Beware of upcoming trips - monorail and MANY, MANY rides were down

[wdisney9000]

More like,.. this is the only Disney site in existence where people remember what high standards WDW once had and are shunned by those who accept sub par standards.
Thank you for post OP. As a soon to be traveller to WDW, ur post/report is much appreciated and will have us prepared for such problems, should they arise.[/quote]

 

[traylorc]

Sadly, these experiences you had I hear with a fair amount of frequency, tho. People need to be honest and share. If just 1 person says something didn't work when they were there that wouldn't be a big deal at all. It could easily be written off as bad luck or coincidence. But when you read about this same type of stuff happening with a fair amount of regularity or if you show up a few months later and have the same issues, that means it's a lot more than just coincidence or bad luck w/timing.

I agree with you Sweetpee that people need to be honest and share...after all this is the whole point of the forum.

The downside to the forum is that sometimes folks take what they read on the forum as gospel. If 20 people post "XYZ ride was down the entire time" or "the monorail was not working"...all the sudden it becomes fact. All of the sudden Disney has a systemic issue as it relates to the monorail, or a certain ride, or whatever. Let's be honest, the folks that post on forums like wdwmagic or the disboards are the Disney super fans. We obsess over every aspect of Disney from where to stay, should we make ADRs, should I use on line check in, etc. As knowledgeable as we are, realistically a forum members represent the views of a minority of WDW or Disneyland visitors.

Sorry to ramble...but my point is that the forum represents a wealth of information. But just because we read about something that is "wrong" here on the boards....doesn't necessarily mean we are dealing with a systemic issue. In 2011 Walt Disney World Parks and Resorts had attendance of 121 million...the visitors to MK, AK, HS and Epcot totaled about 48 million. So even if you read 500 different posts about how bad the monorail is...it represents a statistically insignificant amount of the total visitors that attend the park. So is the problem with the monorail a systemic ongoing issue, or are they isolated incidents?? Yet we continue to read posts from people who declare something is a systemic issue or problem because they encountered something at WDW and then read posts from 50 other forum members shared their same experience. Please note....I am not talking about the OP...I was making a general statement.

Bottom line...IMHO we need to take the information we read here with a grain of salt. The issue with the monorails may not have been a big deal to some of us, but it obviously bothered the OP. It's okay to disagree with the OP, as long as we are not attacking them.

And for the record...Disney is not above being criticized. I love Disney...but there are times when Disney gets on my nerves.

 

[sydneymorganmom]

My family and I have come to expect the best because that's what they promise and delivered at one time. It seems like I still want the "old" way but they like the "new" way better...aka Kevin Yee's Miller Lite Budget. I still love Disney even with the headaches.

 

[sweetpee_1993]

I've seen quite a bit on MC and DIS. That being said, some of the folks in here need to slap themselves in the mouth for being so grinchy towards the OP.

I'm writing that one down. I love it! Next time one of my teenagers gets on the last nerve I'll inform them they should go slap themselves in the mouth because it'll make momma feel muuuuch better. LOL! Fantastic way with words. Love it!

 

[sydneymorganmom]

By the way, some call it "sense of entitlement." I call it "expecting to get what I paid for." That is, a monorail that works and rides I can actually ride. I never understood why they can turnover Halloween to Christmas in a single night but they do "routine maintenance" on the monorail when it's full of people and have us sit for 15 minutes in a packed car while they put the door back on. Do they think we're that stupid? Use the overnight to maintenance the rides and monorail instead of pushing the next holiday. Phew! I'm done. Still love Disney!

 

[mouse_luv]

How do you know their situation? What if they are traveling with someone that's physically disabled? I'm sure that they wouldn't want to walk a long distance to their hotel, especially after a whole day of walking around a theme park. And to top it off, they are paying extreme amounts of money to utilize the monorail service.

I understand that things break down. It happens. But it's just not right to say that they could have easily walked "like everyone else" when you don't know their situation.

And how do you know that I'm not physically disabled, which I happen to be. But when it comes down to it, I found a way to get where I needed to go. (which I suggested a ferry to them other than walking). That was the point being made.

 

[bsiev1977]

We were in WDW from 12/8-12/16. The monorail was down A LOT - sometimes for many hours. We had MVMCP that Tues and it took us 2 hrs just to get to MK - not enough busses, etc. The MR elevator at Contemporary was broken so that guests had to be bussed to MK. At one point during the week, Small World, LM, Carousel, Toy Story and TT were all down in the span of a few hours. I was a little disappointed with our trip in that respect. It seems like the upkeep is not what it should be. The upside, though, was that we practically walked on every ride (when they were working) until the Saturday we left. Still a geat time, but a little disheartening.

It's always unfortunate when a ride you want to go on is down. But are five rides across three different parks "MANY, MANY"?

 

[Sans Souci]

It's always unfortunate when a ride you want to go on is down. But are five rides across three different parks "MANY, MANY"?

To be fair, she did say that these rides were down within the span of a few hours.

As far as TDO not having enough capital to improve the monorail, attractions, etc...what about the healthy chunk of change they just dropped into Next Gen?

 

[bsiev1977]

To be fair, she did say that these rides were down within the span of a few hours.

As far as TDO not having enough capital to improve the monorail, attractions, etc...what about the healthy chunk of change they just dropped into Next Gen?

