Monorails to no longer operate during Evening Extra Magic Hours

[GadgetRick]

I was implying that on more than one occasion (at least two possible more) parts have fallen off the monorail or the track infrastructure while it was in operation. On at least one occasion that caused the monorail to need evacuation and on at least one (and it seems more from the person I heard it from) occasion a part fell off and started a fire on property.

I never said or implied it happens every day but if we know about these two instances there are surely more we don't know about.

Obviously things need maintenance but you made it sound as if these things are literally falling apart which, they are not. You cite 2 examples out of how many millions of miles of operation? Sure, there are probably more but come on, let's not make this bigger than it actually is.

If they're really this unsafe then they shouldn't be running at all, which leads me to believe they really aren't unsafe (or any less safe than they've ever been). Having something happen because they were unsafe would be more than a PR nightmare for Disney.

 

[traylorc]

Obviously things need maintenance but you made it sound as if these things are literally falling apart which, they are not. You cite 2 examples out of how many millions of miles of operation? Sure, there are probably more but come on, let's not make this bigger than it actually is.

If they're really this unsafe then they shouldn't be running at all, which leads me to believe they really aren't unsafe (or any less safe than they've ever been). Having something happen because they were unsafe would be more than a PR nightmare for Disney.

 

[mickeygirl14]

I have found Jason to be extremely reliable so I'm glad he wrote the article.

As of now that means it is premature to worry about the monorail not operating during the hard ticket parties.

It's not premature to worry about for this of us who were planning on attending some of those earlier MNSSHP nights. We've either already bought tix or are planning to in the very near future.

 

[GeorgiaHoo]

The current schedule is the later of:

1. 2 hours after MK regular close
2. 90 minutes after Epcot close
3. 11 p.m.

The Epcot close is moot, because Epcot is never open later than 9:30, except NYE and maybe 7/4.

For MK EMH, service continues until the park clears of guests. Nothing is mentioned in the current schedule about Epcot EMH.

So to sum up, it's 2 hours after MK closes, but on nights when MK closes before 9, it's until 11 p.m.

I'm sort of out of the loop on the current conversation, but I'm pretty certain when we were at Disney last February, Epcot was open until midnight on an EMH.

 

[joelkfla]

Here's the 411 on nighttime bus service from Epcot to the monorail resorts:

One bus route will serve TTC & CR.

A separate route will serve Poly & GF.

The buses will load in Load Zone 4, and new Load Zone 3 (which is currently just a rope queue on the sidewalk; I don't know whether there are plans to shelter it from the weather.)

To make room, the WL/FtW bus has moved to LZ 9, and the DHS bus now loads in the charter bus lot.

 

[doconeill]

Thanks .

In that case, I wonder how they would handle people with mobility issues or ones who just don't feel like walking, even though the walk isn't too bad at all. Maybe they would add it on to the WL boat launch?

Doesn't WL and CR already share the boat launch? Or they have their own, but I don't know if that one has accessible ramps...

 

[morethananyonex]

Doesn't WL and CR already share the boat launch? Or they have their own, but I don't know if that one has accessible ramps...

I thought they didn't have a boat from the MK, but I could be wrong, we usually stay at the Epcot resorts. I know that there is a boat that goes between CR and WL though, it just isn't the same one that goes to MK from WL.

 

[racefanof88]

The timing of this is very bad for a lot of people. We are booked for December 2-9, with ADRs booked at 180 days out, and really not much hope of canceling these and getting anything else. Disney makes this announcement two days before roll out, yet we aren't supposed to be upset about it? There will be a lot of people, who don't read these forums, who will be very affected. Think about the people who found this out today, after they were already at Disney. Or worse yet, those that will find it out tonight when they go to get on the monorail at Epcot and it isn't running. We have stayed in the park an hour after closing before and no one was ushering us out. People have made plans for MNSSHP and paid extra for this event only to find out that the transportation they depended on is now not going to be running? Last year at MVMCP it was EXTREMELY cold and the idea of riding on the ferry would have been a deal breaker, as it is for this year. I had budgeted the cost of the tickets in for this year, but now I won't be buying them. Will we still go to Disney in December? Not sure, with the monorail being unsafe I'm not sure I want to be there, especially if parts are falling off and I have to walk under the track!!

 

[doconeill]

I thought they didn't have a boat from the MK, but I could be wrong, we usually stay at the Epcot resorts. I know that there is a boat that goes between CR and WL though, it just isn't the same one that goes to MK from WL.

