Monorails to no longer operate during Evening Extra Magic Hours

[kaytieeldr]

I am trying to reason how big of an influence this will have on my family's vacations...dh and I both thought the location of BLT was its selling point. It wasn't a big enough selling point for us to add on there, though. We did, however, book a couple of nights (using points) for our August trip.

We have nine year olds who agree to take a nap 7 to 10 pm or so to go stay at MK until 2/3 am. The idea of hoping on the monorail at 3 AM sounds much better than walking (my kids will be exhausted.) If we can take a bus - that's fine.

With a three hour nap that late in the day, either they're not going to want to get up or they're not going to be exhausted at 3 AM. And honestly, by the time a Contemporary bus is loaded and pulls out and turns around and drives by the hotel and pulls in and waits for the security bar to raise and gets to the drop-off... well, you could have been in bed if you'd walked!

One point I haven't heard mentioned is that if the monorail stops one hour after regular hours, people at a monorail resort who want to go back to the MK at midnight for the EMH will not be able to take the monorail...

Also, will the Poly/GF/C then bus people to the MK? If we are staying at AKV and have dinner at O'hana, we will need to take transportation to a park to get back to our resort. This is seemingly very problematic in the winter months.

I don't see this having a huge impact on my family. (We always use Disney transportation.) We will plan around the changes, but I think it is just another way Disney is sadly reducing the magic.

I have to admit, I'm genuinely confused over the statement I bolded. I do understand the Florida weather is variable, but since in most cases Deluxe transportation pickup is outdoors anyway, I dont understand why a bus is more problematic than a monorail?

 

[kaytieeldr]

Now that makes no sense at all to me. The express monorail covers even more mileage than the resort monorail (due to the numerous stops that the resort monorail has to make). So if this was a "maintenance" based decision , why would they keep the express monorail going? The resort one stops at TTC anyway (and in the past during EMH, the express monorail has been closed. Anyone trying to get to TTC has been forced to take the resort monorail. So I think this is in addition to that.)

I think both monorails will go down one hour after park closing. That's what WDWMagic implies.

The Express monorail track does cover a little more ground than the Resorts monorail, because it's the outer ring. This allows guests at the Resorts to access those trains without having to get over/under/past the Express loop. But the trains don't necessarily travel farther; it's much more likely that they're alternated and rested.

WDWMagic doesn't imply anything. The site states the Resorts monorail will stop running one hour after regular park closing.

 

[baler31]

The Express monorail track does cover a little more ground than the Resorts monorail, because it's the outer ring. This allows guests at the Resorts to access those trains without having to get over/under/past the Express loop. But the trains don't necessarily travel farther; it's much more likely that they're alternated and rested.

WDWMagic doesn't imply anything. The site states the Resorts monorail will stop running one hour after regular park closing.

It does not state anything about changing the current Express Monrail hours. The current hours printed on my guide from June stated that the express monrail runs from 8:30am to one hour after the regular MK close.

 

[DebbieB]

Like some PPs said, my concern isn't for those EMH - it's for those later ADRs and shopping and especially the parties (MNSSHP). We go at a time of year that MK isn't open that late, it's not crazy hot, so we can tour all day and then do a later ADR for dinner (we eat late at home too). This impacts my dining and I've already gotten those ADRs at 180 days out. Not to mention our evening at MNSSHP. I think making this kind of change with so little notice (people are having to book and make ADRs so far in advance) upsets me. I'm totally rethinking that extra money that we're spending to stay at CR...

I would wait and see. The busses may run the same route as the monorail so you can go back and forth to your ADR's. I would write them and ask.

 

[bytheblood]

You dont have a very nice attitude towards anyone.....this may not affect you personally but it does a lot others.....

This is why the ignore feature is wonderful!

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Well this doesn't sound so bad when guests staying at the Monorail Resorts are at the Magic Kingdom for PM Extra Magic Hours, because they always had the boat service for guests staying at the Polynesian and Grand Floridian. Plus anyone staying at the Contemporary can use the walkway when going back there. Although I wonder if they will need to add extra boats when the Resort Monorail doesn't run, because would WDW want to add buses from the Magic Kingdom to the Polynesian and Grand Floridian given their close distances.

