Stuck on monorail for a long time!!!

[larryz]

Well, the next time it happens, you can all sing "It's a Small World" until rescued, or compare MagicBand ornaments...

 

[DPCummerbund]

All of these "I had a worse situation" stories are interesting but the simple fact remains that the WDW monorail trains are getting older and more prone to breakdown. I have a car with a lot of miles on it which is fine for tooling around town but I wouldn't rely on it in a difficult area or out in the middle of nowhere.

Interestingly enough, it wasn't the age of the monorail that caused it to break down. The article states that a hard drive in the electrical control system failed. So, it was those newfangled computers, and not the ancient mechanical hardware, the caused this particular problem.

 

[Planogirl]

Interestingly enough, it wasn't the age of the monorail that caused it to break down. The article states that a hard drive in the electrical control system failed. So, it was those newfangled computers, and not the ancient mechanical hardware, the caused this particular problem.

Don't get me started on computers nowadays. We struggle with them at work on a regular basis and now it appears that they might be a struggle while on vacation too.

Maybe I should find a deserted island...

 

[drinkme]

My ds was stuck on EE over the summer. His car was on the incline going up the big hill. The one that is right before you see the broken tracks. It stopped right in the area that is outside the mountain. So, we could watch the whole evacuation from the ground. It took them quite awhile to go rescue the riders. The riders had to be first taken out of the seat restraints. Then, since they were on an incline and lying back, they had to climb out of the car. Ds took some pics with his phone and you would freak out if you saw what they had to step out onto. Just a small metal step and really nothing to hold onto. I'm so glad I wasn't on the ride. Someone would have had to pry me out of there! My ds said no one helped him to climb out of the seat. I did complain to guest services and they told me they aren't allowed to touch people to help them out. Not sure how accurate that is but that's what I was told. Then once they climbed up the metal steps on the outside of the ride that goes into the mountain, they had to climb down around 8 flights of stairs to get down. Anyway, some of the people were coming off the ride crying because they were so scared.

I'm telling this because it seems a lot of rides are breaking down so much more. I would hate to be stuck on the monorail for 3 hours. That's just unacceptable. I think I'll join the others that said they won't be riding the monorail again. And ds said he will be riding EE again. You couldn't pay me to go on that ride again!

 

[SRUAlmn]

This happened to us once ON the TTC platform. It was in July and there was no A/C. We were literally still in the station, other guests were standing there waiting for the next train and staring at us like we were in a zoo. It lasted for almost an hour. People were banging on the windows as the CMs walked by asking for an explanation and they made an announcement that they were doing a safety check. Still not sure if we believed them because you could hopefully do a safety check without having a full, HOT train of people

 

[lylone]

Anyone ever get stuck on a Disney boat? That would be more aggravating than getting stuck on the monorail to me. I couldn't handle bobbing in water.. That would set my bladder off!!!!

 

[lucas]

I have been stuck on the Interstate in the same spot for 3 hours when the road is closed down to an accident. Darn, didn't realize I should have demanded an apology with tangible proof! In Tampa, there are lots of accidents nearly everyday, some with only 30 minute delay for minor accidents but yes, up to three hours if it was a major crash.

Not the same. You "could" go if you had to. I didn't actually see this but my parents saw it. They were stuck on the Florida turnpike at a stand still. The person in the car in front of them must have really had to go. The person opened both the front and back doors of their car. I guess it made a little stall but they were able to do what they had to do.

When driving on the Florida turnpike, many times (twice just on our last trip driving up to WDW for Veteran's Day) I have seen cars pulled over and parents letting their little kids "go." It seems dangerous but they must have thought stopping was better than not stopping.

What in the world would someone do in a packed monorail and being stuck for 2-3 hours? Going before getting on isn't the total issue. Anxiety and panic in these situations, can bring it on and you just have to GO.

 

[tndisneyfan]

That is my fear. Especially if the monorail broke down when it wasn't at a station. OMG

It's my fear too. We've been stuck on the monoril before but only for about 20 minutes. The monorail has become very unreliable. I don't know what it is, but every time we have an ADR at the Polynesian the monorail shuts down for a time.

 

[kandb]

I would much rather get stuck on the freeway for 3 hours then in a crowded monorail. You can't even compare the 2 IMO. If your stuck on the freeway, you could get out of your car and walk around. Being stuck inside a closed, crowded monorail not being able to get out, would be 1000 times worse to me.

