Monorail system to close during non peak times for maintenance in early 2014

[omurice]

It may be quicker to take Grand Flo's boat service from the MK to the resort. That way you will not have to stop at the Contemp, TTC, Poly, and then your resort.

I second this, if there's not a lot of people waiting for the launch (i.e. you don't have to wait for a 2nd boat), the boat to GF can be faster than the resort monorail sometimes, since GF is the 4th and last stop (going from MK). Also the monorail can pause at each of 3 stations (and even pause on the line between stations for 5 mins when multiple resort trains are out!). It all depends.
Just leave yourself plenty of time, don't set out for Grand Flo after 6:45PM maybe. I give myself at least an hour for dinner reservations, the transportation forms all have waits. And most places will let you check in early, they could make you wait a little but not for long unless they're packed.
...

 

[orky8]

I think they would have if the monorails were going to be shut down for the entire day, but since they will be operational when the majority of guests arrive in the morning and depart for the evening, that is why they chose not to discount.

Technically, they are offering 30-35% off the exorbitant rack rates. And the reason they don't offer further discounts is they don't need to.

 

[Figment2005]

I still feel the end result is worth the inconvenience of having the lines down during the slower part of the day. The new TCS will open new doorways with the monorail system, even the eventual replacement of the current trains.

 

[omurice]

I still feel the end result is worth the inconvenience of having the lines down during the slower part of the day. The new TCS will open new doorways with the monorail system, even the eventual replacement of the current trains.

Sorry - is TCS the new remote "train control system"? Where can I read up on that? Thanks in advance...

 

[Figment2005]

Yes, TCS is the train control system. I know there is a thread here that goes into details but I'm not sure where. Maybe another member can point you in the right direction.

 

[MonorailLover]

Are people getting more organized, or is it still chaos?

 

[MonorailLover]

Sorry - is TCS the new remote "train control system"? Where can I read up on that? Thanks in advance...

Yes, TCS is the train control system. I know there is a thread here that goes into details but I'm not sure where. Maybe another member can point you in the right direction.

http://attractionsmagazine.com/disn...rails-and-roadways-to-meet-increasing-growth/

Second down, sounds interesting, but I feel bad about the drivers lol

it'll make it a lot faster, especially if your there during an unexpected busy day, where they need to randomly add a monorail to the loops, or take them away because they are broken, as I experienced twice in a day a couple weeks ago.

It will really improve the efficiency, and it also shows that Disney is backing there old technology and willing to improve it, and not ready to get rid of it anytime!!!

To me, its worth the inconvenience, because I probably wouldn't go without them..... nor plan my life around working at Disney as an imagineer because of there innovations such as the monorail in 59.

 

[NC Del]

Posted this under hotels but I think a lot of people on there are trying to figure out where to stay, I am curious to hear from those who have just gotten back..

I am pretty bummed about the monorail suspensions going on right now in anticipation of my trip, as two nights I have dinner reservations outside the park and will have to get back, changed etc well before the monorail opens again at 7pm. Curious if anyone has had experiences thus far? Am staying at Polynesian so I know we can take the boats (or buses), I am wondering what kind if travel time to anticipate...thanks!

 

[Monty]

Usually the boats to Poly end up being faster than the Monorail.

 

[Tip Top Club]

As Disney Always recommends allow at least an hour for travel because...you never know. If you just miss a boat and they aren't spaced properly it could take forever. If you get in line for a bus behind 20 parties with wheelchairs it could take forever. And so on.

That being said, the monorail has typically been open earlier than 7, and it's only weekdays, and it's even been open all day some higher attendance weekdays.

 

[NC Del]

As Disney Always recommends allow at least an hour for travel because...you never know. If you just miss a boat and they aren't spaced properly it could take forever. If you get in line for a bus behind 20 parties with wheelchairs it could take forever. And so on.

That being said, the monorail has typically been open ight, thank you so much! We are thinking if you could come over at 715 that would be perfect. than 7, and it's only weekdays, and it's even been open all day some higher attendance weekdays.

I am only going to be there on weekdays and even though that is good to hear that it has been opening early we have 515 luau reservations one night and 630 the other night out of the park so we have to leave pretty early... So I really am curious to hear from anyone who has been there during the closure to hear how it is playing out.

 

[FigmentsFangirl]

Speaking of the monorails, today at EPCOT Monorail red was killed off somehow, my mom and I saw a Monorail Tug towing Monorail Red backwards on the Epcot loop past Test Track this afternoon around 1600 hours. Anyone know what occured ? I overheard one man mention a poweroutage, but when I asked a cast member, they did not know. Was hoping something was posted here.

