]

To me it sounds like this is just a big mis-communication which I can see both sides of. If her son is mentally about the age of 14-15 I'm sure he just assumed that whatever he was being told was what he was supposed to do. If they said go on this bus (at the MK,) and get off at this stop and walk (at the TTC,) I'm sure that's what he thought he was supposed to do. The last time I was there I was 20 and I don't know that I would have questioned something that a 'knowledgable adult who works there' had told me. I also feel that yes, there are people at the TTC who could have helped him if he were lost, but I'm sure he didn't really realize he was lost until he started walking through the resort.
I also see the other side in the sense that the Disney people don't know that you don't know where you're going unless you tell them. I don't think anyone would have offered up detailed information unless they knew he didn't know where he was going. He probably would've needed to ask for help to get it. There are probably many teenagers (especially from the Orlando area) who visit Disney very frequently and know their way around really well. Just because he looks 14 doesn't mean that people would assume he didn't know where to go. I just think this should be left as a learning experience that we can all take for our next trip. Make sure everyone knows how to get back to where they're going, and has a back up plan, and carries around a cell phone and the hotel phone number. No need to fight

 

[pirateofthecarolinas]

I think people would be more understanding if they knew what a tropical maze it is to get from the TTC to the Hawaii building. Even more difficult and dangerous at 2am.

I tried to walk to the GF from the Poly one day and kept getting lost. The walkways are not marked properly. We ended up going into the luau area. I can see how Anne's son got lost!

Lori

 

[jarestel]

Originally posted by bobcat
If a bus driver dropped me off at ASSp and told me to walk to ASMu sure I'd be a little steamed but after all it's not like he was dropping me off in Times Square.

If this ever really happens to you at 2:00 AM, make sure you post here and tell us what you think then.

 

[Luv2Roam]

Not that anyone is asking my opinion --

I agree there are always two sides and the heart of the issue lies somewhere inbetween.

We had a May trip a few years ago which seemed like the Transportation Gods were against us in every way. (jet, bus, boat and yes -- monorail issues )

I know how frustrating it is when something so easy and obvious can be mishandled.
I have also been in a very surly (bad) transporation mob, where late arrivers shove their way and get on first. And sadly, we had to be just as agressive to get on a bus too. It was the only way.

The walk from TTC to the main center of the Poly is not a straight shot or extremely short -- but very do-able -- and not that hard to figure out.
On one trip, we had NEVER been to the Poly and walked that path from the TTC (in the dark). We were surprised at how much the Poly grounds are spread out and how twisted the paths are. But the signs are numerous and very visible.

I feel very safe at WDW. But we all know anything can happen anywhere. If I felt uncomfortable, I would voice my concerns to a CM, or call DH on my cell phone. I don't know that your son was as concerned over this as you are.
The hour of night must not have alarmed you, as you did not call him to ask where he was.


My thought is the heart of this matter was the bad transportation you experienced those two days. I feel your pain and can understand that. We all have been there at some time. Luckily, that is not the norm.

Seeing the number of posts you have, and you are building a home right outside of WDW, I can only imagine this was not your first trip. I would be more apt to be much more sypathetic to a WDW newbie.

I would just take this as a live and learn situation. Now you know Disney's Plan B may not reach your expectations and you need to a Plan B for yourself. This is a great lesson for us all.

I am very glad your son made it to your room safe and sound, as I know we all are.

 

[OKW Lover]

Originally posted by ducklite
Under "normal" circumstances he would have hopped on the monorail and gotten off at the Polynesian. In this case he was left at the TTC and it was suggested that he could walk back to the Polynesian. He's never done this, it was dark, and he lost his bearings a couple times. Just an inappropriate thing to do--leaving a kid alone at the TTC in the middle of the night like that.

Anne

Please, a little perspective here. The walk from the TTC to the Poly isn't much of a hike. In fact, depending on what building you are in, it might actually be shorter than from the Poly monorail stop. And both the TTC and the Poly are well lit at night.

 

[justhat]

Another good reason to make sure that kids who will be out unsupervised know how to get to their room from all modes of transportation to their resort is because there are so many ways at the Poly. Aside from the monorail and bus stop, there is walking to the TTC as well as taking the boat to the MK. If Disney had run the boats in place of the monorail, could your son have made it back to the room? That's a totally different direction than the GCH so it would be in a child's best interest to teach them all the routes, or like I said earlier, arm them with the resort map you get at check-in. The Poly map points out where the walkway to the ttc is so that might have cleared all of this up.

 

[Talking Hands]

Originally posted by ducklite
Additionally the whole issue of leving my son at the TTC at 2:15 am bothers me. He doesn't look 18. In fact he can't get into an R Rated movie without having his ID on him. That bothers me more than anything.
Anne

Anne if you can't be fully confident that your son can handle any situation that might come up you should not have allowed him to go to E-night on his own. This was your responsibility not Disney's! Sorry to be so blunt. It is not the bus drivers responsiblilty to deviate from his assigned route to deliver your son to your resort.

 

[Talking Hands]

Originally posted by Lexxiefern
Also, regardless of your son's age, he should not have been dropped at the TTC and be expected to walk back to the Poly. No one should. I would have been very upset if that happened to me, never mind my child.

Why, people walk from TTC to the Poly all the time. It is one of the benefits of staying there. You can take the ferry and then walk to the resort if you want, take the monorail or the boat. What;s the big deal?

