Monorails to no longer operate during Evening Extra Magic Hours

[TLSnell1981]

.It's people who for whatever reason stay behind in the parks well after closing or from what I read, party guests and EMH guests that will notice a change.

This would be my family.

Then will come the following announcement.
Due to poor attendance we are no longer offering Extra Magic Hours for resort guests. Valued guests of the Walt Disney World Resort will still be able to take advantage all the many other great offerings we CURRENTLY offer until we cut them back as well.
As a limited time offer please use coupon code 'suckers' to take advantage of semi free dining and receive 10% off our slightly increased room rates and reduced entertainment.

I think, Disney is already, at this point.

The good news is that, during this period where apparently so many people will choose not to visit WDW, those of us who
continue to visit WDW on its merits will enjoy fewer crowds, and then still
benefit from all the things Disney does, later, to draw new guests back into
the parks.

LESS profits, MORE cuts..

Animal Kingdom won't be open that late in December. Much of what goes on there centers - naturally - around the animals. That park will close at 5 when you're there.

I won't be there in December.

 

[onelilspark]

I'm staying at BLT in September. One of my nights I was planning on taking advantage of EMH evening at Epcot.

Now I can't take the monorail back to the Contemporary after being in Epcot? Annoys me. I have enough Hilton points, a cheap rental car available, and an AP so I don't need to pay for parking. It's such a short stay that taking away one of those conveniences makes me reconsider staying at BLT or switching to a Hilton. I give up EMH, but save a ton of money...plus I'm annoyed enough by this move to consider it!

Ha-rumph!

 

[kaligal]

It really is just one more reason to avoid Disney hotels.

 

[TinkPirateMom]

I know what it is, but can't explain without earning points.

LMBO!!! CF is one of my favorite terms and that is definitely what it will be!

 

[Traveliz]

I think I'm going to wait until I hear an official announcement on this.

It doesn't really make any sense.

I would say a post on The Hub is an official announcement and that I would not expect Disney to start airing commercials that they are no longer providing this service. They are not going to announce this - it will just happen with extra CMs guiding people to the available transportation at first.

Liz

 

[asta]

"Not been as pleasant"? You mean having to mingle with the un-washed masses of day guests?

I mean being so packed that there is somtimes not even a place to stand let alone accommodate guests who need to sit or load a stroller/wheelchair. The higher volume of riders also means that it takes longer to load or unload. It is all a factor of having to deal with a larger volume of people. You used the term un-washed masses, I would never have used that to describe others. I could never cast that stone after how hot and sweaty I get after a July day in the park. I don't even want to be that close to myself.

 

[Oglet]

I wonder how any Bay Lake Tower owners feel about this, surely the Monorail providing transportation would have been some factor in Disney's selling pitch, right?

 

[Johnny_B]

As for altering their Deluxe prices, here is a summary of the 2012 pricing according to Mouse Savers. I think we can agree that an increase of $5-$15/night isn't bad (they always raise prices), but some of these increases are just LOL OMG.

Regular Season 2 (early fall, roughly corresponding with the first 3 weeks of the Epcot Food & Wine Festival) has been further subdivided into weekday and weekend rates for 2012. Weekend rates in this season shot up at every resort, with increases of $45-$75 per night on regular (non-Club Level, non-suite) rooms.

Weekend rates in Fall Season (encompassing the rest of the Food & Wine Festival period plus the pre-holiday period) skyrocketed at every resort, with increases of $35-$65 per night on regular rooms.

Animal Kingdom Lodge rates on regular rooms went up $15-$40 per night.

Beach Club/Yacht Club Value Season and Peak Season weekday prices for all room categories stayed the same price as in 2011. Other rates on regular rooms went up $5-$45 per night.

BoardWalk Value Season and Peak Season weekday prices for Standard View rooms stayed the same price as in 2011. Other rates on regular rooms went up $5-$65 per night.

Contemporary rates on regular rooms went up $15-$50 per night.

Grand Floridian rates on regular rooms went up $5-$75 per night.

Polynesian rates on regular rooms went up $20-$50 per night.

Wilderness Lodge rates on regular rooms went up $15-$45 per night.

http://www.mousesavers.com/roomrates2012.html#notes

 

[walkdmc]

I wonder how any Bay Lake Tower owners feel about this, surely the Monorail providing transportation would have been some factor in Disney's selling pitch, right?

I'm generally annoyed with the decision but actually glad I own at BLT. I can walk home

And we drive our rental to all other parks. I didn't like the buses before this decision.

 

[eliza61]

Declining by degrees folks! Its been going on for years! Apparently this is the point where many of you are uncomfortable with yet another minor cutback, but added to all the other cutbacks add up to dissatisfaction.
.

On the other hand, it will be interesting to see how much farther Disney can push the "anti-Deluxing" of the Deluxe resorts and still fill them at the rates they currently command. Those who have stayed in a truly first-class hotel know that Disney's Deluxes do not compare. But, the second group---my sense is that second group is very much in play. Anecdotally, it seems to me that that second group looks at Disney's offerings, and increasingly finds them lacking. Things like cutting monorail service do not help Disney retain the second group of folks. For that group, location and convenience is the only saving grace for these resorts, because it certainly is not the quality of the rooms or the level of service, both of which compare to a good business class hotel but fall far short of the typical Ritz/Four Seasons/etc, despite charging comparable (or higher) rates.


"Group Two" guests are not taking ME. I guarantee it.

COMPARABLE!! Not even. I stayed at the Waldorf last October for a full 200 bucks less than the Contemp and that was with a room upgrade. If it wasnt for my dvc, no way would a disney deluxe see my money.

