Monorails to no longer operate during Evening Extra Magic Hours

[mom2rtk]

-more and more ticketed events requiring guests who don't want to pay an extra $40ish to leave parks early (even on weekend nights)

LOL! Try $60 and UP!

 

[kaytieeldr]

I totally disagree. First off all, you have nowhere near, the numbers crossing with children, that you do in Disney. Second of all, it's not safe to cross, barely lit streets, anywhere. I've traveled with children in every city you've mentioned...I just believe, it's not a good comparison. IMO

You have the equivalent of about 1,040 rooms between the two properties. If each room/unit were at maximum occupancy, that would be about 6,400 people (possibly a bit less because some rooms have king beds). A large number of those would be adults or older/responsible children - capable of crossing what you perceive as a busy, poorly lit street but which has been reported by others not to be so. Many of the smaller children would be in strollers, i.e. not responsible for getting themselves across the street.

Whether you notice them or not, I'd think there are more than 6,400 minors crossing busy New York City streets every day.

 

[GadgetRick]

LOL! Try $60 and UP!

Shows how long it's been since I've gone to one. I refuse to. Heck, they've even taken things away from these events:

-used to get a free family photo
-less candy and less cookies/hot chocolate

And they do them a ridiculous number of nights during these seasons. It's almost gotten to where you have to buy your normal ticket to get in during the day and, if you want to stay after 7:00, you have to pony up the extra money to go to the party. Just plain sucks. These parties used to be something special. Something you were excited about if you were lucky enough to be going during a week where they had one. Now it's just another cost.

 

[Eponine1]

On my upcoming trip this will affect us on 3 of the nights we decdide to do IllumiNations. MK will close either at 7 or 8pm on those nights. Which means either I rush out with the herd to catch the monorail back to the TTC and walk from there or take my time, have to get a bus back to the hotel.

Either way stinks. I am spedning alot (just below $500 a night) plus hundreds more for passes into the parks and now I have to figure do we rush out or bus it back.

If I wanted to be bused I would stay at a resort that offers only busing. The reason I chose the Poly was for the monorail access and ease of staying there.

Just another way Disney takes, takes, takes.

 

[photo_chick]

I'll preface this by saying Ive not read all 62 pages of this thread.

I just got back on Sunday and I can tell you the monorail was closing earlier than I remembered it doing on my last trip. On the 3rd after the fireworks at MK it was already shut down and I was really surprised. Many, many unhappy people were being herded onto the boats or being told they had to walk. There were many people getting very angry. The other night we were at MK during EMH hours I noticed it was closed as well.

 

[Robo]

On my upcoming trip this will affect us on 3 of the nights we decdide to do IllumiNations. MK will close either at 7 or 8pm on those nights. Which means either I rush out with the herd to catch the monorail back to the TTC and walk from there or take my time, have to get a bus back to the hotel.

The monorail will be running until at least 10PM those nights.

 

[dwheaton]

Yet another reason for me to stay offsite. Thanks Disney! Even if we do stay onsite, we always rent a car because the bus system is so bad. The monorail resorts aren't a good value.

So this doesn't affect my vacation plans. However, it shows another example of Disney giving the guests less for more money. Combining this move with the recent higher ticket prices shows that they're pinching pennies to keep their profits high and please stockholders. My guess is that this won't be the last of these types of rollbacks.

 

[JimmyV]

I totally disagree. First off all, you have nowhere near, the numbers crossing with children, that you do in Disney. Second of all, it's not safe to cross, barely lit streets, anywhere. I've traveled with children in every city you've mentioned...I just believe, it's not a good comparison. IMO

This is just silly. We are talking about crossing World Drive just below the monorail stantion. That part of World Drive is really nothing more than an access road at that point. Cars heading for the CR will have taken a right before the crosswalk and buses heading to and from the MK will have taken a left before the crosswalk. As for vehicles that would want to go straight to access the backlots, you will be crossing at night when those vehicles will have stopped running for the most part. There is an employee parking lot that empties on to World Drive. But I would not be surprised if they did not make that a "left turn only" for employees so that they would not drive on World Drive at the point where pedestrians will be crossing. Even without that change, there is simply no way that you can call World Drive at the crosswalk a busy street or compare it to a city street.

 

[mom2rtk]

I'll preface this by saying Ive not read all 62 pages of this thread.

