Breakfast at PCH Grill then monorail?

[MaggieS79]

Hi! Thinking of doing breakfast with Mickey and the gang one day. I'm wondering if it is a good option to walk over to the monorail and head into DL that way? Does the monorail start running at the same time that the park opens? Are the lineups usually long? I'm not too worried about hitting rope drop on this day (gasp! haha!) as we have 5 day hoppers so being a *little* later into the park is probably ok with me.

Any advice, anyone? Please and thanks!

 

[mom2rtk]

I'm not a fan of taking the monorail at park open because it's not always open on time. I also like starting my day walking down Main Street.

You might feel differently about it though.

 

[figment_jii]

The monorail maybe a fun way to start the day, but it probably won't be any faster and it won't really save you any time (or distance). At DLR, the monorail is essentially an attraction (rather than transportation like it is at WDW). The monorail itself is fairly small so it doesn't have a large capacity and they don't make guests disembark at DTD. One time when I was there, they were only able to take 15 new guests. If you get there and see there is a line, you're probably going to have to wait for one or more monorails before you'll get to board.

 

[sherilaine]

Coming from PCH Grill, you walk across the street and through the GCH and into down town Disney - from that point you are no closer to the monorail station than you are from the regular park gates. I don't see that it would be any faster, it might be fun, but not faster. The monorail would be an experience, if you were to take it, rather than an efficient means of transportation. The best means of transportation at DLR is walking!

 

[mom2rtk]

But if you are in Fantasyland or Tomorrowland and NEED an Earl of Sandwich for lunch, the monorail is GREAT!

 

[ADLFAN]

I much prefer going the opposite direction from Tomorrowland to DTD for lunch or shopping. We have tried using it in the direction you're considering and have been confronted with a hidden line of people and a wait of at least one train. I think they add more Monorails throughout the day, making the wait shorter for all. But I swear it said a 15 minute wait which seemed ridiculous compared to a three minute stroll! We were able to walk right on the Monorail in Tomorrowland after finishing up our morning there and it was super fun with great views-not to be missed! Have fun planning!

 

[TalkDisnerdytome]

In my opinion I used the monorail once to enter the park, and absolutely hated it. The wait was so annoying, I prefer to enter through the front gates it feels much faster since you're mostly constantly moving. Waiting in a small line to get your ticket checked to get on the monorail and then waiting in line and waiting for the actual monorail to show up just feels so much longer than actually walking to the enterance and entering that way. Plus like someone else said you would miss walking down Mainstreet which is the best feeling ever!

 

[calilou]

If it's your first day in the park, entering the main gates and walking down Main Street is best. Otherwise the monorail is a good option from PPH depending where your destination is in Disneyland. If you're starting in Tomorrowland or Fantasyland, it works well. However, it may be quicker/easier to go through the Grand Californian into DTD to the main gates if you plan to be in Frontierland or Adventureland.

 

[SoCalTrojanSkip]

My second stint at the DLR was at the front desk of the PPH and I used to tell my guests that while the Monorail is fun, early in the morning it's crowded and the Paradise Pier Hotel is literally the furthest hotel from the Monorail...we used to refer to the DLR as a "walking resort". You really aren't saving any time, and as folks on here have pointed out you may actually lose time if you want to get into the parks right away. Plus put me in the camp that likes to start my day off on Main Street.

My advice...?
Cross the street and cut through the GCH to get to Downtown Disney andthen continue on to the Main Entrance from there.

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

I'm another fan of walking to Disneyland via the Grand Californian Hotel.

 

[Minniekins]

But if you are in Fantasyland or Tomorrowland and NEED an Earl of Sandwich for lunch, the monorail is GREAT!

We are coming for our first visit this coming May, and super excited! Interested in this, as we love EOS! Yum! So, as I'm still learning about things, is there a place to get the monorail from either Fantasyland or Tomorrowland? And it takes you to DTD, and near EOS? For some reason I was thinking the monorail would be down, maybe I'm thinking of the railroad.

Also, do you happen to know if they carry the holiday sandwich there,(turkey, dressing, cranberry sauce - YUM!!)? It's year round now at WDW's EOS.

 

[mom2rtk]

We are coming for our first visit this coming May, and super excited! Interested in this, as we love EOS! Yum! So, as I'm still learning about things, is there a place to get the monorail from either Fantasyland or Tomorrowland? And it takes you to DTD, and near EOS? For some reason I was thinking the monorail would be down, maybe I'm thinking of the railroad.

