Monorails to no longer operate during Evening Extra Magic Hours

[kaytieeldr]

Your watch was obviously wrong.

Is sarcasm necessary?

 

[Robo]

Is sarcasm necessary?

That ship sailed a long time ago.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

I've had this exact conversation on another forum, so I don't feel like completely repeating it here. But CR's garden wing is the exception, not the rule. Every other room on the monorail is more expensive than its non-monorail counterparts (the cheapest rooms at GF/Poly vs. the cheapest rooms at Yacht/Beach/Boardwalk, the cheapest room at Poly vs. the cheapest room at WL/AKL, the cheapest studio at BLT vs. studios of other DVC resorts, etc).

Not only are the Garden Wing rooms at the Contemporary the least expensive room rates among the Monorail Resorts, that also makes them the most popular and why they can sell out far in advance.

 

[morethananyonex]

Is sarcasm necessary?

Probably not, but neither are most other posts on this thread, yet here we are .

 

[kaytieeldr]

I've had this exact conversation on another forum, so I don't feel like completely repeating it here. But CR's garden wing is the exception, not the rule. Every other room on the monorail is more expensive than its non-monorail counterparts (the cheapest rooms at GF/Poly vs. the cheapest rooms at Yacht/Beach/Boardwalk, the cheapest room at Poly vs. the cheapest room at WL/AKL, the cheapest studio at BLT vs. studios of other DVC resorts, etc).

I'm aware of the price difference. I believe the rooms at the MK-area resorts (not including BLT) are larger than the rooms at the Epcot-area resorts - another amenity. I'm on my iPod right now so it's hard to compare, but it looks like basic rooms at the Polynesian are about $30 more than comparable rooms at the Beach Club (despite its water park-like pool. Not an even trade-off, but not unreasonable either.

 

[DonaldDoleWhip]

It's okay. You don't have to refer to me as someone. It's not as if everyone doesn't know you mean me . Part of the amenities for which they're paying? Sure. Integral part... I don't know. Technically - and only technically, not in defense of anything - they only advertise monorail transportation. Not unlimited, no specific hours, etc. Technically again, Disney could run the monorail from noon to two every day and be within their rights.

They say they need longer, steady periods of time to do needed (likely more than routine) maintenance. Why not just take that at face value, use the monorail all the hours it's operating, and buses or boats when it's not? Oh, and thank you for being the first person besides KSDisneyDad and me to use the word "change" .

Until those resorts are collectively known as something other than the "monorail resorts," that's simply what they are. Anyone who books them does so because they expect monorail service during the park's operating hours. And for resort guests, EMH is part of those operating hours. Disney doesn't advertise "specific hours" for Magical Express either. But you can bet there would be quite a few angry guests if Disney cut DME completely from 11 PM to 2 AM for 'maintenance purposes', simply because guests who arrive in that time frame are missing out on something they paid for.

And again, I'm not paying $400 a night for a room at Poly or GF if (during the nights I happen to be at MK late) I have to take a bus back just like any guest at cheaper hotels. Many resort guests plan their time around EMH, so that affects my trip directly.

And again, I've said in this thread lots of times that I think a cutback is a type of change. It is a change - less monorail hours, more bus hours. It is a cutback for guests of monorail resorts who chose those resorts so they wouldn't be taking the bus to/from MK and Epcot (because everyone knows the monorail is preferred to the buses, so people pay more for it. sort of like how people pay more for a four seasons than a motel 6, even though both guarantee a room). But if it makes you feel better, you're welcome.

I'm aware of the price difference. I believe the rooms at the MK-area resorts (not including BLT) are larger than the rooms at the Epcot-area resorts - another amenity. I'm on my iPod right now so it's hard to compare, but it looks like basic rooms at the Polynesian are about $30 more than comparable rooms at the Beach Club (despite its water park-like pool. Not an even trade-off, but not unreasonable either.

