Originally Posted By ChiMike From my view there was a lot of pride for the monorail operation held by those involved with them. When the system grew with Epcot those folks had even more to be proud about and with the support from management amped up their outstanding operations and pride in the upkeep of the fleet. When the Mark VI changeover occured there was a lot of frustration with a handful of problems that were chalked up as Disney being cheap. It was an adjustment but looking back a very immaterial one. However even through those tiny, tiny, frustrations with the change-over it didn't effect how well the system was ran for the guests. In it's current state (ops and fleet), I would agree with anyone who has problems with the quality of the monorail and it's operations. During my last trip, one well-to-do looking guest boarding from the GF immediately commented how smelly the monorail was to the rest in his party. He expressed shock that ""Disney"" would present the people (aka people like him at GF) with such a beat up monorail. It did make me think. That the GF is still supposed to be the pinnacle of Disney quality, yet the guests laying down the dough to stay there have to deal with these issues. It's not like losing A/C is some fluke that we have just read about for the first time.
Originally Posted By ChiMike >>Neighors brother is the police chief -- trust me there are issues. Maybe not as bad as a few years ago - but issues none the less...<< There are certainly issues with the area. Gurnee is nothing like it used to be and gang activity is out of control in (of all places) Waukegan. But the park simply does not present the problems of other urban area parks in this country. All occuring because Mayor Daley has done a great job of pushing gang activity up there and into Aurora and Joliet. It's not hard to believe that Naperville will move a murder victim to the other side of 59. Can't loose that national stat! But I have dozens and dozens of first-hand experiences in the park and within the park there is far less bleed-over from the area than there was even 7 years ago. I can't trust your source of information over what I see for with my own eyes. And I think I have good eyes for theme park 101. I'm sure there are many incidents throughout the year, but SF does a good job of dealing with them. Keeping them out of sight of the patrons. Not like the insane lack of control I found at Knotts on my last visit, a park I otherwise like. The line-jumping there was CRAZY. SFGAM is not a Disney park, but it is a nice coaster park to have within a 45 min drive. I wouldn't go there if it had a bad vibe. >>Yes, we do have a first hand experience also, while attending a fright night last year..without going into detail-- I grew up on the south side of Chicago in a not so nice area ( being kind) so I know issues when they are there..<< I'm sure Fright Fest can get bad and that is why I don't go to those things. I wish the park didn't do them. If something remotely bad happened I do know the park would give you a full refund. That probably would be a good example of the park scumming it up. There are crazies in this world and scum, while a lot of nice people like things like FF, those type of events do attract the crazies. However, I am confident that a typical June Saturday would get you much better results. >>Now maybe during a weekday - during the day might be better ( we stopped going so I don;t know about the last few years) - I'll give you that if that is your experience, but to think the latter isn't a problem just isn't true. I watched Riverview closed down and part of the reason was the 'toughness' if you will of the attendees near the end as I am sure you well know also.<< Completely agree. Sorry, hijack over!
Originally Posted By Goofyernmost >>>It *is* true though that Japanese trains run like clockwork. It is exceptionally rare for delays to occur. Timetables are posted on platforms, and when it says a train will be there at 2:36pm, it will be there at 2:26pm. The margin of error is measured in seconds, not minutes.<<< I'm not going to argue with the statistics as to their accuracy but I am aware of how statistics are manipulated to appear exactly how one wants them to. For example, suppose the "on time" recording was only kept on trains that experienced no mechanical problems. (i.e., breakdowns were just not included in the statistics, only operating trains) I don't know if that is true, I am just using it to illustrate how numbers can be shuffled to give the best results. I say that only because I know that mechanical objects do not operate on the whim of the operator. Metal breaks, electronics short out, axles break, brakes brake, air lines rupture...all things that cannot always be spotted in routine maintenance. I do realize that Japan has a wonderful time table accuracy, so does Europe for that matter. Just food for thought. >>>One thing I do notice about their train systems: they are not handicap-friendly at all... at least not what I have seen. I have zero idea how wheelchair bound people in Tokyo manage.<<< They don't!! An yet another reason that they can keep on time. At the risk of sounding hardened, just factual, nothing will slow up transportation quicker than having to deal with wheel chairs, etc. I am so happy to be delayed if it means that someone that would otherwise be deprived of the things the rest of us take for granted, can join in. I can stand the delay.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip <<You have never been on a Train in Japan that had a problem other than suicide (somewhat reveling) or earthquake.>> Japan DOES have a high suicide rate. Probably comes from being a society that's so danged anal about keeping everything clean and on time. <<One thing I do notice about their train systems: they are not handicap-friendly at all... at least not what I have seen.>> I imagine many of the WDW monorail delays ARE due to assisting people with mobility challenges. That occurs pretty routinely on the busses and at various attractions... I'm sure it is the same with monorails. <<During my last trip, one well-to-do looking guest boarding from the GF immediately commented how smelly the monorail was to the rest in his party.>> He's staying at the GF. He can afford to take a limo. Sorry, folks. WDW stinks. Haven't you ever noticed? Hot humid weather and visitors from cultures that don't use deodorant make it that way. And if you don’t smell stinking people you smell stinky water... Orlando has the worst water I've ever tasted or smelled. But I love WDW anyway. Just because.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 < It's not hard to believe that Naperville will move a murder victim to the other side of 59. Can't loose that national stat! < actually it's the invisible electric fence we have --LOL!
