Monorails to no longer operate during Evening Extra Magic Hours

[lugnut33]

One problem is... THIS is the boat.
(I'm not kidding.)

MK>GF>Poly>MK Shuttle Boat-(Photo: Brian Bennett)

Maybe they'll add in the old Swan Boats... and Mike Fink's Keel Boats?

 

[mcd2745]

I think it's illogical that I should be upset about losing a service I never used anyway.

But I admit that I am upset about it, moreso than when other things (which I used) were cut.

I think you're right, that many of us consider the monorail untouchable, which is something that's hard to measure when you're making decisions based on an income statement or spreadsheet.

I agree. The monorail is iconic. I expect it to always be there for me, whether I need it or not--like a parent.

However, if Disney explains to me that it's simply for maintenance, I can get behind that, even if the change lasts for a year or so. Sometimes parents need a vacation (or a little maintenance) now and then, too. Based on the news coming out now, I think it's all going to be okay.

Definitiely an emotional element to all these reactions. But, then again, it's telling that we we refer to them as the "monorail" resorts and not the "Magic Kingdom" resorts.

 

[nala1128]

One of the reasons, my DH will pay the extra to stay at the POLY every year is the convenience of the monorail since MK & Epcot are our 2 most frequently visited parks when we go.

While we love the atmosphere of the POLY, the cost is a bit more justifiable because we can use the monorail to MK and walk to TTC and take the monorail from there to Epcot. We do make our evening plans around the EMH at parks so we will be affected by this for sure. I am keeping fingers crossed that it is not permanent and hopefully it will not have any real impact on our upcoming trip.

I may just be on the list of people who will not be willing to pay for those monorail hotels anymore though.

 

[Alison Wunderland]

Unless they add more buses or bigger boats I have a feeling we will be seeing a lot more of this.

I had better not give Disney any more ideas because this could end up being the new ME.

 

[katrina1122]

The orlando sentinel posted an article quoting Disney saying it was just cut back for maitenance and they'd look at things after the year long maitenance time frame is over. Saw this on a DVC board.

I don't see this as a big deal. They shut down rides all the time for maitenance, when have they done this for the 20 year monorails? Never to my knowledge, it has to be done.

It's only a year, unless they change in the future. It's just affecting 2 parks, one of which you can take a quick boat ride on, and yes I've done them many times in the cold, it's not the end of the world. So you bus it home a few times from Epcot? Big deal.

They didn't say they are shutting down the monorail forever. Who knows, maybe they plan on discounting room rates for monorail resorts during busy EMH times of the year. During off season we've often been one of a few waiting for transport after E EMH ends anyway.

They pride themsevles on these monorails, this is not going to be permanent, WDW is smarter than that.

Relax everyone!

 

[Missyrose]

Okay, after lurking for 55 pages taking in the many, many arguments presented and here's my own two cents (take it for what it's worth).

From the different articles that have been linked to, I think the maintenance reason put forth is valid (it's an old system that has myriad documented issues) but at the heart of the matter I truly believe the maintenance issue is secondary.

I believe the main issue is the number of hours the system is running. Like the articles have said, there are nights where the system is turned off for just a single hour. That would seem to be a very costly way to run the (very expensive) monorail, not to mention the additional maintenance costs for running the system 23 out of 24 hours in a day. So yes, money clearly plays a big role in the decision-making, and Disney gets the added benefit of more time to work on the aging rails.

The obvious flaw is making this a blanket change beyond the late-night summer hours. Early park closings during non-peak times will REALLY mess with people's late ADR's, though no one will be stranded (they'll just have to use a less optimal option than the monorail). Though again, Disney may see the extra hours as a prime chance to do even more work on the system than they'll be able to do during the peak times.

I understand why everyone is up in arms, this is a change that stinks and it affects many Disney visitors (even though a large number of those visitors will probably be clueless as to how the system used to run vs. the change in hours). I'm sure when the dust settles many of us will figure out alternatives to make our plans fit around this cutback, but until then us obsessive planners will continue to worry and fret about how the change will affect the Disney vacations we hold so dear.

Sorry for being so longwinded!

 

[crostorfer]

I respectfully disagree. Most, if not all, work on the GFV would be done during the day while the monorail is in full operation. This is the one aspect where I agree the old Disney 'magic' is missing - you never used to be able to see work being done. It was always hidden by tall-enough walls, or happened literally overnight.

My point isn't so much about the construction being an eyesore, as much as it is about the responses that I am reading from people playing directly into the hands of the people who made this decision. I think they want people to be up in arms and say they won't stay at the GF or the Poly anymore. I think they want to detract from those two areas in particular so that it will lessen the blow for when they decide to close the Poly, which I think will happen after they get the AoA up and running. If the Poly faithful are all up in arms and decide to stay elsewhere because of this change, there will be fewer complaints when they take it out of inventory, which has been the rumor for the last year or so not just on these boards but on several other Disney sites, including the Tikiman. Apparently, the GCH at the Poly is in such bad shape a simple refurb won't do, the entire building has to be torn down and rebuilt, which will cause the resort to close...and hundreds if not thousands of people to scream. Loudly. If we are all peeved off, and saying we'll stay elsewhere anyway because of these changes, then it plays directly into what they want us to do.

