Originally Posted By ChiMike >>Sorry, I am not sure what you are trying to say. I thought that we are talking about two hours on evening EMH days at the MK and Epcot. << We are. You said that, basically, EMH does not stop them from servicing the other 7 or 8 trains which would be offline. That is correct and a great point. Not only is it correct, but highly realistic because of the manpower issues as well as the fact they can't fit every train in the roundhouse anyways. So running three extra trains (1 & 2), two extra nights a week shouldn't affect their ability to work on the trains themselves. So then the issue is either that they need more time on the beamways (which again is their own fault) or they don't want to pay the costs any longer to staff the entire operation for two-three trains running late into the night. My response to your post dealt with the fact that they seem to delay removing the trains from the system based on weakening crowds. This creates more maintenance work irrespective of your point because those trains are now racking up the hours 'unneedlessly' towards a future maintenance service. I am happy they are supposedly trying to fix the problem that they themselves have created, but I think the EMH issue is pretty darn excessive. I would first start by limiting the amount of trains running. Prior to EPCOT folks really didn't complain when they had to wait 8 minutes for a monorail, yet, back then they didn't complain about a lot of things. To me, reducing trains to what Em identified 2-3-3, makes a lot more sense. If the beamways need service, shut them down for three-four weekdays in September. Disney won't do that because that would mean they have to pay for a ramped up maintenance team rather than spreading out the workload over what I presume to be now, a skelton crew.
Originally Posted By danyoung >Considering I know what a fan you are of acronyms...< Actually I'm not real fond of them, but they seem to be a part of Disney online communication. But if we've gotta use 'em, then they oughtta be used correctly!
Originally Posted By Bolna ^^^ ChiMike, thanks for explaining, I get it now. And thanks for the point on the beam - I had been thinking that as well. And it just shows that somehow someone up there is not willing to spend money on transportation. So shortsighted! But that's no news unfortunately.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 More defending da man. Seriously, where's my podcasting and blogging pals? They must have some way to spin in this in a positive Disney PR vein. Take that passive aggressiveness and come play in the LP where all opinions welcomed, even insane ones (right Trippy?) Wouldn't it be great if all these 'Disney Lifestyle' personalities came together here to discuss REAL issues in REAL adult forums with people who generally (right Trippy?) have brains? ***Time out to give props to John Frost, who was quoted in the generally weak Sentinel piece, for showing some integrity in his honest appraisal of the situation. *** Disney has been avoiding investing in transportation in infrastructure for a good 15 years now. I could even say longer since they had planned to expand the monorail from EPCOT to the Disney-MGM Studios and EPCOT Resort area (was on the maps in the late 80s for mid-90s build). We all know how that went. And they've been running the current trains into the ground with no plans to upgrade the fleet at all. But all the defenders can come out (just like they'll defend corporations paying no taxes and schools being closed and people dying in the USA from lack of health insurance) and talk about the COSTS. There is something very basic in business called 'the cost of doing business' ... and nowhere does it say you or your stockholders are entitled and expected to see constant growth in their portfolios. Sometimes, you just have to spend. And WDW isn't some local mom and pop operation just barely keeping the lights on. There are throngs of insane people willing to spend more than I've paid at REAL 5-star resorts around the world for 3-star quality (on a good day) at WDW monorail resorts. How can Disney afford anything when the basic rack rate at its motels are over $100 a night. Value? I don't think so. I am just glad WDW hasn't petitioned Governor Scott for a special 'Pixie Dust Exemption' that would allow them to pay CMs only for only every other day they work. Maybe I should call Tallahassee and suggest it? And people wonder why I think it would be a good idea for Disney to sell off its P&R? Seriously. Don't you just wonder how they can't be embarrassed by things like this? By how far they've fallen and how they don't seem to care? 'We can't run the monorails because they're too old and too worn out and we can't get the brake pads replaced until Bobby Joe works another two months of OT,'' said $80,000 per year Disney Talking Head Spokeswoman. Funny how they can keep them running to almost 100% reliability in Tokyo and look like they're brand new, even despite the worst natural disaster in the history of the country. Monorail resorts have ALWAYS provided monorail service to guests (usually for a minimum of 7 a.m. to 2 a.m.). Period. Even back when rooms at the Poly were $40, not $400 (with a discount). WDW is falling apart, has been since the 90s, and gets worse by the day, and Disney just keeps tossing pixie dust in the air and hope it will stick to the feeble minded. Sadly, it has ... but somehow I think they've reached a tipping point (when MAGICal fanbois are 2-to-1 attacking management, you may have gone too far). Does Meg even know what a monorail is? Has Bob Iger ever been on one?
Originally Posted By ChiMike >.Actually I'm not real fond of them, but they seem to be a part of Disney online communication. But if we've gotta use 'em, then they oughtta be used correctly! << I wonder how many other sarcastic posts of mine you took seriously, I need to be less so as not to give the wrong impression! I was joking Dan, I think you're right too, acronyms are used too much.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 Oh, and I guess the absurdly excessive MK EMHs (which in turn were brought on by 20 years of cutting park capacity) isn't an example of no thought to how it would effect something like transport. Of course, they also used to regularly keep EPCOT open NIGHTLY until 10, 11 or midnight and trains weren't falling apart either.
