Question about the Disney World Monorail System

[cantide8405]

OK, so, my family goes to Disney World every few years or so ( much less often since it was my parents that would set up the trips, and since me and my siblings are all grown now, trips are much less frequent ), and the last time I was there, in June 2010, I noticed a change in the Monorail system that wasn't there in the prior trip in aught-four, specifically that you can no longer take a monorail directly from EPCOT to the Magic Kingdom. Now, to go from one park to the other, you have to change trains at the TTC, and there is no information anywhere to be found discussing when this change was made, what the reasons for it were, or even acknowledging that any changes had been made.

So, here I am, joining a web forum, trying to find the answers to my questions:

When did they stop running a Monorail between the Magic Kingdom and EPCOT?

Why was this change implemented?

Why is there no information about the change to be found anywhere?

And finally, is it at all related to the air of . . . hostility is the best way I can describe it, that came up whenever you mentioned the Magic Kingdom around EPCOT or Boardwalk Cast Members, or when you mentioned EPCOT or the Boardwalk in the presence of Magic Kingdom or Contemporary Resort Cast?

Thank you for your time.

 

[Clamman73]

Well...you never could take a monorail direct from Epcot to MK...since 1982. Somebody blindfolded you at TTC when you changed monorails...:lol: :wave:

 

[Cmdr_Crimson]

Yep once you arrive at TTC you get off the MK Express line and walk around to the other side to get to the EPCOT Monorail line.

 

[wagnerdanp]

OK, so, my family goes to Disney World every few years or so ( much less often since it was my parents that would set up the trips, and since me and my siblings are all grown now, trips are much less frequent ), and the last time I was there, in June 2010, I noticed a change in the Monorail system that wasn't there in the prior trip in aught-four, specifically that you can no longer take a monorail directly from EPCOT to the Magic Kingdom. Now, to go from one park to the other, you have to change trains at the TTC, and there is no information anywhere to be found discussing when this change was made, what the reasons for it were, or even acknowledging that any changes had been made.

So, here I am, joining a web forum, trying to find the answers to my questions:

When did they stop running a Monorail between the Magic Kingdom and EPCOT?

Why was this change implemented?

Why is there no information about the change to be found anywhere?

And finally, is it at all related to the air of . . . hostility is the best way I can describe it, that came up whenever you mentioned the Magic Kingdom around EPCOT or Boardwalk Cast Members, or when you mentioned EPCOT or the Boardwalk in the presence of Magic Kingdom or Contemporary Resort Cast?

Thank you for your time.

You have always had to change trains at the TTC. There has never been a direct monorail between both parks. Maybe you are thinking about going from the Magic Kingdom to Epcot as when you arrive at the TTC, you can easily walk across a small breezeway to the Epcot station, instead of walking down the ramp and back up.

 

[cantide8405]

Well...you never could take a monorail direct from Epcot to MK...since 1982. Somebody blindfolded you at TTC when you changed monorails...:lol: :wave:

I know for a fact that you could, as I did so several times in 2004, as well as in 2002, 2001, 2000, 1999, 1998, 1997, 1996 and 1994.

 

[cantide8405]

You have always had to change trains at the TTC. There has never been a direct monorail between both parks. Maybe you are thinking about going from the Magic Kingdom to Epcot as when you arrive at the TTC, you can easily walk across a small breezeway to the Epcot station, instead of walking down the ramp and back up.

between 1996 and 2002, my family went every year, and you didn't have to change trains. same thing on the 2004 trip.

on the 2010 trip, we were all surprised by the train-changing requirement, and the fact that nobody working there acknowledged the change, though we talked to other returning guests that were similarly surprised by the lack of direct service.

at one point, I encountered a guy actually yelling at a cast member at the Contemporary about the loss of the Epcot stop on that route ( felt bad for the Cast member. I mean, yeah, the change was annoying, but it's not like yelling at the poor kid, who odds are against him having even been there when it happened is, gonna help anything ).

 

[DisneyJoe]

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki /Walt_Disney_World_Monorail_System#section_1

I've been going every year since 1997, sometimes more than once, and have always had to change trains.

 

[Pioneer Hall]

Like others have said, you have never been able to go directly from park to park. I am sorry to tell you that your recollections on this subject are a bit off unfortunately.

 

[bamillerpa]

I don't know how you could. As far as I know the lines aren't even connected. We usually go every other year and I always remember changing monorails at the TTC if we were switching parks.

 

[DisneyJoe]

I don't know how you could. As far as I know the lines aren't even connected. We usually go every other year and I always remember changing monorails at the TTC if we were switching parks.

The only connection is a spur/switch that allows the train to go back to maintenance.

 

[ml123_9]

Never been able to. Two completly different sets of tracks. It has always been this way and probably always will be this way.

 

[Kobe!!]

Do you guys know how to upload videos to Facebook?

 

[Runnin'Gator]

Agreed, you've never been able to take a monorail directly from EPCOT to the Magic Kingdom. There has always been a transfer at the Transportation and Ticket Center. The EPCOT line isn't connected to the resort or express line except for a switch that's used for taking the monorail back to the maintenance area.

 

[Master Yoda]

I can confirm as well. You have always had to transfer at the TTC.

 

[Disney61]

I also have to confirm that there has never been direct monorail service between the Magic Kingdom and Epcot. There are three separate beams...The express beam that serves the TTC to the Magic Kingdom...The resort beam that services the TTC, the Poly, Grand Floridian, and the Contemporary. The third beam services the TTC to Epcot. The only time a monorail can go from beam to beam is when a switch is activated at the monrail barn. The switching is only done to either add or remove a monorail from a particular beam.

 

[JayCricket]

And finally, is it at all related to the air of . . . hostility is the best way I can describe it, that came up whenever you mentioned the Magic Kingdom around EPCOT or Boardwalk Cast Members, or when you mentioned EPCOT or the Boardwalk in the presence of Magic Kingdom or Contemporary Resort Cast?

Sorry, but this is news to me. Never noticed the inter-park hostility.
Some CMs are cross trained so they can work at more than one park or resort.
I think CMs have a good rapport with CMs in other areas.

 

[unkadug]

I know for a fact that you could, as I did so several times in 2004, as well as in 2002, 2001, 2000, 1999, 1998, 1997, 1996 and 1994.

Sorry but unless you were actually driving the monorail through the many switches needed in order to get from the MK beams to the Epcot beam (which has NEVER been open for guests to ride) it would be a physical impossibility for your recollections to be correct.

 

[epcotisbest]

I know for a fact that you could, as I did so several times in 2004, as well as in 2002, 2001, 2000, 1999, 1998, 1997, 1996 and 1994.

Sorry, remembering something incorrectly does not make it a fact. In no way should this dampen your other happy memories, many of which probably actually happened. :wave: I remember being young, handsome, popular, in good shape, successful and weighing less than 250.

 

[DisneyWall-E]

Nope. You are remembering it wrong. The tracks are different. Sorry.

 

[jcldtrek]

I've been going to Disney in Florida for 32 years now and you always had to change monorails at the TTC since Epcot was opened. If you continue to disbelieve us, simplygo to you tube videos on the subject Disney monorails and watch the fan videos. There's never been a direct line from Epcot to magic kingdom, you always have had to switch monorails at TTC . hope this helps you out and clears up the misunderstanding.