Monorails to no longer operate during Evening Extra Magic Hours

[baler31]

I ride the bus all the time and don't have real issues with it. But then I stay at a value resort and spend a lot less than those staying at the monorail resorts. My expectations are entirely different than they would be if I were paying $500 a night.

We are one of those groups that don't utilize the bus transportation or DME for that matter. We have however always stayed in the Deluxe resorts and the location/monorail was a large factor.

In the last year or so we have also stayed at the Waldorf and Ritz and this may be one of the items (along with the discontinuation of character at emh) that influences us to move most of our stays there. I am not so deluded that I believe my decision to switch will really bother Disney as the deluxe resorts appear to be more crowded than ever each time we visit. I suppose if occupancy rates drop significantly they will investigate what other changes need to be made, but I doubt this will happen.

 

[doconeill]

It isn't as though they will not be able to get to their cars at all, though.

I think this is a point that some people here need to understand - Disney will not leave you stranded. You will be able to get where you need to go.

The question is how will it be done, how convenient it will be, and how long it will take. And THAT will be the driving factor or what people do once they've had to live through it.

I don't know what the people-moved-per-hour rate of the monorail vs. buses as a replacement service are, but given certain limits of buses (like they don't have unlimited space to berth them, etc.) I've got to think that it is somewhat less. Some of that will be absorbed by the water launches if at the key times they are currently underutilized, but they may not be available either. I'd wager that the ferry can move more people overall in the same unit of time than the monorail can.

I'll add this...there is nothing in this operational change that precludes them from adding monorail service at certain times when other service like the ferry is unavailable.

 

[disney_bob]

Fine in theory. But it fails in practice. If you are going to WDW in the next year, the fact that this may not be really permanent is of no value to you, except academically. Or are you saying that you don't think that they will actually implement the change today? For people who are traveling this fall when park hours are shortest, they will be affected. No two ways about it. 5 years from now? Who knows. But should we hold off on the debate as to whether or not this is a good change until 5 years from now? It seems as if you do not believe that this change will be implemented, or that the change is already scheduled to have a sunset period, despite any announcement of that nature. Well, if you are going to wait around three years for the reversion back to status qua ante just so that you can say "I told you so", then more power to you. But I don't see how that applies to the people who actually will be affected during those three years.

I don't see how I postulated or implied that it would never occur. We should hold off wild speculation and ranting until we know how it affects people.

The first part goes into practice today and the second not until August 1st. That isn't academic. That is something even you acknowledge.

Once we know how it affects people we should be concerned with how long it will be for. Our reaction should take its severity into consideration.

 

[TLSnell1981]

It isn't as though they will not be able to get to their cars at all, though.

I would then wonder how many of those consider being required to ride the ferry rather than the monorail back to TTC such a dealbreaker that they will avoid the evening EMH at MK altogether, having been otherwise inclined to go. I wouldn't, but maybe there are some that would. How many, is the question.

It is a deal breaker for us. We aren't, just talking EMH, but ALL events. I had planned to purchase MNSSHP tickets, this week...no more. The ferry is a long wait, slow ride..AND uncomfortable, especially for late evening travel. Buses will be difficult for us with 2 ECVs and a stroller. Honestly, it's too big of a hassle. I am VERY disappointed, but I'm betting, the lines for handicapped guests, will be a nightmare.

The "Magic" coontinues to dissipate....

 

[bicker]

I'm trying to get others to open their eyes and complain to Disney so maybe they'll stop the madness of cutting more and more while raising prices

The most effective way to communicate sincere dissatisfaction with the price/value proposition offered by a company is to not purchase from that company.

When Disney makes business decisions it is not us who they factor in, it is the majority of guests.

And perhaps that's why so many critics on the blogs are avoiding the reality I outlined above - because they feel that so few people really care that much about this.

 

[JimmyV]

I don't see how I postulated or implied that it would never occur.

It was your use of quotation marks around the word "confirmed" in your first post, (twice). That implied a sarcastic or skeptical view of the fact that the story even has any legitimacy. Following that with a desire to get "firm" (which I read as: "additional, official") information suggested (at least to me) that you thought that none of this had risen above the rumor stage, or that there is going to be some upcoming announcement on the longetivity of the situation. There won't be. Until there is. But that won't be for a year, at least.

 

[baler31]

The most effective way to communicate sincere dissatisfaction with the price/value proposition offered by a company is to not purchase from that company.

This I agree with. However, on our last several visits while at GF the resort seemed more crowded than ever, so I assume there are plenty of people that will fill our spot.