Size doesn't matter, or at least not in all cases. Caribbean Beach has the largest moderate rooms and still costs the same as the others. The rooms at the Epcot resorts mostly include 2 queens and a daybed. There are some rare configurations (2 queens only, no daybed, a king, etc) but other resorts have that too (GF has some rooms without daybeds). Also, the Epcot resorts have special amenities that the MK resorts don't. Boardwalk area, Stormalong Bay, boats and walkways to 2 parks (including a special, not-so-crowded entrance into World Showcase). That shows there must be some sort of premium for being near MK. But wait? WL is also near MK and is the cheapest deluxe. That's partly due to smaller rooms, but also due to the transport options being limited to bus or boat (and the boat only goes to MK or other resorts). The monorail to MK and Epcot is a large factor in why GF, Poly, CR's tower, and BLT cost more than comparable resorts. As such, it's not wrong for people to expect the monorail during the park's hours of operation (including EMH). Now, if Disney were to shut down the monorail completely, truly do some maintenance, and lower the monorail resort rates in the meanwhile, I wouldn't have a problem. As it's being done, it just seems like a budget cut or some way to keep the weakening monorails going longer.

 

[Cafeen]

One poster who was actually in contact with a Cast Member and was giving this thread the information as she got it, was chased away because posters didn't believe or trust, or weren't satisfied with, the information. That's not the DISer's fault!

Disney phone CMs have ALWAYS had issues with giving out misinformation when they didn't know the actual answer (and by always, I mean at the very least for the past few years). Hence the general distrust on this forum and others when a phone CM answers a question.

Do you believe everything bus drivers tell you? If you did, you may be wondering where that new park is, or why the monorail hasn't gone through the Swan/Dolphin yet.

Now, I don't think the CMs on the phone outright lie (unlike the bus drivers in some cases ), but moreso they have to find an answer so they basically tell people what they want to hear. This is what leads to us, being more informed and more able to disseminate and spread said information, to a general distrust of anything a phone CM says, especially when the official word isn't quite so cut and dry. They could be right, but due to a very sore past history, them saying it is doesn't mean we'll believe it is until seen otherwise.

 

[puntagordabob]

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.

lol

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.

I doubt the CM lied to you..they from what you wrote only arrived recently...probably was a case where they received inaccurate information themselves.... they probably believed what they told you because they didnt lie...

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.

I have had to wait....doesnt happen a lot but when it does it is usually not fun. It tends to be at opening or closing time... of course it CAN be at any time.....

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

lol

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.

Yeah the disabled people are going to be the most messed up here...the ability of a monorail to absorb scooters, wheelchairs, and strollers is much better than that of a bus. My handicapped boy (18 years of age in wheelchair) loves the monorails...it allows him to feel like everyone else. He has commented many times on the busses with people giving him dirty looks for going to the head of the line and his dislike of being strapped in like a Nascar driver (his words lol). We avoid riding the busses whenever we can for these reasons mostly.

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.

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!

Yes, well it is also regrettable that we are being placed into a position to have reason TO be upset.

As to your second part, what can I say!

Your watch was obviously wrong.

How would you know this?

Disney phone CMs have ALWAYS had issues with giving out misinformation when they didn't know the actual answer (and by always, I mean at the very least for the past few years). Hence the general distrust on this forum and others when a phone CM answers a question.

Do you believe everything bus drivers tell you? If you did, you may be wondering where that new park is, or why the monorail hasn't gone through the Swan/Dolphin yet.

Now, I don't think the CMs on the phone outright lie (unlike the bus drivers in some cases ), but moreso they have to find an answer so they basically tell people what they want to hear. This is what leads to us, being more informed and more able to disseminate and spread said information, to a general distrust of anything a phone CM says, especially when the official word isn't quite so cut and dry. They could be right, but due to a very sore past history, them saying it is doesn't mean we'll believe it is until seen otherwise.

In other words we all Trust, BUT Verify! Good advice!

 

[puntagordabob]

kaytieeldr,
You seem to really feel strongly on this issue regarding the monorails and what little or no affect it will have on those staying at the resorts along the monorail line... so may I enquire how many times you have stayed at any of these resorts say in the past five years? For all I know you stay at the GF a weekend every month which would make you a serious expert on the operational aspects of this area of the resort...or the opposite could be true that you have not stayed at any of these resorts at all... This would greatly help me at least to understand ypur perspective better.

