Monorails to no longer operate during Evening Extra Magic Hours

[Rhode Island Quahog]

I don't stay at the Polynesian or Contemporary because they are on the monorail line. I stay because they're awesome hotels near one of my favorite parks. Having a hotel 1/2 way between Epcot and TTC on the monorail line wouldn't be enough to get me there. They aren't the most expensive simply because the monorail is there.

I can't speak for everyone's reason for staying at these resorts. But neither can you.

They are actually the most expensive because they are on the monorail though!

 

[Rhode Island Quahog]

For a third of the year, MK closes at 7 on many nights in additional to the 1 EMH night. EMH is not the only issue here, it's the parties at MK as well. Although it has now been said that Disney is undecided about those nights, if they do decide to shut it down at 8 that is where the biggest problems will be, IMO.

The monorail isn't just transportation to the resorts, it's transportation around the resorts as well. Even if you aren't planning on attending the parties, you no longer have monorail access to the other resorts on the line for ADR's etc after 8 p.m.

Exactly no shopping or grabbing a late dinner or drink at another monorail hotel. As a DVC member, we can also swim at other hotels at specified times of years, there goes that w/o the monorail or if you don't have a rental car too!

 

[KSDisneyDad]

They are actually the most expensive because they are on the monorail though!

Standard view rooms in value season. yes, the GF & Poly are the two most expensive, but the CR is actually LESS expensive than any of the three Epcot area resorts.

Where is the monorail serving the BWI or BC/YC?

The monorail resorts are the most expensive as they are closest to the most popular themepark in the world - the Magic Kingdom! If you go to the ocean, do you pay more to have an Ocean view or ocean front hotel or more for the hotel three blocks away?

 

[Tina1]

We will not be paying the extra money to stay at a monorail resort that does not have it available during the hours I may want to enjoy a Alcoholic drink, and not drive or fight crowds for the bus. I'm disappointed but it just means changing our schedule a bit. First if I have to rent a car, WL or one of the moderate resorts. Stay away from the MK for EMH late hours. No shopping after park closes. And not doing any parties at MK . So be it, I love going to WDW and this will not diminish my happy time at the parks. It will save us money. So I'm staying postive Tina

 

[Kona65]

Whew! I think you need someone to send some pixie dust your way!

Keep the pixie dust, just bring back the service we expect from Disney.

 

[DJSMOM]

All due respect, I couldn't find any other post from you on this subject. Were you maybe signed in on your husband's account? Anyway - again respectfully - are you planning to spend so many late nights at Epcot and/or MK that needing to take a (direct) bus instead of a monorail or two will be a true hardship?

It's entirely possible little advance notice was given because - especially after the very recent incident reported by FireDancer - a very recent decision was made that shutting down the system for a few hours nightly made more sense than shutting it down entirely for x weeks or months. After all, this thread about reducing operations about six hours weekly is over 1,000 posts. Can you imagine the reaction over a complete closure????

disclaimer: this is a conversation; I don't believe, feel, or claim that Disney can do no wrong

I looked back to read my previous post. I can't find it any where. I have posted quite a few things on different threads and the search results, don't show me at all. Oh well!

In a nutshell, I am disappointed that I wasn't informed at the time of booking. I will be traveling with a 2 year old and a then 9 year old. Getting a stroller on and off the bus is not fun. I have done it in the past. I am so disappointed that if my son did not know the plan as is, I would change it to save a few bucks. I was willing to pay the premium for the monorail. I still could have used my PIN at WL or AKL for a cheaper price. used the bus/boat as my transportation. The ability to do EMH at Epcot was the selling point for the
extra price tag to my husband. If it is "planned maintenance," it could have been planned a bit better. I feel like it's kind of a bait and switch in a way. I am in no way saying I wouldn't go. I just would have planned a bit differently.

 

[JimmyV]

Well, why they provide it is no mystery at all. Guests onsite with no personal transportation spend all their discretionary vacation funds onsite.

Also, having people become a captive audience at Disney is arguably worth far more to them then any reasonable amount they could charge for DME. I mean the example of $75 for a family versus the hundreds and hundreds of dollars they could potentially be spending on food alone? No brainer there.

I think you missed the main point of my post. As long as Disney undercuts the market, people are still going to take the DME and become "captives". It is not the fact that it is free that makes it attractive. It is the fact that it is the cheapest option. And of course, free is the cheapest. But what if DME was $10 per family round trip? You'd still opt for it. What if it was $20 per family? You'd still opt for it. And so on. At some point there would be a price of diminishing return. But the point here is that it doesn't have to be "free" for people to take it. It just has to be the most attractive option.

 

[snykymom]

And a rental car plus parking will be a lot more than that. Realistically, Disney can start charging a $75 add-on per reservation for DME services and not lose many customers. Why they provide this service for free is a real mystery.

