Monorails to no longer operate during Evening Extra Magic Hours

[JimmyV]

Honestly you must not "understand" that "permanent" doesn't always mean forever.

I guess I'll wait for actual 'doom and gloom' information and how its actually affecting guests before going on tirades about Disney's quality, how this can't possibly be for maintenance, and how they should just man up and pay the cost to keep it running. I guess thats why I find this thread so funny.

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.

 

[Colleen27]

Moving on to COMPLETE speculation....if p.m. EMH were done away with completely, (as they already have been for AK), do you think that it would be more or less likely that E-Ticket Nights would return? Additional revenue from a hard ticket event suggests that this could be viable.

I don't know... I could see Disney trying it, and it might go over with the first-timer market well enough to succeed. I don't see die-hards going for it simply because I don't see Disney doing it "right" (the way they used to). It won't be the E-ticket nights of the past, with a nominal charge and very limited ticket sales; I expect it'd be much more along the lines of the hard ticket parties, where there is no guarantee or even probability of lower crowds than during the day and the cost continually spirals upward.

Personally I wouldn't bite. Resort rack rates have nearly doubled since the e-ticket night days and one of the perks that is supposed to justify that high Disney resort premium is EMH. Charging for that on top of what Disney charges for on-site accommodations is past my personal tipping point.

 

[lilasmom]

I just spoke to someone in transportation at WDW and was told this change will be at least for a year. Buses will be used in between monorail resorts after the monorail closes.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I posted this on another thread here, but feel that it is worth repeating. I know I will be flamed, but when the rose colored glasses come off it makes a lot of sense.

This is my theory--Attendance will start to fall off at evening EMH--fewer attractions will be open during EMH--Disney will announce the discontinuance of EMH all together, due to low attendance .

Do you really think so? Do you truly think that the guests at four (out of 26) resorts needing to use alternate transportation is going to reduce EEMH attendance to such a great degree that WDW would cancel the perk altogether?

 

[mom2rtk]

I think most here do in fact understand that permanent does not preclude a change in plans somewhere down the line.

But for the sake of this discussion on this topic, I take it to mean that it is not intended to be for a limited duration until some sort of maintenance has been completed.

 

[mom2rtk]

Do you really think so? Do you truly think that the guests at four (out of 26) resorts needing to use alternate transportation is going to reduce EEMH attendance to such a great degree that WDW would cancel the perk altogether?

Don't forget the guests at the other 22 resorts who choose to drive their cars to the Magic Kingdom.

 

[Colleen27]

This thread is hilarious.

<Insert Speculation>
<Insert wild rant>

Everyone is getting all worked up with very little confirmed information. I'm pretty sure all that's been "confirmed" is that it will be closed an hour after regular hours. It hasn't been "confirmed" why or for how long. Lets wait to freak out until we have firm information.. I know that might be asking a lot.

I'm not sure what confirmation you're looking for. Disney doesn't confirm/announce/broadcast cutbacks. They let word leak out from CMs, travel agents, and the fan rumor mill. But every time something is cut (Lights of Winter, acrobats in China, removal of popular menu items from restaurants, etc) posters rush to Disney's defense with the idea that these cuts are all temporary. Some may be, but enough of Disney's cutbacks have been long enough in duration that there is ample support for the idea that these cuts are in fact the "new normal" that reflects where Disney's current management team is setting their customer service bar.

 

[Colleen27]

When the problem is the track or infrastructure, and is located immediately around a resort, that's the only physical location any work can be done. You can't cut out a span of track, take it backstage, repair it, and safely get it back in place. Not overnight, anyway.

I was thinking that the noise would be prohibitive for doing that sort of work near resort rooms during the one-hour-after-closing to one-hour-before-opening timeframe that the monorail will be closed each night. Construction lights can do amazing things in more isolated areas but there's likely nothing that can be done to make working on repairs of the stretch of track in the Contemporary or across the Poly grounds quiet enough not to disturb sleeping guests.

 

[chartle]

Do you really think so? Do you truly think that the guests at four (out of 26) resorts needing to use alternate transportation is going to reduce EEMH attendance to such a great degree that WDW would cancel the perk altogether?

