Monorails to no longer operate during Evening Extra Magic Hours

[topmonkeygirl]

What difference does it make what any of us say about it?

Too true. Disney in all of their infinate wisdom knows best. We just like to vent.

I was planning a trip to the Poly next year, club level, honeymoon suite, for 10 days. I can save so much more by staying at WL, which I like better anyway, I just like the idea of the monorail. Too bad Disney, not a good move.

 

[maiapapaya]

But what if someone eating at a monorail resort who parked at the TTC (or at a monorail resort itself) decided to stop by the MK after dinner? How would they get back to their car if they weren't allowed back on the monorail?

From what I understand, official policy would be that these guests are only supposed to be parking at the resort for dining, not dining + park, so under this theoretical situation they shouldn't choose to park at the resort then head off to the MK. (I know there was a poster who did this and got permission, but that was all discussed pages ago wrt what the rules officially are) If they intend to eat and then go to the park they should move their car after dinner to the TTC or park there in the first place, monorail to their restaurant, monorail to MK and then after take what ever mode of transportation is available for travel to the TTC (the ferry, the express monorail or bus).

But can the monorail resort guests sustain the restaurants, stores, and marinas at those resorts? The 'local' monorail is for guests going to and from the monorail resorts. It's not exclusively for guests staying at those resorts. Again, if it were, it would be called "Resort Guest Monorail". It's not.

I completely agree - the resort monorail is for people visiting the monorail resorts (for dining, accommodation, marina use ... etc). But I also don't think it was ever intended as mass transit for people travelling from the MK to TTC - that's what the express is for. Normally I don't care who's riding it, but if the resort monorail is swamped for boarding at the MK shouldn't it be the people trying to get to the resorts (this line's intended use) that get priority?

 

[KSDisneyDad]

I agree...a Resort Monorail..for the MK resorts. What a novel idea.
Excellent observation.

Yes, a resort monorail that stops at each of the monorail resorts for anyone to choose to stop and enjoy or to continue on to the next location.

I'm sorry, but it's no longer 1990 (I'm actually not sure when the resort monorail exclusitivity changed) For thousands and thousands of WDW guests, they've never known the resort monorail to be exclusive to those staying at one of the 3 resorts. We've been over 15 times since 1998 and it's never been exclusive to monorail guests. Like I said before, perhaps it was that way in 1990, but in 1990, MGM was less than a year old and the Animal Kingdom may have not even been on the drawing board. And so many amazing attractions were not even conceived.

For those of us who don't live in the past, I hope that Disney keeps the monorail just the way the thousands like me have always known it.

 

[asta]

My point exactly!



But Disney has not done this for years. They changed it and it's been accepted that anyone can ride it for years. It's not been exclusive to monorail resort guests since at least 1998 when we first visited. Because you didn't see anyone complaining, doesn't mean it didn't happen. How did guests get to their ADR's at 1900 Park Fair, O'hana or Chef Mickey's if they were turned away at the TTC?

To say you want things like they were 15 or 20 years ago is wishful thinking. In those years, Disney has made a lot of changes - some good and some bad. If one wants things the way they used to be, then you are also asking that they get rid of the entire Animal Kingdom park, Soarin', Mission Space, Toy Story Midway Mania, Rock n Roller Coaster or any of the other shows, attractions and resorts that have been added in the past 15 to 20 years since the monorail was exclusive just to monorail resort guests. I guess if that's the case, they should also get rid of evening EMH which will solve this problem fairly quickly.

I don't see the monorail the same as club level service. You are not paying extra specifically for it. I've stayed at the Poly, CR and BLT and have never seen this advertised as exclusive for me and the other guests at those resorts. The monorail resorts cost about the same as the Yacht Club/Beach Club. Any differences in price are probably attributable to theme park views and proximity to the MK, not necessarily the monorail. It's not like they are advertising that you have exclusive use of the resort monorail whereas when you pay for club level, you know you are paying for access to the concierge or club level lounge.

Do I see this desire as elitist? Partly because those who desire this option are clamoring for the way things used to be so they don't have to share the monorail with other guests. All guests pay for the Disney transportation service whether it's part of your theme park ticket, parking fee or resort cost. Disney decided years ago that it was in their best interest to stop this exclusitivity as it must not have been working financially for them. But if Disney does return them to exclusive for just those at the monorail resorts, should Disney also make the Boardwalk exclusive to just those staying at the Boardwalk? Should Disney get rid of all public viewing areas at the Animal Kingdom Lodge? Should Disney not allow anyone to ride the Friendship boats if they aren't staying at the Swan/Dolpin/BW/BC or YC?

It's obvious we'll never agree on this and I think the whole side debate is a bit of a red herring for both sides of the monorail cut debate.

