Monorails to no longer operate during Evening Extra Magic Hours

[GadgetRick]

Isn't that what a lot of the critics of this change doing - predicting that Disney will have lots more empty rooms as a result of this small change? If anything, that's far more of a stretch than anything Firedancer said.

Again, I have no idea what you're arguing about. I certainly have not said anything about Disney having more rooms available, making less money, etc. as a result of this change. You certainly do like to bicker...even when someone isn't even bickering in return....

 

[BLTLDZ]

Bottom line: THIS STINKS!!!!!!!!!!!
I am really upset about this...not to sound silly, but of all thechanges , A.K.A . "cut backs" recently, this one is the ONLY one that I can't wrap my head around

I have a gut feeling, (or maybe it's just wishful thinking), that this change won't last...at least not the way they are aiming for....How could it? Or maybe I am being naiive...at any rate, this gives me a headache!!

 

[crostorfer]

I still say this has less to do with maintenance and cost cutting, and more to do with the fact that the construction walls for the GF DVC have now been put up at the Grand Floridian between their pool and the Wedding Pavillion, with the construction walls extending to all the way under the monorail, and the rumor that the Poly is in such bad shape that they are going to close it and completely rebuild it next year after the AoA opens.

I think the timing is suspect, and I think they are making the monorail resorts "less accessible" and "less attractive" for a reason. Purely speculation, but it's what I, personally, am leaning towards.

 

[MarieA]

Disney's bottom line, no longer has room for Magic. I think, TIIC have lost sight of what set Disney, above the rest. They have a different mindset, resulting in Disney's slide, down that slippery slope, and are becoming **gulp** generic and average.

I agree with you 100%. We have been vacationing at WDW for more than 25 years and there has been a change (not for the better) over the years. The meal plan packages have gotten much more expensive and have been decontented over the past 5 or so years. My DH and I would never dream of not having a meal plan at WDW but for our upcoming trip in May 2012 we will pay OOP.

This monorail issue is just another example of Disney scaling back services. We have stayed at the Contemporary many times in the past. Not having the monorail service on nights where the park closes early would affect our vacation as we used it many times when we had a late ADR.

When we first purchased our DVC we traveled to WDW twice a year. We always commented about how Disney would go above an beyond to make our vacation more enjoyable. I am sad that things have changed so drastically over the past few years. While we still love WDW and will continue to vacation there once a year our second vacation will now be somewhere else. We have recently begun to cruise (not on the WDW cruise line) because it is definitely a better value overall then going to WDW (even when using DVC).

 

[BLTLDZ]

Does anyone think there is any hope to get some of the lost magic back?
Or do you think Disney is really going down the slope?

 

[JimmyV]

We drive our car to the parks. My husband refuses to take the busses after a horrible vacation at POR several years ago(long story). I usually take the busses when I go to the parks without him as I am not crazy about driving in Orlando, so yes there are resort guests that take their car to the parks. Not everyone wants to eat on property either, think declining quality and increasing prices. We have started our day at MK and ended it at Epcot, and visa versa, on many occasions and did not move our car, we just jumped on the monorail.

No one is doubting that you (and many others) did this under the old system The monorail schedule basically urged you to do this. But under the new system, you would now move your car from one park to the next if you refuse to get on a bus. And if you don't mind getting on buses, then you use the monorail in the morning and bus at night. But leaving your car at the TTC only to have to reclaim in (by bus) late at night has got to be the worst possible option.

 

[Aliceacc]

Disney's bottom line, no longer has room for Magic. I think, TIIC have lost sight of what set Disney, above the rest. They have a different mindset, resulting in Disney's slide, down that slippery slope, and are becoming **gulp** generic and average.

I don't see that at all.

Maybe it's just that I've only been there 5 or 6 times. Or because researching Disney gave me relief from thinking about some scary medical issues a few years ago-- it really did become my "happy place."

But when I go to a Six Flags or other park, I always find myself comparing it to Disney, and Disney always comes out miles ahead.

I still find plenty of magic in Disney.

But I do realize that it's not in business to make me happy or to spread magic. It's a company that's in business to make money. And that every single decision, no matter how small, MUST be made with that in mind.

