Chef Mickey's by Monorail

[kaymom]

I am planning on our family going by bus and then by monorail to CM for the first night we are at WDW. I am wondering if this is going to be fun or a real pain. Now, both of my boys (3,6) and my husband LOVE trains. We won't be going to any parks this day so I am looking for something fun to kick off our vacation.

 

[goofy4tink]

Where are you staying? If you can get a bus to Epcot, I would head there, and then hop on the Epcot to TTC monorail line. When you get to the TTC, you can transfer to the resort monorail line...that will stop at the Polynesian, GF, MK and then at the CR. But....plan on enough time. I would plan on at least an hour to do this.
OR...you could just take the bus to MK, and then walk up to the monorail platform and ride from there to the CR, but it's only about a 5 min monorail ride...that may not be long enough for you.

 

[robinb]

I would personally *walk* to the Contemporary from the MK Bus stop. When you are done with dinner take the monorail around for a round-trip. You can even ride up front with the driver! When you get up to the station ask the CM if you can wait for the front . You may have to wait for a train or two, but it's worth it!

 

[kevgraub]

I am planning on our family going by bus and then by monorail to CM for the first night we are at WDW. I am wondering if this is going to be fun or a real pain. Now, both of my boys (3,6) and my husband LOVE trains. We won't be going to any parks this day so I am looking for something fun to kick off our vacation.

I don't think it would be a pain at all. I would ride a bus to either Epcot or Magic Kingdom then hop the monorail to CM.

BTW - don't forget that you can ask to ride up front with the driver! Ask the CM when you get up to the platform and they will check to see if there are open seats. Also, our son asked a monorail driver for an autograph in his book, and the driver drew a really cool picture of the monorail then signed his name.

 

[Hibernians]

Riding the Monrail is a blast for the little ones, especially if you cna get the very first car. After your Chef Mickey's meal I would say get back on the Monrail and ride it through Epcot. I think this is very cool, especially at night time. Your kids will love it.

 

[kaymom]

Thanks for all of your advice. Now I am really excited about our plan. My kids had more fun taking the train to NYC than going to FAO Schwartz there! I will definitely ask for the first car with the driver . Can't wait for our vacation!

 

[Carlucci]

Kaymom, please be sure to let us know how it goes. We are doing nearly the exact same thing as you--going to CM as our WDW kickoff dinner and riding the monorail.

Our stay is June 9-16. If your stay is before ours, let us know how it went. If mine is first, I'll be sure to do likewise.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

I would personally *walk* to the Contemporary from the MK Bus stop. When you are done with dinner take the monorail around for a round-trip. You can even ride up front with the driver! When you get up to the station ask the CM if you can wait for the front . You may have to wait for a train or two, but it's worth it!

I agree doing it that way.

 

[nanal]

We actually did your exact schedule for our first night at WDW. Took bus from AKL to MK only we chose to walk which was a mistake in my opinion after an early morning, flight and excitement of being in Mickey's house. We rode Monorail back to MK after dinner and DGS thought that was marvelous. The monorail made a big hit with him and he is 4.5

 

[robinb]

We actually did your exact schedule for our first night at WDW. Took bus from AKL to MK only we chose to walk which was a mistake in my opinion after an early morning, flight and excitement of being in Mickey's house. We rode Monorail back to MK after dinner and DGS thought that was marvelous. The monorail made a big hit with him and he is 4.5

It's still a longish walk to the resort monorail from the MK buses and you have to walk past the entrance to the MK to get there. I know I would be bummed to be so close and not be able to go into the park!

 

[kaymom]

Kaymom, please be sure to let us know how it goes. We are doing nearly the exact same thing as you--going to CM as our WDW kickoff dinner and riding the monorail.

Our stay is June 9-16. If your stay is before ours, let us know how it went. If mine is first, I'll be sure to do likewise.

You are actually going before us. We aren't going until August, so I'd love to hear how it goes. I'm just getting a little crazy about this trip! Who knew planning the vacation could be so much fun!

