No MK Area Water Launches?

[YoHo]

Okay, If they come out and say its due to waterlevel, I'll be okay, but I worry then that that will affect WL and FW more then Poly, Contemp and GF, since those Launches are considerably Smaller.

Maybe we'll see a dredger out this summer.

 

[Captain Crook]

You know, my initial reaction to this rumor was exactly that, as we have heard about the low water levels in their lakes and the drought is really severe...But I still wonder why it wouldn't be stated. Certainly even if Disney has made no formal decision they would have heard these rumors and should want to make damage control...

I hope they won't take them (the launches) away under the guise of water levels and just never bring tem back!

IASW RIDER, the job is yours, should you choose to accept it...To visit the Poly with the direct intention of squeezing someone for the information needed to put this rumor to rest! Good luck and keep your guard up (that was the best Mission Impossible spiel I could write, sorry .

 

[YoHo]

This thread will self distruct in 10 seconds.


Actually, Disney may not feel the need to respond to Screamscape. I know If I were in charge, Screamscape would be last on my list.

The DIS would be second since none of you know my real name and I could become CEO and none of you would know so I could have fun messing with your heads only to make your Jaws drop when the truth comes out.

 

[IASW Rider]

Captain, I accept your mission and hope to do you (and all the rest) proud! I may even be able to provide you all with my findings while at the "target location", as I will have a laptop with me! I will also check the water level of the Seven Seas Lagoon with some secret ruler-like device (which I will have to conjur up within the next 48 hours!), to determine whether the water-level-explanation could possibly be true. I will, of course, keep my eyes open for Yo Ho, in case he happens to become CEO before then, and admonishes me for researching a potentially bogus rumor!

 

[JeffJewell]

I hope they won't take them (the launches) away under the guise of water levels and just never bring tem back!

Just thought I'd take this opportunity to agree with you completely.

Jeff

 

[Captain Crook]

Jeff, I am stunned and giddy! Just goes to show that we can find common ground if we so choose! LOL!

Agent Rider...Please be careful, wear dark colors at night and keep your transponder set at all times (although I don't know what the hell a transponder might be...).

 

[KidDurango]

I am not certain on the current state of the launches and water taxis, but I had actually assumed that they had already been discontinued due to water levels. They were shut down in the summer of '98 when this drought was just getting started. We got a little rain and they came back, but frankly the water situation is far worse now.
As an additional note, when they were shut down in '98 it was not because the boats were running aground, but because the floating docks were dropping so low that they were unsafe. The angles where the different sections met or joined the land had become so steep, that any guest traveling in a wheelchair would not have been able to board. The docks were modified to accomodate lower water levels, but I don't think anyone ever anticipated this. I have seen several lakes in the Orlando area that have been there all my life, just vanish.

 

[Captain Crook]

Thanks Kid! That is a bit reassuring on the Disney front...Although I think we'll keep Agent Rider on the job at this time (can always use corroboration).

We've started getting more rain here in the south, I guess you haven't as of yet, huh?

 

[Safari Steve]

The reason the Ferries are still running is because they run in channels... much more of this dry weather and they may have to stop running too. Last year at this time there were big problems that resulted from the pumping of water from retention ponds to 7SL via the MK waterways... Bay Lake is deeper than 7SL, so they may be running launches from FW and WL to the Contemporary... the only alternative is to block the water bridge and pump water from BL to 7SL... and that would be very expensive, not to mention making it very difficult to run any other way from FW and WL. The daily showers are starting, which is nice, but at this point (we're now into the 4th year of the drought officially) we need like 3 good sized tropical storms to bring us out.

 

[minijeanie]

Does anyone know the timeframe in which the closures will take place? We are going to Poly at the end of August, and I was so looking forward to taking the boat rather than using the monorail.

 

[lisapooh]

FWIW, the launches from WL and FTW are NOT accessible to guests in wheelchairs unless the guest can get out of the wheelchair and it can be lifted into the launch. This effectively means guest in ECVs and Power wheelchairs cannot use the launches.
What will the guests from these resorts do if they stop the launches. What the handicapped have been doing for years. Take the bus to TTC and take the monorail to the MK. So what's the big deal? I've been stuck on these buses for years!

