Are monorails that bad?

[TOBS2010]

We are hoping to make another trip to WDW and will have a 5.5 and a 2.5 kids with us. I had planned on splurging and staying at a monorail resort because of their ages. One will likely need a short afternoon nap and the oldest will be fine without one most, if not all days. Last time we went with our oldest at 2.5 and stayed at POR--buses worked fine, we just planned our day around when he needed to nap and sleep. I was thinking that the monorail would make it simple and easy to get to and from our hotel when we would be spending a majority of our time in the MK. But then I have been reading such horrible comments about the monorail recently. So can you please tell me your comments on it still be worth and very high costs of staying in a monorail resort? And are the monorails really that bad?

I haven't stayed in a monorail resort since I was a kid----think like 20 plus years ago. And I have such great memories of them---but I also know that this was decades ago. Thanks!

 

[Starwind]

I can't answer your main question, as we recently stayed at Poly and didn't have issues for the limited monorailing we did. It was nice to clear security before getting on the monorail, although even when we bused from WL to MK the line for security after the buses was pretty short.

Another option to consider would be Wilderness Lodge: bus or boat to MK (we prefer the boat, even if it takes longer than the bus, YMMV). There is also a boat to Contemporary (and Fort wilderness), which makes visiting the monorail resorts quite easy.

SW

 

[kmb584]

I don't think they're that bad (we stay at BLT so use them often) but they aren't like they once were. When we were in WDW last week, twice the Epcot line was down mid-afternoon. We'd taken to using Minnie Vans at that point (it saved my 84-year-old grandmother's knees!) so it didn't bother us too much, but it was a bit disappointing knowing that if we had wanted to use the monorail to get back to our resort, we couldn't. We utilized the monorail probably two dozen times over 10 days and the Epcot line issues were the only ones we encountered.

 

[Chaoticsweetness]

I don't think the monorails are all that bad, sometimes they can be unreliable.

When my sister & I stayed at CR there was a brief malfunction with the monorail that lasted for a few hours. But we had planned to do MK that day, so we walked there. I can see how a family that relies on the monorail would see that as inconvenient.

 

[gameboyjay]

It feels like one week the monorails are just fine, then the next week they're just brutal. The last week I was there the monorail that does the resorts was constantly missing its stop. The monorail couldn't just move back a few feet to hit the stop, it actually had to back up a significant distance and then try to hit the stop again, and this was incredibly time consuming.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

Heavy monorail user here. Almost all of our trips have been to the MK / monorail resorts.

You’ll hear strong opinions on both sides, but we love the monorails and the convenience of the monorail resorts. I can’t really think of a time when a monorail problem has caused a material negative impact to our stay. Maybe the occasional “waiting for traffic clearance” delay, but nothing major. Not saying more significant delays or problems don’t happen, we’ve just never personally experienced them (fortunately).

Like with any transportation system, I think it’s important to pay attention to conditions and be famiiiar with (and ready to use) backup plans if needed.

Happy planning!

 

[megs1313]

for your purposes, i think the monorail makes sense. For a family like ours, it doesn't. We used to think it was worth it, but it smells bad, service is spotty...lots of breakdowns. for us, it's not worth it anymore. For you? Strollers and going back and forth through the day? Sure.

 

[ColoradoMom12]

Staying at the Contemporary might be worth your consideration if you're feeling uncertain about monorail reliability. You can walk to/from MK from the CR. We love it there primarily for that reason alone.

 

[allsaintsatx]

We've stayed at GF and the Poly and have never experienced any monorail issues. I've also read the horror stories, but we've never even experienced a delay. If anything, it seems like a monorail shows up every 5 minutes. Almost every time we missed one, another one would show up in minutes. It was very convenient. Another fun option is taking the boat that goes from the MK to GF, Poly and then back to MK again. When we stayed at GF we would monorail over and boat back.

 

[MNDisneyMommy]

We love BLT and have a 6 yr old and a 3 yr old. For both BLT and Contemporary - walking to Magic Kingdom is just wonderful - but walking BACK after fireworks and being in your room within 15 minutes of the show being over is priceless. Really. Especially with little kids that you've kept up late to see them.

