Originally Posted By Manfried One thing everyone is dodging, mass transit systems are very expensive to build, and operate. Especially one off systems like WDW's monorail system.
Originally Posted By HokieSkipper <<One thing everyone is dodging, mass transit systems are very expensive to build, and operate. Especially one off systems like WDW's monorail system.>> So is running a theme park. maybe they should just stop doing that too. Oh wait...
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<Then again, it's just easier to claim that the smell of mold is magical. (Only in the world of Disney fandom...) >> Yep. It's like I've been with people who don't live on a farm (disclosure: the Spirit has not ever lived on one either) who kinda are amused by the smell of cow/horse pooh at a rodeo or petting zoo ... BUT they do realize what it is they are smelling and how it is only appropriate because of the location. When you have people grooving on the smells of mildew, body odor/sweat, and general filth ... again, I question their sanity. Filth isn't MAGICal just because it's on land that Walt picked out.
Originally Posted By Mickeymouseclub I bet most guests read those notices and griped but did not officially complain or ask for a refund on the Deluxe nightly fee at the Deluxe Hotel with the exclusive deluxe monorail advantage! So the next ? to ponder...is Disney increasing bus service to handle their deluxe guests or just pocketing the savings?
Originally Posted By DlandDug The only time I have ever heard of anyone describing a noxious odor as remotely "magical" is the caverns under PotC in Disneyland. There is something immediately evocative about the smell of that water-- and it does fit the theme of dank caverns filled with mouldering skeletons. The tang of mildew that assails the nostrils on the WDW monorails is just one of the many things i evoke when friends try to convince me that Orlando is just that much better than Anaheim...
Originally Posted By DlandDug That, and the fact that we spend about a third of our vacation time waiting for, or riding on, busses...
Originally Posted By Lee hisownself For what it's worth, this was posted over on Magic. I can't vouch for the poster, but it is interesting. "This change was begged for by hourly Cast Members in the department who used to have deep pride in their role, but have since become embarassed by the train's lack of reliability. Several Cast wrote multi-page emails to the VP of transportation and his superiors outlining the issues that the Monorails were having (basically everything that is brought up on all the other threads about Monorails being unreliable) and it was a huge victory in the Cast's eyes to see their opinions being heard and to have them agree to shorten the operating time in order to get the trains worked on properly. I know many of you don't believe it, but this IS about helping to keep the trains maintained. This is not about "jipping" the customer as so many of you here think. I work closely with the people who had to help make this decision, a lot closer than probably anyone in this thread. It was a tough decision, but they don't have the money to spend on new trains yet. Transportation is referred to as the "red-headed stepchild" department, even by its leaders. Even if Disney THE COMPANY has the money to buy the Monorails, Disney TRANSPORT does not get a big share. So Disney Transport had to make the tough call to cut hours to keep the trains maintained. One of the Monorail managers I talked to recently summed it up great by saying "They are spending all this money on the Fantasyland expansion, but how do they think people are going to get there if the Monorails can't run?" I guess it is just disheartening to see people emailing and calling in to change a decision that was fought for so hard by the hourly cast who are embarassed to always have to stand at the bottom of the ramp and direct Guests to watercraft or buses and know that the trains don't have time to be maintained properly. They didn't fight for this change so they could get "shorter days" or work less. The hourly cast got together and fought for it so that the trains could be fixed, and the Guests could be transported quickly and reliably on a system that they love. Sorry, rant over."
Originally Posted By ReelJustice I don't buy that an extra hour or 2 week is going to make or break maintenance.
Originally Posted By Lee hisownself ^^yeah. If anything, you would think they're take the system down for a week or so for maint.
Originally Posted By ReelJustice <<^^yeah. If anything, you would think they're take the system down for a week or so for maint.>> Or take a few down at a time and just run less trains for a while. A few hours, once a week won't magically fix the monorails. Also, just because the rails are offline earlier, doesn't mean they magically arrive in the barn at that moment. It takes time to get them all back there.
Originally Posted By ReelJustice An ex-monorail CM just pointed out, it's not like they'll all of a sudden have extra maintenance workers.
Originally Posted By ChiMike That, and the fact that for years they have put too many or left too many trains out running when they are not needed. I said it earlier, running two trains an extra 5 hours a week is not going to make a difference on maintenance schedules for any part of the system.
Originally Posted By ReelJustice I'm calling shenangigans. You don't shut down the whole system at once. If you have to, run 1 on EPCOT line, and 2 on Resort. You can't work on all of them at once.
Originally Posted By ChiMike They also need time to shut down the beamways, but needing that extra 5 hours a week is excessive. I would rather see them run less trains at night after the closing rush, shut down express at same time, and stop letting guests intentionally drag their feet when it comes to leaving after close.
Originally Posted By -em Typical operation right now has 8 rails out a day (2 epcot and 3 each MK beams) only at night or really busy days does either MK beam get their 4th or Epcot get their 3rd- I haven't seen (doesn't mean it hasn't) all 11 running at the same time for awhile... So 3 rails at a time are typically in shop for most if not all of the day. Rails will 'disappear' for days at a time presumedly for longer maintenance but its been awhile since any have disappeared for 3+ weeks... and I agree you can take a rail out of service for a few more hours but it doesn't mean there will be more people to service them... I think loosing the 12th has added additional stress to the 'rails as it is one more than could be in rotation- I remember right after the accident hearing they'd replace the 12th rail and since we haven't seen evidence of that yet makes me wonder if it's cause they've given up or if a new fleet will eventually replace the VIs...
Originally Posted By Mickeymouseclub I respect the sentiment and stress the monorail castmembers must endure especially since the accident. I would think many of the "guests" that save for the luxury of a Deluxe Monorail resort have also endured stressful workplace conditions the entire year.Nothing like being on vacation and being disappointed with this NEWS. I have a vacation scheduled for arrival July 20th at BLT Contemporary and have not received any notification! Sorry but Disney has the attitude that most guests will not stand in a line at City Hall or at the front desk to speak to a person that is just going to tell us So sorry but have a magical day anyway. Especially since they have made it impossible to register a complaint beyond that person with little authority. I am glad we made the decision to shorten our WDW portion to go to the NEW Harry Potter at Universal. Honestly everybody is more excited about Harry Potter and the Hard Rock Hotel. Disney you have a problem and you need to show you care!
Originally Posted By WDWVacationer At least the Cast Members care about the guest experience enough to try for change. I really don't think they will get mre work for the reason ReelJustice said-the people won't be there. Maybe the VP, now that he knows and knows what the CMs feel about it will either work to fix the trains or push for new ones. Its sad that to service guests they have to do a disservice.
