Monorail Problems?

[ftwildernessrick]

A friend of mine called me who is down at DW this week & said the monorail broke down on them between the MK & Contemporary on Wednesday night after MK closed. They were stuck there for 2 hours until it finally got going again under its own power, but barely moving. According to him the entire monorail system went down (I don't know if meant the Epcot line also). He also said they were having sporatic problems still on Thursday.

Has anyone heard anything?

I know in the past I have been on the monorail when the train died and they sent the tow/work vehicle to pull us in and that only took about 25 minutes, but we were the only train down.

 

[MandMLUVMMandDVC]

I heard about a truck crashing into one of the pileons and it cut off the monorails. After they verified it was safe all was turned back on. Apparently a young man may have had a seizure trying to leave EPCCOT. He was in serious/stable condition last I heard.

 

[Magicbus]

And the resort Monorail was down this morning. I had to do the Gold bus route. I like to call it the "bail out the Monorails again" route. And that's one of the worst if not the worst assignments on property.

The MR resort guests get really upset when their futuristic monorail that they want to replace all the buses with, breaks down. I could hear them complain about having to pay a premium to stay at those resorts because of the MR.

And who takes the brunt of their dissatisfaction? It's the second person they see after they've been told to take the boring, slow, uncomfortable, and smelly buses, the drivers of the Gold route buses.

There are never happy campers riding those buses, they are upset. So I got lots of attitude and words today for about an hour. But I smile, be polite, and take it. After all, we make really big bucks. It's a theme park folks. So you don't get Goofy's autograph this time. He'll be there later.

 

[ftwildernessrick]

I often wonder what are the various causes that cause most of the breakdowns. Is it computer problems, poor design or poor craftsmanship, unreliable or cheap construction, parts or what?

I mean it seems a simple enough design - wheels, electric motors, various electronics - just add electricity.

Compared to a bus - motor, transmission, stopping and going (with all the traffic signals, etc), verses a monorail with no traffic and predetermined stops, I guess I just don't understand it.

 

[Oglet]

I often wonder what are the various causes that cause most of the breakdowns. Is it computer problems, poor design or poor craftsmanship, unreliable or cheap construction, parts or what?

I mean it seems a simple enough design - wheels, electric motors, various electronics - just add electricity.

Compared to a bus - motor, transmission, stopping and going (with all the traffic signals, etc), verses a monorail with no traffic and predetermined stops, I guess I just don't understand it.

The biggest problem with the monorail is really their age, although it is obviously only a part of the problem. They are being run close to 20 hours a day and really really do not like the cold weather.

To answer part of your question 9/10 the reason for the downtime is a sensor giving a reading that is not dangerous however you can't keep the trains running if there is something not 'normal' being indicated.

The monorail system is an a disgrace and I am ashamed to be a part of the current system, It's destroying the image of Disney more so than anything else the company is currently doing, Monorails upset more guests each day and anything else on property does however the company chooses to ignore the situation in the name of profit.

It's the company who is not wanting to replace the current fleet of 11 monorails, they know thousands of their guests are inconvenienced and angered each day because of break downs and they really don't care.

I'd also like to say that before someone gets snappy with a Bus Driver, Monorail Pilot or Watercraft CM you should be directing your anger and frustration at the company because they are the only ones who can fix the problem. Image is everything for Disney (well it once was) and right now the monorail system is destroying that image.

 

[bigdisneydaddy]

1

 

[wdwbound]

We were there a month ago for a quick weekend trip and took the monorail and one of them was broken down at that time and it was the first weekend for the Christmas Party at MK and it was horrendous waiting. We have been on that line for many times when they broke down and took it in stride and for the most part so did other riders. Even had one mother offer me her screaming child in the stroller (I declined...all of my 4 boys when they were younger never sounded THAT loud). Just glad that my DH was good about it too.

 

[des1954]

The biggest problem with the monorail is really their age, although it is obviously only a part of the problem. They are being run close to 20 hours a day and really really do not like the cold weather.

To answer part of your question 9/10 the reason for the downtime is a sensor giving a reading that is not dangerous however you can't keep the trains running if there is something not 'normal' being indicated.

The monorail system is an a disgrace and I am ashamed to be a part of the current system, It's destroying the image of Disney more so than anything else the company is currently doing, Monorails upset more guests each day and anything else on property does however the company chooses to ignore the situation in the name of profit.