Originally Posted By vbdad55 <I can't trust your source of information over what I see for with my own eyes. And I think I have good eyes for theme park 101. < so the chief of police would make negative info ? I miss the logic there
Originally Posted By vbdad55 <Orlando has the worst water I've ever tasted or smelled< actually what's wierd is I thought it was much better last visit and I don;t know why ?
Originally Posted By vbdad55 actually ChiMike, if I ever decide to attend again at SFGA, I would only go weekday - during the day... the last time we ended up with 3 people being treated by paraemdics and lots of police reports for damage to cars also..I am in no hurry to return.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip <<actually what's wierd is I thought it was much better last visit and I don;t know why ?>> We thought it was much better at Old Key West and Epcot locations too. But when we had dinner at the Poly a couple of times it seemed to be the same old smelly stuff. Maybe the Spirit or TDLFAN would have info on the water situation.
Originally Posted By ChiMike >>He's staying at the GF. He can afford to take a limo.<< So because I say a DISNEY'S gf guest voiced an honest, negative observation that has been found on a dozen Disney sites for the last 4+ years, this guy should just hire a limo to take him next-door when he is already paying for monorail service? My original point is that I am seeing more and more guests notice things. That some cuts are catching up to Disney. When there is a complaint on here that we have never personally experienced should we just duck our heads in the sand and pretend it's not there so that it not tarnish our own bubble? Should we declare that only things that effect us be allowed to be complained about, everything else must be mocked with extreme unrealistic examples? Should we form a straw man arguement since we aren't willing to either respond directly or just not respond at all? You know what is easier? How about Disney rectifying a problem that a big-spending guest notices? Nah, forget that, it's certainly the guest's fault, he should pay for a limo. Now if this was a problem that we noticed, that affected our judgement & deep experience of what is acceptable or not I believe I would not have seen the problem mocked with extreme examples that nobody has suggested. It's easy to mock and take out of proportion criticms that don't affect one's bubble instead of just facing the fact that other's might have higher standards or a more experienced and well-tuned sense of what is acceptable. That me, you or any one individual has the best judgement. It's simply easier to make a crack about the rich, a liberal quip about limos.
Originally Posted By ChiMike >>so the chief of police would make negative info ? I miss the logic there<< No. I actually find your account and source to be very valid and very significant. But I also have to take into consideration what I have seen first-hand. That the park has problems with youth but it doesn't really get in the way of most patrons or the park's vibe. At least relative to many other locations, at times even Anaheim. That considering the changes the area has experienced over the years it is impressive to me that the park isn't seeing more of this flow into it. If anything it is seeing less.
Originally Posted By ChiMike >>actually ChiMike, if I ever decide to attend again at SFGA, I would only go weekday - during the day...<< I would highly recommend that strategy. Once Memorial Day comes around the best time to go is on a weekday with a focus on the first or last few hours of operations. Before Memorial Day the weekends are like weekdays. With the right mindset and expectation level I have fun on quite possibly the 3rd or 4th best collection of coasters in the country. >>the last time we ended up with 3 people being treated by paraemdics and lots of police reports for damage to cars also..I am in no hurry to return.<< I wouldn't be either, and as I said earlier I don't doubt your bad experience. I would be livid. I just haven't had anything bad happen to me there after years of multiple visits. I don't deny that horrible things like that can occur. Now having my brand new laptop stolen from the back of my locked Jeep in MGM's parking lot is another story.
Originally Posted By TheBacklot "I sincerely lament the decline in quality of WDW that you feel and report. Truly. I am so sorry for you." Agreed.
Originally Posted By ChiMike >>We thought it was much better at Old Key West and Epcot locations too. But when we had dinner at the Poly a couple of times it seemed to be the same old smelly stuff. Maybe the Spirit or TDLFAN would have info on the water situation.<< In my experience that is a problem common to many areas of Florida. It is what it is. The older resorts fixed on 7S Lagoon are notorious in regards to this problem. Newer developments, especially on the coasts seem to show a night and day difference.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip <<So because I say a DISNEY'S gf guest voiced an honest, negative observation that has been found on a dozen Disney sites for the last 4+ years, this guy should just hire a limo to take him next-door when he is already paying for monorail service?>> Take a Xanax... the limo comment was a JOKE. I do think the rest of my post was a very realistic view. How do you expect Disney to control the hygiene habits of its guests? It is hot and humid and if you don't wear deodorant you are going to stink. Is Disney going to make everyone go through an odor check before boarding a monorail??
Originally Posted By ChiMike >>^^^ P.S. The Take a Xanax comment is a joke too.<< I know, bur even if it wasn't, I can take it just as much as I dish it out. RT, you are one of my fav posters on here. You certainly push my buttons, and I am sure, I yours, but I enjoy the banter. >>I do think the rest of my post was a very realistic view. How do you expect Disney to control the hygiene habits of its guests? It is hot and humid and if you don't wear deodorant you are going to stink.<< I don't. There's not much to it. I agree, don't sweat the small stuff you can't control, nobody's perfect. >>Is Disney going to make everyone go through an odor check before boarding a monorail??<< This is where our wires are crossed. The smell on the monorails do not come from smelly tourists, they come from Disney's lack of upkeep. Old carpets, old seats, old filters, less-than-necessary cleaning.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo No where seems to stink as much as DLP. WDW guests seem to smell like roses in comparison.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<Maybe the Spirit or TDLFAN would have info on the water situation.>> No. My expertise doesn't filter down to water. But, even though Orlando's ain't very good, as long as it's cold I'll be drinking it and not spending money for the bottled variety!