Now where this news is not good when guests of the Monorail Resorts wants to visit Epcot for PM Extra Magic Hours. It's obvious that they will need to take a bus back to their resorts from Epcot, however I am sure a lot of people stay at the Monorail Resorts because of the Monorail service. So shouldn't the rates be reduced because this news means those guests can't take the Monorail's during the hours when the parks are open. Last time I checked PM Extra Magic Hours still counts as the parks being open.

 

[baler31]

Well this doesn't sound so bad when guests staying at the Monorail Resorts are at the Magic Kingdom for PM Extra Magic Hours, because they always had the boat service for guests staying at the Polynesian and Grand Floridian. Plus anyone staying at the Contemporary can use the walkway when going back there. Although I wonder if they will need to add extra boats when the Resort Monorail doesn't run, because would WDW want to add buses from the Magic Kingdom to the Polynesian and Grand Floridian given their close distances.

Now where this news is not good when guests of the Monorail Resorts wants to visit Epcot for PM Extra Magic Hours. It's obvious that they will need to take a bus back to their resorts from Epcot, however I am sure a lot of people stay at the Monorail Resorts because of the Monorail service. So shouldn't the rates be reduced because this news means those guests can't take the Monorail's during the hours when the parks are open. Last time I checked PM Extra Magic Hours still counts as the parks being open.

I would think the boat service hours would change due to this announcement, however on our last several trips we left MK at 3am after EMH and the boats were not running only the resort monorail was.

 

[joelkfla]

The new rules say the Epcot line will run until 1 hour after Epcot's regular closing, and the resort line will run until 1 hour after MK's regular closing.

What's the point of running the Epcot line until 10 when the MK closes at 7? Guests will have no way of getting to their resort when they reach the TTC.

Unless Disney plans to run a bus around the resort monorail loop and expects
guests to transfer from monorail to bus. That will be well received! Especially at the peak of the exit on F&W nights.

But then why not just run a bus direct from Epcot to the monorail resorts?

 

[DisneyChristmas]

Be our guest? This makes me feel most un-welcome! Another cut-back and management feels assured that we'll just lay back and take it.

 

[tinkerbelle8878]

I read this and thought it was a joke at first. I think once this is established and underway, there are going to be some very angry guests giving guest services a piece of their minds.

I can't imagine people of any ages having to walk back happily to the Contemporary in inclement weather, extreme heat, or just being plain exhausted.

And what exactly is the back up plan if its lightning and thundering for the boats back to Poly and Floridian?

Either they need to run trams or run the buses to these hotels from MK and give the guests staying at these hotels deep discounts for the lack of perks.

 

[Experiment_626]

AP's are not accepted after 7:00pm for parking

Since when? I've had an AP most every year since 1997 and I have never had to pay for parking a single time when I did -- and I've arrived at a park after 7 pm loads of times. I have seem them not making anyone pay for parking late in the day plenty of times, though.

Scott

 

[MaxsDad]

Now where this news is not good when guests of the Monorail Resorts wants to visit Epcot for PM Extra Magic Hours. It's obvious that they will need to take a bus back to their resorts from Epcot, however I am sure a lot of people stay at the Monorail Resorts because of the Monorail service. So shouldn't the rates be reduced because this news means those guests can't take the Monorail's during the hours when the parks are open. Last time I checked PM Extra Magic Hours still counts as the parks being open.

As a BLT owner this is what I am more bothered about. One of the perks pitched to me was that the resort was on the monorail, now that wasn't the only reason I bought there but it was used in the sales pitch, and now an aspect of it is being taken away.

I have had so many bad experiences with the buses that I refuse to ride them anymore so I always rent a car, but it was nice to have the monorail to epcot, so that will be missed for EMH and late ADRs.