:nod:


And that raises the questions: (1) How big is that group, really? (2) How likely is it that they would have chosen to go off-site, anyway? (3) How much would it really cost to placate Group 2 to lock-in their patronage? (4) How does that compare to how much extra profit Disney earns by placating Group 2 rather than letting them go?It's a strategic consideration - not a sacred cow scenario, as some folks would have us believe it is.

All important points.

So in my life, I see it as the continual downgrading of disney. I don't believe it's a "sacred cow scenario" but usually my vacations never have any 1 thing that is a sacred cow. It's more of a total package.

I'm firmly in BNobles group 2. I used to be (I've changed in the last 3 years) a die hard disney fanatic but lately declines in every thing (at least from my perspective) have made me less and less. My husband jokes and says I'm slowly being deprogrammed from my cult, by the cult leader no less.

One argument that I never seem to buy even though 1000's of dissers here swear to it, is the "cutbacks" every where mentality. I truly don't see this in other vacation venues. Cruises, beach packages, Vegas, all seem to offer way more quality for the same dollar spent. Even my trip to DLP this May saw a noticeable difference in quality for almost the same money I spend going to WDW. AND that was with the US dollar doing lousy.

Whether my perception is valid or imaginary for me is a moot point, it has effected (or is it affected, I can never remember the rule. LOL) how I travel to disney and the way I spend money. I can no longer tolerate the mediocre meals so I eat way more off site than I did just 3 years ago. If you would have told me then that I would ever stay offsite I would have laughed at you, last October Dh and I stayed at the Ritz Carlton for the first time Let me tell you if it wasn't for our dvc that would have sealed the deal on ever staying onsite again. Not only that but rarely do I encourage people to stay onsite.

I'm probably now one of Bicker's "doom and gloomers". I don't think Disney will come to an end or any thing. I just haven't had anything "Wow" me as in the past and it is a rare day that I actual recommend a restaurant.

Sadly for me it's an end of an era, after 13 years of annual trips this trip in August will be our last for maybe 4 or 5 years. What's even sadder, no one in my family is really sadden by this, too many times last year we walked away disappointed or saying "Boy, they used to give you XYZ or the food was much better last time".

 

[canopynut66]

This is really one of the most horrible things . . . if I ever get to stay at a deluxe again, I want those darn monorails running! I know it's not like they are stranding you, but come on - that's one of the huge perks of staying at Poly, CR or GF. You have that option!!

Agree 100% if one staying at a resort on the monorail line would NOT be happy with that elimination at all that is one of the perks for staying on the monorail line..

 

[MoonFaerie]

Out of curiosity: how long did the Resort line run after, e.g., an 8PM close at MK, with no EMH or other after-hours activity?

I was under the impression that it was never much more than 90 minutes anyway. So, still not enough time for a late night dinner at another resort without cabbing home.

Well for our planned trip, 6 nights have MVMCP which lasts until midnight), 1 had EEMH (11 PM ending), 1 is open until 10 (but will likely be extended as it gets closer as it's the last Sat before Christmas weekend), which only leaves 1 night closing at 8.

I very much was planning on using the monorail to get around to late night dinners. Now I'll probably drop at least 2 of those ADRs and eat at one of the Swolphin resorts instead. No transportation to worry about then, plus I can get a discount using restaurant.com. No way am I taking a boat late at night in Dec. Brrr! It was cold enough during the day with the sun shining down. Plus boats & heels aren't a good match, IMO.

Disney already lost our hotel money to Dolphin ($150/night vs $340/night), and we're spending a day at IOA and a day at Discovery Cove, and now they're losing even more of our meal money.

 

[Sammie]

This is likely to cause a nightmare for the Contemporary, as everyone tries to park there and valet to walk over.

I hope the guards step up to the challenge.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I'm staying at BLT in September. One of my nights I was planning on taking advantage of EMH evening at Epcot.

Now I can't take the monorail back to the Contemporary after being in Epcot? Annoys me. <snip>

Ha-rumph!

You never could. You had to take the monorail to the TTC, then switch to the Resorts monorail - riding three quarters of the way around the 'local' loop before finally arriving at your resort. Now it seems you'll be able to take a bus directly from Epcot to the Contemporary. For guests in that position, this change actually appears positive.

 

[NYDisneyKid]

Think about it. You'll figure it out.

he said a dirty word???

 

[mesaboy2]

he said a dirty word???

Try searching around for the term "charlie foxtrot". I can't go any further than that.

 

[BCV09_Saratoga10]

This doesn't make sense. Why would they shut down the monorails when they know that not all of the people will be out of the park before EMH is over or after a normal closing that evening? I can see that costs may need to be cut, but shutting down the monorail...that's something I don't think the Imagineers could even imagine doing!

Plus, could somebody provide an official link to a press release or something straight from Disney? I won't believe it until I see an official document saying so.

 

[disneyfav4ever]

That is insane! I never stay deluxe, so it really doesn't affect me at all, but I still think this is a horrible idea on Disney's part. They push EMH as a huge benefit to stay on-site, and the monorail as a huge benefit for staying at one of those three resorts, but then they change things like this. It just makes me so mad!

 

[BillSears]

I wonder how they will handle wheelchair users since the launches cannot handle the wheelchairs. I'm guessing buses but having to add extra bus stops to the MK area during EMH sure seems like a huge hassle.

 

[TLSnell1981]

That is insane! I never stay deluxe, so it really doesn't affect me at all, but I still think this is a horrible idea on Disney's part. They push EMH as a huge benefit to stay on-site, and the monorail as a huge benefit for staying at one of those three resorts, but then they change things like this. It just makes me so mad!

This affects EVERYONE, who participates in EMH, MNSSHP or MVMCP...not just monorail resort guests. The ENTIRE system will shut down...