Easy Guide to the Walt Disney World Monorail System

Disney World offers different modes of transportation for guests to travel around and between their resorts and parks. Monorail is considered to be the visitors’ most loved transportation system that Disney World provides.

The monorail is loved by many because it is convenient and fun. However, it is also the busiest.

We have created an easy guide for you to understand the monorail system.

What Is the Monorail?

Disney’s monorail is a very popular form of transportation among guests. Both kids and adults love it because it is fun, fast, and convenient.

The monorail system started at Disney World in 1971. Its lines run 14.7 miles and take the guests to the destination they wish to go to.

There are 12 monorails currently running, and each has different colored stripes for guests to identify them. Each monorail consists of six cars and can hold 360 passengers. The train is environmentally friendly since it runs on electricity.

The Three Lines

The monorail system at Disney World has three lines.

1. Resort Monorail
2. Express Monorail
3. Epcot Monorail

The monorails start their journey at the Ticket and Transportation Center, also known as the central terminal. It is also where anyone who drives to Walt Disney World can park their vehicle to reach the Magic Kingdom.

1. Resort Monorail

The places where resort monorail line stops are at these locations:

• Magic Kingdom
• Contemporary Resort
• Transportation and Ticket Center
• Polynesian Village Resort
• Grand Floridian Resort and Spa

Here are a few things to remember while taking the resort monorail:

1. The train runs clockwise on a loop.
2. When you exit the monorail at the Magic Kingdom, there will not be any security check that you have to go through. There will be a security check when you reach the resorts.
3. The location where the monorail will stop at the Grand Floridian Resort is on the hotel’s second floor.
4. Even at the Polynesian Village Resort, the station is on the second floor next to the hotel’s lobby.
5. The Contemporary Resort is the most distant from the Magic Kingdom. While leaving the park, the resort will be the first stop, but leaving the resort will be far for you. You can consider walking to Magic Kingdom in this case.
6. The resort line is best when visiting the Deluxe Resorts around the Seven Seas Lagoon.

2. Express Monorail

Since it is an express monorail, the line to board the train can be very long. The express monorail runs between the Transportation and Ticket Center and Magic Kingdom. There will be no other stops.

Here are a few things to remember while taking the resort monorail:

• You must expect long lines as it is the fastest way to reach the Magic Kingdom.
• While departing the Magic Kingdom to go to your vehicle, there will be a long line, but you can choose to board the resort monorail. This is because the line can be considerably smaller, and the resort monorail will stop at the Contemporary Resort before reaching the Transportation and Ticket Center. You will only have to sit through one stop. 
• The train runs in an anti-clockwise direction.

3. Epcot Monorail

The Epcot Monorail runs between the Transporation and Ticket Center and Epcot.

If you want to switch parks between Epcot and the Magic Kingdom, you can change the lines at the central terminal.

The Monorail Schedule

The monorail runs on a fixed schedule.

• The monorail starts approximately 30 minutes before the earliest park’s opening time. They run up to an hour after the closing time of the latest parks. If you want to reach the theme park earlier, you can use the monorail. 
• In certain situations where there are special events such as Christmas or Halloween parties, the monorail will run until an hour after the extended hours. 
• In case you are attending a private event, you must check at the resort regarding the monorail operating hours.

Here are a few things you must remember:

1. Always keep a note of the working hours of the monorail. There might be cases where the timings have changed.
2. There will be signs broadcasted at the monorail station and the resort regarding the timings, lines, and reschedules that have taken place.
3. If you are confused or have doubts regarding the schedule, you can always ask at the terminal or your resort.

Is It Easy To Use the Monorail?

You do not have to worry about using the monorail as it is very easy. You just need to know the lines and the stops. When you reach the station, you will be able to see signs where they mention all the details regarding which line goes where. When you read the signs, you will understand which line to choose depending on your destination.

Regarding the security and safety issues, the stations and the monorails are very safe. The gates stop passengers from getting on to the monorail until it is indicated safe. Furthermore, the speakers at the stations and on the monorails will keep reminding you of these safety measures.

There are also portable ramps in case you need to access them. There will be people around the station in case you need assistance.

Regarding the speed, the train’s computer limits it, hence, the operator can not increase it. The monorail also travels up to 40 mph and slows down in certain areas and slows down to 15 mph.

Boarding the monorail and looking outside will be a beautiful experience for you as the views are incredible.

Conclusion

Disney World is a huge place. When planning to roam around Disney World, it is always better to familiarize yourself with the available transportation and their schedules.

You do not want to get lost, missing events, or arrive late to reservations. So this guide will help you get used to and get familiar with the monorail easily. Go through this guide before going to Disney World and have a good experience with the monorail system at Disney World.