And yes, I believe in conspiracy theories and little green men as well, LOL. If you look at the bigger picture as to where this issue in particular is concerned, it makes sense, especially now that the construction is apparently going to start at the GF DVC.

 

[Eponine1]

It's only a year, unless they change in the future. It's just affecting 2 parks, one of which you can take a quick boat ride on, and yes I've done them many times in the cold, it's not the end of the world. So you bus it home a few times from Epcot? Big deal.

They didn't say they are shutting down the monorail forever. Who knows, maybe they plan on discounting room rates for monorail resorts during busy EMH times of the year. During off season we've often been one of a few waiting for transport after E EMH ends anyway.

They pride themsevles on these monorails, this is not going to be permanent, WDW is smarter than that.

Relax everyone!

The BIG deal is that when you are staying on a monorail resort hotel at well over $400.00 a night to have the access to a monorail and now have to shoved onto small boat or take a bus it's a problem.

That's not we are paying for. Rushing out of EP at night to make sure we get a monorail back instead of waiting in an endless line for a bus.

I'm paying alot of money for my upcoming November trip and here's yet another perk Disney is taking away (oh it might not be permanent but it's effecting my trip).

 

[doconeill]

Okay, after lurking for 55 pages taking in the many, many arguments presented and here's my own two cents (take it for what it's worth).

From the different articles that have been linked to, I think the maintenance reason put forth is valid (it's an old system that has myriad documented issues) but at the heart of the matter I truly believe the maintenance issue is secondary.

I believe the main issue is the number of hours the system is running. Like the articles have said, there are nights where the system is turned off for just a single hour. That would seem to be a very costly way to run the (very expensive) monorail, not to mention the additional maintenance costs for running the system 23 out of 24 hours in a day. So yes, money clearly plays a big role in the decision-making, and Disney gets the added benefit of more time to work on the aging rails.

The operating hours and maintenance are generally related in such systems.

I don't know what sort of transportation regulations they may be required to follow - I'm pretty sure they don't need to follow various FRA regulations, for instance - but a lot of rail systems have to regularly inspect the rolling stock after so many hours of operation - and the number of hours depends on the type of car - engines are inspected more frequently than coaches, etc. Electrics, like the monorail, may not require inspections as often as diesels, etc.

By reducing hours, there are two things that happen - they have more "down" time to perform maintenance on the whole system, and they also reduce the operating hours of the equipment, thus increasing the intervals between inspections/maintenance.

So, whether there is beam maintenance, etc. being done there is an inherent maintenance-related cost-cutting "feature" of the move.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Forgive me if someone already suggested this but wouldn't it be a lot easier for WDW to have a lot less or get rid of PM Extra Magic Hours? This way after the Magic Kingdom and Epcot closes for the evening they can start working on the Monorails right away once the last set of guests are gone and not have to worry about the guests staying at the Monorail Resorts getting back to them. Of course I also realize that might not be fair for guests staying at non Monorail Resorts, although I can't see any other solutions.

 

[mom2rtk]

I find it most interesting that they have not really committed on the hard ticket party nights. This seems to me to be the biggest issue of all, because of the 7 PM close 4 out of 7 nights a week at the MK. It would go a long way to diffusing the situation if they would commit on how they are handling it. Or do they need to wait until a few more tickets have been sold?

 

[doconeill]

I find it most interesting that they have not really committed on the hard ticket party nights. This seems to me to be the biggest issue of all, because of the 7 PM close 4 out of 7 nights a week at the MK. It would go a long way to diffusing the situation if they would commit on how they are handling it. Or do they need to wait until a few more tickets have been sold?

I'm betting they will still be "undecided" until the very first MNSSHP...when they can see what a disaster or not it is...

 

[mom2rtk]

I'm betting they will still be "undecided" until the very first MNSSHP...when they can see what a disaster or not it is...

I don't see any way at all it can go smoothly. So even if they said now it would close at 8 on party nights, I'm betting they'd have to revisit that VERY quickly.

I really do think this is an ENTIRELY different matter for those visiting in Sept through December. Losing monorail service potentially at 8 PM is vastly different from losing it at 10 or 11 PM. It's easy to be done shopping and eating by 10 or 11 (at the monorail resorts) if you have to. It's a much different matter when you're talking about 8.

 

[3prettyprincesses]

Forgive me if someone already suggested this but wouldn't it be a lot easier for WDW to have a lot less or get rid of PM Extra Magic Hours? This way after the Magic Kingdom and Epcot closes for the evening they can start working on the Monorails right away once the last set of guests are gone and not have to worry about the guests staying at the Monorail Resorts getting back to them. Of course I also realize that might not be fair for guests staying at non Monorail Resorts, although I can't see any other solutions.

