Monorail problems

[danikoski]

We were at WDW this week and at least 3-4 times the monorail was down, that I know of. Some folks got stuck on it for about 20 minutes. I know from other posters that it has been having problems. For those who are going, be prepared to have to take alternative transport like boats and busses. I normally like using the monorail, but we didn't use it at all this trip due to its unreliability.

 

[Klayfish]

If I recall, the current monorail trains are circa 1992 or something like that. They're old. They've been having problems for years. They shut them down regularly for maintenance, then sometimes they'll have issues that cause them to get shut down. Kinda stinks, but doesn't stop us from using them when they're up and running...we love them.

 

[danikoski]

There were several people rather annoyed on busses and boats last week who had paid for a monorail resort that had a monorail down frequently.

 

[gingerfeathers]

It sucks, but really... what can you expect? They are definitely getting old. I always go knowing that a monorail may not always be in the cards. Boats are plenty nice too.

 

[Kuzcotopia1]

There were several people rather annoyed on busses and boats last week who had paid for a monorail resort that had a monorail down frequently.

I rented DVC points and booked Poly for an upcoming trip and using the monorail was part of the reason for choosing it. It's not my entire reason, but still...

 

[anniemae]

That is really frustrating. My friends are going in May and they have small kids and booked the Poly for the convenience of easy MK access. Are there any plans to upgrade the monorails? It seems to be having problems keeping up with the volume of people, that and the fact that it is just so old.

 

[Klayfish]

I have no idea if there are plans to replace the monorail cars, but in my experience it's not the volume of people that's really the issue. It's just that they seem to have fairly frequent issues and break down. Frankly, I'm quite impressed at how well they do in keeping up with the number of people who enter/exit the parks. With the massive amounts of people in MK, there's no true way to get everyone across the lagoon with zero wait. The only times we see any significant wait (i.e. more than 10 minutes) is when fireworks are ending. Even then, considering the massive exodus of people, I give them credit for having one monorail after another grabbing people.

 

[eeyoreandtink]

Monorails really need a complete rehab/ replacement. The frequency of mechanical problems has greatly increased in recent years.

 

[danikoski]

They were testing the new automated system for the monorail, and that may have been causing some of the issues.

The Poly still has quick boat access to MK.

 

[jeffbear]

Yeah ... also, 'tis the season. Late Jan and February are traditional times for monorail maintenance work. I remember being down in Feb 2015 and having rolling monorail outages for our entire week. It happens.

 

[mousehockey37]

They were testing the new automated system for the monorail, and that may have been causing some of the issues.

The Poly still has quick boat access to MK.

Yeah ... also, 'tis the season. Late Jan and February are traditional times for monorail maintenance work. I remember being down in Feb 2015 and having rolling monorail outages for our entire week. It happens.

This ^^^^

The automation testing has been ongoing. When down at the end of January, we had some days where they actually had the MK monorail station roped off and directing you to the boats/buses. There were other days where you saw people on the monorails, then empty ones.

I think it's been said before that these types of monorails and their cars aren't even in production anymore, so getting replacements isn't going to happen. These things are all WDW has, and with how many people the buses and boats can move compared to the novelty of the monorail, new monorail trains aren't at the forefront.

 

[HopperFan]

On top of it's ongoing maintenance and operating issues at times .......... every time I see one I think of the 45 minute ride between stops .... These days I take the ferry or bus as a first choice if I can.

 

[MouseyMin]

I got stuck on the monorail a few times on my last trip and also found out the hard way that it wasn't running a few times too. They really need to take the whole system down for as many months as necessary to properly repair/replace/upgrade it. But imagine the complaining that will happen if they do that - we might set a record here on the DISBoards for the number of pages on one thread!!

 

[mousehockey37]

I got stuck on the monorail a few times on my last trip and also found out the hard way that it wasn't running a few times too. They really need to take the whole system down for as many months as necessary to properly repair/replace/upgrade it. But imagine the complaining that will happen if they do that - we might set a record here on the DISBoards for the number of pages on one thread!!

That's the problem. They won't. Replacing will not happen. Upgrades are currently being done now with the automation. They're doing what they can with a monorail system that has well outlived its life expectancy.

 

[jk and ek]

missed rope drop on our MK centric morning last week because of monorail issues and how poorly the staff at the contemporary handled it. we were staying in BLT and also had a super early chef mickey's reservation. MK opened at 9 that day and they weren't even starting monorail service until 8:30....which we didn't find out until 8 when we finished our breakfast.

we didn't immediately walk because
a) we were given no indication that the monorail service wouldn't start promptly at 8:30 as promised
b) i am pregnant and had been having some hip/pelvis pain issues on the trip and wanted to avoid a big walk that would have sapped a lot of energy right out of the gate (and this trip was planned and paid for LONG before i got pregnant).
c) my 62 year old MIL didn't exactly want to start out the day with that walk either

the line for the single elevator and escalator were outrageously long and by 8:40 service still had not started. overheard another person ask the CM at the escalator gate if they had any info and the CM was extremely curt/borderline rude and unhelpful. at 8:45 another CM appeared and announced the monorail wasn't working and they had no ETA. and then they just.....left. no further instructions on alternatives. asked around and learned they would be starting bus service, but the busses were not there and there was no ETA. only other option was to walk...which we did. we missed rope drop and our morning plan was trashed/missed out on some rides (pregnancy also prevented me from being able to stand comfortably in any long lines) and ended up having to pay for a wheel chair for the second half of the day due to discomfort.

it really did put a damper on the day and we all felt it could have been handled a lot better....or at very least the CMs could have been nicer.

 

[jk and ek]

oh and we also missed our fastpass grace period by 30 seconds because of a monorail delay that trapped us between the GF and MK a few days later (like our 15 minute grace period ended at 4:05 and we arrived at 4:05:30) and it took some serious pleading with the CM at talking mickey to let us (dad, pregnant mom, MIL and 4 year old celebrating his birthday) in anyway. we had very much planned to be there on time, but what can you do when the monorail trip unexpectedly takes over an hour?

 

[AngiTN]

This is exactly why I do not consider the monorail a benefit at MK resorts. I really hate the thing.

 

[MouseOfCards]

On top of it's ongoing maintenance and operating issues at times .......... every time I see one I think of the 45 minute ride between stops .... These days I take the ferry or bus as a first choice if I can.

Cute video. Especially surprised to see Disney send a bird after the squirrel. Heard they only do that if the delay lasts beyond an hour!

 

[FortForever]

We've been riding the monorail since our first trip in Dec. 1971, when I was 8 years old.

I'm guessing somewhere along the line, they have to had replace them. I honestly don't remember what they looked like when I was kid, I only remember riding on them to MK from the Contemporary. Perhaps it's time to replace them again. I love to ride them still today, and although we are priced out of the monorail resorts these days, we still ride them for fun.

 

[capegirl]

We really love the monorail; it's always been a part of our Disney vacation traditions, and an attraction in it's own right. Unfortunately, it really fell apart during our 2016 trip. Resort monorail was down most mornings, and whenever it was running we got stuck. I would compare it to the 'T' in Boston, basically running on life support. Don't see how this automated system will help, and at this point, it seems to a perpetual work in progress.