Originally Posted By dshyates "What I am saying is that it is silly when they are still running 3 trains on EPCOT at 10:00p. Or running 3 trains on the Resort Line at 2:00a. Its appears to me to be nothing but sloppy operations. Who knows, maybe it is so difficult to move trains around after the crash, that they don't draw down capacity as quickly as they use to." Oh, ok sorry, I misunderstood you post. I agree that more efficient ops could reduce wear and tear on the vehicles. I think the club fisted decision is dumb. What I would do is cut evening EMH at Epcot. Then cutting Monorail service to Epcot would be a moot point. Cut the Express line during MK evening EMH and continue providing monorail service to the monorail resorts and TTC with the resort line.
Originally Posted By Bolna <<Funny how they can keep them running to almost 100% reliability in Tokyo and look like they're brand new, even despite the worst natural disaster in the history of the country.>> Quite easy, in Tokyo they have a customer base which knows what good public transport looks like - and that's what they expect. They can't offer anything less there. I think a lot of WDW's guests never have been on a modern train in their life, they have no idea what to expect and are just blinded by the sheer existence of a monorail.
Originally Posted By sjhym333 First I have to say...WOW. If I were staying at a monorail hotel I would be very very angry. Second, as an ex-raillie I can say there are easier fixes to some of this than this. I agree that the easiest one is to shut down the express monorail and the EPCOT monorail after normal operating hours and only run the resort trains. That leaves 3 trains running and the other 8 being worked on. Also when I was in rails we would often increase and decrease the number of trains running during the day to accomodate guests and maitenance. So for instance 4 trains on the resort beam, 4 on the express beam and 3 on the EPCOT beam for opening. Then after the morning rush we would go to 3-3-2 and send a couple back to shop so that maitenance could do some work. When the evening CM's came in we would take them to shop and start bringing out trains to run a full contingent at closing. On nights that the MK was opened late we might not do that until after 6pm and not go into full mode until just before the fireworks. I guess what I dont understand is you could realistically run 3 trains on express, 3 trains on resort and 2 trains on the EPCOT beam and have one spare ready to go and two in rehab at all times. In the old days if it was crowded and we were only running 3 trains on express we would have someone at the bottom of the ramp and encourage guests to take the ferry. Of course when I worked in rails we also ran trams from TTC to the MK (pre bus station at the MK) which was an ugly experience for all. It says alot to me that Disney mgmt believes that you can run a transportation system for 20+ hours a day and not do prevenative maitenance on it. Part of the problem is the ever expanding park hours at the MK. I recently said to a friend who transferred to the MK...better you than me. Between EMH and the never ending special events ther are way to many late nights and long days. I used to look forward to Sept/Oct in the MK because it was slow and the park closed at 6pm. It was a great time of rest for us and it was when maitenance caught up in the park and in transportation, but I guess those days are long over.
Originally Posted By danyoung >I was joking Dan, I think you're right too, acronyms are used too much.< Sorry,didn't catch the sarcasm. It's a big problem online, when all you have to go on is the words on the page, without the benefit of expression or tone of voice. I know there are emoticons, but I'm not a big fan of them either. And I have never, and will never, lol'd!!!
Originally Posted By vbdad55 That, and the fact that we spend about a third of our vacation time waiting for, or riding on, busses... ---- allowing an hour each way -- you only stay in the parks for 4 hours ?
Originally Posted By vbdad55 while I respect the fact that CM's supposedly asked for this down time to srvie monorails- did they also provide a soplution to transport since the ferry boat also does not run then? Can't whine for something that creates another problem and not provide a solution for that problem.
Originally Posted By HokieSkipper As I've said before, I don't believe for a second CMs actually caused this. They day management actually listens to Cms is the day Walt comes back from the dead.
Originally Posted By ChiMike ^Hopefully he won't have a room at the Grand! You know how he likes his early morning strolls.
Originally Posted By ReelJustice <<As I've said before, I don't believe for a second CMs actually caused this. They day management actually listens to Cms is the day Walt comes back from the dead.>> This. And if they did listen, it wasn't out of the goodness of their hearts, they saw an opportunity to cut service.
Originally Posted By 3disneylocations <<How is staying in the park during Evening Extra Magic Hours not leaving in a timely manner? The park is still open.>> Don't bother. All of us have already brought it up to hiim.<<< I think he was talking about the unwashed masses non resort guests who try to scam the company out of an extra attraction or MS experience. I hate off property riff raff who try to get away with this.
Originally Posted By ChiMike You've got to be kidding me. If the post above is serious, See VBDAD, this is the mindset that I do encounter from DVC members. Not sure if 3disneylocations is one, or if they are being sarcastic here, but this sentiment does pop up from time to time.
Originally Posted By ReelJustice <<Sadly, it has ... but somehow I think they've reached a tipping point (when MAGICal fanbois are 2-to-1 attacking management, you may have gone too far).>> Hence the lofty plans forthcoming at the Expo? Appeasement in the form of concept art?!
Originally Posted By ReelJustice <<I think a lot of WDW's guests never have been on a modern train in their life, they have no idea what to expect and are just blinded by the sheer existence of a monorail.>> A very good point. The closest thing we have in New Orleans is a street car (trolley)
