DLH using Monorail question

[rstamm]

We are staying at the DLH in August and would like to use the Monorail, but are not exactly sure the best way to use it.

What time does the Monorail open in the morning, including MM days?

I remember reading that the Monorail couldn't operate above a certain temperature--is this still the case?

 

[LavenderPeach]

I see you're a WDW vet. One difference with the monorail at DLR compared to WDW is that at DLR it is more of a ride and not strictly a form of transportation. Yes, you can use it as trasportation but it isn't necessary and imo, can take longer than just walking if you have to wait very long for the next train. But of course, it can be more fun to take the monorail than to walk so that is a plus.

Another downside of using the monorail as transportation is that they don't start running it until after DL has opened so you won't get into the park when it first opens. You will just be starting your ride over when everyone else is getting in lines so if that's important to you, you should walk. I'm not sure if it's open during MM or not.

I also remember reading about it not running over a certain temperature but I haven't heard about that lately and we were there last week and saw the monorail running at various times so I'm not sure about that.

 

[silence]

The monorail opens to hotel guests on MM days. We rode it into the park on Thursday.

They opened the gate that morning at 6:50, we were on the train prior to "park opening" and as we passed the main gates, we could see they had actually JUST opened. At that point, I noticed the pilot slowed us down, we were driving slower than normal speed through Fantasyland. When we got off, we could have been one of the first 30 or so in line for the subs.

Now, we have tried to use it on prior trips with no such luck, and arrived around 7:30. Also, we were in line at 6:40 that morning as well.

It went down a few times during our 3 day stay. We could not ride it back on Thursday night as it was down. That was a pain, when you walk to that side of the park only to discover it is down and then have to walk all the way back through DTD.

Anyways, we used it probably 75% of the time, so it did come in handy.

 

[amyamya]

If you are staying on property, the monorail is actually best for getting BACK to your hotel. We used it in the afternoon when it started getting hot to zip back to the hotel, walk thru a nearly empty DTD, make a quick stop at Haagen-Dasz, of course, and rest in the room. We never used it for getting in to the parks.

The potential of the monorail is so great, and it kills me that it's not used to its full advantage.

 

[Amy&Dan]

I agree with everyone else. Its a ride not transportation and in many trips, its rarely done anything more than aggravate me first thing in the morning! And it drops you off into Tomorrowland, meaning you miss Main Street, the castle and if you want to go to Adv. Land, Frontierland or Critter Country first, its counter producitve.

Now at night, it can be very nice. Often we'll see the fireworks back by Its a Small World, then get over to the monorail as soon as they are over, hop on and be back to our hotel without the crush of people on Main Street exiting. So I love it then.

They also took away the priority line for DLR onsite guests which stinks (at least it was gone last time I was at DL in January of 08).

If you are a WDW vet, you'll be amazed at how convenient it is to walk into the park from the DLH up DTD. Less of a walk than the path that connects the CR to the MK I am thinking.