 

[bicker]

Does anyone else find the timing of this curious, considering walls went up this morning around the area that the proposed DVC construction at the Grand Floridian? The construction wall runs back to all the way underneath the monorail line.

I wouldn't say "curious" given that the impact of it is that folks buying into GFV will be able to know that this change is in the offing before they sign contracts. It would be "curious", perhaps (though not wrong, as some folks, in that case, would probably try to claim), if they had announced this a few months after GFV goes on sale, i.e., after the big wave of folks waiting to buy into GFV have already signed contracts.

This I agree with. However, on our last several visits while at GF the resort seemed more crowded than ever, so I assume there are plenty of people that will fill our spot.

Which is a fair and valid consideration for Disney.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I think it is likely Kayte is considering Bay Lake Tower a separate resort.

I was, thank you I wanted to count each DVC property separately from its 'host' resort, where applicable. FireDancer's point is accurate too - walking to/from the Contemporary = walking to/from Bay Lake Towers. Truly, by the time you'd get to either the monorail or a bus, you could (would) be halfway back to the resort!

 

[BLTLDZ]

I Honestly, it's too big of a hassle. I am VERY disappointed, but I'm betting, the lines for handicapped guests, will be a nightmare.

The "Magic" coontinues to dissipate....

I agree 112%

The way I see it, is the bottom line is, quite simply, Disney continues to cut, cut, cut & raise, raise, raise the prices, while the quality just goes away...

In essence, if staying at a monorail resort, it is a HUGE benefit, especially for DH & myself.
We do not have any children, and we both enjoy wine with our late dinners...
Therefore, staying out late is always common with us...
To me, it is a HUGE benefit to our stays at BLT, to not have to drive, our home resort...So yep, it is a big deal.

Also , in terms of scooters, strollers, etc...I feel even worse for people in these situations...bad job disney...bad job, and NOT to be expected...
Makes my DVC membership seem less appealing...

They took away free valet for DVC...annoying? Yes.
Dealbreaker? NO

Monorails not running ? BIG DEAL, at least to me....

 

[DisneyChristmas]

WDW in 1971 --- MK. CR, Poly, and the monorail.

Too bad about tradition; too bad about the concepts that have resulted in today's WDW.

The people making these monorail service decisions today probably weren't even born when I made my first visit in 1971.

Sure I'm old, and our family WDW visits have always included monorail resorts (usually the Poly). Forty years later, can I have a monorail ride "home" if I go to MVMCP this year? Nope...please find alternate transporation while we raise prices and trim services.

 

[bicker]

If we keep complaining on a message board about how bad Disney World has gotten and then book our yearly, twice-yearly, or whatever vacation we are literally saying we are still happy with the product that they are selling and will patronize it.

I think it is worse than that: By spiraling ourselves down into deeper dissatisfaction, by playing the curmudgeonly game back-and-forth with others, while all the while only an insignificant number of people are actually changing their purchasing behaviors, folks are basically just decreasing the value of the vacation experience for themselves and others while affecting Disney only an insignificant amount. It seems like this path leads only to hardcore guests being harmed - no one else.

Ultimately though, they still have a LOT of rooms to fill on a daily basis. And EMH has always been a great way of doing that. So it will be interesting to see how it all works out for them.

No one here has access to reliable metrics regarding how efficient EMH is at filling rooms. Beyond that, there is no indication that EMH is going away. Even the broadest interpretation of what has come out of Disney so far would provide foundation for saying only that monorail resort guests will need to use buses to get back to their hotels after evening EMH instead of the monorail. So you're making a wild leap in implying that this will have a significant impact on whether "it all works out for them".

 

[Colleen27]

I do know that even if I go over to stay at the Contemporary it won't stop me from attending the EMH or going to other resorts for meals. They say they will provide transportation, it just won't be the monorail, and I'm not one of those who will never ride the bus. If you are, you'll need to look for other alternatives like car rental, or the lack of monorail service might put a cramp in your enjoyment enough to make you consider other resort areas or even other destinations besides WDW, but there are still plenty of guests who will ride the bus.

What I'm most curious to see is if they add a monorail resort bus route. If they do this isn't likely to be a big deal for most folks, with the notable exception of those traveling with strollers or wheelchairs. But if not and the bus service follows the patterns of elsewhere on Disney property, needing to use an open "hub" to go from the Poly to the Contemporary after MK transport stops running seems a rather large inconvenience.

