Hotels on the monorail

[BlueSkies]

Staying at a mororail resort with young children is ABSOLUTELY worth it...

The convenience alone makes the vacation that much more relaxing..and I imagine with a 1 & 4 year old MK will be the park you"ll be enjoying most...

We have always returned to the hotel for a midday rest (happy well rested children = happy mom & dad )...and even taken the monorail to the other monorail resorts to dine and stroll around...

The boat transportation is not only convenient but something enjoyable for everyone..

If you stay at the CR being able to walk to the MK is another nice option...and the GF just amazing...cant comment on the Poly never stayed there (they have great restaurants though)...

IMO you cant go wrong with any one of these...

 

[frdeb1999]

We think it's worth it for the convience. Nothing is nicer then being able to be back at your resort in mins...especially when you have kids.

 

[minnie61650]

Disney Transportation times acorrding to Passporter.com


All Star trans---Poly trans.----------GF trans---- Contemporary
MK 20 min---- 10 min (mono)-------3 min mono------20 min(mono)
Epcot 10 min- 20 min(walk and mono)-22min(walk+mono--15 min
MGM 10 min----15 min---------------10min-----------20min
AK 10 min------15min---------------15 min---------------20 min
DTD 15 min----25 min-----------------20 min -------------35 min



All Star trans----AK trans---WL trans--------YC/BC trans
MK 20 min------ 20 min-----8 min(boat) min---20 min
Epcot 10 min-- 15 min-----10 min------10 min(walk)--15(boat) min
MGM 10 min----10 min-----15 min------15 min(walk)---15(boat)min
AK 10 min-------5min-------15 min----15 min
DTD 15 min-----15min------25 min-----15 min

It only takes 10 minutes to get to Epcot, MGM and AK from All Stars.
MK is 20 min away. That's the same amount of time it takes on the monorail from the Contemporary.


*Please Note:
In my experience the bus rides are usually 3-6 minutes shorter than the listed times. Perhaps the authors posted the ride times during heavy traffic so the actual times would be less in most cases.

Have fun at WDW wherever you choose to stay!

 

[iheartdisney]

Honstly, for us, no way!
We tried the monorail out last time we stayed at SOG- we walked over to the Poly to catch the monorail to Epcot. It took a good 20 minutes for the monrail to make the resort loop to the TTC. When we got off the monrail, we looked and could have spit on the Poly! So you have to go down the resort platform, and back up the park ramp. THEN we had to wait in line for 2 trains for the Epcot monorail. So it was almost an hour wasted, and needless to say, we took the bus from then on!
If you are looking for convienince, the answer is no. If you are looking for coolness, then maybe.

 

[TJA]

Does anyone think it is worth paying the extra to stay at a hotel/resort on the monorail. We have a 1 year old and a 4 year old. The travel agent told us this is a huge time saver and makes things easier. Just can't decide since those hotels/resorts are also so much more expensive than the others.

The key to monorail resorts is convenience. You have a 1 year old and 4 year old, so chances are at least one single stroller, possibly double stroller, baby supplies, diapers, wipes, bottles, little toys, snacks, etc. I know how that goes because we took our twins to disney at age 1. Staying at a monorail resort was a blessing for us because we did not have to unload our kids and supplies to get on buses. We were in absolute heaven on the monorail! We just pushed our stroller on and off = very easy and very relaxing! As far as your question on if it's worth it to pay the extra money, that is a question only you can answer. To us, it is definitely worth it. However, money values are different for different people. If the cost is a concern for you, perhaps look at WL standard room where you will be a very short boat ride away from the Contemporary and also MK. You can roll your stroller(s) right on the larger boats.

 

[robinb]

I have stayed at the Polynesian and the Contemporary. While I agree it's convenient and cool to be so close to the MK, I don't think it's a HUGE time saver to be at a monorail resort and I personally don't think it's worth the extra money. In fact, only the MK may be faster to get to v/s the other parks. You'll need to take the bus (or drive) to DHS and AK the same as most of the other resorts and you'll need to take two monorails to get to Epcot.

So, I guess I'm with the minority and I would not base my decision on monorail access. I think that theme, cost, resort size and room size are more important factors.

 

[ols386]

If you plan to spend a fair amount of time at MK and Epcot, then I'd say it's worth it.....especially with your children being so young. It is very convenient. Sometimes bus service is great, but other times it can be slow. And it can be that way at any resort. But the monorail is a quick and easy way to travel to MK and Epcot, when staying at a monorail resort.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Disney Transportation times acorrding to Passporter.com

It only takes 10 minutes to get to Epcot, MGM and AK from All Stars.
MK is 20 min away. That's the same amount of time it takes on the monorail from the Contemporary.

While Passporter.com sounds correct in the time it takes from the Contemporary - Magic Kingdom by Monorail, what they fail to mention is the walkway from the Contemporary and that it takes no more then 8 - 10 minutes to walk there.

 

[auntie]

I have stayed at the Polynesian and the Contemporary. While I agree it's convenient and cool to be so close to the MK, I don't think it's a HUGE time saver to be at a monorail resort and I personally don't think it's worth the extra money. In fact, only the MK may be faster to get to v/s the other parks. You'll need to take the bus (or drive) to DHS and AK the same as most of the other resorts and you'll need to take two monorails to get to Epcot.

So, I guess I'm with the minority and I would not base my decision on monorail access. I think that theme, cost, resort size and room size are more important factors.

I totally agree with you. While the monorail resorts are great..and Poly is my favorite, I wouldn't choose it because of the convenience of the monorail. While my kids are much older...we did stay there when we had two of them in strollers at the time. I don't think people take into consideration that the long houses are detached from the actual building where you catch the monorail. So..you wind up having to walk there, sometimes in inclement weather. Also..our last trip, we found that the boat launch to and from the Poly was more convenient than the monorail and preferred it..especially when people were leaving or entering the parks in droves. While the monorail resorts are great..and I love Poly, I wouldn't base my decision to stay there vs. a moderate resort based on monorail convenience. Price and theme would be my first considerations. I would also throw the Wilderness Lodge into the equation because you still have the proximity to the MK via the boat launch and bus transportation to the other parks. Sort of nice compromise, if the OP is concerned about monorail convenience vs. a moderate resort, the WL would offer the about the same proximity to the MK via boat launch. Also, the resort is entirely housed in one building and you don't have to go outside to reach the lobby or dining areas if you choose not too. Just a thought.