I understood her saying "within a few hours", but I doubt she was affected personally by all the closures. She also doesn't say how long they were down. And like I said before, that was three at MK, one at EPCOT, and one at DHS. The statement came across as hyperbole to me, and was symptomatic of these boars and the Internet in general. A few minor inconveniences were portrayed as much more than they were, and some things she mentioned had nothing to do with here own trip, such as the elevator at the contemporary.

 

[disney fan 13]

This is why I try and avoid General Discussion...

 

[bsiev1977]

This is why I try and avoid General Discussion...

I've come to that conclusion as well. I think I'll just stick to Trip Planning from now on.

 

[Sans Souci]

I understood her saying "within a few hours", but I doubt she was affected personally by all the closures. She also doesn't say how long they were down. And like I said before, that was three at MK, one at EPCOT, and one at DHS. The statement came across as hyperbole to me, and was symptomatic of these boars and the Internet in general. A few minor inconveniences were portrayed as much more than they were, and some things she mentioned had nothing to do with here own trip, such as the elevator at the contemporary.

You are certainly free to "doubt" her claims, but that doesn't make them any less valid.

 

[donaldtoo]

I'm gonna' go with an excruciatingly simple fact here...
If anyone on this site (or any other, for that matter) doesn't believe that prices are way up and quality/experience is way down at WDW, these days, I just don't understand your reasoning.
And myself and my family are supposed to just "deal with it"?!?!
That just doesn't compute in ANY WAY with regards to the traditions, intents, and sentiments of the original founder.

 

[wdisney9000]

The topic of the post clealry states " Beware of upcoming trips". The post is clearly intended to warn travellers headed to Disney to be aware of a possible situation. It is not whining, complaining, or sense of entitlement. Simply a person looking out for like minded Disney fans. The pixie dusters sure are finding doom and gloom out of someone attempting to help others.

 

[bsiev1977]

I'm gonna' go with an excruciatingly simple fact here...
If anyone on this site (or any other, for that matter) doesn't believe that prices are way up and quality/experience is way down at WDW, these days, I just don't understand your reasoning.
And myself and my family are supposed to just "deal with it"?!?!
That just doesn't compute in ANY WAY with regards to the traditions, intents, and sentiments of the original founder.

So can I assume that you don't go to WDW anymore? Otherwise, your complaints are not meaningful. Seems like plenty of people on this site hate how the parks are being run, and the condition they see them in. If you feel that way, fine. Just don't go anymore. What sense is there in going back over and over if it is as bad as you claim? How will that force any change?

 

[donaldtoo]

So can I assume that you don't go to WDW anymore? Otherwise, your complaints are not meaningful. Seems like plenty of people on this site hate how the parks are being run, and the condition they see them in. If you feel that way, fine. Just don't go anymore. What sense is there in going back over and over if it is as bad as you claim? How will that force any change?

You can ASSume anything you want, but you know damn well what I'm talking about. I hear that same bullstuff every time some "non-believer" posts something negative about the TWDC almighty. Get a new line, already.

 

[bsiev1977]

You can ASSume anything you want, but you know damn well what I'm talking about. I hear that same bullstuff every time some "non-believer" posts something negative about the TWDC almighty. Get a new line, already.

Just because you've heard it before, doesn't make it less valid. Call me crazy, but if I had such a low opinion of a business, I wouldn't pay money to go there. Giving the business your money over and over kind of gives them the impression that you like it there. BTW, the "assume" line is pretty old, you might want to get a new line, already.

 

[mickey2008.1]

The op went during a bad week, when everything just happened at the same time. I would be disappointed too. We all spend money to go there, it should be a vacation, not a hassle. Things do happen, but no need to say op is whining. plus you cantnwalk to MK from GF.

 

[traylorc]

You can ASSume anything you want, but you know damn well what I'm talking about. I hear that same bullstuff every time some "non-believer" posts something negative about the TWDC almighty. Get a new line, already.

Conversely...I'm sure people are tired of individuals claiming the "quality/experience at WDW is way down". Nonetheless you are entitled to your opinion, and bsiev1977 is entitled to his.

I have to be honest...I am curious if you are still going to WDW. Because if experience has declined so dramatically, then Disney management is not going to implement changes until there are significant negative consequences to their bottom line. Attendance at WDW was down slightly for 2012 (in an economy which continues to slowly creep along), but overall revenues and operating profit for Disney's Park and Resorts were up 10% and 22%, respectively.

I'm not stating this invalidates your claims that WDW has issues. However, when WDW management reviews their financial performance and sees revenues and profits continuing to rise...are they thinking to themselves that quality/experience is going down?? Probably not....

We both know companies like Disney are motivated by EPS, stock price, revenues and profits. If people really feel the overall experience has declined, yet they keep giving Disney their hard earned money...what is Disney's incentive to change?

I'm not trying to attack you...I'm just trying to understand why this line of thinking is "bullstuff" but your assertion that the WDW quality/experience has declined is supposedly "a excruciatingly simple fact".

 

[donaldtoo]

Perhaps, I'm a bit ed 'cause I remember when, maybe...?
I was raised on Disney, I'm 50+ years old, and remember when things were not being neglected. I still love Disney and we will continue to go as long as my DW and our older DK's want (and they ALWAYS do) to go. It's not about me, and I don't bring this stuff up in front of them (except DW, occasionally) and she just wants me to stop, 'cause she doesn't want to hear anything negative about any of it. I get that, and then shut my pie hole.
It's here that I truly feel I can vent my frustrations about a Company that I know can do WAAAAAAYYYYYYYYY better, but every time we do we seem to get beat down.
And, BTW, for anybody who's interested, I've got plenty of other old lines, too...!