Almost every attraction and pavilion at EPCOT has some sort of hidden room or lounge. Most of these were created as private entertainment spaces for the original corporate sponsors of the attraction. As Disney has moved away from the corporate sponsorship model, probably not by… Read More »Secrets of Backstage Meeting Rooms at EPCOT
This year’s holiday display at Disney’s Hollywood Studios will be just a little dimmer. The bright burning light that was the life of Jennings Osborne has burnt out. Osborne died at age 67 from complications related to a heart attack suffered last year. Everyone at… Read More »Jennings Osborne, Holiday Display Creator, Dead at 67
Photo courtesy Flickr user IceNineJon via CC-License Last week, Disney’s Hollywood Studios welcomed the very first public run of a new segment in the Lights, Motors, Action! Extreme Stunt Show. Featuring the popular character Lightning McQueen, this segment is just about 5 minutes in length, and… Read More »“Cars 2” Star Added to Stunt Show
Walt Disney World has released a list of injuries that occurred on attractions for the second quarter of 2011. It’s not long and not surprising. However, having witnessed a couple of non-attraction related injuries in the park myself (and a friend having witnessed a death… Read More »Disney World Releases 2nd Quarter Injury Report
A few days ago, WDWMagic.com reported that there were no Fantasmic! times scheduled past January 4, 2012 at Walt Disney World’s Hollywood Studios. This news broke my heart. For those of you who aren’t familiar with the show, it is sort of the original World… Read More »Beware of the Fantasmic! Hiatus
Yes, it was hot and humid at Disney World today. The most magical place on Earth can seem much less than than sparkly during the busy summer weeks (and this week is among the busiest). However, your discomfort is no excuse to take your frustrations… Read More »Woman Arrested for Striking, Kicking Child at Magic Kingdom Today
An article in the Orlando Sentinel’s sports section focuses on one of the unique benefits that comes with sports training at ESPN Wide World of Sports at Walt Disney World. It’s called cyrotherapy. It’s the same technology that cryogenic facilities use to quickly freeze a… Read More »Cryotherapy at ESPN WWoS Advances Sports Therapy
The monorail station could be looking like this a lot more when Disney institutes its new reduced hours for the trains.
One of my favorite Robert Heinlein short stories is “The Roads Must Roll.” Written in 1940, it speculates about a rapid transit system that would move people across the country in speed and comfort. The high speed nature of the rolling roads meant that maintenance was a huge deal. When the employees decided to organize for better working conditions, well, the shit hits the fan. In some ways it foretold the air controller strike of the Reagan era. These days there is an odd tie-in to the Walt Disney World monorails system too.
Walt Disney World just announced they would be reducing the operating hours of their monorail fleet. They used to run 1.5 hours after the parks closed or after the last scheduled event (extra magic hours, christmas party, etc). Sometimes these hours were stretched even further on the EPCOT line. Now they will all shut down 1 hour after the posted closing time for the park with no allowance for extra magic hours or other events. Guests will be placed on buses or water craft to be returned to their hotels or the TTC and EPCOT parking lots.
Initially, there was a lot of outcry directed at Disney for reducing benefits to resort and park guests at the same time they are raising prices, but soon word leaked out that there was an important reason behind the shift. The reason? The monorail fleet is just breaking down under the strain.