I don't think anyone is suggesting that we go back to the way everything was in the dark ages of 15-20 years ago. But you yourself admit that some changes are good and some are bad. As the beneficiary of the way the monorails were once handled, I think that the change away from restricted use of the resort monorail was one of the bad changes to which you referred. It is silly to compare that change to new park attractions. That is like comparing apples to oranges.

And besides, if you are not traveling to a monorail resort, you can always take the Magic Kingdom monorail.

Do you also think that it should be OK for all guests to crowd in on the YC/BC guests at their pool? Is it elitist for YC/BC guests to not want to share their pool? As I pointed out above, WDW restricts access to keep it from getting too crowded. Their guests really don't directly "pay" for that perk any more than the monorail resort guests directly "pay" for the perk of monorail access. It is all an indirect cost of staying at your chosen resort. WDW decided that it would be too crowded/not as pleasant if they let other guests use the pool. This is the same argument for restricting access to the resort monorail.

 

[maxiesmom]

Do you also think that it should be OK for all guests to crowd in on the YC/BC guests at their pool? Is it elitist for YC/BC guests to not want to share their pool? As I pointed out above, WDW restricts access to keep it from getting too crowded. Their guests really don't directly "pay" for that perk any more than the monorail resort guests directly "pay" for the perk of monorail access. It is all an indirect cost of staying at your chosen resort. WDW decided that it would be too crowded/not as pleasant if they let other guests use the pool. This is the same argument for restricting access to the resort monorail.

But they haven't made the no pool hopping a rule just at one resort. It is a standard rule. The Poly has that same rule, and has even started handing out wrist bands when busy. No one resort owns the monorail the way they own their own pools.

The resorts on the monorail line don't own the monorail any more than any individual resort owns its busses or boats. Disney offers its transportation options as a perk to staying on-site anywhere, they don't limit you to using only the transportation options at the resort you have booked. Can you imagine? "Sorry miss, you can't use this bus. It is a POR bus and you are staying at CSR. Too bad if you have and ADR at Boatwrights. Fine another way there." Won't happen.

And yes, it is elitist think that the monorail resorts should somehow have supreme rights to the monorail.

 

[TLSnell1981]

But they haven't made the no pool hopping a rule just at one resort. It is a standard rule. The Poly has that same rule, and has even started handing out wrist bands when busy. No one resort owns the monorail the way they own their own pools. .

And yes, it is elitist think that the monorail resorts should somehow have supreme rights to the monorail.

DVC owners are allowed to pool hop, at some resorts.

Again, no one is suggesting, MK resorts have supreme rights. The Resort Monorail is rumored to be available for resort guests, AFTER the MK Express has shut down. We are talking, possibly a couple extra hours for resort guests. Don't see, how that is elitist...

 

[KSDisneyDad]

I don't think anyone is suggesting that we go back to the way everything was in the dark ages of 15-20 years ago. But you yourself admit that some changes are good and some are bad. As the beneficiary of the way the monorails were once handled, I think that the change away from restricted use of the resort monorail was one of the bad changes to which you referred. It is silly to compare that change to new park attractions. That is like comparing apples to oranges.

And besides, if you are not traveling to a monorail resort, you can always take the Magic Kingdom monorail.

Do you also think that it should be OK for all guests to crowd in on the YC/BC guests at their pool? Is it elitist for YC/BC guests to not want to share their pool? As I pointed out above, WDW restricts access to keep it from getting too crowded. Their guests really don't directly "pay" for that perk any more than the monorail resort guests directly "pay" for the perk of monorail access. It is all an indirect cost of staying at your chosen resort. WDW decided that it would be too crowded/not as pleasant if they let other guests use the pool. This is the same argument for restricting access to the resort monorail.

Earlier in this mammoth thread, there was a lengthy discussion of the good/bad changes over the years. Each person has to decide if in totality that they think the good outweigh the bad or vice versa. If the bad outweigh the good, then is WDW still a value? If not, then they will decide to go elsewhere. Others will conclude the opposite.

I think that all changes have to be viewed in totality and not in a vacuum. It may seem silly to you, but when you look at things in a vacuum it is easy to forget all the good things Disney has done over the years.

I don't disagree that cutting back on monorail hours is a negative change. However, I do disagree that allowing ridership to anyone is a negative change. We have stayed at all levels of resorts over the years including Value, Moderate, Deluxe and DVC Villas. We have stayed at several monorail resorts and other non-monorail Deluxe resorts. Regardless of where I stay, we enjoy riding the resort monorail line whether it is to eat breakfast at Chef Mickey's or even use it to ride from the MK to the TTC in the evening. It's just another choice compared to the ferry or express monorail.

