Monorails to no longer operate during Evening Extra Magic Hours

[Traveliz]

But you still have to go through the MK gates, right? So they'd be taking your word for it and letting you go through without paying? How do they know people aren't just saying that and then going straight to park?

Well yes you do have to go through those gates and yes they are taking your word for it. If you have done it before you would likely be at the far right booths since the road veers off that way to go to the resorts - the rest of the lanes head toward the parking lot. So if you don't know what you are doing and are toward the left of the toll booths you will be waiting and darting across lanes to get where you are going and I suppose the CMs could see that.

 

[mikkiwikki]

I dont do EMH...so no worries.!

 

[doconeill]

Your argument is getting pretty close to self-defining.

Since there is clearly a disagreement about this, defer to Disney:

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/hotels/?sortBy=nG:hasResortCategoryFacet&fv_78513=on

Even the Wilderness Lodge is deluxe. It just is. These resorts are sold and marketed together, by the people who have the most incentive to differentiate between them, to get greater revenues from those resorts that would allegedly be significant "stepped above" the rest. They don't.

PLEASE tell me where I'm stating that Disney does not classify WL as a Deluxe...because I didn't. I said they are often called by people (NOT Disney) as "modeluxe" because the don't hold the same amenities of others in their class, and have cheaper rates.

The monorail resorts are the most expensive at Disney. That's the distinction. There's no argument.

EXACTLY. Monorail resorts are more expensive than Epcot resorts which are more expensive than AK/WL. Standard view rooms at AK/WL are the same rate. Clearly they are in a different class as far a Disney is concerned but not in a different marketing class.

 

[Zippa D Doodah]

PLEASE tell me where I'm stating that Disney does not classify WL as a Deluxe...because I didn't. I said they are often called by people (NOT Disney) as "modeluxe" because the don't hold the same amenities of others in their class, and have cheaper rates.




EXACTLY. Monorail resorts are more expensive than Epcot resorts which are more expensive than AK/WL. Standard view rooms at AK/WL are the same rate. Clearly they are in a different class as far a Disney is concerned but not in a different marketing class.

I think most of us are clear about your assertion. But as to pleasing ALL who have posted on this thread... um, maybe it would be best to let it go unless you are ready to have your blood pressure raised a few points.

 

[TLSnell1981]

With all due respect I would tend to believe what has been written as a internal memo by the transportation department rather than someone on a phone.

The memo which is available on the hub has specific questions and answers. One of the questions is

Is this change permanent, the answer is YES

Not saying they lied, WDW is just such a huge place and has so much going on, its hard to get everyone on the same page. It's hard enough to communicate information within each department. There are just too many cases with incorrect phone information being given, many are very well documented on here.

You can call Disney, 5 times, ask the same question and get 5 different answers.

Unfortunately, I believe, the memo is correct.

 

[RichmondTiggerFan]

Here's my .02 on this subject:

If the monorails not operating during EMH has discouraged you from booking a 'monorail' resort OR you are considering moving a reservation from a monorail resort to a 'non-monorail' resort, let Disney know about it. I don't know if it will do any good, but if they get a number of complaints about this change, they may be forced to revisit it.

 

[doconeill]

I think most of us are clear about your assertion. But as to pleasing ALL who have posted on this thread... um, maybe it would be best to let it go unless you are ready to have your blood pressure raised a few points.

OK, my blood pressure is fine (at least in relation to these boards... )

As for the "temporary vs. permanent" argument...Disney has said in the internal memo that it is permanent. That is as permanent as it can be. Better to say it is an "operational change", and will continue until they deem otherwise.

 

[Lou Holtz]

Last December on a MVMCP night, we left the park at seven (weren't doing the party) and walked to the Contemporary to have dinner. After that, we shopped for a bit and around nine got on the monorail. I noticed that my AP was lost, so we went the entire route back to MK, so I could go ahead and get that replaced right away. The monorail was full with people still heading to the party at that point from the different resorts. I can't imagine them shutting down that transportation for the party. A huge number of people use the monorails all throughout those nights.

 

[doconeill]

Last December on a MVMCP night, we left the park at seven (weren't doing the party) and walked to the Contemporary to have dinner. After that, we shopped for a bit and around nine got on the monorail. I noticed that my AP was lost, so we went the entire route back to MK, so I could go ahead and get that replaced right away. The monorail was full with people still heading to the party at that point from the different resorts. I can't imagine them shutting down that transportation for the party. A huge number of people use the monorails all throughout those nights.

I remember the same at the GF. We ate dinner at the Poly, and left there close to if not after 7, and went to the GF for a bit. I had to take my DFiL back to the TTC (he had an ECV) so we could get back to the car to drive him back to the resort), and we had to wait for the third monorail before we made it on. LOTS of people heading to the party on the resort line. Now, not all of them were from the GF - we had to wait because of the people already on the train, and they could have been coming from the Poly or CR - or even the TTC taking what may have been the shorter line to the resort monorail than the express. I don't have a way to know.

 

[TLSnell1981]

Here's my .02 on this subject:

If the monorails not operating during EMH has discouraged you from booking a 'monorail' resort OR you are considering moving a reservation from a monorail resort to a 'non-monorail' resort, let Disney know about it. I don't know if it will do any good, but if they get a number of complaints about this change, they may be forced to revisit it.

This doesn't JUST affect monorail resort guests. This....is what's getting lost in this discussion. It affects EVERY guest, that participates in EMH, or Parties...ALL monorails will shut down.

