The race to worthless

[TinkAgainU]

The bridge would need to be similar to the ones over E. Buena Vista Dr. at DS. They built those, so maybe they’d build one for RIV/CBR, as well as an additional Epcot entrance gate, but I’m not holding my breath.

Maybe if the Skyliner is down long enough (for whatever reason) to hurt Riviera direct sales - in my opinion that would be the only motivator.

 

[Cfabar1]

I don't see them building a bridge there... Also another entrance means more security costs... I see it more likely that they will build another resort closer to the IG entrance.

 

[skier_pete]

Off topic - but they aren't building a bridge to Epcot. That's why they built the Skyliner. If the Skyliner isn't for you choose a different resort. I'm sure Disney was aware that a percent of people will be afraid to use it. (Ironic at a theme park full of rides.) But in the end there's something for everyone and if you don't like it, there's lots of other choices.

 

[walt34]

Maybe if the Skyliner is down long enough (for whatever reason) to hurt Riviera direct sales - in my opinion that would be the only motivator.

The Skyliner is a Doppelmayr/CWA gondola system that is operated around the world, often year round, and often (in skiing areas) under much harsher conditions than in Florida.
It is very safe and a prolonged closure seems therefore quite unlikely.

I don't see them building a bridge and a third entrance to EPCOT any time soon. Just think of the number of additional cast members required to operate another entrance with security check.

 

[TinkAgainU]

Haha, I think the number of people "afraid" of the Skyliner is not enough to warrant a discussion, we were talking about the not infrequent number of times it is down due to weather, where walking might be nicer than waiting for buses (which are not allocated permanently and have to be brought in for Skyliner downtimes). Extra security add expenses, but they DO have added gates for two out of the three Disney hotels in California, so it can be considered cost effective under the proper "sales motivations" In California it adds a couple of walk thru security machines, four plastic tables, and two to four staff members (four during early entry, for example) - not a huge outlay, but a Huge selling point.

 

[WinterSolider]

Wait, what? Somehow BLT got left out of this?

The Magic Kingdom resorts are arguably the least convenient locations in all of Walt Disney World unless you spend an inordinate amount of time at Magic Kingdom itself. The monorail to the TTC and then transfer to the Epcot line is wildly inefficient.

(This obviously doesn't apply to the Poly rooms that are close enough to walk to the TTC and skip the MK Resort line.)

 

[WinterSolider]

I do it this way because that’s how I would have paid, I would have never rented points.

But you wouldn't have paid rack rate either. There's always some kind of discount, usually around 30% for Deluxe resorts.

 

[Chuck S]

The Magic Kingdom resorts are arguably the least convenient locations in all of Walt Disney World unless you spend an inordinate amount of time at Magic Kingdom itself. The monorail to the TTC and then transfer to the Epcot line is wildly inefficient.

(This obviously doesn't apply to the Poly rooms that are close enough to walk to the TTC and skip the MK Resort line.)

Inefficient or not, I like the monorail.

 

[walt34]

In California it adds a couple of walk thru security machines, four plastic tables, and two to four staff members (four during early entry, for example) - not a huge outlay, but a Huge selling point.

I believe you are seriously underestimating the cost here. 2-4 (probably rather 3-6, you need to man the ticket gate, the security scanner and the bag search) people at the gates for 14+ hours a day, 365 days a year is quite an expense. In my opinion, they could reallocate some of the people who are currently employed to warn people who are stepping off the Skyliner. I have never seen something like this at any ski lift I've used.

 

[walt34]

The Magic Kingdom resorts are arguably the least convenient locations in all of Walt Disney World unless you spend an inordinate amount of time at Magic Kingdom itself.

It's not just MK but the whole MK resort loop and the MK. Thanks to the monorail the MK resorts and MK are integrated in a way similar to (and some would say more convenient than) the Crescent Lake resorts and Epcot. Whether this is a more or less appealing package is a matter of personal preference, I assume.

 

[VGCgroupie]

But you wouldn't have paid rack rate either. There's always some kind of discount, usually around 30% for Deluxe resorts.

When I calculate I use the current available incentives for my travel dates. Aulani I used 30% off, VGC the discount ends the day before my stay.

 

[BeachClub2014]

Off topic - but they aren't building a bridge to Epcot. That's why they built the Skyliner. If the Skyliner isn't for you choose a different resort. I'm sure Disney was aware that a percent of people will be afraid to use it. (Ironic at a theme park full of rides.) But in the end there's something for everyone and if you don't like it, there's lots of other choices.

I have no idea if WDW will decide to build a bridge connecting the Riv resort area to Epcot. I guess that will depend on the area's long-term plans. I don't think the existence of the Skyliner is the deciding factor, however. I mean the monorail services, both the Grand Floridian and Contemporary, yet WDW invested in walkways to allow for that option.