Also, do you happen to know if they carry the holiday sandwich there,(turkey, dressing, cranberry sauce - YUM!!)? It's year round now at WDW's EOS.

I'm not certain, but am thinking it is year round. I know I had one in October last year.

I have heard nothing about the monorail at DLR going down. I bet it's the train you're thinking of.

There are only 2 stops on the DLR monorail..... one in DL next to the Nemo Subs and the one at DTD, very near EOS. It's like an EOS express!

The one thing to keep in mind is that it does close when it gets really hot as it has no A/C.

 

[texasgingerbread]

I'm not certain, but am thinking it is year round. I know I had one in October last year.

I have heard nothing about the monorail at DLR going down. I bet it's the train you're thinking of.

There are only 2 stops on the DLR monorail..... one in DL next to the Nemo Subs and the one at DTD, very near EOS. It's like an EOS express!

The one thing to keep in mind is that it does close when it gets really hot as it has no A/C.

so would this be a good lunch option popping out and back into the park or do logistics take a long time and reentering security is it just easier to eat inside?

 

[mom2rtk]

so would this be a good lunch option popping out and back into the park or do logistics take a long time and reentering security is it just easier to eat inside?

I guess it depends on when you go and when you depart and return. I've never seen a huge buildup mid-day for the monorail security, but as soon as I say that I'm sure someone will have a different experience to share.

It's always going to be faster to just eat in the park. But if you want to ride the monorail anyway, the combination of riding plus getting out of the park for a few minutes to eat at my daughter's favorite place has always been a win/win. I also like that the ride on the monorail gets us off our feet for a bit mid-day when I need it.

 

[TalkDisnerdytome]

But if you are in Fantasyland or Tomorrowland and NEED an Earl of Sandwich for lunch, the monorail is GREAT!

I am definetely going to use this on my upcoming trip I love Earl of Sandwich.

 

[SMD]

Keep in mind that with the new security screenings it's not just the bag check table but a metal detector occupying the space. Moving people through one at a time is where there's more staff and equipment in the space, but no room for an additional bag check lane to be added. I would think that unless you have any banned items, worst case scenario is that you might have to wait for another train. Assuming the monorail doesn't break down, which it does, often.

In the morning it's not reliable because in addition to it not running from DTD first thing, it can sometimes be restricted to on site guests. And there's no guarantee that anyone who boarded in TL will get off at DTD, especially first thing in the morning. As PP said, it's really an attraction, not a mode of transportation.

 

[TalkDisnerdytome]

I guess it depends on when you go and when you depart and return. I've never seen a huge buildup mid-day for the monorail security, but as soon as I say that I'm sure someone will have a different experience to share.

It's always going to be faster to just eat in the park. But if you want to ride the monorail anyway, the combination of riding plus getting out of the park for a few minutes to eat at my daughter's favorite place has always been a win/win. I also like that the ride on the monorail gets us off our feet for a bit mid-day when I need it.

And it is always easier to eat an hour before normal lunch time. I normally eat lunch at about 11, so if you wanted to exit the park to eat going a little before 11 to get to where you need to by 11 to get lunch would be best.

 

[TalkDisnerdytome]

In the morning it's not reliable because in addition to it not running from DTD first thing, it can sometimes be restricted to on site guests. And there's no guarantee that anyone who boarded in TL will get off at DTD, especially first thing in the morning. As PP said, it's really an attraction, not a mode of transportation.

Oh my yes I totally forgot about this! Another reason why I really dislike the monorail. If you're trying to get on at DTD the people who are already on the monorail from TL never get off. I really think they should make it a rule that if you get on at one stop you have to get off at the next. The train isn't as big of a deal since there are multiple stops and it never leaves the park but the monorail only having two stops and having like only 10 people get off drives me crazy.

 

[sherilaine]

We have also used the Monorail to get out of the park - never back in.

 

[SMD]

Oh my yes I totally forgot about this! Another reason why I really dislike the monorail. If you're trying to get on at DTD the people who are already on the monorail from TL never get off. I really think they should make it a rule that if you get on at one stop you have to get off at the next. The train isn't as big of a deal since there are multiple stops and it never leaves the park but the monorail only having two stops and having like only 10 people get off drives me crazy.

They do make you get off in TL, so anyone who wishes to ride it within the park can. I don't think that they should make people get off in DTD, since it's outside the park. I think they'd upset way more people forcing them to ride half the loop, get off and get back in line to ride the other half.