DTD Monorail for park opening entry?

[ChloroformSdxn]

OK, good to know! I haven't decided yet if I'll haul out the stroller for our Nov/Dec trip yet. The kids aren't using it anymore, but I know the first time I went my oldest was more or less done with a stroller... and we ended up renting the whole trip. Disney is tiring.

 

[cinder-ellah]

Definitely only 4 people fit up front. We're a fam of 5 so I remember that number quite well! (But we all fit in back no issues.)

And we too have run into the 8:01 "sorry folks" thing at the monorail. Although one time when we tried it was 8am and they said "we should be open soon", let people fill the queue, watched the monorail come and go but it was just testing. By 8:20ish we were told they were shutting down and we'd have to go to the main gate. THAT'S the experience that cured me of EMH monorail entry!

Makes me wonder what is the point of the "delay". Seems like it's planned, as it's a common occurance at that time of day. I would hope that's not the case, but I'm hearing of that quite often.

 

[gottalovepluto]

Makes me wonder what is the point of the "delay". Seems like it's planned, as it's a common occurance at that time of day. I would hope that's not the case, but I'm hearing of that quite often.

I think it's just morning testing doesn't always go as planned. Like RSR or Matterhorn first thing in the morning.

 

[cinder-ellah]

If you have a scooter or wheelchair you might have a delay in loading, as only 1 is allowed to board per trip. There is only 1 door / entrance that is wide enough to accommodate these and then only enough space for 1.

 

[buttercup3]

OK, good to know! I haven't decided yet if I'll haul out the stroller for our Nov/Dec trip yet. The kids aren't using it anymore, but I know the first time I went my oldest was more or less done with a stroller... and we ended up renting the whole trip. Disney is tiring.

I'm in the same boat. My youngest is 4 and we're staying at the Anabella... not too far, but far enough for us to not want to carry him after a long day in the parks! We're bringing our stroller and going to park it in whatever land we're in at the time and only have it in case he gets tired. Our plan (I can admit that it will probably not go this way!) is to do one land at a time and minimize the crazy running all over the park. We'll see how that works!

 

[TeresaR]

My rule of thumb is that if you want to maximize the EMH go directly to the entrance at the esplanade. there are more lines going through security and you get to see any pre opening shows happening prior to rope drop. That first hour is golden when it comes to Space Mountain, Star Tours, Buzz Lightyear and Fantasyland.

 

[monorailrabbit]

We thought about using the monorail at park opening, and then thought better of it. I'm glad we did, as I would have been really peeved if I had been caught in the "sorry folks" pickle. We treated it as a separate ride, and just did a loop while we were going through TL. I tried numerous times to ride up front, but someone always pushed in front of us. It got to be kind of annoying, especially since we had spoken to a CM before it arrived and were told we could, then he she did nothing to stop the folks pushing past us to get to the front. It kind of sucked the fun out of it for me, as it was just a lot of waiting to get cut off. Eventually after letting 3 go past, we finally just took a normal seat. It was nice to take it home at the end of the night though, a lot less chaotic than mornings.

 

[buttercup3]

there are more lines going through security and you get to see any pre opening shows happening prior to rope drop.

Okay, this is something else I'm clueless about! Do they let you in to Main Street prior to the actual park opening time? If so, how much earlier?

 

[mikedoyleblogger]

The monorail is usually a bad way to get into DL at rope drop. Crowds, maintenance issues, slow-arriving and departing trains, and earlier-than-expected rope drop on Main Street can and often do screw up plans to beat the crowds, so to speak, into the park via the monorail. Sometimes it works. Sometimes you just lose time and patience. IMO, walking from the onsite hotels to the esplanade is always a better option.

Riding in the front is first-come, first-served. Just ask the CM at the front of the platform and they'll queue you behind any other parties who have asked ahead of you. Capacity is four guests. Often people ride round-trip from Tomorrowland and don't get off, so be prepared that you might have to wait three or four trains if it's a crowded day. It's much easier to ride in the front beginning from Tomorrowland since everyone has to exit the train there. Also, no strollers are allowed up front. (I once watched a visibly self-entitled local couple with a child in a stroller have a meltdown with the monorail operator over the rule. Doesn't work. She made one of them ride in the main cabin with the stroller.)

 

[mikedoyleblogger]

Okay, this is something else I'm clueless about! Do they let you in to Main Street prior to the actual park opening time? If so, how much earlier?

Usually. Not always. Standard DL rope drop is being allowed onto Main Street half an hour-ish before park open, with CMs with ropes at the hub end of the street. There is no welcome show. If you're more familiar with WDW, this differs from standard MK rope drop which generally stops you at the railroad underpasses without allowing access to Main Street, while a musical character welcome show happens above at the railroad station.

 

[buttercup3]

Usually. Not always. Standard DL rope drop is being allowed onto Main Street half an hour-ish before park open, with CMs with ropes at the hub end of the street. There is no welcome show. If you're more familiar with WDW, this differs from standard MK rope drop which generally stops you at the railroad underpasses without allowing access to Main Street, while a musical character welcome show happens above at the railroad station.

Thanks! I have never done rope drop for DL, and never been to WDW, so that's good to know!!