We've all seen way too many businesses shut down over the past few years because they were unwilling or unable to make the unpopular choices. I don't know of a single organization that hasn't had to cut back in some way.

So if this decision helps Disney keep people employed, so be it. Yes, some people may declare "Enough is enough" and flee to other more magical vacation destinations. But not us, and not lots of the people we know.

 

[lugnut33]

Jeesh, there sure is a lot of gloom and doom in this thread.

I think a lot of people are over-reacting to this announcement. I really doubt many people will even notice the change. If maintenance is really the reason, the other option would have been to shut the monorail down for 4-6 months to refurb it completely. However, I bet that would have been met with louder howls than we are hearing now.

There is still a lot at Disney to be happy with. They are spending and have spent a lot of money refurbing and building areas in California and Florida. Between the two it has to be almost 2 billion dollars, that's a lot of money that they have spent for guest enjoyment. Disney does NOT have unlimited dollars.

While indeed there are some areas that have seen cutbacks, especially food service, it has allowed us to go out and explore the area around WDW.

 

[fbb]

There is clearly a lot of hyperbole being thrown around - double-hyperbole really because folks are even complaining about being called-out on posting hyperbole.

Good points all. I think some of the undercurrent is a perception that Disney should be "breaking even" on WDW - that its revenues should be applied toward its operating costs, and that the two should therefore reflect each other perfectly. Enhancements (like the aforementioned adding of Expedition Everest) are, by some, assumed to be gifts from some external source, rather than funded from theme park revenues. And more alien than that seems to be the idea that the parks - the whole company - actually exists to serve the best financial interests of its owners, above all else. That fiduciary obligation is too-often ignored.

Disney should study why the reaction to this has been so logically inappropriate and disproportionally passionate.

The terms 'tipping point' and 'declining by degrees' are really loud with this one. A good portion of the message board communities seem to have realized all at once that we are not a favored demographic.

 

[mom2rtk]

Jeesh, there sure is a lot of gloom and doom in this thread.

I think a lot of people are over-reacting to this announcement. I really doubt many people will even notice the change. If maintenance is really the reason, the other option would have been to shut the monorail down for 4-6 months to refurb it completely. However, I bet that would have been met with louder howls than we are hearing now.

There is still a lot at Disney to be happy with. They are spending and have spent a lot of money refurbing and building areas in California and Florida. Between the two it has to be almost 2 billion dollars, that's a lot of money that they have spent for guest enjoyment. Disney does NOT have unlimited dollars.

While indeed there are some areas that have seen cutbacks, especially food service, it has allowed us to go out and explore the area around WDW.

Am I the only one thinking that maybe before embarking on the huge Fantasyland Expansion, maybe they should have considered replacing some monorails? Or heck, maybe even just the ONE they lost in the crash 2 YEARS ago?

 

[angelmav]

I don't see that at all.

Maybe it's just that I've only been there 5 or 6 times. Or because researching Disney gave me relief from thinking about some scary medical issues a few years ago-- it really did become my "happy place."

But when I go to a Six Flags or other park, I always find myself comparing it to Disney, and Disney always comes out miles ahead.

I still find plenty of magic in Disney.

But I do realize that it's not in business to make me happy or to spread magic. It's a company that's in business to make money. And that every single decision, no matter how small, MUST be made with that in mind.

We've all seen way too many businesses shut down over the past few years because they were unwilling or unable to make the unpopular choices. I don't know of a single organization that hasn't had to cut back in some way.

So if this decision helps Disney keep people employed, so be it. Yes, some people may declare "Enough is enough" and flee to other more magical vacation destinations. But not us, and not lots of the people we know.

It doesnt matter what issue comes up, I could find this response pretty much verbatim every time Disney cuts something else.

I would think at some point though, there has to be an effect that is felt. As to other business, I dont see too many charging more and giving less (quite the opposite in this economy).

I blame a downward trend that can be traced back to current management taking over. Seems like they have made a lot of decisions that have resulted in someone needing to pull out said response to back them up.

 

[lugnut33]

Am I the only one thinking that maybe before embarking on the huge Fantasyland Expansion, maybe they should have considered replacing some monorails? Or heck, maybe even just the ONE they lost in the crash 2 YEARS ago?

Really? You'd rather have a monorail rather than a Fantasyland expansion?