If Disney changes this, I will write an email to complain (as a BLT DVC owner) just like I wrote to complain about the hours cut-back in the first place.

 

[KSDisneyDad]

Do you also think that it should be OK for all guests to crowd in on the YC/BC guests at their pool? Is it elitist for YC/BC guests to not want to share their pool? As I pointed out above, WDW restricts access to keep it from getting too crowded. Their guests really don't directly "pay" for that perk any more than the monorail resort guests directly "pay" for the perk of monorail access. It is all an indirect cost of staying at your chosen resort. WDW decided that it would be too crowded/not as pleasant if they let other guests use the pool. This is the same argument for restricting access to the resort monorail.

I have riden the resort monorail at closing and I've never seen the resort monorails super crowded. So what if you have to stand? Not a big deal. The longest I've had to wait is for one monorail and that was with the CM's shouting to all guests to use the Resort Monorail line as the wait was shorter. And we've stayed at a monorail resort in peak summer hours twice - the most recent time was last month.

 

[carlton the bear]

The resorts on the monorail line don't own the monorail any more than any And yes, it is elitist think that the monorail resorts should somehow have supreme rights to the monorail.

So you are staying at the Poly and probably paying $350+ for a room. You are leaving MK and are rushing to catch the last resort monorail back to your hotel. But you can't get on because there is a huge line of off site guests who are in front of you going to the TTC, even though they are supposed to take the express line to get back to their cars. But you don't care if takes you another hour to get back to the Poly by boat, beacuse you are non elitist. When you get back to the Poly you have a change of heart, and decide to complain to Management that for $ 350+ a night you expect to be treated better than an off site guest. When the manager tells you that WDW is a non elitist resort and you shouldn't complain you gladly accept his reasoning, and have a magical night sleep in your deluxe resort hotel.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

To follow your logic - I don't think that guests staying at the YC/BC see an itemized amount on their bills for exclusive use of their pool area. The guests at these resorts still have a strongly enforced perk of exclusive use of their pool. Do you think this was forgotten?? Or maybe certain resorts have exclusive perks to make a stay at that resort more unique and enjoyable to the guests who are paying to stay there.

How about guests who stay at the Epcot Resorts and the boats at them which go to Epcot and Hollywood Studios. Just like the Resort Monorail is important to the Contemporary/Bay Lake Tower, Polynesian and Grand Floridian, those boats are exclusive to the Boardwalk, Yacht Club, Beach Club, Swan & Dolphin. However we aren't charged anything extra for having them available for us to use.

 

[TLSnell1981]

So you are staying at the Poly and probably paying $350+ for a room.

Actually, you are probably, paying more.. I was quoted $665-$685, per night, TPV for October...at the Poly.

 

[doconeill]

How about guests who stay at the Epcot Resorts and the boats at them which go to Epcot and Hollywood Studios. Just like the Resort Monorail is important to the Contemporary/Bay Lake Tower, Polynesian and Grand Floridian, those boats are exclusive to the Boardwalk, Yacht Club, Beach Club, Swan & Dolphin. However we aren't charged anything extra for having them available for us to use.

Ah, but they are also advertised as a transportation method between Epcot and DHS...

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

But they haven't made the no pool hopping a rule just at one resort. It is a standard rule. The Poly has that same rule, and has even started handing out wrist bands when busy. No one resort owns the monorail the way they own their own pools.

The resorts on the monorail line don't own the monorail any more than any individual resort owns its busses or boats. Disney offers its transportation options as a perk to staying on-site anywhere, they don't limit you to using only the transportation options at the resort you have booked. Can you imagine? "Sorry miss, you can't use this bus. It is a POR bus and you are staying at CSR. Too bad if you have and ADR at Boatwrights. Fine another way there." Won't happen.

And yes, it is elitist think that the monorail resorts should somehow have supreme rights to the monorail.

Even though the Polynesian has started giving out wristbands I don't think they are on the same level as Stormalong Bay, which means that DVC members can still swim at the Polynesian and the real question is why give out wristbands if their pool is not 100% guests staying at the Polynesian.

Finally is it really elitist to say that during the busier times like right before the Magic Kingdom closes that they should only let guests staying at the Monorail Resorts only get on the Resort Monorail, so the offsite guests don't use it as a way of getting to the TTC. No one has said that the Resort Monorail should be for those guests from opening to closing, so there is nothing elitist about trying to control the crowds during the busier times.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Ah, but they are also advertised as a transportation method between Epcot and DHS...

Yes that is also correct and my mistake for not saying it. However what I meant was if guests staying at the Monorail Resorts are charged extra for the Monorail which we know they are not, then someone can also make the same claim with the boats from the Epcot Resorts.