 

[Captain Crook]

Lisa Pooh, you kind of miss the point (I think). If special loading needs are not allowed by these launches that is one issue altogether, but if the launches are discontinued, your already complicated route to the Park will just get worse as all of these people will now have to be accomodated on the busses as well.

Suffice to say, Disney probably won't be adding busses to meet this need, so the crowding just gets worse...

Anyway, here's to hoping this is just a water related issue & it's still just a rumor... as of now...

 

[SpaceMountain_uk]

If its true the Wilderness Lodge and Fort Wilderness will Not be affected It says the Monorail Resorts.

Screamscape has heard that there is a plan to cease all boat transportation between the Magic Kingdom park and the Monorail Resort Hotels (Polynesian, Grand Floridan, and Contemporary) as another resort budget cut

 

[IASW Rider]

Agent Rider checking in, Captain. Transponder in hand, I will see what I can do when I arrive on the shores of the Lagoon!

Here's a depressing thought - if the launches may be discontinued due to low water levels, does that mean that the Electrical Water Pageant will not be "running" at night for the same reason????

 

[YoHo]

The Water Pagent, Sprites and Saftey boats all run in much much shallower water.

Living next to the great lakes, I know a lot about low water (all that snow last winter apparently didn't help. A whole bunch of resort communities around the lakes had to pony up big bucks to dredge the small harbors. The problem in 7SL is that concrete water bridge. it has a fixed depth. Ironically, the FW/WL boats being bigger would be more sucseptable to problems. I don't know about the ferries, but they are likely flat bottom and thus won't have too much of a problem. On the other hand, the comment about the boat docks is really relevent. At my parents cottage in Wisconsin we use floating docks. Its been inconvient to say the least.

So we shall see.

 

[Captain Crook]

Yoho, I agree that it is the floating dock issue that is paramount. Obviously, most important to Disney would be the dreaded trip & fall scenerio. They will not risk lawsuits to keep the boats running I am sure...

 

[DVC-Landbaron]

I spent the first few years of my WDW in Fort Wilderness. And the "old" memory ain't what it used to be (except when it comes to prices and MAGIC! lol ). But I do recall talking to a CM (the pilot of the boat) that water level was critical because of the dock height in relationship with the boat (dependant on the water level). And I seem to remember him telling me that on occasion, they didn't run the bigger boats for that very reason. Or was it the smaller ones. I really can't remember, but one size of the watercraft is more forgiving than the other.

Now, this was thirty years or so ago. And I may be all "wet" anyway. Just thought I'd add what has been in the back of my head since I saw this thread.

----------------------------

BTW, do you like my new signature quotes?

 

[F.C. Fan]

I personally would love to see them do something different then the Ferries or Friendships.

Since the water level is low maybe think about an alternative form water transportation hydrafoils or even better yet HOVERCRAFTS (I can dream can't I).

The pros- the water levels wouldn't matter,(as far as the hovercrafts are concerned) , they would also be alot faster and more efficient than the ferries, Friendships, and the other boats in the Disney navy.

The cons would be the upkeep, cast members to operate them, and I'm sure the fuel would be sky high as well. Plus I'm sure they would cost a pretty penny and unfortunately the would cause rough wakes toward the boats the guests rent.

If only they could run on steam, solar, or even propane.

Ah just let me dream for a minute or so. ( If we can dream then we can do it yes we can yes we can)

Landbaron- I like the phrases

 

[YoHo]

Since Propane comes off the top of the same refinery as Unleaded, I doubt it is much cheaper.

That does bring up another valid point, Gas Prices. Disney has to keep the busses (at least for now), the Fuel costs on those boats may be getting high.

Personally, I don't want the trip to the Kingdom to be any faster then it is. Part of the joy is seeing that castle get closer and closer. Fast has no place here.

 

[Jennasis]

Don't Disney busses run on CNG (compressed natural gas)? It's better for the environment and cheaper too. Busses here in the NY metro area do.