I just got back on Sunday and I can tell you the monorail was closing earlier than I remembered it doing on my last trip. On the 3rd after the fireworks at MK it was already shut down and I was really surprised. Many, many unhappy people were being herded onto the boats or being told they had to walk. There were many people getting very angry. The other night we were at MK during EMH hours I noticed it was closed as well.

I think a previous poster said there had been an issue with the monorail specifically on the 3rd. I don't have any details beyond what that poster said, be they claimed something had fallen of the the beam (I think) and actually started a fire below???????

 

[FireDancer]

I think a previous poster said there had been an issue with the monorail specifically on the 3rd. I don't have any details beyond what that poster said, be they claimed something had fallen of the the beam (I think) and actually started a fire below???????

The July 3rd issue for the express monorail and the fire were two different instances of the same problem. A piece of the electrical system that is on the track fell off. The piece the fell on July 3rd (specifically a busbar) didn't cause a fire.

 

[photo_chick]

I think a previous poster said there had been an issue with the monorail specifically on the 3rd. I don't have any details beyond what that poster said, be they claimed something had fallen of the the beam (I think) and actually started a fire below???????

Really? I heard a CM say it was because of the noise going into the resorts late at night. I think I'd buy the fire explanation more, at least for that night, given that they had fireworks all over the park for the 3rd and 4th, rather than just around the castle.

 

[mom2rtk]

Really? I heard a CM say it was because of the noise going into the resorts late at night. I think I'd buy the fire explanation more, at least for that night, given that they had fireworks all over the park for the 3rd and 4th, rather than just around the castle.

LOL! That's yet another explanation they seem to be floating. So in that scenario, they were looking out for the folks sleeping in the monorail resorts by taking away monorail service for their other patrons still AT the parks!

I'm thinking we'll never have a straight answer on all of this!

 

[Arnir]

This isn't an either/or scenario for everyone. For some folks, the use of the monorails late at night is a big deal. For others, it isn't. For those who it affects, it is a very big deal and no one has the right to tell them it isn't. I've been surprised at how arrogant many people are about this issue - in both directions.

Of course, some folks are overreacting to the changes while some might be underreacting. I know, however, with my parents the "only 600 meter" walk would be impossible for them - so for me it would be a deal breaker. For others, probably not even a glitch on the radar screen.

I first went to Disneyland in 1976 so a lot of my expectations are based on those days, but the monorail was a huge attraction and marketed as such. Just looking at the Contemporary Resort tells you how big of a deal the monorail was when it was built.

I'll be there in August so I'll be interested in seeing how it affects my experience.

 

[BrerRabbit1114]

It just really sucks for the people staying at the Contemporary/ Bay Lake Tower cause once they leave the park their gonna have to walk back to their room from the Magic Kingdom, because there is no boat that runs from the Kingdom, neither is there a bus that rides there from the Kingdom. So them guests are gonna be tired from walking around all night, than they gotta literally walk back to their room. Any thoughts?

 

[Sandisw]

It just really sucks for the people staying at the Contemporary/ Bay Lake Tower cause once they leave the park their gonna have to walk back to their room from the Magic Kingdom, because there is no boat that runs from the Kingdom, neither is there a bus that rides there from the Kingdom. So them guests are gonna be tired from walking around all night, than they gotta literally walk back to their room. Any thoughts?

I wonder if they will end up putting in a bus to service the CR/BLT, GF, and Poly. There is already a bus to WL, I believe, so that could also add a CR/BLT stop.

I enjoy the walk but I can understand that for some people, that might be tough and I would assume that things will be adjusted if it isn't working.

 

[TinkPirateMom]

This isn't an either/or scenario for everyone. For some folks, the use of the monorails late at night is a big deal. For others, it isn't. For those who it affects, it is a very big deal and no one has the right to tell them it isn't. I've been surprised at how arrogant many people are about this issue - in both directions.

I agree! For some folks it is a bigger deal than for others (based on time of year,resort, their itinerary, and the age/capabilities of those in their party). So those that find it a big deal are venting here. Those that disagree and think it's no big deal, well then that's great too you have nothing to vent about.

I also think that most of those that are upset really aren't saying that this in and of itself is all that horrendous. They are saying that this is yet another straw that is about to break their metaphorical camel's back regarding they way they vacation to WDW.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I won't dispute everything you've said (some because it's indisputable ), but...