 

[metzgardesign]

Apples and Oranges...but i do agree with the concept of your post.

In reality, Disney pays to build the building and then makes back what they spent a couple times over, in most cases, with in a year. DVC is an absolute cash cow!!!

I guess it doesn't matter then. But they certainly are not spending the money to upgrade (note, I did not mention marginally maintain) their operational facilities....at least not in markedly observable degrees.

And they very surely not spending much on upgrading the attractions offerings in a tremendous fashion. But, we did get the new Fantasyland expansion. And I suppose Avatarland may be coming someday?

As long as the impressive quantities of new DVC joints are serving as the absolute cash cow, then that's what should be concentrated on. The things needed to entertain those that are filling those cash cows (as well as transport them) can be secondary.

 

[Egdisney]

I would much rather get stuck on the freeway for 3 hours then in a crowded monorail. You can't even compare the 2 IMO. If your stuck on the freeway, you could get out of your car and walk around. Being stuck inside a closed, crowded monorail not being able to get out, would be 1000 times worse to me.

Yep, and you could at least roll down your windows to get fresh air. The older I get, the worse my fear if closed spaces gets. Flying is a nightmare, I don't think I will hop on the monorail anytime soon

 

[TXStormtrooper]

My ds was stuck on EE over the summer. His car was on the incline going up the big hill. The one that is right before you see the broken tracks.

I totally forgot that we got stuck in that exact same place right at the very top on EE back in 2007! It was less than 10 minutes and it was really beautiful up there (front row seats). Before we knew it, the ride started up again with no problems.

 

[mom2rtk]

I would much rather get stuck on the freeway for 3 hours then in a crowded monorail. You can't even compare the 2 IMO. If your stuck on the freeway, you could get out of your car and walk around. Being stuck inside a closed, crowded monorail not being able to get out, would be 1000 times worse to me.

I see what you are saying. But the car isn't always better. A few years ago we were stuck on a highway right outside Las Vegas for 3 hours. No explanation. Traffic just stopped. We turned on the radio....... and no traffic reports explaining way. Of course, nobody told us it was going to be 3 hours. We spent that entire time thinking it was going to clear any minute. We sat and watched the temperature on the car thermometer rise......... to 126. And yes, I kept the car running the entire time with the a/c blowing.

Eventually traffic just started going again, and when we got a bit down the road we saw workers picking up cones. Oy. I hate Las Vegas!

Oddly enough, I do still love the desert southwest. But I top off the gas tank even more often and travel with plenty of water. Maybe I should add adult diapers to the provisions next time....

 

[AmyB2006]

Anyone ever get stuck on a Disney boat? That would be more aggravating than getting stuck on the monorail to me. I couldn't handle bobbing in water.. That would set my bladder off!!!!

Well does PoC count as a boat?? LOL Right by the "jail" scene. Where they whistle for the dog.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

Yeah, I see the "I spend so much money to come here and I expect everything to be working absolutely perfectly." Sorry, stuff happens. Monorails break down. Rides break down. The First Lady comes to appear at a fundraiser and they stop all traffic for security reasons. Cars and buses get stuck in traffic. Sometimes they break down. Sometimes the bus you're on is loading three scooters and you have to wait. Nothing you can do about it.

3 hours in a monorail is kind of drastic, that kind of thing doesn't happen all the time. In fact there is some indication on this thread that it's only happened once. Maybe that's enough for some to quit riding it altogether. I've been stuck in one for a half hour before, nothing could be done. If it makes one feel better to stick to the boats, there is that option. The ferry boats are large, and you can probably walk around them.

 

[DPCummerbund]

Yeah, I see the "I spend so much money to come here and I expect everything to be working absolutely perfectly." Sorry, stuff happens. Monorails break down. Rides break down. The First Lady comes to appear at a fundraiser and they stop all traffic for security reasons. Cars and buses get stuck in traffic. Sometimes they break down. Sometimes the bus you're on is loading three scooters and you have to wait. Nothing you can do about it.

3 hours in a monorail is kind of drastic, that kind of thing doesn't happen all the time. In fact there is some indication on this thread that it's only happened once. Maybe that's enough for some to quit riding it altogether. I've been stuck in one for a half hour before, nothing could be done. If it makes one feel better to stick to the boats, there is that option. The ferry boats are large, and you can probably walk around them.

