Magic Kingdom Resort & Express Monorail Lines Daily Closures Starting 3/2/12

[Disney Doll]

Yeah, I'm not usually one to throw a fit, but springing this on resort guests with no warning is just unacceptable especially when the monorail resorts are so much more expensive. It looks like they tried to avoid peak times, but these hours will surely impact those with young kids who might want a quick way to go back for an afternoon nap. I'd be furious if I were there now.

[AmandaChan]

And, I'm sure they knew in advance that they were going to be working on the DVC portions of the GF... I can see if, for the safety of their crew and what not, they would need to shut the monorails down for construction in case something bad happened, or they found something that needed repair that turned out to be a bigger problem than what they thought. But I can totally see them not giving out an advanced warning to people making deluxe resort reservations months in advance for fear of losing money. If we go in 2014 we would have saved up for almost 3 years, spent about $6000 if not more just to stay in one of those resorts, and did I mention that I would be very upset?? hah.

cranes in the park sometimes, that happens. it's unavoidable. but big construction vehicles around a wedding pavilion after someone has just spent their life's savings on the wedding of their dream? I would be so beside myself.

[Disney Doll]

Does anyone know how they handled the weddings? To me the issue with the monorail is not that it is down, but how they handled it. Construction is inevitable, but a flyer under your door midway through your vacation is about the worst way to do something like that. There should have been advanced warning and an effort to accommodate those who might have wanted to move elsewhere.

There are plenty of gorgeous spots to have a wedding at Disney. I'm sure the pavilion is the most popular, but I would hope that they offered those couple who would be impacted by construction an opportunity to move their ceremony elsewhere on property. I was in the world 11-11-11 and it seemed like there was a wedding taking place around every corner.

[Quadstriker]

Does anyone know how they handled the weddings? To me the issue with the monorail is not that it is down, but how they handled it. Construction is inevitable, but a flyer under your door midway through your vacation is about the worst way to do something like that. There should have been advanced warning and an effort to accommodate those who might have wanted to move elsewhere.

There are plenty of gorgeous spots to have a wedding at Disney. I'm sure the pavilion is the most popular, but I would hope that they offered those couple who would be impacted by construction an opportunity to move their ceremony elsewhere on property. I was in the world 11-11-11 and it seemed like there was a wedding taking place around every corner.

Yes I can tell you how they handled those weddings impacted by the construction. The word we are looking for here is "poorly."

Here's the problem. Say you book your wedding date a year out. Now you go take your trip to Disney for your planning session - and there's no question going in that you want the wedding pavilion. You get there, it looks amazing so you book it for what I assure you is not an insignificant amount of money. And now you start planning your event with all your focus on the wedding pavilion.

Then you get an email months later that says "lol construction lol at you" with no offer of compensation. What? What construction? What's going on? Why wasn't I told about this? This is not acceptable. No I don't know about choosing any other venue I DIDN'T LOOK AT ANY OTHERS WHEN I WAS DOWN THERE BECAUSE THE ONE YOU SOLD ME WHEN I WAS THERE WAS PERFECT. And the response you get "Huh? What? We'll get back to you." But they won't. They'll leave you sitting there twiddling your thumbs. Your phone calls will be directed to different people all trying to pass the buck. Your bride will be in tears. You will go 3 weeks after an agreement is made to offer a compensation with absolutely ZERO contact. After an extended period of time, you will receive a "compensation" offer which will be at least somewhat appropriate, but could never make up for the stress you had to deal with.

AND WE WERE THE LUCKY ONES. The construction was not in full swing during our wedding in October, there was just a blue wall up which I barely remember seeing that day. Still the looming thought of not knowing what in the world we were to encounter when we got there was a big issue.

And I'll be honest, we went on another trip last week, and the place looks like <snip> right now. Absolute <snip>.

DVC slapped the disney's wedding enterprise in the face with pretty much zero warning - customers be <snip>. The Wedding people were scrambling, had their hands tied, and were overwhelmed, frustrated, you name it. They were placed in an impossible situation. I don't blame them so much as whoever dropped this bombshell on them after they already were planning weddings.

DVC (or those responsible for the decision) needed to have a plan GOING IN as to what to do about the weddings, and they didn't. They needed to have established what they were going to do for their brides and grooms BEFORE planning the construction instead of making them fight to get what they were sold and paid for.

So yeah, they handled it... poorly.