Ah yes, you are correct...I was mis-remembering.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

I thought they didn't have a boat from the MK, but I could be wrong, we usually stay at the Epcot resorts. I know that there is a boat that goes between CR and WL though, it just isn't the same one that goes to MK from WL.

The Contemporary and Wilderness Lodge share a different boat which also stops at the Wilderness Lodge, however it doesn't stop at the Magic Kingdom.

 

[FireDancer]

Obviously things need maintenance but you made it sound as if these things are literally falling apart which, they are not. You cite 2 examples out of how many millions of miles of operation? Sure, there are probably more but come on, let's not make this bigger than it actually is.

If they're really this unsafe then they shouldn't be running at all, which leads me to believe they really aren't unsafe (or any less safe than they've ever been). Having something happen because they were unsafe would be more than a PR nightmare for Disney.

But those two examples are precursors to a bigger problem. Parts don't start to fall off, even only two, and then suddenly stop. It is when you have had one or two incidents that you make adjustments and act, not after the problem escalates. Preventative maintenance has to be done to keep the monorail system from getting to a state that makes them unsafe for operation and I don't think that state is all that far off considering their age and their increased downtime. Both of these things were echoed in Jason's article.

Widening the time window for maintenance in the fashion they did has two advantages. First, it means the trains run less hours and that helps keep some additional wear and tear off of them. Second, it gives them more time to make the most needed repairs so that the trains don't get any worse.

It is very possible that if they didn't do this now then in the future (maybe a year, maybe 2, or maybe a month) the trains would reach a point at which they were unsafe for guests and Disney instead of limiting the hours a little like they did says "Due to the state of our monorail system we will be closing them completely for an indefinite amount of time to perform the needed maintenance"

Regardless, there will be transportation alternatives and just like when the roads at home are under construction they might be less convenient but they'll get you there. Such is life and I'm not going to let it alter my vacation plans if I was planning on going. I have no problem going with the flow and adjusting to the new reality.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Here's the 411 on nighttime bus service from Epcot to the monorail resorts:

One bus route will serve TTC & CR.

A separate route will serve Poly & GF.

The buses will load in Load Zone 4, and new Load Zone 3 (which is currently just a rope queue on the sidewalk; I don't know whether there are plans to shelter it from the weather.)

To make room, the WL/FtW bus has moved to LZ 9, and the DHS bus now loads in the charter bus lot.

Why would the Contemporary need to share with TTC, because I don't see a reason why the bus needs to stop there.

 

[morethananyonex]

The Contemporary and Wilderness Lodge share a different boat which also stops at the Wilderness Lodge, however it doesn't stop at the Magic Kingdom.

That's what I thought, and that makes me wonder if they would add the Contemporary onto the WL/MK boat when the monorail isn't running because a Contemporary bus seems so impractical.

Why would the Contemporary need to share with TTC, because I don't see a reason why the bus needs to stop there.

Probably because of people who potentially parked at the TTC and monorailed over to Epcot for EMH, and otherwise would have no way to get back because of the monorail closure.

 

[Traveliz]

Why would the Contemporary need to share with TTC, because I don't see a reason why the bus needs to stop there.

This is coming from Epcot - so there is a bus taking Epcot guests back to the Contemporary and Epcot guests back to the TTC (perhaps they parked there earlier in the day?)

Liz

 

[SaraJayne]

I have found Jason to be extremely reliable so I'm glad he wrote the article.

The two important things I took out of it:



Kind of what I figured. Most people don't have cars that old and if they do they probably spend quite a bit of time maintaining it.



As of now that means it is premature to worry about the monorail not operating during the hard ticket parties.

Which is code for "cost cutting measure". You think Disney is going to come out and say "yup, we sure are cutting back services. Too bad for you!"

Yeah, me either.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Actually, yes I do. Waiting on a bus, in 100+ degree heat index, with lighting striking all around, under a tin roof at Epcot for over an hour, yeah I think it will serious cause people to rethink the benefit of EMHs and staying on Disney property. During peak times, like now, it is easy to wait more than an hour for a bus especially if there are ECVs and wheelchairs to be loaded/unloaded. Last December, we were staying at Pop and the bus was so packed people were falling on each other because no one wanted to wait for the next bus. Everyone was cold and tired after EMHs at Epcot. I know the poor person sitting across from me had bruises due to the drunk guy with the stroller hitting him, over, and over, and over, because the bus driver thought he was Richard Petty .