1) If you're staying on site, as you must be to use DME, parking is free at both the resorts and the parks. So there is no "plus parking." (Unless you're suggesting that they start charging for parking as well?)
2) We are 3 adults. $75 per person = $225. I can get a nice rental car for that, or less without difficulty. Currently, with my AAA discount only, I can get an economy car for $199. They start charging for DME, I rent a car. And then I can go elsewhere for meals and even to another off-site park. That's why they don't charge for DME.

 

[JimmyV]

We are 3 adults. $75 per person = $225. I can get a nice rental car for that, or less without difficulty.

I wrote: "$75 per reservation." Your family total would be $75. And if you had 6 people in your family...still $75. Less than a cab. Less than a Mears shuttle. Less than a rental car.

 

[mom2rtk]

I think you missed the main point of my post. As long as Disney undercuts the market, people are still going to take the DME and become "captives". It is not the fact that it is free that makes it attractive. It is the fact that it is the cheapest option. And of course, free is the cheapest. But what if DME was $10 per family round trip? You'd still opt for it. What if it was $20 per family? You'd still opt for it. And so on. At some point there would be a price of diminishing return. But the point here is that it doesn't have to be "free" for people to take it. It just has to be the most attractive option.

Sort of like free dining. It used to include appetizer and tip, but it doesn't and people still jump on the deal.

But honestly, even at $75........ I'd probably step out and evaluate my other options. Maybe we'd finally make it to the WWOHP.

 

[GadgetRick]

If it is "planned maintenance," it could have been planned a bit better.

That's just it, this isn't about planned maintenance and I still don't buy it was ever about maintenance. The Disney apologists started claiming it was for maintenance because they're, "literally falling apart," so they have to cut the service a couple of hours each night to keep this from happening.

Of course, it wasn't until lots of people made a lot of noise that Disney backtracked and, "officially," said it was for maintenance. I'm sorry, I don't buy it for a second. Will they get some extra maintenance in? Of course. But if they are so under-maintained they have to cut service, why are they safe the rest of the day? It just smells of PR BS through and through. And the Disney apologists run with it and blow it out of proportion to make it seem as if Disney is doing this for us. That's always the case, Disney takes something away/charges more for something and the apologists spin it around to make it seem as if it's good for us...but you're getting FREE food plans, but you're getting a FREE refillable mug now, etc...

Hey, I'm not as negative as I may sound but when I see BS I call BS. And, unfortunately, there's been a lot of it from Disney over recent years. But, as I've said before, it's their company and they can run it as they see fit just as I can choose to spend less money with them--as I have. Will it matter? Probably not but it doesn't mean people shouldn't voice their concerns/complaints to them about it.

No matter how you slice it, this is another move Disney has made which impacts a large number of guests negatively (no matter how much). You can rationalize/make excuses/etc. but it doesn't change that fact...and that's about the only FACT we know. Anything about monorails in dire need of maintenance is purely speculation just as my belief that this is BS is just speculation. However, there are a lot more information out there to back up those of us who believe this is not a maintenance issue. There's also a history of these kinds of moves lately.

 

[JimmyV]

But honestly, even at $75........ I'd probably step out and evaluate my other options. Maybe we'd finally make it to the WWOHP.

And that is the point. Don't get too hung up on $75. That is just a number that I made up. But WDW is clearly doing market surveys involving DME and I am sure that price breaking point is part of that. So maybe they lose you at $75. Would they lose you at $10 per family? Would they lose you at $25? All I am saying is that they are leaving money on the table and with the price of gas, it would be natural for them to see what they can charge and still keep 90% of the people who now use the system.

 

[mom2rtk]

And that is the point. Don't get too hung up on $75. That is just a number that I made up. But WDW is clearly doing market surveys involving DME and I am sure that price breaking point is part of that. So maybe they lose you at $75. Would they lose you at $10 per family? Would they lose you at $25? All I am saying is that they are leaving money on the table and with the price of gas, it would be natural for them to see what they can charge and still keep 90% of the people who now use the system.

I understand and know what you're saying. But honestly, charging anything, even a small amount will probably just tick me off. Charging too much will push me to get a car. But someone who has never known free DME would likely have a different reaction.

 

[jade1]

And that is the point. Don't get too hung up on $75. That is just a number that I made up. But WDW is clearly doing market surveys involving DME and I am sure that price breaking point is part of that. So maybe they lose you at $75. Would they lose you at $10 per family? Would they lose you at $25? All I am saying is that they are leaving money on the table and with the price of gas, it would be natural for them to see what they can charge and still keep 90% of the people who now use the system.

I think ticket prices just went up to cover it again. That way it still seems "free" and folks tend to think "what a great deal".

But we are just looking for a reason to rent a car and stay a few nights at US for H Potter, and likely not alone, and a ME fee would qualify.