[AndrewJackson]

I wonder if they will get extra or larger boats for the deluxe resorts. That would help some.

[LilHooligan74]

Has anymore been said in reference to how long it will be? We will be there next month and I have always enjoyed the monorail.

[BrerGnat]

Has anymore been said in reference to how long it will be? We will be there next month and I have always enjoyed the monorail.

I would assume a pretty long time. Most certainly will still be in effect next month. They are constructing the DVC structure AROUND the track partially, to add a station. So, my guess is for at least the rest of this year.

[TheRustyScupper]

1) We stayed GF-Main-Building this week.
2) The monorail did, indeed, halt during the day.
. . . it stopped at 11:30am each day
. . . it started again at different times
. . . it started anywhere between 4:30pm and 6:16pm
3) It really was not such a big deal from GF.
. . . there were plenty of buses
. . . they brought over Friendships for boat transit
4) Some folks around the pool complained.
5) Most just took it in stride.
6) Wife and I had no real issues with it.

[Fangorn]

Has anymore been said in reference to how long it will be? We will be there next month and I have always enjoyed the monorail.

The official word on this from Disney is that "Weather permitting, we expect this work to be complete before the end of March.".

Obviously construction will continue, but the portion requiring the monorail to shut down should be over relatively quickly.

Steve

[Jared]

I would assume a pretty long time. Most certainly will still be in effect next month. They are constructing the DVC structure AROUND the track partially, to add a station. So, my guess is for at least the rest of this year.

Where do you get your information from? At least for the rest of the year? The monorail is scheduled to resume regular service next month. That has been widely reported.

[Scar]

Can't walk to MK from the GrandFlo, at least that I know of. There's a canal between the MK Monorail station and GrandFlo that's used for the Electrical Water Pageant floats, and last I knew, there wasn't a bridge crossing that canal. The walkway from MK just leads to a dead-end at the canal past the Monorail station.

I can't for life of me understand why a bridge was never built here, unless the answer is money. They should have at least put a temp up for this time. The Army Corps of Engineers could have had one up in 15 minutes.

[Main Street Jim]

I can't for life of me understand why a bridge was never built here, unless the answer is money. They should have at least put a temp up for this time. The Army Corps of Engineers could have had one up in 15 minutes.

You have to realize how *tall* the EWP barges are, too (like about 25-30' at least). If they *had* built a bridge here, it would a) have to be tall enough to clear the EWP barges, and therefore very *steep* to walk over, or b) the ramp would have to be *very* long to get to the height needed to clear the barges. Either way, I think would be very unsightly in that location.

[Scar]

... or, c) they could have built a drawbridge.

[BrerGnat]

... or, c) they could have built a drawbridge.

You beat me to it.

They just don't want to spend the money. Plain and simple. It could be done quite easily. They could simply close off the walkway at night to allow for the EWP barges to get through.

[Fangorn]

It could be done quite easily. They could simply close off the walkway at night to allow for the EWP barges to get through.

Exactly. They have a drawbridges elsewhere on property. Why can't they put one across that canal? That would be just an awesome walk.

Steve

[Dyanna]

Are they utilizing this time the monorail is down to repair the track? Would be a wise idea to kill 2 birds with one stone.

[A Big Kid]

Exactly. They have a drawbridges elsewhere on property. Why can't they put one across that canal? That would be just an awesome walk.

Steve

If Disney thought they could create a revenue stream for the adventure of crossing the bridge, they would build it. Until that happens, don't expect a bridge.

[brivers222]

so after the DVC is built i am anxiously anticipating the monorails being open until the last remaining park closes... and not shut down at dumb hours like it did recently.

afterall they now have 7 hours a day (7 days a week) to work on those track and safety renovations.

/sarcasm i know it will never go back to full working capacity... once they take something away you can rest assured they won't bring it back!


This does make my decison of staying offsite with a car SO MUCH EASIER...

[Scar]

If Disney thought they could create a revenue stream for the adventure of crossing the bridge, they would build it. Until that happens, don't expect a bridge.

Hmmm... A toll bridge at Disney World... Interesting concept.

[A Big Kid]

Exactly. They have a drawbridges elsewhere on property. Why can't they put one across that canal? That would be just an awesome walk.

Steve

Hmmm... A toll bridge at Disney World... Interesting concept.

You just KNOW there is an imagineer reading this thread right now conking himself on the forehead saying, "why didn't I think of that?!"