 

[MoonFaerie]

I have to admit, I'm genuinely confused over the statement I bolded. I do understand the Florida weather is variable, but since in most cases Deluxe transportation pickup is outdoors anyway, I dont understand why a bus is more problematic than a monorail?

Because the parks close so early. It makes getting to dinners and/or shopping at the monorail resorts trickier in the evenings. It makes me glad we decided not to pay the cost for Poly after all. Instead of just being annoyed and inconvenienced, like I am now, I'd be livid that the convenience I had paid for was removed.

Is there going to be a bus route added that runs between the monorail resorts? If not, it leaves me with the options of (assuming we just don't want to have to drive, which we don't, the #1 reason why we stay on site) taking a taxi or bus to DTD and transfer. What a pain! I'm not dropping them yet until I see how this plays out, but I'll likely be dropping most of my signature dinners. I'll keep V&A, but the rest aren't worth the hassle, IMO. We were already planning on a taxi for V&A, or I might drop it too.

 

[Bell30012]

I also have never been charged for parking matter what time we arrived. A quick flash of the AP. We've switched parks later than 7 PM many times.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Here is something else to keep in mind. The only Magic Kingdom Resorts that only uses buses to and from Epcot is the Wilderness Lodge and Fort Wilderness and both resorts share one bus. So when the Resort Monorail guests are leaving Epcot once PM Extra Magic Hours are finished will WDW combine the guests staying at the Contemporary/Polynesian/Grand Floridian/Wilderness Lodge/Fort Wilderness on one bus or will the guests staying at the Monorail Resorts get their own bus? I have this feeling WDW will want to combine all the Magic Kingdom Resort area guests on one bus, which we all know won't work.

 

[JandT'smom]

I for one do not want to take a boat back in bad weather

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Here is the one negative I just realized about this news. Let's say there are nights when the Magic Kingdom closes at 7:00 PM, well how are guests staying at the Contemporary or Bay Lake Tower able to visit the Polynesian or Grand Floridian once the Resort Monorail has stopped for the evening? One great thing about staying at either location is taking the Resort Monorail to visit those Resorts. Plus how about the other way around when Polynesian or Grand Floridian guests want to visit the Contemporary when the Resort Monorail has stopped? At least the Polynesian and Grand Floridian have a walkway that goes from one resort to another, so those guests won't have to worry about the Resort Monorail.

 

[JimmyV]

Here is the one negative I just realized about this news. Let's say there are nights when the Magic Kingdom closes at 7:00 PM, well how are guests staying at the Contemporary able to visit the Polynesian or Grand Floridian once the Resort Monorail has stopped for the evening? One great thing about staying there is taking the Resort Monorail to visit those Resorts. Plus how about the other way around when Polynesian or Grand Floridian guests want to visit the Contemporary. At least the Polynesian and Grand Floridian have a walkway that goes from one resort to another, so those guests won't have to worry about the Resort Monorail.

I wondered about this as well. Frankly, while I am not thrilled, I think the whole EMH thing is a bit overblown here. But I cannot see how this will not have grave implications for people with ADRs after 8:00 at resorts where they are not staying. My DW isn't going to walk back from V&A to the CR in heels.

 

[yooperfan]

With all of the PINs and special offers (I remember someone a few nights ago getting to book the GF for $168/night!), this news is not surprising to me. It seems Disney has been doing room discounts for years and it may have finally reached the point where they have to cut non-essential services (perks).

$168.! Was it a pin offer?

 

[Traveliz]

I also have never been charged for parking matter what time we arrived. A quick flash of the AP. We've switched parks later than 7 PM many times.

On Party nights and hard ticket event nights the MK parking lot typically does not accept APs for parking after 7Pm because the parking perk is for going in using your AP...during regular park hours. You are not using your AP to enter (after 7 PM on a party or hard ticket night) thus the reason the AP should not be accepted as a parking perk. YMMV. I knew this to be the case but we had a CM in our car and she used her ID for parking so I have not had direct experience in being turned down after 7 PM on a party night with my AP for parking.

Liz