 

[Talking Hands]

Originally posted by jarestel
I don't see why Ducklite is getting all of this grief. She posted a situation and suddenly she's deluged with all of these "should have done this" or "should have done that" posts. Bottom line is, it's a 2 minute bus ride from the TTC to the front of the Polynesian. Given the circumstances, the bus driver should have dropped her son off at the Polynesian. Ducklite, please send a letter to Disney regarding this situation so lazy bus drivers will do the right thing in the future.

Making snide remarks about the bus driver is uncalled for. He did his route. That is what Disney required of him. He doesn't have to go beyond that. Actually he did go beyond his route just by dropping the kid at TTC. The bus driver did not do the wrong thing. He took him to TTC where it is a easy walk to the Poly. The Poly wasn't even his route. He may have had passengers on the bus going to another resort no where near the Poly. You don't know. That drivere was responsible for his route not to drop people at the Poly. He could of just left the kid at MK and left it at that.

 

[Talking Hands]

Originally posted by jarestel
If this ever really happens to you at 2:00 AM, make sure you post here and tell us what you think then.

Actually has happened to me coming back late from PI. Missed ASMu stop and dropped me at ASMov and told me to just wheel back to the ASMu. No big deal! Was a heck of a lot faster than riding all the way back to PI and then back to my resort.

 

[jarestel]

Originally posted by Talking Hands
Actually has happened to me coming back late from PI. Missed ASMu stop and dropped me at ASMov and told me to just wheel back to the ASMu. No big deal! Was a heck of a lot faster than riding all the way back to PI and then back to my resort.

Nice. How about if you had a couple of sleeping kids with you? Still hunky dory as far as you're concerned?

 

[jarestel]

Originally posted by Talking Hands
Making snide remarks about the bus driver is uncalled for. He did his route. That is what Disney required of him. He doesn't have to go beyond that. Actually he did go beyond his route just by dropping the kid at TTC. The bus driver did not do the wrong thing. He took him to TTC where it is a easy walk to the Poly. The Poly wasn't even his route. He may have had passengers on the bus going to another resort no where near the Poly. You don't know. That drivere was responsible for his route not to drop people at the Poly. He could of just left the kid at MK and left it at that.

And you know this how... The TTC is 2 minutes from the Poly. If the bus driver was doing the kid such a great favor, how come he couldn't have gone the extra distance? I think you're making up your own scenario here. Additionally, I'd be willing to bet that WDW transportation would also frown on this behavior, which is why I urged ducklite to contact WDW regarding this issue.

 

[gymnasticsmom68]

Originally posted by jarestel
Nice. How about if you had a couple of sleeping kids with you? Still hunky dory as far as you're concerned?

Oh now he had a couple of sleeping kids with him? No he didn't, so what does that have to do with anything? What's your point?

 

[gymnasticsmom68]

Actually the best thing for him to have done was get the bus the the TTC and then grab another bus to the Poly once he got there.

BUT, if she knew her son has the maturity level of a 14 year old, she should have NEVER let him wander around a theme park at 2 am by himself, I know I wouildn't let my son do it when he's 14.

 

[jarestel]

Originally posted by gymnasticsmom68
Oh now he had a couple of sleeping kids with him? No he didn't, so what does that have to do with anything? What's your point?

The point is to put yourself in the place of someone who is dropped off in the wrong place. Can you do that or are you just capable of passing judgements on others?

 

[jarestel]

Originally posted by gymnasticsmom68
Actually the best thing for him to have done was get the bus the the TTC and then grab another bus to the Poly once he got there.

Are there any busses from the TTC to the Poly?.

 

[Talking Hands]

Originally posted by jarestel
Nice. How about if you had a couple of sleeping kids with you? Still hunky dory as far as you're concerned?

Why would I take children that are that young to PI. It is an adult venue. Plus the OP was taking about an 18 yo. Plus my kids learned very young to walk. I did not carry them past about age 3 for medical reasons. Mine not theirs.

 

[Talking Hands]

Originally posted by jarestel
And you know this how... The TTC is 2 minutes from the Poly. If the bus driver was doing the kid such a great favor, how come he couldn't have gone the extra distance? I think you're making up your own scenario here. Additionally, I'd be willing to bet that WDW transportation would also frown on this behavior, which is why I urged ducklite to contact WDW regarding this issue.

Been to Disney enough times to know how things work as well as having a daughter who worked for Disney and many of her friends who still work for Disney. I'd be willing to bet that Disney would not have a problem with the CM not taking him the Poly but would have a problem if he veered off his assinged route any more than dropping him at TTC.

 

[jarestel]

Originally posted by Talking Hands
Been to Disney enough times to know how things work as well as having a daughter who worked for Disney and many of her friends who still work for Disney. I'd be willing to bet that Disney would not have a problem with the CM not taking him the Poly but would have a problem if he veered off his assinged route any more than dropping him at TTC.

We're talking two extra minutes. Is this unreasonable to you? Would you have refused to go 2 minutes out of your way to make a guest happy? Would your daughter tell a guest to take a hike in this situation? FYI, I have had many bus drivers at Disney who went out of their way for me. I don't buy your argument for a minute.

 

[pirateofthecarolinas]

I hope none of your children are ever put in a precarious situation.

Lori