You're absolutely right. This is one of the MANY cases where people are blowing their worry about something WAY out of proportion.

According to Wikipedia, 50 million people ride the WDW monorail every year. I have not found any references to a stoppage like this (2-3 hours or more) aside from the 2009 reference. There may have been others over the 40+ years of monorail ridership, but none in recent experience. A Disney employee was also killed in a monorail accident in 2009 - but then again, there have been bus-related deaths at WDW too.

Hypothetically, let's say a stoppage/accident occurs once every five years. At 50 million riders per year, that's 250 million riders in 5 years. As with the stoppage, let's assume that 300 people were onboard. 250 million divided by 300 equals a 1 in 833,000 chance of being "severely affected" by a monorail incident.

Here's an interesting graph of your odds of dying by various causes: http://www.nsc.org/news_resources/injury_and_death_statistics/Documents/Injury_Facts_43.pdf

Using that chart as a guide, as compared to being stuck on a monorail, you are:
8 times more likely to be struck by lightning.
8 times more likely to be killed in a storm.
8 times more likely to be killed by a dog.
12 times more likely to be killed by wasps, hornets, or bees.
68 times more likely to be electrocuted.
217 times more likely to choke on food.
750 times more likely to drown.

So, the most dangerous place in WDW isn't the monorail, it's the pool - or the restaurant. If you don't want to die (or be horribly inconvenienced) at WDW, ride the monorail - don't eat in the restaurants or go for a swim in the pool.

 

[Nakkira]

I feel fr safer on the Monorail than I do behind the wheel of my own car.

 

[Bullseye]

Got stuck on one for 45 minutes during a raging lightning storm once. we were just short of the TTC when it stopped. The cars were crammed full because it was the end of the night and the power went off so there was no AC. I have to admit that was really claustrophobic.

When they finally got us into the station it was like the fall of Saigon. Everybody around us started screaming and running down the ramp like maniacs because of the storm. DW and I just looked at each other like "what the heck?? "

We still ride them, but I use Ferry just as much now.

 

[reginaastralis]

On our way to the Villain's party in September we were stuck on our bus for three hours. Traffic was bumper to bumper, and once they pull away, the bus drivers aren't allowed to let you off on the street.

It was a long time to be stuck on a bus, that was standing room only. People were taking turns sitting, and the only ones who really had any issue with it were children, because it's impossible to explain "Well, we'd get off ... if we could" more than 10 times before they think you've absolutely lost it.

No apology from Disney, no free _____ ... and it was fine. Our bus driver was sincerely kind about the mess, and that was all we needed. And, I can honestly say, I've now waited in a line longer than 20 minutes for a ride at Disney.

 

[fla4fun]

I have been stuck on the Interstate in the same spot for 3 hours when the road is closed down to an accident. Darn, didn't realize I should have demanded an apology with tangible proof! In Tampa, there are lots of accidents nearly everyday, some with only 30 minute delay for minor accidents but yes, up to three hours if it was a major crash.

We got stuck on the Howard Frankland Bridge for over three hours once, headed from Disney back home when we lived in Pinellas County. Two of those big sand/gravel haulers collided and dumped their load all over the bridge, so they had to get the trucks out, and then remove the load. It was the middle of summer, and sooooo hot. There was a guy with a pickup truck full of watermelons that made a lot of money selling them to people who were stuck. We stopped at a restaurant right after we got of the bridge, and we must have consumed gallons of ice water! We started taking the Gandy bridge after that - just felt more comfortable taking a shorter bridge.

I was sort of "stuck" on a Disney boat once. We were headed back to CR after HDDR at FW. They were running the route counterclockwise, so we had the long stretch to cross. A rainstorm came on us (we were in the small open boat) and it was raining so hard, the driver couldn't see to drive. You literally couldn't see more than a foot or so outside the boat. It seemed like a lot longer than it actually was (maybe 15-20 minutes) before it let up enough that he could see to start driving again. That was many, many years ago - I would assume now that Disney has better radar and would tell the boat not to leave the dock if a storm like that was in the area. But it was kind of scary not being able to get your bearings by looking around at the familiar landmarks.

Needless to say between that, and the long walk up the CR boat dock, we were pretty much soaked when we got back to our room!