stini228
Active Member
Gotcha, thanks for the info...thought maybe that was the case.
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Appalling state of the monorail cabins
- Thread starter ptaylor
- Start date
Gotcha, thanks for the info...thought maybe that was the case.
Kman101
Well-Known Member
They are pretty terrible, Marc, lol. Not THAT horrible but many monorail cabins do have clear mold, faded seats in poor condition, the exteriors are extremely dirty, and the monorail literally sounded like it was going to die as it pulled out. I have never heard it sound so bad, like it was having trouble even getting going.
I'm really not complaining to just complain and 'hate on Disney'. I'm not saying "OMG IT WILL RUIN YOUR VACATION!" but it's just another example of the lack of care TDO puts into WDW. The fact is, these problems really shouldn't be that noticable because I'm NOT seeking problems out. I don't go there looking for things that make me miserable. I still go there with a smile on my face and enjoy my time regardless, but it doesn't mean problems shouldn't be pointed out. We have ever right to hold them accountable to the standards they used to set for themselves.
I'm really not complaining to just complain and 'hate on Disney'. I'm not saying "OMG IT WILL RUIN YOUR VACATION!" but it's just another example of the lack of care TDO puts into WDW. The fact is, these problems really shouldn't be that noticable because I'm NOT seeking problems out. I don't go there looking for things that make me miserable. I still go there with a smile on my face and enjoy my time regardless, but it doesn't mean problems shouldn't be pointed out. We have ever right to hold them accountable to the standards they used to set for themselves.
Cesar R M
Well-Known Member
Okay, some of you guys are exaggerating...
The Monorails indeed need some TLC, but dang they're not all that horrible!
(Anxiously awaiting for this post to be quoted)
Maybe some people do, but last time I did ride the monorail(as I posted before)
It smelled like and had dust everywhere, was stained and a bit of trash in the floor.. also most lights didn't work inside...
Padraig
Well-Known Member
It was the awful state of monorail blue that prompted me to join these forums. That was two years ago. Maintenance throughout the park seems to be getting better and I thought that, maybe, the monorail would be a priority. I'm saying nothing new here, but the monorail is the prefect piece of theatre for the guests arrival to Magic Kingdom. Having a grotty carriage really impacts on that experience. There's also no excuse for it. None. The money that comes into that park means that the fleet should be absolutely pristine.
Darth Sidious
Authentically Disney Distinctly Chinese
Okay, some of you guys are exaggerating...
The Monorails indeed need some TLC, but dang they're not all that horrible!
(Anxiously awaiting for this post to be quoted
Quoted because it's true. I previously made an exaggerated post that claimed I've seen nicer NYC Subway cars and while that's true most Subway cars are disgusting. So disgusting that you couldn't even compare them to these monorails. With that being said I'd expect Disney to be leagues ahead of the MTA with cleanliness and upkeep.
COProgressFan
Well-Known Member
I'm not sure I agree. I don't think NY's subway cars are in great condition, but neither are the monorails. I have been on many subways that are cleaner than the monorails (especially 4-5-6 line trains). The fact that we even have to compare a Disney monorail to a NYC subway is actually quite sad. There shouldn't even be a comparison.
The bottom line is the interiors of most of the monorail trains are filthy and poorly maintained. Ripped seats, filthy wall carpeting, broken plastic moldings, and dripping air conditioners don't exactly exude a "deluxe" experience for guests who shell out $400+ a night for a hotel room, or $99 apiece for a ticket to the MK. Swashing a wet mop on the floors overnight and wiping down the windows doesn't count as sufficient cleaning or maintenance. If they are going to retain these trains much longer (and all indications are they are going to run them til failure) then the cabin interiors need a complete refurbishment.
alphac2005
Well-Known Member
It all gets back to Disney set the standard. The cabins used to be in pristine condition and they are filthy today. It's that simple. You're dead-on, guests are spending extremely high amounts of money to be there and the cost of their product today is that of a high-end property, which is not what they're providing. Filthy and generally smelly are unacceptable as far as I'm concerned.
WeekendGM
Active Member
The problem stems back to only having ten active trains due to the incident with Lime and Teal being updated. For example Sunday when Orange had to be towed off Epcot it leaves the system with nine. The resort beam has four, Epcot beam has two so Express gets the last three. And if another train goes down resorts drops to three on a beam with five stops. From the start of March only three trains have been out on the Express beam in the mornings to allow for additional maintenance on the tenth train. The system is really in a corner for what can be done right now unfortunately.