When we go to Epcot or another resort via monorail, you also don't (usually) have to fold your stroller. Wheel those kiddos right in and put the parking brake on. Also means all the "stuff" you've accumulated in the cup holders and pockets can stay in place too.

Between Epcot with no stroller fold and walking to/from MK...well...we think that resort can't be beat.

I too have heard the horror stories of the monorail being down, but it's never happened to us personally. A few times we've had a minute or two before a station as a hold but otherwise it's pretty smooth.

Now, going through security before getting on the monorail every time did make things pretty annoying especially when we were just going to another resort for a meal. But probably can't be helped (and I'm happy to feel a bit safer).

 

[LSUmiss]

We are hoping to make another trip to WDW and will have a 5.5 and a 2.5 kids with us. I had planned on splurging and staying at a monorail resort because of their ages. One will likely need a short afternoon nap and the oldest will be fine without one most, if not all days. Last time we went with our oldest at 2.5 and stayed at POR--buses worked fine, we just planned our day around when he needed to nap and sleep. I was thinking that the monorail would make it simple and easy to get to and from our hotel when we would be spending a majority of our time in the MK. But then I have been reading such horrible comments about the monorail recently. So can you please tell me your comments on it still be worth and very high costs of staying in a monorail resort? And are the monorails really that bad?

I haven't stayed in a monorail resort since I was a kid----think like 20 plus years ago. And I have such great memories of them---but I also know that this was decades ago. Thanks!

The monorail has had some issues. But, I would say a bad day on the monorail is better than a good day in dealing with the busses in the moderates. Since we have switched to staying on the monorail we feel we can’t go back to that! Only issue we have had is the monorail being down sometimes at park close which is frustrating when you’re often paying more to stay there. But, they always have the boats or you can walk to Contemporary. And it’s always better than the moderate bus services imo.

 

[North of Mouse]

We are hoping to make another trip to WDW and will have a 5.5 and a 2.5 kids with us. I had planned on splurging and staying at a monorail resort because of their ages. One will likely need a short afternoon nap and the oldest will be fine without one most, if not all days. Last time we went with our oldest at 2.5 and stayed at POR--buses worked fine, we just planned our day around when he needed to nap and sleep. I was thinking that the monorail would make it simple and easy to get to and from our hotel when we would be spending a majority of our time in the MK. But then I have been reading such horrible comments about the monorail recently. So can you please tell me your comments on it still be worth and very high costs of staying in a monorail resort? And are the monorails really that bad?

I haven't stayed in a monorail resort since I was a kid----think like 20 plus years ago. And I have such great memories of them---but I also know that this was decades ago. Thanks!

No, the monorails are not that bad. We just returned from an 8 day trip and had no issues whatsoever with the monorails.

 

[Disneylover99]

They're only bad when they are crowded. And they stop between stops for 15-20 minutes. And it's hot. And there is no AC. And there is no air circulating.

Other than that, they're great!

 

[Babsy]

They're only bad when they are crowded. And they stop between stops for 15-20 minutes. And it's hot. And there is no AC. And there is no air circulating.

Other than that, they're great!

Monorails are awesome when they are working - except for the issues that Disneylover99 mentioned. And, of course, they smell really bad! LOL

The real problem is the unreliability and the potential for a breakdown when you are riding on one. Odds are, you won't get stuck on one for hours, but it can, and has, happened. For that reason, I personally prefer to use the monorail as little as possible.

OP:
The CR is an awesome place to stay with small children because you can walk from there to the MK. Either the Poly or the GF has a boat that is very
nice as an alternative to the monorail. All three monorail resorts are great places to stay, despite the monorail issues.

Bottom line: the monorail is usually a good option for people with littles and strollers. It is a small gamble, but it is much more likely that you may be inconvenienced by it not running sometimes than that you will have a major issue and be stuck on it for hours. Of course, you may be lucky and experience nothing more harrowing than the bad odour.
I would definitely choose to stay in a MK area resort. They are our absolute favourites even without little ones. When the grandchildren go with us, they are absolute must do's. With a stroller, for us it is CR tower all the way!

Good luck!