Originally Posted By ReelJustice <<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>> I mean, that's a nice thought, but if he didn't notice there was a problem before the emails, I won't hold out much hope. Not a very good VP.
Originally Posted By sjhym333 I understand the thought by the CM's. I just think Disney's response is odd. If I were in charge I would look to shut down the EPCOT monorail beam as quickly as possible at the end of the night. When I was in EPCOT mgmt I would inform the tranportation managers on a regular basis what our current in park was after 9pm. That way they could decide when to start pulling trains. I think 1 hour to 75 mins is enough time to get people out of the park and onto a monorail back to TTC. If it goes over 15-20 mins you extend till your lines are gone but it is doable. Over at the MK I would be closing the exterior (express) monorail as soon as the line allowed you to do that. When the exiters become stragglers I would have no problem to send them to ferries, busses and the resort beam, which in my opinion should remain open while there are guests in the park. With this scenario you could get the majority of the trains to the barn and get maitenance working on them. Of course this is all a moot point if you dont have enough maintenance CM's to truly work on the trains
Originally Posted By ReelJustice <<That post has plant written all over it. I don't buy it.>> ah, our dear old friend "social media." I agree with you btw. ~laughing at the monorail cm's lack of pride~
Originally Posted By ChiMike >>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.<< Good thoughts. I also give the front line CMs a lot of credit if that posting is true. On the other hand, how do you think the MK hotel boys feel about this possibly being the reason? Why they will now have to be on the receiving end of irate guests rather than the transportation folks!
Originally Posted By ChiMike SJHYM, you did a much better job of expressing what I was thinking. Em's post was helpful, but too many times have I seen 3 empty trains running on Epcot and 4 Resort trains running with very light guest loads late into the night. I don't understand the point for 4 trains on express, ever. It seems counter productive. They have run this fleet into the ground for all sorts of reasons, operations and maintenance. And now again, the guests pay the price, not Disney, not the managers from the last decade, nope, the guests have to feel the pain, not the execs or the shareholders. And I really am sick of hearing how much new trains will cost, or how much it would cost to hire more maintenance staff. HOW MUCH ARE THEY SPENDING ON NEXT GEN INITIATIVES!?!?!?!?!?
Originally Posted By HokieSkipper <<HOW MUCH ARE THEY SPENDING ON NEXT GEN INITIATIVES!?!?!?!?!?>> 1.5 billion freaking dollars on fluff, instead of things necessary for the operation of the resort.
Originally Posted By WDWVacationer <<I mean, that's a nice thought, but if he didn't notice there was a problem before the emails, I won't hold out much hope. Not a very good VP.>> I didn't think it would happen...but I can hope. <<That post has plant written all over it. I don't buy it.>> Didn't even think about that...it is possible and they'd have good reason. Get people away from thinking Disney is trying to hurt guests and think they care. (A trap I fell for.)
Originally Posted By ChiMike >><<Supposedly, it's also a beam issue...>> What's the issue there? << The concrete beam and all of the electrical components connected all require routine and preventative maintenance. I'm sure it has been lacking for years now. I have a hard time believing 4 or 5 extra hours a week is the silver bullet.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>>>.. and you have to smirk when the mono spiel on the way to/from EPCOT mentions something about the time when the monorail modernization project was completed, upgrading the monorails... Hahaha what a joke.<<<< I HATE hearing them date themselves like that... 20 years is FAR too long.
Originally Posted By ChiMike I agree. Great point TDLFAN! You really wonder how being an employer that everyone wants to work for why they end up with people who simply have no clue what they are doing. That annoucement was outdated by the time of the millenium celebration at worst.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>>Doncha know those are MAGICal smells? I'm surprised I haven't heard someone say they heard a podcaster or blogger talking about how disgusting filth stenches that have become acceptable SOP are like pixie dust and pentunias (sorry, I needed a quick 'p' ... word ... do they smell?) and would hate if they 'changed them'. Gotta constantly defend Disney because it's only in this Walmarted World of Disney that people have been able to create Disney Lifestyles. People already talk about moldy smells at WDW as being something 'Disney' ... I just chalk that up to again, the incredible degree of mental illness in the fan community mixed with Disney's incredible ability to take advantage of it (I got an amazing email on said subject this morning that would absolutely be part of a book on it).<<<< Defending filth? That's just sick. The only "smell" that I would think is enjoyable is the smell of the water in certain rides, like POTC or IASW, which isn't dirt, it's just how it smells.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer I doubt this is for Maint. A few hours a week isn't going to help anything. Sounds all cost related.
Originally Posted By GOB >>>Doncha know those are MAGICal smells? I'm surprised I haven't heard someone say they heard a podcaster or blogger talking about how disgusting filth stenches that have become acceptable SOP are like pixie dust and pentunias (sorry, I needed a quick 'p' ... word ... do they smell?) and would hate if they 'changed them'. Gotta constantly defend Disney because it's only in this Walmarted World of Disney that people have been able to create Disney Lifestyles. People already talk about moldy smells at WDW as being something 'Disney' ... I just chalk that up to again, the incredible degree of mental illness in the fan community mixed with Disney's incredible ability to take advantage of it (I got an amazing email on said subject this morning that would absolutely be part of a book on it).<<<< I think you're confusing two things here, Spirit. Folks like me love the smell of Pirate water (not mildew) because we associate it with childhood memories, much like how when I have a Coke and popcorn, I associate it to my first visit to WDW and on Main Street where my mom first let me have a soda. Now, I understand your point about "mental illness", but I think it's a bit of a generalization, when there are a fair amount of people who like certain aspects of WDW (within the realm of reason, of course) due to memories as a child or otherwise.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>> I think you're confusing two things here, Spirit. Folks like me love the smell of Pirate water (not mildew) because we associate it with childhood memories, much like how when I have a Coke and popcorn, I associate it to my first visit to WDW and on Main Street where my mom first let me have a soda. Now, I understand your point about "mental illness", but I think it's a bit of a generalization, when there are a fair amount of people who like certain aspects of WDW (within the realm of reason, of course) due to memories as a child or otherwise<<<< Yup. Lots of things in Disney have VERY distinct smells that have nothing to do with grime and filth. Like the Poly. Smells SO good.
Originally Posted By Goofyernmost I am not going to say one way or the other about the source of whatever odor that is in the monorails, except for this... You know how we associate certain smells with certain events? Well, I rode my first monorail at WDW in 1983. I rode them again pretty much every year since then, the latest being last September. My personal observation is that they smell the same. I step on a monorail and the odor, like the popcorn as you enter MK, is my memory trigger. I don't notice any difference at all. I just always assumed it was something that they used to clean the carpets or seats. I never found it unpleasant, just different and definitely something that triggers my memory every time I board the train. So, call me crazy, or fanbois or whatever you like, but I don't think that these trains are anywhere near as "dirty" as some of you have made them out to be. Now I have caught a whiff of some of the passengers that have spent a long day in the sun (and some that started out that way) and that was sometimes quite unpleasant, but I don't think Disney can control that unless they assign an armpit investigator at the doors. JMHO!
Originally Posted By danyoung >So, call me crazy, or fanbois or whatever you like, but I don't think that these trains are anywhere near as "dirty" as some of you have made them out to be.< Ditto. I was there a few months ago, rode several monorails, and never once noticed any smell other than the slightly rubberized antiseptic smell of cleaning fluid. But what good is any rational input when we can all freak out about imagined problems?
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer ^ It very well could have been cleaned up that day. But then I was there, it stunk.
