Hey, Disney World enthusiasts! If you didn’t know, today, March 6th, is National Monorail Day! National Monorail Day is an unofficial holiday created by Disney to celebrate their iconic Mark VI monorail fleet. Speed high in the sky on this beloved mode of transportation that many people (including yours truly) consider to be a ride in and of itself. You don’t even need a park ticket!
What Is Disney’s Monorail?
The Disney World Monorail System is one of the complimentary forms of transportation provided at Walt Disney World. Its iconic fleet is made up of 12 different colored monorail trains that run along three separate lines. Before we discuss the specific lines of travel, let’s quickly mention the various monorails you may see during your visit:
- Black
- Blue
- Coral
- Gold
- Green
- Lime
- Orange
- Peach
- Red
- Silver
- Teal
- Yellow
Personally, whenever I’m in Disney World, I like to keep track of how many different monorails I get to ride during that visit. It’s a fun surprise to see which one will pull up to the station each time!
Where Can I Go on Disney’s Monorail?
As was previously stated, there are three different lines you can ride. Let’s take a look at the routes:
- The Resort Monorail makes multiple stops along its loop:
- Magic Kingdom
- Disney’s Contemporary Resort
- the Transportation and Ticket Center (TTC)
- Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
- Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
- The Express Monorail originates at the Transportation and Ticket Center (TTC) and provides direct, round-trip service to Magic Kingdom
- The EPCOT Monorail provides direct, round-trip service between the Transportation and Ticket Center (TTC) and EPCOT
You can use the monorail for park hopping and resort hopping purposes as well. By taking a monorail to the TTC from either EPCOT or Magic Kingdom, you can transfer to a monorail that will then take you to the other theme park. You can also easily get to EPCOT from the monorail loop resorts by taking a monorail to the TTC and transferring to the EPCOT monorail from there.
Boarding the Monorail
The first thing you will do when you arrive at a monorail station is to go through a security checkpoint. This includes metal detectors and, possibly, bag searches. This streamlines the entrance process when you arrive at Magic Kingdom or EPCOT. Once you are inside the secure area, you will not have to go through screening again unless you exit the perimeter (such as exiting a theme park or going to one of the resorts).
Once you are through security, you will wait for the monorail behind automated gates. These gates will only open when the monorail has arrived and it is safe to board. Once the gates are open, you can proceed to any of the cabins that have available space. For guests using ECVs or wheelchairs, Cast Members are available at each station with a ramp for loading and unloading. These Cast Members will direct those guests to the appropriate cabin for loading.
Each cabin has sets of forward and backward-facing bench-like seating. During busy times, you may be required to stand during the ride. If so, make sure you hold on to the hand rails, and do not lean on the doors or windows. Needless to say, the vast majority of the time, you will be sharing a monorail cabin withother guests.
The Monorail Operates Rain or Shine
Just as the heading states, the monorail operates rain or shine. There are exceptions for extreme weather, however. Monorails do not operate when sustained winds are expected to exceed 39mph. In rare situations when the Disney monorail is closed due to weather, outages, or other unforeseen circumstances, Disney will provide alternate methods of transportation.
Hours of Operation
While the schedule may vary, Disney says the Resort Monorail and Express Monorail begin daily operation 30 minutes prior to when Early Theme Park Entry for Magic Kingdom park opens. Monorail service continues frequently throughout the day until one hour after Magic Kingdom closes for the day. Disney also says the EPCOT Monorail begins operation 30 minutes prior to when Early Theme Park Entry for EPCOT opens for the day, and service continues until two hours after EPCOT closes. Cast Members are available if you need clarification on operating hours, and signage is also posted and updated daily.
Monorail Merchandise
Every classic Disney attraction (again, I’m among those who consider the monorail to be a ride in and of itself) deserves some merchandise love, and the Monorail is no different. Periodically, you will find Monorail-themed merchandise around Disney World. Bay View Gifts at Disney’s Contemporary is often a great place to find these items, since the resort itself has monorails literally running right through the middle of the main tower!
No matter where you are today, you can celebrate the Disney World Monorail with 4 Hours of Monorail Ambience courtesy of Disney Parks on YouTube. Then, make sure to take a ride on this legendary form of Disney transportation the next time you visit Walt Disney World. When you do, always remember to “Please stand clear of the doors. Por favor manténganse alejado de las puertas.” For more Disney fun and trip planning, stay tuned to MouseHouseNews.net. We’ll see you real soon!