 

[kaymom]

We actually did your exact schedule for our first night at WDW. Took bus from AKL to MK only we chose to walk which was a mistake in my opinion after an early morning, flight and excitement of being in Mickey's house. We rode Monorail back to MK after dinner and DGS thought that was marvelous. The monorail made a big hit with him and he is 4.5

"It's still a longish walk to the resort monorail from the MK buses and you have to walk past the entrance to the MK to get there. I know I would be bummed to be so close and not be able to go into the park!"

Thanks for the tips. I think if we had to pass the gates to the MK it would be a total bummer . We aren't even planning on going to the MK until the 3rd day so that the kids don't think every park is going to be like that. I think we'll take the bus/monorail there or take a cab. Definitely taking the monorail around for a loop or 2 before going back to the resort!

 

[disneyagain]

It's still a longish walk to the resort monorail from the MK buses and you have to walk past the entrance to the MK to get there. I know I would be bummed to be so close and not be able to go into the park!

Actually, it's just the opposite. The resort buses drop off on the CR side of the MK. The monorail is past the MK entrance. It's probably an equal distance walk from the bus stop to the CR or the Bus stop to the MK Monorail.

I think I would walk from the bus to CR (avoiding the front of MK). Then after dinner, hop on the resort monorail and ride it all the way around to the TTC (I think you'll have to pass CR again). Then transfer over to the EPCOT monorail, ride to Epcot, then hop the bus back to your resort.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

If anyone is intrested here a picture courtesy of Robo that shows how close the walkway from the Magic Kingdom to the Contemporay is.

I think I would walk from the bus to CR (avoiding the front of MK). Then after dinner, hop on the resort monorail and ride it all the way around to the TTC (I think you'll have to pass CR again). Then transfer over to the EPCOT monorail, ride to Epcot, then hop the bus back to your resort.

After getting on the Resort Monorail at the Contemporary the TTC is the next stop and it's no more then a 30-45 second ride, so you don't need to pass the Contemporary again.

 

[robinb]

It's still a longish walk to the resort monorail from the MK buses and you have to walk past the entrance to the MK to get there. I know I would be bummed to be so close and not be able to go into the park!

Actually, it's just the opposite. The resort buses drop off on the CR side of the MK. The monorail is past the MK entrance. It's probably an equal distance walk from the bus stop to the CR or the Bus stop to the MK Monorail.

Nope, I'm right. If the OP wanted to take the bus to the MK and then walk to the resort monorail to get to the Contemporary she would have to walk past the MK entrance to get to the resort monorail entrance (which is to the left of the photo that CR Resort Fan 4 Life posted). The walk is, in fact, shorter to the monorail because it's a straight shot across the entranceway to the MK. When you walk to the Contemporary you can't cut across the bus lanes to get to the walkway so you need to walk all the way to the front of the bus area (near the light blue MK/TTC Ferry Dock) and then "double back" along the walkway.

Now, as the crow flies, I would say that the distance from the Pop Century bus stop to the monorail and the resort are probably the same.

FWIW, I love your idea of taking the monorail to Epcot too. They can then just hop on a bus back to their resort at Epcot as the bus station is right near the monorail station. They will also get a nice "sneak peek" into Epcot .

 

[Carlucci]

Kaymom, as promised, here's how it went for us:


We parked our car at Epcot around 6:30, and jumped on the Monorail to the Transit Center. Then we transferred to the Resort loop and went around to the CR.

We arrived at the CR right at 7:00. We are early birds nearly everywhere we go. I hate that feeling of running late to anything. Our ADR's weren't until 7:50, but they offered to work us in early, and were dining by 7:15.

After dinner, we rode the Monorail back to Epcot, where my sons and I went in to EPCOT for EMH to try to get a few rides in, and my wife and DD took the bus back to the resort to relax.

It worked out great for us. Hope you have a terrific time!