2 nights and 3 days at US, souv, tix and food for 12.....about $4000, so probably will only do it once-unless its that good. But we have gone to WDW twice since WWOHP opened, and blew it off with the ease of ME etc. But we drop a lot of cash at WDW as well so I think they want us there.

 

[KSDisneyDad]

All due respect, I couldn't find any other post from you on this subject. Were you maybe signed in on your husband's account? Anyway - again respectfully - are you planning to spend so many late nights at Epcot and/or MK that needing to take a (direct) bus instead of a monorail or two will be a true hardship?

It's entirely possible little advance notice was given because - especially after the very recent incident reported by FireDancer - a very recent decision was made that shutting down the system for a few hours nightly made more sense than shutting it down entirely for x weeks or months. After all, this thread about reducing operations about six hours weekly is over 1,000 posts. Can you imagine the reaction over a complete closure????

disclaimer: this is a conversation; I don't believe, feel, or claim that Disney can do no wrong

Exactly

Why is it that if you remotely suggest that this is not as big a deal as some of the Oliver Stone-esque type posters say it is, your opinion doesn't seem to count as you are a Disney apologist? There are some on this thread that seem to spin everything single thing negatively & chide you for even suggesting otherwise. I don't get this mentality, but I guess Disney still must be doing something right as many of them have tickers for their next trips.

I've said on this thread that (i) I understand the frustration and will write to Disney myself - Have each of those who have expressed their frustration on the thread done the same? and (ii) I have written complaints to Disney in the past myself and even started threads with complaints about some issues.

It's my opinion that yes, this is frustrating, but it's not like monorail will be shut down every single day all day long. I get that during the value season, the hours will be even shorter but reduced services & hours have always been part of value season. If you want longer hours, why not go during times with longer hours. Hmmm? Higher prices, crowds, etc.... Trade-offs.

My point is that this thread has been good to notify others, discuss it and see who else may be upset about it. However, this thread is useless to make a change. Why not start a email/facebook/twitter, etc. campaign to see if you can get Disney to change it. I don't see it as a lost cause yet.

 

[mom2rtk]

I think ticket prices just went up to cover it again. That way it still seems "free" and folks tend to think "what a great deal".

But we are just looking for a reason to rent a car and stay a few nights at US for H Potter, and likely not alone, and a ME fee would qualify.

You and me both. So I would venture to say there's a fair number of others just like us. They better be careful messing with this piece of the puzzle. Every single time we go, my husband asks why we don't go to Sea World or US. I say sure we can, here's the cost of tickets, and here's the cost of transportation. And every single time we pass. It wouldn't take much to push us the other way though. And honestly, if we have a car...... and we're going to US....... why NOT spend a night or two at their resorts to get the early entry............ and so it goes......

 

[mom2rtk]

However, this thread is useless to make a change. Why not start a email/facebook/twitter, etc. campaign to see if you can get Disney to change it. I don't see it as a lost cause yet.

But if it truly IS a maintenance issue, that would be counterproductive, right?

 

[KSDisneyDad]

But if it truly IS a maintenance issue, that would be counterproductive, right?

Sorry, I was trying to say that the conspiracy theorists don't believe it's maintenance related, but just another service cut-back and they are using maintenance as an excuse.

If you believe in that theory, then Disney will be able to change it back if you campaign hard enough.

And even if it is maintenance, you could campaign to have it close say at 10:00 pm each night year round vs having it linked to MK closing time.

 

[mom2rtk]

Sorry, I was trying to say that the conspiracy theorists don't believe it's maintenance related, but just another service cut-back and they are using maintenance as an excuse.

If you believe in that theory, then Disney will be able to change it back if you campaign hard enough.

And even if it is maintenance, you could campaign to have it close say at 10:00 pm each night year round vs having it linked to MK closing time.

I know what you were saying. And I think they could diffuse a LOT of this by keeping it open until 10 in the fall/winter. That's not to say they won't. But to announce this withOUT a plan for that time of year seems ill-advised.

After all, if it's safe to operate until 10 in the summer, then why would it suddenly be unsafe to do so in the fall/winter?

 

[Robo]

After all, if it's safe to operate until 10 in the summer, then why would it suddenly be unsafe to do so in the fall/winter?

There is a big difference between "unsafe" and "likely delays."

From various guest reports, we know that the monorails have exhibited some increased "delays" as of late.

If they reduce the hours of operation of (many of) the trains, they can do more maintenance on them and/or simply reduce the "aging" due to the former longer hours of operation.

In this case, it would be similar to a commuter deciding to car pool, which would mean that his own car would experience less wear due to the days that it was not driven to work.


As I have posted today, I am not SURE that they will be closing the RESORT loop nearly as early as the MK loop.
We just don't know yet.