 

[doconeill]

Even though the Polynesian has started giving out wristbands I don't think they are on the same level as Stormalong Bay, which means that DVC members can still swim at the Polynesian and the real question is why give out wristbands if their pool is not 100% guests staying at the Polynesian.

DVC members are only permitted to pool hop if the resort is allowing it that day - it is not guaranteed. If it is getting so busy that they are issuing wristbands, then they may not allow hopping to that pool that day.

It is NEVER allowed at SAB and the Uzima pool at AKL Jambo, and I think it isn't allowed at Kidani or at BLT (essentially the newest DVC resorts).

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

DVC members are only permitted to pool hop if the resort is allowing it that day - it is not guaranteed. If it is getting so busy that they are issuing wristbands, then they may not allow hopping to that pool that day.

It is NEVER allowed at SAB and the Uzima pool at AKL Jambo, and I think it isn't allowed at Kidani or at BLT (essentially the newest DVC resorts).

I know they have days when pool hopping is blacked out and if the pool they want try becomes busy with guests staying at that specifc resort. It's just that when others mentioned the Polynesian was giving out wristbands I thought that would mean their volcano pool would now be on the list with Stromalong Bay, Uzima pool and the Bay Lake Tower pool. So if DVC members can still pool hopp to the Polynesian despite the fact they give out wristbands doesn't that defeat the purpose of having them? I am sure a lot of Polynesian guests complained about the lack of space at their pool and etc which is the reason for the wristbands, but I think for that to work they shouldn't let DVC members pool hopp there.

 

[doconeill]

I know they have days when pool hopping is blacked out and if the pool they want try becomes busy with guests staying at that specifc resort. It's just that when others mentioned the Polynesian was giving out wristbands I thought that would mean their volcano pool would now be on the list with Stromalong Bay, Uzima pool and the Bay Lake Tower pool. So if DVC members can still pool hopp to the Polynesian despite the fact they give out wristbands doesn't that defeat the purpose of having them? I am sure a lot of Polynesian guests complained about the lack of space at their pool and etc which is the reason for the wristbands, but I think for that to work they shouldn't let DVC members pool hopp there.

I finally found it on the member web site, and the pools I mentioned plus the BCV quiet pool are listed specifically as not available for pool hopping ever. The Poly is not mentioned. Presumably if they were issuing wristbands, but were still allowing pool hopping, then those DVC members could get wristbands.

They also now list specific dates where pool hopping is not permitted (typically the REALLY busy times, like July 4th week, etc.)

(Wait, this is still the monorail thread? What tangent haven't we gone off on yet? )

 

[sandym718]

After reading through at least 5 more pages of responses on this issue, I just wanted to add as a side note that I don't think that it is fair that any time those of us who frequent the monorail resorts complain about seemingly anything, it makes us "elitist" and "entitled". I don't see how suggesting that the Resort Monorail not stop at the TTC is at all elitist.

I agree. I don't like the name calling. I don't think the "not stop at the TTC" thing would work, as someone pointed out to me many pages ago. But the idea itself is not elitist. It's not about not wanting to ride with others. It's about overcrowding - just like the pools, etc.

The only resorts that have monorail stations attached are the Poly, the GF and the CR.
Since they do, their very design and location,
it seems to dictate that the primary reason that the resort monorail was built was to service those resorts.

Yep!

I completely agree - the resort monorail is for people visiting the monorail resorts (for dining, accommodation, marina use ... etc). But I also don't think it was ever intended as mass transit for people travelling from the MK to TTC - that's what the express is for. Normally I don't care who's riding it, but if the resort monorail is swamped for boarding at the MK shouldn't it be the people trying to get to the resorts (this line's intended use) that get priority?

Exactly. I like how you worded this. Normally, it's not an issue at all, choose whichever monorail you'd like! But IF (big IF) this Change in policy results in the resort monorail being swamped by guests trying to get to the TTC, I don't think it's elitist to think that maybe restricting it to those visiting the resorts (not just staying there) during that small time frame is something Disney should consider. It seems Disney already has policies in place where something is Normally allowed, but is NOT allowed during periods of high crowds. Pool hopping by DVC members, for one example. It's not elitist, it's not about not wanting to share a monorail car with others, it's about reducing crowd levels and yes, being able to get on a monorail to a monorail resort without a long wait. How that could actually happen (room keys, etc), I have NO idea.

But, having never done an evening EMH or a party....What do you think about my big "IF" above? Do you think this will even be an issue??

 

[brunette8706]

What about the people that just want to "Ride" the monorail, strictly for fun!? LOL

 

[doconeill]

What about the people that just want to "Ride" the monorail, strictly for fun!? LOL

That's what the Epcot line is for