Not to defend them but when the park is open until 1:00am the monorail runs until 2:00am then the trains can take up to 3:30 am to get back to the shop for maintenance. The trains then have to be ready to go at 5:00am there isn't a lot of time. Also the trains are constantly going all day so unfortunately unless a cast member sees the issue or it is brought up to them nothing can be done to fix it. The air conditioners dripping is an easy minute fix involving clearing the drain pipe and wiping down the seat.
PS: You should have said something about Coral on Sunday
Not to defend them but when the park is open until 1:00am the monorail runs until 2:00am then the trains can take up to 3:30 am to get back to the shop for maintenance. The trains then have to be ready to go at 5:00am there isn't a lot of time. Also the trains are constantly going all day so unfortunately unless a cast member sees the issue or it is brought up to them nothing can be done to fix it. The air conditioners dripping is an easy minute fix involving clearing the drain pipe and wiping down the seat.
PS: You should have said something about Coral on Sunday
DisneyOutsider
Well-Known Member
Okay, some of you guys are exaggerating...
The Monorails indeed need some TLC, but dang they're not all that horrible!
(Anxiously awaiting for this post to be quoted
The trains are dirty and look old, but if I see another person in this thread tell me that the DC Metro is cleaner/nicer than these monorail trains I might lose it.
Marc Gil
Well-Known Member
That's what I'm saying! It's also nothing compared to the NY Subway System... Eww... Have you been to New York recently?
Did you see the video with the rats running around in the subway cabin?
COProgressFan
Well-Known Member
Actually, yes. There are those of us who either live in NYC, or live close enough that we frequently ride mass transit there.
Also note, a subway ride is $2.75. A "free" monorail ride costs hundreds of dollars in resort stays or park tickets.
space42
Well-Known Member
How about we focus on the original post instead? There is photographic evidence of the current state of the WDW monorail system. The Walt Disney Company is simply not maintaining their Premium Product that they charge a premium price for. The current monorail fleet is at least 10 years past due for replacement. With the obscene amount of profit that WDW generates, there is simply no excuse for this other than greed... and that is sad.
Marc Gil
Well-Known Member
This evidence is dated from last November. You can't expect perfection. There's always going to imperfections in the Disney property whether the maintenance team has anything to do with it or not.
I agree that maintenance isn't what it used to be, I also agree that the monorails are in pretty rough shape, but why constantly blame and bash management for their appearance and cleanliness? The monorails run for more than twelve hours a day, seven days a week, and with the increasing influx of guests, it's getting harder and harder to completely stop operations to clean and refurbish the cabins.
Monorails also can't be taken in the shop for refurbs that often because they're the prime transportation for guests visiting the Magic Kingdom.
Everyone has to take a monorail.
COProgressFan
Well-Known Member
Serious question -- if we're not bashing management about it, who should be we bashing? Or just not discuss their obvious lack of maintenance -- just pay up and shut up?
Marc Gil
Well-Known Member
Bash yourselves, the guests.
All I'm saying is that it's almost impossible maintain cleanliness in the monorails when they're running almost at full capacity every day, not to mention that the monorails are almost 25 years old!
It's not like it's an attraction. It's a public transportation system. Tens of millions of people go ride it every year... Back and forth... From the TTC to the MK.
I agree with you about rebuilding new monorails, but hey, what can you do... I guess you can blame management about that.
alphac2005
Well-Known Member
The Monorails used to run even longer hours in the past. Epcot used to stay open to ten o'clock and the Magic Kingdom regularly had summer nights open until 1 AM along with longer hours in general. The Extra Magic Hours gimmick still doesn't add up to the hours that they used to run in back in the day. I'm sorry, but it's about dollar and cents, not the usage of monorails.
Disneydreamer23
Well-Known Member
That's bad!!
Would that argument hold up for airlines, or resort rooms? No.
Just because you are busy does not mean that you ignore maintenance, cleaning and investment.
It is very clear that Disney should have added more capacity to the monorail system years ago to allow proper downtime and maintenance for each train. They chose to reduce maintenance on the monorails, rather than increasing spending on improvements.
The current problems are purely a case of poor management from those making top level decisions about the monorail system. All of the issues could be resolved with proper investment.
Unfortunately Disney treat all transportation as the red-headed step child. It does not directly make money, and is therefore neglected.