 

[GhettoJetta5]

Speaking of the monorails, today at EPCOT Monorail red was killed off somehow, my mom and I saw a Monorail Tug towing Monorail Red backwards on the Epcot loop past Test Track this afternoon around 1600 hours. Anyone know what occured ? I overheard one man mention a poweroutage, but when I asked a cast member, they did not know. Was hoping something was posted here.

Per the pilot who was driving it when it when it failed (he was in "time out" [he said jokingly] watching the Epcot station exit) the compressor(s) that controls the brakes and doors "blew up"... Maintenance cast members were actually working on it on the Epcot spur track with a platform truck... However, the express beam was blocked by a parked monorail @ TTC and construction inside the Contemporary... So getting to the shop would be hard... It wouldn't surprise me if the express beam wasn't powered (with workers drilling into the track very close to the busbar) so moving the monorail @ TTC may not have been an option... Obviously the track not being powered is my speculation...

 

[FigmentsFangirl]

OK, got some rock solid info from a Monorail Mechanic at the TTC yesterday morning around 1130 AM. On Monday afternoon Monorail Red was towed from the EPCOT station to the EPCOT Spurline for quick fix work due to the power inverters that control the doors and brakes to Monorail Red having failed. Power was out on the monorail, everyone on board were let down to safety and bussed to epcot for their troubles at the spurline.

 

[Vipor51]

I was there last week and the monorail being down was definitely a big bummer. We were staying at BLT and the bus system especially in the bad weather was an awful experience.

 

[Space Mountain]

Speaking of the monorails, today at EPCOT Monorail red was killed off somehow, my mom and I saw a Monorail Tug towing Monorail Red backwards on the Epcot loop past Test Track this afternoon around 1600 hours. Anyone know what occured ? I overheard one man mention a poweroutage, but when I asked a cast member, they did not know. Was hoping something was posted here.

One of the inverters failed.

 

[rudyjr13]

Ok so day 2 at BLT and walking back in a light rain after 5 hours in the park was kind of annoying. Do I regret staying here? Not at all. But yeah, monorail would have been nice then.

I did see them working on the beam. 2-3 workers on a tracker type machine stopped over the Contemporary path. A CM standing there making sure guests were ok. The one worker looked to be unscrewing bolts along the bottom of the beam. If I wasn't pushing a stroller in the rain I would have grabbed a picture.

 

[GhettoJetta5]

Okay, so here are some photos from Monday of the work being done:

Tractor 2, on the switch between the Express and Resort Loop

Workers working on the platform under the switch

Another view of the tractor

The center of the Spur appears to be new (Well, the metal part).

New Conduit (Circled in red).

More new Conduit. Above a can of WD-40, lol... (Workers on the other side of the beam, otherwise the location of that can of WD-40 scared me, so close to the beam).

Clip appears to be new. Not sure if it as new as our current work, others may know better, but I remember this being a flat piece of metal and not a sliver clip...

New Conduit on the track near the Contemporary

Conduit on platform outside of Contemporary running to the Express beam, but not to the Resort beam yet

Tractor #1 inside the Contemporary, the Tractor is on the Express Beam, workers are working on the Resort Beam

You can see the conduit on the Chef Mickey's side platform, not running to either track completely yet.

Worker down in the track, installing conduit. They were drilling with a hammer drill (by the sound, not sure exactly what kind of drill). When I was directly above them you could feel the drilling.... Obviously why they could not do this work during the night (not speaking for the work outside of the actual resort stations)...

Monorail Black on the Resort Beam.

Workers with Conduit

Conduit on the platform outside the Contemporary from above

@FigmentsFangirl : photo of them working on Monorail red after being pushed/towed through Epcot.

Another picture of Monorail Red with Tractor #3

Another look, later when I came back from Epcot the truck had the lift up to the side of Monorail Red, I could not get a good angle for a photo from TTC.

Conduit in Epcot, I am assuming this was completed at night, prior to the Magic Kingdom Monorail closures.

One more picture, the conduit going around a bus bar connection.

 

[MinnieM123]

Thank you for sharing those excellent photos and descriptions, @GhettoJetta5.

 

[mikenatcity1]

While I know work is necessary, it makes me sad that for the second time i've chosen to stay at a resort on the Monorail line, i'll have to take a bus during the times I wanted to take it. Last time I stayed at the Poly, this time at the Contemporary.