Hmm, it could certainly be a possibility. Especially when you consider that they're cutting out character meet-n-greets for EMH evening hours now too. Maybe that is the secondary motivation for the reduction in monorail hours?

 

[jade1]

Forgive me if someone already suggested this but wouldn't it be a lot easier for WDW to have a lot less or get rid of PM Extra Magic Hours? This way after the Magic Kingdom and Epcot closes for the evening they can start working on the Monorails right away once the last set of guests are gone and not have to worry about the guests staying at the Monorail Resorts getting back to them. Of course I also realize that might not be fair for guests staying at non Monorail Resorts, although I can't see any other solutions.

They could, I think that's throwing gas on the fire though. But also still doesnt address why they need to close the MK loop at 7PM (8PM) shutting down regular hours EPCOT returns to monorail resorts.

 

[3prettyprincesses]

I don't see any way at all it can go smoothly. So even if they said now it would close at 8 on party nights, I'm betting they'd have to revisit that VERY quickly.

I really do think this is an ENTIRELY different matter for those visiting in Sept through December. Losing monorail service potentially at 8 PM is vastly different from losing it at 10 or 11 PM. It's easy to be done shopping and eating by 10 or 11 (at the monorail resorts) if you have to. It's a much different matter when you're talking about 8.

I agree. The MK closing at 7pm (like it did for our October trip) means no monorail after 8pm. It sounds like it's going to be a nightmare for those attending the parties. The whole reason we stayed at the Poly on our October 2009 trip was to have easy monorail access to both MK and Epcot as well as the MNSSHP. Personally, this new set of monorail hours sounds like it's going to be a logistical nightmare.

 

[baler31]

Hmm, it could certainly be a possibility. Especially when you consider that they're cutting out character meet-n-greets for EMH evening hours now too. Maybe that is the secondary motivation for the reduction in monorail hours?

I have mentioned this a few times in the thread. I do believe they are phasing out evening emh. We have been during peak and non-peak 4 visits in the last year and went to at least one MK evening emh at each visit. Mk was completely empty (granted we arrived at 12 and left at closing at 3).

I recieved a survey a few months back that eluded to this and also other "perks" that would be added for on site resort guests.

 

[Traveliz]

I'm betting they will still be "undecided" until the very first MNSSHP...when they can see what a disaster or not it is...

Fortunately I am going at the end of that run!

Liz

 

[FireDancer]

The BIG deal is that when you are staying on a monorail resort hotel at well over $400.00 a night to have the access to a monorail and now have to shoved onto small boat or take a bus it's a problem.

That's not we are paying for. Rushing out of EP at night to make sure we get a monorail back instead of waiting in an endless line for a bus.

I'm paying alot of money for my upcoming November trip and here's yet another perk Disney is taking away (oh it might not be permanent but it's effecting my trip).

If guests decide to stop staying at the monorail resorts because of this particular decision they will either reverse the decision or lower the price of the rooms (maybe not directly but via promotions).

Even Disney isn't immune to supply/demand economics. When they need to fill rooms they offer discounts or promotions. But, as I have said on these boards whenever people get all upset over a decision, if you (general you) still go down to Disney and consume their product they will not need to adjust their side of the supply/demand equation.

Actions speak more than words.

 

[racefanof88]

Forgive me if someone already suggested this but wouldn't it be a lot easier for WDW to have a lot less or get rid of PM Extra Magic Hours? This way after the Magic Kingdom and Epcot closes for the evening they can start working on the Monorails right away once the last set of guests are gone and not have to worry about the guests staying at the Monorail Resorts getting back to them. Of course I also realize that might not be fair for guests staying at non Monorail Resorts, although I can't see any other solutions.

Honestly, I think that is where this is headed, but Disney is NOT going to come out and cut their own throat by saying so. As you know people book their Disney vacations months, if not years, in advance and EMHs play a big role in why some stay on Disney property. There are those who do not buy park hoppers and plan their park days according to EMHs so they can maximize their ticket value.

Most of us on the Dis are die hard Disney fanatics who know how to navigate the parks with our eyes closed, but we are in the minority. Let us just play out a simple scene that WILL happen in the next few weeks.

A family of 4 has saved for years to take their kids on their first Disney trip. They are paying what it would cost to send little Susie to college for a year, just to stay at the CR because it is a monorail resort. They have planned their trip around those EMHs and riding the monorail back to their room at 3am. "It's OK Susie, I know you are in melt down mode and Tommy is sleep walking, but we will catch the monorail to our room and you will be in your bed in a few." "WHAT?" "We have to WALK back to our room?" "We paid $9000.00 for a week at Disney and we have to WALK back to our room at 3am?" "NEVER AGAIN!!!"

While there are some on the Dis who say so what, Disney can afford to lose a few here and there, and ya know what you are more than right. Disney is making more money now than they have in the past 5 years, their loyalty to what Walt originally envisioned has long ago gone as has their loyalty to the guests. I guess what I'm trying to say is there are some who have blind loyalty to Disney, no matter what they do, but my blinders are starting to fall off as the favor isn't being returned.