 

[Stank]

The Magic Kingdom resorts are arguably the least convenient locations in all of Walt Disney World unless you spend an inordinate amount of time at Magic Kingdom itself. The monorail to the TTC and then transfer to the Epcot line is wildly inefficient.

(This obviously doesn't apply to the Poly rooms that are close enough to walk to the TTC and skip the MK Resort line.)

The inconvenience of not staying at Magic Kingdom resorts is every reason to own there, especially BLT.

Leaving/entering Magic Kingdom is grueling. The rest of the parks are cakewalks.

 

[Bearval]

The inconvenience of not staying at Magic Kingdom resorts is every reason to own there, especially BLT.

Leaving/entering Magic Kingdom is grueling. The rest of the parks are cakewalks.

Not having to waiting in long bus lines at the end of the night at MK is the reason I bought some BLT points.

 

[Stargazer65]

It's not just MK but the whole MK resort loop and the MK. Thanks to the monorail the MK resorts and MK are integrated in a way similar to (and some would say more convenient than) the Crescent Lake resorts and Epcot. Whether this is a more or less appealing package is a matter of personal preference, I assume.

Yes, this!
The MK resort area with it's classic Monorail Resorts, WL, FW, and MK itself is a unique and special microcosm of WDW.

 

[Joroc0801]

Not having to waiting in long bus lines at the end of the night at MK is the reason I bought some BLT points.

Taking the boat back to WL on our last trip, even in the rain, was one of the factors that sold me on owning there. It was so peaceful and a perfect way to unwind after a long hectic day at MK. I look forward to many more of those moments with my kids over the years. Not to mention we walked right on and were back in our room in 10 minutes.

 

[TinkAgainU]

Taking the boat back to WL on our last trip, even in the rain, was one of the factors that sold me on owning there. It was so peaceful and a perfect way to unwind after a long hectic day at MK. I look forward to many more of those moments with my kids over the years. Not to mention we walked right on and were back in our room in 10 minutes.

Great reminder. That little paragraph could make me buy at WL.

 

[disneylandtour]

The Magic Kingdom resorts are arguably the least convenient locations in all of Walt Disney World unless you spend an inordinate amount of time at Magic Kingdom itself. The monorail to the TTC and then transfer to the Epcot line is wildly inefficient.

(This obviously doesn't apply to the Poly rooms that are close enough to walk to the TTC and skip the MK Resort line.)

The two parks I most enjoy at the moment are EPCOT and Magic Kingdom. I'm happy walking or taking a Monorail. To get back to every non-MK resort at the end of the night is usually a less than easy bus ride.

Animal Kingdom is a bus ride for everyone. BLT gives you monorail and/or walking access to two of the other three parks. That's quite good. Crescent Lake also gives you non-bus access (walking or boat) to two of the other three parks.

 

[WinterSolider]

The two parks I most enjoy at the moment are EPCOT and Magic Kingdom. I'm happy walking or taking a Monorail. To get back to every non-MK resort at the end of the night is usually a less than easy bus ride.

Animal Kingdom is a bus ride for everyone. BLT gives you monorail and/or walking access to two of the other three parks. That's quite good. Crescent Lake also gives you non-bus access (walking or boat) to two of the other three parks.

The average commute time from Bay Lake Tower to Epcot via the monorail is 34 minutes to the park, 47 minutes coming back. The average commute time from Animal Kingdom Lodge to Epcot is 17 minutes to the park, 17 minutes coming back.

Like @Chuck S says, maybe you just like the monorail. But I'd rather be on a bus for 17 minutes than on the monorail (and standing in line at the TTC) for 40 minutes.

"Monorail is better than the bus" is subjective and based on personal preference. "Monorail is faster than the bus" is something we can actually measure.

 

[walt34]

The average commute time from Bay Lake Tower to Epcot via the monorail is 34 minutes to the park, 47 minutes coming back. The average commute time from Animal Kingdom Lodge to Epcot is 17 minutes to the park, 17 minutes coming back.

Like @Chuck S says, maybe you just like the monorail. But I'd rather be on a bus for 17 minutes than on the monorail (and standing in line at the TTC) for 40 minutes.

"Monorail is better than the bus" is subjective and based on personal preference. "Monorail is faster than the bus" is something we can actually measure.

Not sure which source you are using but the 17 minutes seem to be awfully close to the actual travel time so it probably doesn't take into account waiting for the bus / resort monorail so the actual difference might be bit smaller as the average wait time for a bus is probably higher than for the monorail.

I'm also not quite sure about technically faster: The top speed of the monorail during regular operation is 40 mph. It's the switching of the trains and wait time in between that make this competitive.

But yes, it ultimately comes down to preference. I do prefer a full monorail to a full bus. And a full monorail holds about 360 people (that's about 5 buses).