Monorails to no longer operate during Evening Extra Magic Hours

[puntagordabob]

Well, it's true an individual bus holds fewer passengers than a monorail train. But Walt Disney World is good at transportation management, including stacking up two, sometimes three buses when it's really busy, as well as dispatching buses more frequently when needed.
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So apparently you have never experienced the wonder of waiting for FAR more than 20 minutes before for a single bus shows up for your destination? Add that the distinct possibility of a surge of Guests at the particular time you happen to decide to go to your destination you need wait for multiple busses to cycle by?

Also just so you know...the EPCOT bus thing does not thrill me at all.... BUT it is the Resort monorail Cutback that is going to be Big Problem IMHO

Well you forgot that the guests staying at the Contemporary and Bay Lake Tower also have the walkway from the Magic Kingdom, so there is no reason for them to add a bus and I doubt they will. I can see them adding a bus for the Polynesian and Grand Floridian, although since those two resorts share a boat when leaving the Magic Kingdom I think WDW would rather have those guests take them instead and adding extra boats when the Resort Monorail is closed.

The many handicapped folks who attend EMH and stay at the Contemporary Resort will really appreciate the Zero transportation to their resort..... and the small resort boats are NOT handicap friendly...we have to fold my teenage son's wheelchair and BearHug him on board....we do not do that at all if we can avoid it as it scared him alot to be carried onto the boat...heck it scared us too!!! What if we stumbled as we entered a rocking boat?

Also add the Florida weather into the mix (storms and perhpas lightning....some of which go fast and others that linger and linger around) and you are telling me the Contemporary Resort folks will just have to essentially Deal with it? I don't think that would go over so well at all...

 

[puntagordabob]

I'm pretty sure they send multiple buses at the end of emh like at park closing. I've had to wait for a second monorail more times than I've waited for a second bus with the exception of my one stay at pop. Hundreds of people heading to the monorail resorts will create a wait, even for the monorail. It's not like switching to a bus magically makes more people leave at the same time.

Difference being that the monorail on the resort loop cycles by maybe five minutes or so like.....the busses are supposed to be every 20 minutes but I have actually waited 45+ minutes before.... that alone can create a large difference in your return to your resort duration. If I am at the MK and want to return to the Poly (I can see it!) it should not be possible for me to take as long to return to my resort as it would for someone to return to Old Key West!

Well, it's true an individual bus holds fewer passengers than a monorail train. But Walt Disney World is good at transportation management, including stacking up two, sometimes three buses when it's really busy, as well as dispatching buses more frequently when needed. .

LOL a monorail on the resort loop arrives every few minutes or so and picks up a comfortable 244 people (I am assuming that is adults...??)..... I am not certain of the bus capacity but lets say 50 people (is that too high?) that would mean it would take essentially FIVE busses to equal one monorail!

Okay, fine. For anybody refusing to accept that Disney isn't leaving anybody stranded at a resort or park, this change is apparently a cutback. For people who realize the monorails will be operating a minimum of twelve hours a day (eleven, possibly, at the Magic Kingdom on the two NOJ days) and that there's alternate transportation being provided after the monorail shuts down, it's a change.
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LOL you can "spin" this claim over and over..but until the definition is changed in the Websters dictionary the reality is that this is by definition a Cutback....

 

[angelmav]

LOL you can "spin" this claim over and over..but until the definition is changed in the Websters dictionary the reality is that this is by definition a Cutback....

But it CANT be a Cutback because that would put Disney in a potentially negative light (something that can never, under any circumstance be allowed to happen) and negate the umpteen posts stating that a cutback is not a cutback, but merely a change, as long as wording it as such results in disney not being portrayed in any negative way.

 

[doconeill]

Well, it's true an individual bus holds fewer passengers than a monorail train. But Walt Disney World is good at transportation management, including stacking up two, sometimes three buses when it's really busy, as well as dispatching buses more frequently when needed.

I'm sorry, I'm afraid you can't convince me of that. While waiting for an Epcot bus at SSR which didn't come for almost an hour, and a CM point blank LIES to us saying one had been by just 20 minutes before - when they weren't even there.

 

[kaytieeldr]

The many handicapped folks who attend EMH and stay at the Contemporary Resort will really appreciate the Zero transportation to their resort..... and the small resort boats are NOT handicap friendly..

I admit I'm confused why so many people do believe Walt Disney World will be stopping monorail service an hour after MK closes, but don't believe they'll replace that with buses - yes, even to the Contemporary/BLT?

LOL a monorail on the resort loop arrives every few minutes or so and picks up a comfortable 244 people (I am assuming that is adults...??)..... I am not certain of the bus capacity but lets say 50 people (is that too high?) that would mean it would take essentially FIVE busses to equal one monorail!