 

[kaytieeldr]

But you still have to go through the MK gates, right? So they'd be taking your word for it and letting you go through without paying? How do they know people aren't just saying that and then going straight to park?

Well yes you do have to go through those gates and yes they are taking your word for it. If you have done it before you would likely be at the far right booths since the road veers off that way to go to the resorts - the rest of the lanes head toward the parking lot. So if you don't know what you are doing and are toward the left of the toll booths you will be waiting and darting across lanes to get where you are going and I suppose the CMs could see that.

And when you got to the parking iot without a valid parking permit for that day (issued by the resort if staying onsite or by a CM at the entrance if you paid or were exempt), you'd be sent back out of the lot with directions how to get back in - after paying the parking fee.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Take the bus.

That is what happened at DHS during a lightning storm one night. They shut down the boats and brought in buses to take guests to the Epcot resorts. Hopefully this will be handled better because someone was telling guests to report to the wrong bus stop.

In August 2010 I was on the boat from Hollywood Studios back to the Boardwalk Inn during a severe thunder storm and as we were getting to the Swan/Dolphin the captain said we would need to go right to the Yacht Club/Beach Club because there was a threat of a lightning storm and the docks were taken with others boats at the Swan/Dolphin. We were then told the boat service would be stopping during this time and it could take 20 minutes or even 2 hours until they were allowed to resume, however if we wanted to we could leave the boat and walk to our destination. Well I decided to walk back to the Boardwalk Inn and even though I got really soaked, not once did I see any lightning.

 

[momatater]

Earlier this morning, I sent off an email with my questions about the monorail to this address.

I wrote them last night. I'm pretty upset to be paying for the GF and not have the monorail to use at night! Parks close early in September and we always are going somewhere. Also, while we are there, there is 2 NOJ nights, 2 MNSSHP (which we are going to one), a special event so the MK closes at 6pm and 1 EEMH at both Epcot and MK. So, out of our 9 nights there, 4 nights the monorail will stop running at 8, 1 night at 7, 1 night at 10, EEMH (ends at 12am). So on the night of EMH and MNSSHP, we will have to find another way back to the resort. Rediculous. Thinking we may stay off property at the JW and hire a car service to drive us around. Oh, and eat off property at much better restaurants with better food!

I stay at the Polynesian about twenty nights a year, and, like many, avoid EMH. However, I see this move as chipping away at the romance and adventure that the resort holds in my mind, and I'm really considering trying out the Waldorf. I didn't expect to feel this way, but I do.

I feel exactly the same way! Takes away a lot of the appeal!

 

[Traveliz]

And when you got to the parking iot without a valid parking permit for that day (issued by the resort if staying onsite or by a CM at the entrance if you paid or were exempt), you'd be sent back out of the lot with directions how to get back in - after paying the parking fee.

But if you go to the parking lot (during the regular day...not talking parties..so not sure if you are talking specifically about those) and enter without paying because you have used a Resort Key, CM ID, or AP you will not have any valid parking permit for the day...they just wave you on through to park. Not that this has anything to do with anything but that is how they do it so perhaps at the parties the CMs would see a paid pass as you are entering to park but during the day if you enter with an ID or AP you don't have that in your windshield.

Liz

 

[Lou Holtz]

And when you got to the parking iot without a valid parking permit for that day (issued by the resort if staying onsite or by a CM at the entrance if you paid or were exempt), you'd be sent back out of the lot with directions how to get back in - after paying the parking fee.

I've never been given a parking permit to park. They just waive you through.

 

[kaytieeldr]

So on the night of EMH and MNSSHP, we will have to find another way back to the resort.

Are you sure? It appears that WDW will be providing boat (where applicable) and bus transportation when the monorail closes.

 

[momatater]

Are you sure? It appears that WDW will be providing boat (where applicable) and bus transportation when the monorail closes.

Well, for us we always take the monorail at night, so yes, I'm sure I will need to find "another way" to get back to the GF!

 

[morethananyonex]

Do I like this? Not at all, but from a logical standpoint I can definitely see why they're doing it.

People complain that Disney does more in recent years that guests can "see" when they didn't used to (maintenance and construction things), and also about how care of the parks has decreased from what it was like in the past. Correct me if I'm wrong, but Disney has had a much shorter period of downtime during the night in recent years thanks to EMH. Some nights MK would close at 3 only to open again at 9 the next day (but ADRs would be starting at 8). People aren't kicked out right at 3, so that leaves 4 hours of downtime if we're being REALLY generous. It's even worse for the transportation to the MK, I would assume the monorails got maybe 3 hours of downtime on those kind of nights. This doesn't really surprise me, and TBH neither would elimination of evening EMH.

If Disney is truly going to use the extra hours to better maintain the monorail then I'm all for it, however I'm still not entirely convinced this isn't just an attempt to slow down the decay of the system instead of maintaining it.

 

[Liz]

I had to stop and think no, this isn't April Fools day. Wow, I can't believe when this idea was suggested in a meeting that everyone agreed it was a good idea.

 

[Traveliz]

I had to stop and think no, this isn't April Fools day. Wow, I can't believe when this idea was suggested in a meeting that everyone agreed it was a good idea.

HAHA that is exactly what I thought when I first read it yesterday morning. It was the first thread of the day and I thought...ok who is being the jokester now. Once I realized the info was coming from the Hub I knew it wasn't just a rumor but it really took me by surprise.

Liz