It's the company who is not wanting to replace the current fleet of 11 monorails, they know thousands of their guests are inconvenienced and angered each day because of break downs and they really don't care.

I'd also like to say that before someone gets snappy with a Bus Driver, Monorail Pilot or Watercraft CM you should be directing your anger and frustration at the company because they are the only ones who can fix the problem. Image is everything for Disney (well it once was) and right now the monorail system is destroying that image.

Well said!!!

 

[sjs314]

And the resort Monorail was down this morning. I had to do the Gold bus route. I like to call it the "bail out the Monorails again" route. And that's one of the worst if not the worst assignments on property.

The MR resort guests get really upset when their futuristic monorail that they want to replace all the buses with, breaks down. I could hear them complain about having to pay a premium to stay at those resorts because of the MR.

And who takes the brunt of their dissatisfaction? It's the second person they see after they've been told to take the boring, slow, uncomfortable, and smelly buses, the drivers of the Gold route buses.

There are never happy campers riding those buses, they are upset. So I got lots of attitude and words today for about an hour. But I smile, be polite, and take it. After all, we make really big bucks. It's a theme park folks. So you don't get Goofy's autograph this time. He'll be there later.

You have my sincere sympathy, I can only imagine how irate some of the guests must become, that being said ever since we decided to finally stay at a monorail resort this next trip, I have been reading about the problems with the monorails.

Now given my back luck I fully expect breakdowns on the monorail lines when I visit Oct 23-29, so a word of advise, MagicBus you should take vacation that week if possible

 

[Magicbus]

I fully expect breakdowns on the monorail lines when I visit Oct 23-29, so a word of advise, MagicBus you should take vacation that week if possible

Uh oh, sounds like you're trouble. This isn't Lorna, is it?
As I don't take vacations anymore, I'll probably be there for a couple of days. Besides, you're not going to say anything I haven't heard, I hope.

 

[bigdisneydaddy]

At the risk of sounding patronizing, We have always made it a point to say hello to the bus driver and Thank him of her for a safe ride when we disembark. Funny how a little kindness goes a long way, after all we are in the happiest place on earth, we may as well act like it.

 

[Lil' Lisa]

.

 

[Magicbus]

We did too! It only seems right to do so.

Under normal circumstances 99.9999% of the riders are very nice. But due to the very annoying circumstances, that percentage drops. Not all are angry, but many are, and I can understand it, I would be too. I'm glad I don't ride my own bus when that happens.

 

[YodaGirl]

Under normal circumstances 99.9999% of the riders are very nice. But due to the very annoying circumstances, that percentage drops. Not all are angry, but many are, and I can understand it, I would be too. I'm glad I don't ride my own bus when that happens.

We are always extra nice to the bus drivers, as well. Ya never know the kind of day that they might be having (or the type of guests that they have encountered). Most all of the drivers we've had have smiled back.

On our last trip, however, we had an internal bus driver who seemed less than thrilled...and we were only on his bus for about 5 minutes. One remark (I can't remember exactly what it was now) was made to a family trying desperately to get their stroller to fold down, one was made to a golf cart that had pulled out about a foot too far into the intersection, and the most memorable was when there was a car going too slow for his taste. He actually said (quite audibly), "Move it, Grandma.". I just chalked it up to him having just had one of those days.

 

[BradyBz12]

When we were there a few weeks ago the resort/MK loop was completely down... right at 7pm park close on a party night. Talk about madness!!



We were actually trying to get to GF for a dinner reservation at Narcoosee's and luckily were very early, but lots of people in line with us for the resort launch were not so lucky.

We hit the line just in time and only had to wait for 2 boats, but the line behind us was just about back to the bag check and growing.

Best part was when the crazy lady on the cell phone talking really loudly just pushed her way past the entire line (kids, strollers and all) to get on the launch at the dock.

People just stood there stunned as she shoved past us all with not so much as an "excuse me." She was blathering on about "yeah, they just got on the boat, I'm meeting them now...." and completely ignored the flustered CM as she took one of the last seats on the boat.

I have a theory there really wasn't anyone on the other end of the phone and the talking loudly was just a clever ploy to avoid the line full of angry, impatient people who couldn't believe how rude and inconsiderate she was.