Again, your Poly(/GF) bus wouldn't need to hold 244 passengers. It would only need to transport the passengers going to those two properties - not the one's going to the CR, BLT, or the TTC. If there are a disproportionate number of people in that line, transportation has the ability to dispatch another bus or two, quickly. Simply because the typical interval is twenty minutes doesn't make that the rule.
Since you asked - sometimes it felt like I waited two days for a bus, but perception is deceiving. I've never waited over thirty minutes, and never that long at park closing. Usually it's well under twenty; sometimes it just seems longer because multiple buses for other parks or resorts show up first.

 

[snykymom]

So if the Epcot monorail also shuts down early because the resort monorail does then what about those who park at MK and then take the monorail over to Epcot in the evening? We've certainly done that often enough. I suppose that the resort bus will also stop at the parking lot?

It already does. One of the bus routes (and I don't remember which one) stops at one resort and the TTC; the other stops at 2 resorts.

 

[mom2rtk]

Okay, fine. For anybody refusing to accept that Disney isn't leaving anybody stranded at a resort or park, this change is apparently a cutback. For people who realize the monorails will be operating a minimum of twelve hours a day (eleven, possibly, at the Magic Kingdom on the two NOJ days) and that there's alternate transportation being provided after the monorail shuts down, it's a change.


Is it really that hard for you to accept that it's a CUTBACK? You try to admit you do...... but you can't do so without making a negative comment about those "refusing" to admit it's no big deal.

And seriously........ "not leaving people stranded" is setting the bar a little low for people paying $500 a night at a monorail resort.

You seem to think that everyone will feel better about their own circumstance if they would just look at this dang thing in a global fashion........how many hours a day it IS operating........ how few nights a week it affects the schedule......... But people look at it in very local terms..... how it affects THEIR trip....... THEIR touring schedule..........THEIR time of year to visit. And since that is how they will experience it, I don't think expecting them to look at it differently will change anything.


No, they didn't give you all a lot of notice. They likely gave as much notice as they had/could, but then I don't believe in conspiracy theories or that 'some bean counter absconded with the monorail repair money (neither of which you claimed, just random things from this thread ).


Believing this to be a monetary cutback for Disney under the guise of a safety issue does not make any of us conspiracy theorists. And if you think we believe a bean counter absconded with the funds, they you are missing our fundamental point. And it shows us a lot about YOUR thinking. You seem to view those of us who disagree with you in a pretty negative light. BTW.......I happen to look quite spiffy in a tin foil hat.


And I don't eat lobster, so it wouldn't matter to me what they served. Well, I guess it would. If I knew they were serving chicken, I'd have gone to the dinner . But that's not a reasonable comparison - Disney is giving as much advance notice as they can. In the lobster bar/chicken example (and the Heineken/Meister Brau/Schlitz one) the change is sprung as a complete surprise, after you arrive/order.

My point is......... since you don't eat lobster...... you probably wouldn't PAY for a lobster buffet. You'd go somewhere PRICED for a chicken buffet.

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[TLSnell1981]

I admit I'm confused why so many people do believe Walt Disney World will be stopping monorail service an hour after MK closes, but don't believe they'll replace that with buses - yes, even to the Contemporary/BLT?
Oh, I have no doubt, they will replace the monorail with buses. It's kind of like replacing buses with surrey bikes.. You'll get there, eventually, but the mode of transportation...far from ideal.
Simply because the typical interval is twenty minutes doesn't make that the rule.
Since you asked - sometimes it felt like I waited two days for a bus, but perception is deceiving. I've never waited over thirty minutes, and never that long at park closing. Usually it's well under twenty; sometimes it just seems longer because multiple buses for other parks or resorts show up first.

Perception is deceiving? You've never had to wait..that's not the case for others. Seems you have a healthy supply of pixie dust.

 

[mom2rtk]

Since you asked - sometimes it felt like I waited two days for a bus, but perception is deceiving. I've never waited over thirty minutes, and never that long at park closing. Usually it's well under twenty; sometimes it just seems longer because multiple buses for other parks or resorts show up first.

LOL! The buses are never late......... you guys just THINK they are!

 

[sandym718]

The many handicapped folks who attend EMH and stay at the Contemporary Resort will really appreciate the Zero transportation to their resort..... and the small resort boats are NOT handicap friendly...we have to fold my teenage son's wheelchair and BearHug him on board....we do not do that at all if we can avoid it as it scared him alot to be carried onto the boat...heck it scared us too!!! What if we stumbled as we entered a rocking boat?

Also add the Florida weather into the mix (storms and perhpas lightning....some of which go fast and others that linger and linger around) and you are telling me the Contemporary Resort folks will just have to essentially Deal with it? I don't think that would go over so well at all...

Something else I hadn't considered...disabled access. Seems that they will HAVE to add buses from the MK to the monorail resorts. But I believe I've read many reports on these boards of the disabled having to wait for several buses as they can only accomodate so many wheelchairs/scooters. Does not sound fun later at night and especially if the weather turns bad and everyone needs to take a bus!



Also wanted to report - just read a report from someone just back from the Poly (on the Poly thread). They waited 25 minutes for the Poly/GF bus from Epcot during EEMH (12:20 AM). I believe this was on Tuesday night. Not horrible...not great.

