Disney World Monorail Question
 

I'm taking a disabled friend to Disney this week. We will be touring WDW at a fairly casual pace. I would like to ride the monorail between the Contemporary, Polynesian, and Grand Floridian and make stops at each for a snack, drink and look around. I've been to WDW many times but my friend has not so I want her to see all the resorts and enjoy the sights from the monorail.

Where should we board the monorail? We are not staying on property, we'll have a car. We will not be going to the parks on the day that we do this. Can I park at one of the 3 resorts if I'm not staying there and don't have a restaurant reservation? Or should I park as if I'm going to MK, ride the boat over to the entrance then hop on the monorail?

I'd try first to park at the resorts directly and avoid the parking fees and tram ride involved in parking at the general MK lot. They've gotten tighter on the parking at the resorts but I think they'll let you in with a 2 or 3 hour pass.

Thanks DancingBearMD. I may have to pay and park as if going to MK which I don't mind. 2-3 hours of parking at a resort won't be enough for us. My friend is not very mobile and refuses to use a wheelchair so we will need all day to do what most people do in a couple of hours.

It looks like I can park at TTC then take the monorail from there. I don't think I need to show a park admission ticket there to get on the monorail.

Last time I was there (past fall), park admission was not necessary to board monorail.

I believe the official rule is that you need a reservation (hotel or restuarant) to park. Unofficially sometimes they ask and sometimes they don't. One time I just told them that I was considering the resort for a future stay(which was true) and they gave me a two hour pass for self-parking at no charge. I think they are tighter at the monorail resorts. Can you make a dining reservation?

Oh - meant to say also that you might want to post your question at disboards.com. Lots of experts over there.

Will you have a disabled parking pass? Is your friend in a wheelchair?

You will need to park at MK, and get the monorail at the Ticketing and Transportation Center at the MK parking lot. You don't need to take the boat to get the monorail. the resorts will let you park at their lots for a short time (2-3 hours) if you have a dining reservation.

The Resorts WILL NOT let you park there (there is a guard at each resort) unless you have dining or hotel reservations.

So what you need to do is pay for parking, just as if you were going to spend the day at the Magic Kingdom. If you have a handicapped sticker or other designation, be sure to show it to the Cast Members assigning parking spaces, they will direct you to the spaces up front near the walk way to the TTA (Transportation & Ticketing Center).

Now there are two monorail lines that circle Seven Seas Lagoon. The Express Monorail, and the Resort Monorail. Once you are past the Ticket Booths you will see signs for both. The Express Monorail goes from the TTA to the Magic Kingdom and Back. The Resort Monorail makes stops at The TTA, The Polynesian, the Grand Floridian, the Magic Kingdom and The Contemporary, in that order.

You should be able to get on and off the monorails without showing a room key or ticket. They used to check, back in the late 1980's and 90's but not anymore.

Now remember one thing, The monorails operate until 1-1/2 hours after the park closes. So if your having dinner at Victoria and Alberts in the Grand Floridian and it is 10 p.m. and the Magic Kingdom closed at 7 p.m. you will have to walk back to the TTA and your car. Also if your feeling adventurous, there is a boat launch near the entrance to the Magic Kingdom, where the buses pick up people from the other hotels that takes you to the Wilderness Lodge. My Favorite hotel.

Have fun, hotel hopping can be cool in Disney, there is so much to see. Bring your Cameras.

"Now remember one thing, The monorails operate until 1-1/2 hours after the park closes. So if your having dinner at Victoria and Alberts in the Grand Floridian and it is 10 p.m. and the Magic Kingdom closed at 7 p.m. you will have to walk back to the TTA and your car. Also if your feeling adventurous, there is a boat launch near the entrance to the Magic Kingdom, where the buses pick up people from the other hotels that takes you to the Wilderness Lodge. My Favorite hotel."

Are you sure about this? That sounds way too early. There isn't even a way to walk from the Contemporary to the TTC. Perhaps it is 1.5 hours after the last park closes? Otherwise folks riding the monorail back from Epcot would be stuck at the TTC. Or perhaps buses run after the monorail stops running?

Answering my own question here. Apparently the Resort Monorail (which runs from the TTC clockwise to the Polynesian, Grand Floridian, Magic Kingdom while it is open and for at least 1.5 hours thereafter), Contemporary and back to the TTC) runs until midnight (maybe later if Magic Kingdom has late hours), and there is a shuttle bus service thereafter until 2 a.m.

If your friend is not in a wheelchair, a pleasant alternative as part of your excursion would be to take the boat that runs from the MK to the GF to the Poly (and then back to the MK). If your friend is in a chair you might end your night by taking the monorail to the MK station and taking the ferry back to the TTC.