I don't see why. First, lightning at night in Florida after the change is no more likely than lightning in Florida at night before the change - so even on the rare occasions that does occur, it will only affect the thinking of the guests at three/four properties. The guests at the other 22 resorts have always walked to/waited under those metal roofs.
And, most-affected by long waits due to ECV/wheelchairs loading and unloading on buses are other such Guests. I'm aware the monorail resort Guests wouldn't know this, but at particularly busy times two or three buses often 'piggyback' for the larger/busier resorts. Guests on foot can board any of the available buses; Guests on wheels can only board the one at the curb.

 

[JimmyV]

Why would the Contemporary need to share with TTC, because I don't see a reason why the bus needs to stop there.

Probably because of people who potentially parked at the TTC and monorailed over to Epcot for EMH, and otherwise would have no way to get back because of the monorail closure.

This is coming from Epcot - so there is a bus taking Epcot guests back to the Contemporary and Epcot guests back to the TTC (perhaps they parked there earlier in the day?)Liz

Well, at first glance this does seem logical, and correct. But EMHs are for resort guests only. So if your plan for the day is to go to the MK during the day, and then to Epcot for EMH knowing that the monorail will stop working at 10:00 p.m., you'd have to be pretty stubborn to have driven to the TTC to start your day. Obviously, if you were an off-site guest you would do it that way. (Unless you are a minister who parked at a water park and took a bus......nevermind). But if you are a resort guest and this was your itinerary, you would take a bus to the MK in the morning (or monorail if you were at one of those resorts) and then a bus back to your home resort when Epcot closed. In other words, if you are staying at All-Star, you bus to MK, monorail to Epcot and bus from Epcot back to All-Star. Why on earth would you drive to TTC, then monorail to Epcot, only to have to bus back to TTC then drive back to All-Star? I mean, you could. But who would? People who hate buses? Well, sorry. They are going to have to get on a bus whether they like it or not. Or else skip EMH. So if you have to take a bus, why make it extra complicated by driving to the TTC?

Edit to add: I suppose there could be off-site guests with late ADRs at Epcot who miss the last monorail and need to get to TTC. But tht number should be few. So CR guests won't have to share with too many TTC people, I would think.

 

[squirrel]

I wonder how many people are now switching resorts. The Contemporary, must be getting a lot more reservations.

 

[morethananyonex]

Well, at first glance this does seem logical, and correct. But EMHs are for resort guests only. So if your plan for the day is to go to the MK during the day, and then to Epcot for EMH knowing that the monorail will stop working at 10:00 p.m., you'd have to be pretty stubborn to have driven to the TTC to start your day. Obviously, if you were an off-site guest you would do it that way. (Unless you are a minister who parked at a water park and took a bus......nevermind). But if you are a resort guest and this was your itinerary, you would take a bus to the MK (or monorail if you were at one of those resorts) and then a bus back to your home resort when Epcot closed. In other words, if you are staying at All-Star, you bus to MK and bus from Epcot. Why on earth would you drive to TTC, then monorail to Epcot, only to have to bus back to TTC then drive back to All-Star? I mean, you could. But who would? People who hate buses? Well, sorry. They are going to have to get on a bus whether they like it or not. Or else skip EMH. So if you have to take a bus, why make it extra complicated by driving to the TTC?

That would make sense except there are many people who don't plan their days, and might decide to go to EMH on a whim after driving to the MK that morning, resort guests do drive to all 4 parks. Who knows what their reasoning is for driving, that doesn't matter. What does matter is if Disney allows it and at least 1 person does it, they're going to have to compensate for the lack of monorail and bus people back there.

IMO Contemporary wins with that one, as I would assume that more people would be using the Poly/GF bus then the Contemporary/TTC one.

 

[JimmyV]

That would make sense except there are many people who don't plan their days, and might decide to go to EMH on a whim after driving to the MK that morning, resort guests do drive to all 4 parks. Who knows what their reasoning is for driving, that doesn't matter. What does matter is if Disney allows it and at least 1 person does it, they're going to have to compensate for the lack of monorail and bus people back there.

IMO Contemporary wins with that one, as I would assume that more people would be using the Poly/GF bus then the Contemporary/TTC one.

Agreed. I would think that the number of people going back to the TTC late at night should be negligible. They would have to be resort guests, and resort guests who did not plan very well at that.