 

[nytimez]

 

[brunette8706]

Ok, I took a day off from the Attractions and Strategies forum to give you all a break .

In reading some of what I missed, to brunette.

The cutback vs change "debate" is utter silliness, but in writing a longer bit on this, I think I see the issue here.

Most of us are seeing this from a monorail service perspective. This service is being reduced, hence the cutback label. Kaytiee (If I flubbed the spelling I'll edit) is looking it from an overall transportation perspective, hence just a change of state.

I don't think many of us are concerned about being stranded in general, so what's at issue is actually the monorail service cutback and not worried about transportation as a whole (and by "us" I mean other people, as it's not likely to affect me this year at all ). They are placing higher value (for their own vacations) on the monorail than on a bus, and hence when the monorail is taken away and replaced with a bus, they are getting less value for the same cost. This is the consumer-side of a cutback in general.

Then again, I could be wrong , but I just don't think I am!

(As a note, I skipped a bunch between pgs 145 and 151. Deal with it )

*
Hi Cafeen!

Thank you!

Brunette

 

[brunette8706]

*
THey're SOOOOOOOO CUTE!!!!

 

[TLSnell1981]

BtW.. I miss the kitty cat thread. Anyone remember the title?

 

[sandym718]

Yup, I pointed that out earlier too. Just personally, I would find it VERY aggravating walking to a bus stop for the Contemporary, having to wait for it, all the while being able to wave to people on the Contemporary balconies .

If you aren't able or prefer not to do the walk to CR/BLT, no monorail leaves you in a pretty bad position, IMO.

If I were at CR or BLT, I'd just walk as well. But as you pointed out, some might not be able. I'm thinking of someone who rents a scooter/wheelchair in the park (you can do that right?). CR is not a very spread-out resort (say, like CSR), so an elderly person might be able to maneuver around it on their own OK, but still can't do a LOT of walking. But if that scooter/wheelchair has to be left in the park....That walkway is not that long to the CR, but at the end of a long day, for someone that's elderly or has some other issue...it might just be too long. Even though I don't think it will be highly used, I would think Disney will HAVE TO provide some sort of transportation (bus) to CR and BLT from the MK. How wide is that walkway? Would a tram (like in the parking lots) work?

 

[morethananyonex]

ALL OF THEM?!?

If I were at CR or BLT, I'd just walk as well. But as you pointed out, some might not be able. I'm thinking of someone who rents a scooter/wheelchair in the park (you can do that right?). CR is not a very spread-out resort (say, like CSR), so an elderly person might be able to maneuver around it on their own OK, but still can't do a LOT of walking. But if that scooter/wheelchair has to be left in the park....That walkway is not that long to the CR, but at the end of a long day, for someone that's elderly or has some other issue...it might just be too long. Even though I don't think it will be highly used, I would think Disney will HAVE TO provide some sort of transportation (bus) to CR and BLT from the MK. How wide is that walkway? Would a tram (like in the parking lots) work?

It isn't much wider then a regular sidewalk if I remember correctly, so I don't think they'd be able to have anything besides pedestrians on them. But I agree, I don't think they can just leave it as walking only.

 

[nytimez]

ALL OF THEM?!?

Yes. And this one's next.

 

[mom2rtk]

Yes. And this one's next.

You guys have to QUIT THIS NOW!

I just had dental work and my mouth hurts too much for all the laughter!

 

[morethananyonex]

You guys have to QUIT THIS NOW!

I just had dental work and my mouth hurts too much for all the laughter!

Yes, mom.

 

[puntagordabob]

Here is a picture of the walkway courtesy of allears.net

 

[kaytieeldr]

Disney phone CMs have ALWAYS had issues with giving out misinformation when they didn't know the actual answer (and by always, I mean at the very least for the past few years). Hence the general distrust on this forum and others when a phone CM answers a question.

This CM was admitting when she didn't have answers, not obfuscating, and offering (promising?) to call the DISer back when she had more information. Alas, due to skepticism we'll never know...