Sorry but using, "reliable," and any reporter is just plain funny. And, even from this person, nothing is there indicating the monorail is about to start killing masses of people if it doesn't get a couple of hours extra rest a few nights a month...

-increased prices every year

Costs go up. Expenses go up. Your supermarket is charging you more than they were five or three or two years ago. Restaurants do. Why would you expect Disney (overall) to be exempt from these increases, or to not pass them on to customers?

-food plan (itself) and how it's destroyed dining in WDW

Homogenizing menu choices also relates to costs, as well as palates.

-increases in food plan prices while taking away what you get for said money

Again, costs. The last take-away was what, four years ago? Meanwhile, the 2012 adds a refillable mug for each guest on the original dining plan (and, yes, subtracts a daily snack on the quick service plan). The former is likely in response to guest complaints - wah, it's not fair! - while IIRC the latter is in place of any increase?

-more and more ticketed events requiring guests who don't want to pay an extra $40ish to leave parks early (even on weekend nights)

Normal park hours for the MK are 9 AM to 7 PM - so they don't close early, they close on time. When this park closes to the general public later than 7, it's considered extended hours.

-less staff to support guests

Okay, there was a large downsizing throughout The Disney Company a couple of years ago. The vast majority of those released were behind the scenes, upper level management. True, most were in Florida - but frontline CMs are generally part time, few/no benefits, lower paid - i.e. not the ones costing a lot to employ, but vital to successful operations.

-continually changing package delivery to make it less and less, "magical," over the years

I know about one change - unless you're in Club Level, you need to pick up packages at your resort's gift shop. Sure, not as fun or convenient as walking into my room and finding another suitcase worth of bags, but... What 'continual changes do you mean?

-EVERYTHING seeming to be going through refurb at the same time rather than planning it all out so it's less noticeable

Sometimes you plan and plan and plan - and then something you didn't expect goes wrong. You're already at different stages of repairing, revamping, or building A, B, and C - when the floor of D collapses. You can't just automatically bring B into service so you can fix D. Stuff happens.

-those stupid recorded announcements on the busses being added rather than having the bus drivers actually engage the riders (it was a blast with many bus riders who told jokes, sang songs, gave facts, etc.)

If I remember correctly, it was done for safety. It lets the drivers concentrate on the road, while also ensuring every guest gets the same information. Once in a while, you do get the occasional 'renegade' driver - one who chats .

-increasing the prices on character meals constantly

More frequently than other menus or menu items increase?
-getting rid of lights in certain areas during Christmas time
-less stickers given out for the kids
-getting rid of the park-specific birthday buttons to replace them with the sterile (i.e. boring) buttons they do now
-increasing the prices for strollers (rentals) to their current (ridiculous) prices

-it costing extra if you want tickets which don't expire

That's the glass-half-empty point of view you could look at it - or WDW could market it - as "costing less for tickets that expire". It's what's great about Magic Your Way. You buy the features you want, not a presumed one size fits all ticket. It never does.
-standardizing the merchandise
-merchandise prices increasing and the quality (generally) falling

-Food quality ridiculously subpar throughout WDW (as a whole)
-Food prices increased to absurd levels throughout WDW (as a whole)

These two seem to be the same issues you stated earlier, just worded differently .

 

[yooperfan]

I sure do, and it's not a problem to carry them at all! Hardly more than walking around to wait on the monorail.

A walk to CR when maybe 10 other families are walking is fine, wall to wall guests at the end of the day, not so much. I still feel whether it's a long
Walk is not the point, rather whether you should have the monorail as a choice of transportation when the monorail is the selling point for overpriced rooms.
Convenience of the monorail is what they advertise, that's what you should get.

 

[Planogirl]

Sigh... This 'Disney is cutting back too much to Disney is cutting back just like everyone else' argument seems to go on and on forever. If a person believes that Disney is overdoing the cutbacks then no matter how many times someone else says that they aren't won't make a difference. It's all a matter of perception from both sides.

I agree with a PP who said that they wished that Disney themselves would provide more info. There is too much conjecture.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Really? I heard a CM say it was because of the noise going into the resorts late at night. I think I'd buy the fire explanation more, at least for that night, given that they had fireworks all over the park for the 3rd and 4th, rather than just around the castle.

That makes the least sense of any response so far. The monorail is virtually silent.