Also those 4 resorts percentage wise are very small compared to the other resorts. Its only a total of 2,700 rooms, POP is bigger than all 4 combined.

 

[MikeandReneePlus5]

Do you really think so? Do you truly think that the guests at four (out of 26) resorts needing to use alternate transportation is going to reduce EEMH attendance to such a great degree that WDW would cancel the perk altogether?

I've been mulling this over.

It is so frustrating because we have such imperfect information. almost impossible to really know why they did it.

But I have to believe both EMH changes (no characters, reduced monorail) were considered together.

Reducing cost could be factor, and yet they spend like crazy on a greatly improved and expanded FL, completely revamed PI and a new resort (Art of Animation). The shares are at or near an all time high and the company is in growth mode. So cost cutting seems weak to me as the primary reason for making changes to EMH when there is all this other spending going on.

So then...why? Maybe it is just maintenance. It's the one thing that makes clear sense.

of course that doesn't explain the EMH character cut....sighhhhhh

 

[doconeill]

Also those 4 resorts percentage wise are very small compared to the other resorts. Its only a total of 2,700 rooms, POP is bigger than all 4 combined.

However, I would guess (and this is speculation) that at least by weighted percentages they account for a greater number of the guests at EMH because of the convenience.

 

[baler31]

Do you really think so? Do you truly think that the guests at four (out of 26) resorts needing to use alternate transportation is going to reduce EEMH attendance to such a great degree that WDW would cancel the perk altogether?

Not my comment but I do think they are trying to limit the EMH. We have been in many different seasons and overall at MK the late night EMH were very sparsely attended. We went to every MK evening EMH offered (about 10 nights over the last year)during our trips and every attraction was a walk on. We usually arrive around 11:30 and stay until 3am. So while I don't think the attendence will be reduced due to the monorial situation, in some situations I think is is not cost effective to keep the parks open some of those hours.

Conversely we avoid EMH at Epcot as it is so crowded, most likely as it is just from 9-12. I believe this is a way to reduce quite a bit of operating budget without a large number or complaints. Yes, all of us that use it and love it will be distressed but most will never know the difference.

I would not be surprised to see a reduction and maybe eventual elimination of evening EMH. Reduction springs to mind for those very late hours at MK, they have already done away with the characters (one of the things we loved having undivided attention of late at night) so I believe this may be next.

 

[TDC Nala]

Don't forget the guests at the other 22 resorts who choose to drive their cars to the Magic Kingdom.

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.

 

[mom2rtk]

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.

I don't think we'll know the real answer to that until we see it in operation. It will all have to do with how smoothly it goes, how long the wait is, etc.

I do remember when we left MVMCP at 11:30 last December, the wait just to return a locker key was so long I gave up on my $5 deposit refund. I can't imagine what it will be like for a crush like that to want to leave the park without benefit of the monorail.

Also add to the list of affected parties.......... everyone who drives to a hard-ticketed party. And anyone with a late ADR at one of the monorail resorts.

 

[TDC Nala]

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.

 

[FireDancer]

Do you really think so? Do you truly think that the guests at four (out of 26) resorts needing to use alternate transportation is going to reduce EEMH attendance to such a great degree that WDW would cancel the perk altogether?

4? I'm thinking 2. If I'm staying at the Contemporary I'm walking to and from MK no matter when I go. Unless you are handicapped (or whatever nonsense PC term is used now) I think that is the best option no matter what time of day or year you go. And I'm not sure what the 4th park is, Wilderness Lodge?

 

[TDC Nala]

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

 

[FireDancer]

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

Maybe, I would walk from there too though. This is especially true when you consider the difference in time between the short walk and going the long way around the resort monorail line.

 

[mom2rtk]

there are still plenty of guests who will ride the bus.

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.

 

[mom2rtk]

4? I'm thinking 2. If I'm staying at the Contemporary I'm walking to and from MK no matter when I go. Unless you are handicapped (or whatever nonsense PC term is used now) I think that is the best option no matter what time of day or year you go. And I'm not sure what the 4th park is, Wilderness Lodge?

That might work for you, or for my son, who is a distance runner. For me? I did that walk to the Contemporary after a long day in the parks once. It was at least 20 miles.... wasn't it????