Can you imagine - you get done with a lovely dinner at California Grill at 10 or so, but the MK buses & boats are done for the night and with the monorail now on the same schedule the only Disney transportation option is a bus from the Contemporary to Downtown Disney to get a bus back to the Poly? The cab companies would love it!

 

[disneydreamingdebby]

Not that it matters much,
but because it has been a part of
multiple posts in this gargantuan thread,
and it's been hacked so many ways...

Here are the dictionary-approved spellings-

"hardcore"
or
"hard core"
or
"hard-core"
or even
"hard corps"


Now, back to 'Rail Wars...

now back to read the five pages I skipped to post this...

 

[bicker]

While you make good points, the monorail maintenace costs for running the trains additional hours in a day does not necessarily create much of a cost (same as I was not adding in costs of road maintenance, because the additional wear and tear on the roadways is negligible with a few extra buses.

The difference is scale. Running a bus for 20 guests (for example) runs one bus. Running a monorail for 20 guests runs a full monorail. Monorails are a lot less efficient operating during times of light utilitzation, while the reduction in efficiency of operating buses can be controlled in a much more granular manner.

I am a bit surprised that monorail service was not just severely cut...as in only two trains running on the resort route....

Don't speak too loudly. For all we know, the monorail costs so much to operate that it continues to operate only because of its token value. It may not make financial sense anymore to view the monorail as the primary means of connecting the venues it connects, but rather just a nifty alternative to the core facilities, i.e., buses.

 

[mom2rtk]

No one here has access to reliable metrics regarding how efficient EMH is at filling rooms. Beyond that, there is no indication that EMH is going away. Even the broadest interpretation of what has come out of Disney so far would provide foundation for saying only that monorail resort guests will need to use buses to get back to their hotels after evening EMH instead of the monorail. So you're making a wild leap in implying that this will have a significant impact on whether "it all works out for them".

I suppose that means you have no more access to reliable metrics on the topic than I do. So for you to say I'm making a "wild leap" is no more accurate than me making such a "wild leap" in the first place.

Or did you conduct some sort of market research on the topic already? No? Didn't hack into the Disney data base to see for yourself? Then this is ALL speculation. And opinion.

 

[NedsTJ]

What I'm most curious to see is if they add a monorail resort bus route. If they do this isn't likely to be a big deal for most folks, with the notable exception of those traveling with strollers or wheelchairs. But if not and the bus service follows the patterns of elsewhere on Disney property, needing to use an open "hub" to go from the Poly to the Contemporary after MK transport stops running seems a rather large inconvenience.

Can you imagine - you get done with a lovely dinner at California Grill at 10 or so, but the MK buses & boats are done for the night and with the monorail now on the same schedule the only Disney transportation option is a bus from the Contemporary to Downtown Disney to get a bus back to the Poly? The cab companies would love it!

The lure of staying on a monorail property would certain drop for us if they extended this to the resorts as well. We like having dinner at the various resorts, then just "monorailin'" back to ours, lol. But between having to wait for a bus or taking a cab...to go from GF to CR....we'd probably jump in a cab.

 

[TDC Nala]

It does pretty much destroy the "drink around the monorail" and "drink around the bus" doesn't have the same ring to it. I'll pick one lounge and stay there...

 

[JimmyV]

For all we know, the monorail costs so much to operate that it continues to operate only because of its token value. It may not make financial sense anymore to view the monorail as the primary means of connecting the venues it connects, but rather just a nifty alternative to the core facilities, i.e., buses.

I'll bet this is absolutely the case. I have to believe that if WDW were built today, there would not be a monorail in the plan, and that 95% of the transportation would be by bus. Or if they were to build a light rail system, it would not be a "highway in the sky" but instead would be a surface level tram/train like the Hilton Waikoloa. The monorail was "cool" in 1971, but there is a reason why we have not seen them pop up in "real world" use other than airports (and that miserable failure of a thing that they have in Seattle.)

Disney will probably pour just enough money into this sinkhole each year to keep it running, nominally, while they figure out a way to move more people by alernative measures. Friendship Boats in Seven Seas?? Electric and hydro buses?

 

[bicker]

So for you to say I'm making a "wild leap" is no more accurate than me making such a "wild leap" in the first place.

Grand assertions - assertions of extreme scale and consequence - in the absence of reliable information, are wild leaps. I'm not sure what else could be considered wild leaps, actually.

Or if they were to build a light rail system, it would not be a "highway in the sky" but instead would be a surface level tram/train like the Hilton Waikoloa.

Absolutely: That is generally considered to be the most responsible and efficient approach to short-range transportation needs, in general, these days.