 

[TLSnell1981]

Something else I hadn't considered...disabled access. Seems that they will HAVE to add buses from the MK to the monorail resorts. But I believe I've read many reports on these boards of the disabled having to wait for several buses as they can only accomodate so many wheelchairs/scooters. Does not sound fun later at night and especially if the weather turns bad and everyone needs to take a bus!
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This is true and one of the main reasons...I hate taking a bus. Add a child or two, plus strollers...not fun!! Can you imagine, what it's going to be like now?

 

[morethananyonex]

This thread is killing me slowly.

 

[thptrek]

This thread is killing me quickly. We are going to Poly in December and will just deal with whatever transportation is available.

 

[phyllis1966]

This thread is killing me slowly.

Yes, I agree, but I just...can't...look...away!

I have to admit, I'm not thrilled that during our upcoming November trip, we may get stuck waiting for a bus back from Epcot on 4 of our 7 nights. It won't ruin our vacation, of course, but tired, nighttime monorail trips back to the GF are part of the appeal of staying at the GF. And no, I am not too to ride a bus, I'd just rather not at night when we're all pooped.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Is it really that hard for you to accept that it's a CUTBACK? You try to admit you do...... but you can't do so without making a negative comment about those "refusing" to admit it's no big deal.

And seriously........ "not leaving people stranded" is setting the bar a little low for people paying $500 a night at a monorail resort.

Ah, I didn't realize 'refusing to accept' was a negative comment. It was intended as a summary of the comments here. A surprising number of negative comments have been made about me and my opinions an POV, but I haven't commented on that until now.

Again, it's regrettable that people are so upset about substitute transportation. I won't apologize for having a positive outlook, or being a glass-half-full person, or thinking in a global fashion. I didn't know any of those were bad things.

Believing this to be a monetary cutback for Disney under the guise of a safety issue does not make any of us conspiracy theorists. And if you think we believe a bean counter absconded with the funds, they you are missing our fundamental point. And it shows us a lot about YOUR thinking. You seem to view those of us who disagree with you in a pretty negative light. BTW.......I happen to look quite spiffy in a tin foil hat.

I don't know... The consensus that Disney is claiming the downtime is for maintenance but really everybody "knows" it's financial has the earmarks of a conspiracy. And, search this thread - somebody absolutely did claim a bean counter absconded with the monorail repair funds.
eta: I found that thread http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=41998437&postcount=2076 and here's the pertinent part of it:

We should remember though that the monorail transportation department and its workers have done a super job and that it is not their fault that some bean counter robbed the funds needed to pad profits or whatever.

My point is......... since you don't eat lobster...... you probably wouldn't PAY for a lobster buffet. You'd go somewhere PRICED for a chicken buffet.

While MY point is, I would pay the price for the DINNER if I wanted to go to it - not the food, exactly. But I wouldnt pay any money for a dinner where I wouldn't eat the food, and I wouldn't expect the hosts to cater to me.

Oh, I have no doubt, they will replace the monorail with buses. It's kind of like replacing buses with surrey bikes.. You'll get there, eventually, but the mode of transportation...far from ideal.

Well, now, why not? In Boston, the pedicabs charge $85 an hour (maybe more). Maybe that's not a bad idea for the CR/BLT guests - chauffeured surrey bikes!

 

[nytimez]

Every time someone posts on this thread, God kills a kitten.

 

[DisneyChristmas]

Every time someone posts on this thread, God kills a kitten.

Lacus Somniorum...really...Kittens of the Moon Unite!

 

[Zeppelin]

Well you forgot that the guests staying at the Contemporary and Bay Lake Tower also have the walkway from the Magic Kingdom, so there is no reason for them to add a bus and I doubt they will. I can see them adding a bus for the Polynesian and Grand Floridian, although since those two resorts share a boat when leaving the Magic Kingdom I think WDW would rather have those guests take them instead and adding extra boats when the Resort Monorail is closed.

so i'm suppose to have my 8YO daughter walk back from the MK at 12AM on EMH nights??? I'm sure you've dealt with kids that age at Disney who want to stay even though they are exhausted....if they do not provide alternate transportation back to the CR for EMH the situation has gone from bad to worse...

 

[nytimez]

Look what you guys did!

 

[Planogirl]

so i'm suppose to have my 8YO daughter walk back from the MK at 12AM on EMH nights??? I'm sure you've dealt with kids that age at Disney who want to stay even though they are exhausted....if they do not provide alternate transportation back to the CR for EMH the situation has gone from bad to worse...

I was just thinking about some kids who might be exhausted from a long day. Or some elderly people or anyone who can't walk long distances very easily. That walk is no big deal to many but what about those who rented a wheel chair or stroller and now have to get back to their hotel?

As for cutbacks, it looks to me like the nays have it. This is only a rough sample of course but whether or not this is a cutback is really a matter of public perception and those that see it differently won't change that.