I don't get that at all. More rides at the park = more guest dispersion = lower wait times on all rides.

Besides, we now get to see all the great theming and fun that Imagineering has come up with. You don't get any of that with a Monorail.

 

[Aliceacc]

I didn't "pull it out"--I have no vested interest in Disney. I'm not a stockholder or an employee. If and when they were no longer meeting my vacation needs or desires, they would no longer be getting my money.

But changing the monorail schedule simply isn't that big a deal to my family. If it were, I would change resorts or change vacation plans.

And while a lot of people with a long disney history may agree with you, I'm fairly sure there are lots and lots of people like me who still see lots to love about Disney.

As to the "verbatim" part-- I spent lots and lots and lots of sleepless nights on the Dis, researching vacations, instead of on a medical site researching breast cancer. If there are all those other people who did the exact same thing, then perhaps we've already found the magic that others are missing. "Magic" -- like so many things in life-- is relative

 

[mom2rtk]

Really? You'd rather have a monorail rather than a Fantasyland expansion?

I don't get that at all. More rides at the park = more guest dispersion = lower wait times on all rides.

Besides, we now get to see all the great theming and fun that Imagineering has come up with. You don't get any of that with a Monorail.

I didn't say either/or. I said before. Meaning that if the monorail is really in THAT bad a shape, they should have addressed the safety issue first. Sort of like eating your vegetables before getting dessert.

 

[tlenzendorf]

Interesting. How do we get from Ep after Illuminations to MK EMH now? I'm thinking since it's not EMH after Illumination ride the monorail to the Contemporary and then walk to MK?

 

[lugnut33]

I didn't say either/or. I said before. Meaning that if the monorail is really in THAT bad a shape, they should have addressed the safety issue first. Sort of like eating your vegetables before getting dessert.

I wouldn't put the monorail in front of new rides and areas. Just my opinion. The monorail is nice, but the parks are more important.

Maybe now is that time for maintenance to the monorails. No matter what they did not everybody was going to be happy. Sort of like taking down Star Tours for a refurb, people complained about that also. I for one am thankful for the updated ride.

 

[JimmyV]

Interesting. How do we get from Ep after Illuminations to MK EMH now? I'm thinking since it's not EMH after Illumination ride the monorail to the Contemporary and then walk to MK?

Monorail from Epcot to TTC. Ferry from TTC to MK. Bus back to your resort at the end of your evening.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Interesting. How do we get from Ep after Illuminations to MK EMH now? I'm thinking since it's not EMH after Illumination ride the monorail to the Contemporary and then walk to MK?

Very likely (based on information posted by a WDW bus driver on this or a similar thread) you would take a bus directly from Epcot to the Contemporary.

 

[Cinders Mum]

Interesting. How do we get from Ep after Illuminations to MK EMH now? I'm thinking since it's not EMH after Illumination ride the monorail to the Contemporary and then walk to MK?

I'd say that depends on what time MK is scheduled to close that particular night. You may still find that the MK monorails are still operational, depending on what time you arrive at the TTC after illuminations.

 

[kaytieeldr]

But why? I mean, other than the people making it seem like the monorail is a ticking timebomb, there hasn't been a lot to indicate this is the actual reason the change has been made. As others have said, if it were for maintenance a) Disney would have been touting it--ok they finally said something about it in an article but they're hardly saying that's the reason for the change, b) why would they do this in the middle of one of the busiest times of the year while they (typically) schedule general maintenance for less busy times of the year, and c) how bad could it really be if they're only shutting it down for this amount of time????

Okay. A) My employer (the company) makes changes that affect customers and or employees. They inform us of these changes but not necessarily the reason behind them. That's their right. In this case, WDW probably provided the reason to the Orlando Sentinel reporter because, well, he asked . Good at his job.
B) Just guessing, but - this is when it needed to be done? I think that same article pointed out that with some EMH running until 3AM, and it taking 90 minutes to both cycle down and cycle up the system, some nights [during the summer*] the monorail is only 'down' for an hour.
C) Given a choice between shutting down the monorail system at a fairly regular time every day, and shutting it down completely for any period of time, which would you choose? You've seen the anger, horror, and panic here over two hour cuts two or three nights a week.

*added by me based on WDW knowledge/experience, not stated in article