Is Monorail Reliability Enough To Make You Skip Poly/GF/Cont?

[TomorrowlandKD]

Hey everyone!

First time poster here. I've been a DisUnplugged fan for quite some time though.....

I'm headed to the Poly January 1-7. This is probably my 25th or so time down in WDW and couldn't be more excited to finally stay at the Poly. HOWEVER, I've been reading quite often lately the reliability of the monorail and it shutting down a lot. Is this truly the case lately? Also, if one is booking Poly/GF/Cont for the ease of not needing a car and using the monorail to get to MK and EPCOT, should I be concerned with the shut downs of the monorail all the time? Or is there a good chance there won't be an issue.

I can save a few hundred dollars on the trip and switch the Boardwalk Villas or Yacht Club (obviously with walking distance to the IG), so I'm curious if I should just switch over.

Any help would be great.

Love this board! Thanks guys

-Kyle

 

[dkrauss]

Given this is your long awaited stay at The Poly (we're staying there for the first time in August 2018....we're excited too ) I personally wouldn't let "potential" issues with the monorail scare me away. Another thing to keep in mind is you'll be visiting during Marathon weekend......so switching to an Epcot resort brings different challenges.

Regardless of your decision wishing you a magical vacation.

Doug

 

[jods]

I wouldn't switch for a potential problem. I guess I've been lucky that we haven't encountered monorail problems. I've had more issues waiting for busses tbh. The poly is my favorite resort! We stayed BC in August and the lines at park closing from MK and HS to get back to the resort was insane. We ended up using a Minnie van because there were at least 2 bus loads of people in front of us. We also ended up walking home from HS because the boat line was insane. If you've dreamed of staying at the poly, I would still stay.

 

[loves to dive]

If Poly has been your dream resort, I wouldn't switch. Personally, I don't stay at the monorail resorts because you are forced to use the monorail to get to Epcot unless you want to drive. But, I have stayed at all of them at least once and have stayed at Poly multiple times when they were the only resorts on property. Now I stay at the Epcot resorts but MK is a half day park for us and we spend part of every day at Epcot so it makes sense for us.

 

[TomorrowlandKD]

Awesome, thanks guys

 

[Farro]

Monorail had no bearing on our decision to stay at Polynesian. We always stay Beach/Yacht club and have grown tired of it. We also wanted to be closer to Magic Kingdom this trip. And we wanted a more "lively" deluxe this time with a fun atmosphere. Loooking forward to being able to see the fireworks and water parade from the beach. There is just a different feel at the MK resorts than at the Epcot resorts (which we still love, just needed a change).
We are actually more excited to take the boat to MK than the monorail. Then walk to TTC for the Epcot monorail.

While I'm not worried about it (we were stuck on it before), I will say that I will definitely visit the restroom before we board. Besides, you can always grab an Uber if you are worried, probably less than $10.

 

[OKW Lover]

Access to the monorail has never been part of the decision for us. We enjoy the Poly for its atmosphere, not for the monorail. We also love the Beach Club for the atmosphere - where obviously the monorail isn't even available there.

As others have noted, the likelihood of the monorail being down when you want to ride is very slim.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

If Poly is on your bucket list, I wouldn't switch because of potential monorail problems. Quite honestly, there could be possible problems at any resort (we experienced a water pipe breaking at BWI on our last stay there). If you go in with the notion that, yes, potentially the monorail could have problems and you are ok with alternate transportation, I would go for it. Chances are, it will be fine. You just never know. We've had stays where the monorail was fine and one stay when lightening struck and it was down for a few days.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Your dates line up with the Disney Marathon in January. It may be hard to book something different.

 

[MaryLovesPoohBear]

I'll join the consensus. Stay where you want to stay. Use the monorail if it is running. Don't use it if it isn't.

 

[davale4]

We just got back yesterday from 7 days at the Poly and did not have any issues with the monorail. I always hear of it breaking down. However, we've been going to the GF every year for the past 8 years and have never had any problems....maybe we've been lucky. Now I don't even give it a second thought. We always go in late August and used to worry about rain and storms but again, I don't let it stop me.

 

[Shanti]

I've been reading quite often lately the reliability of the monorail and it shutting down a lot. Is this truly the case lately? Also, if one is booking Poly/GF/Cont for the ease of not needing a car and using the monorail to get to MK and EPCOT, should I be concerned with the shut downs of the monorail all the time?

No. I've stayed at all 3 resorts in recent years and never had an issue with the monorail. You should be aware that there is a handful of vocal posters on Dis who hate the monorail and constantly tell others to avoid it. But in all of my trips in recent years, we've used the monorail at some point during every trip (my son loves it), and have only experienced the monorail being down once, and that was for scheduled maintanence. The monorail isn't perfect, but it usually works just fine and is more efficient & pleasant than bus service.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

No resort has ideal transport. Even if the monorail is running perfectly, from Poly expect to have shared buses to AK and DHS, and weird timing if you want to go to Disney Springs. The walking resorts have meh bus service to Magic Kingdom. Etc.

 

[TomorrowlandKD]

Ok ok ok, thanks guys. Wonderful responses.

I'm sticking with the Poly.

 

[anniemae]

I would stay with Poly!! Glad you decided to stay.

 

[Chrelaine]

I am one of the people that hate the monorail but potential problems still wouldn't stop me from staying at the Poly, especially if it was my dream resort. Go and enjoy your trip. Everyone has their own opinions and you will never know until you try. Have a great trip!

 

[mickeynut1]

Access to the monorail has never been part of the decision for us. We enjoy the Poly for its atmosphere, not for the monorail.

This is us as well .

Ok ok ok, thanks guys. Wonderful responses.

I'm sticking with the Poly.

You won't regret it, the Poly is amazing! Have a great trip .

 

[bigbabyblues]

I would love to stay at the Poly, but I don't use the monorail anymore. I would take the boat to MK and drive everywhere else. We were stuck on a monorail once and it was not pleasant.

 

[Spencer Wright]

I absolutely agree with other posters that I would not avoid it due to potential problems. I stayed at the Poly once and the monorail does have quite a few issues, however the easy accessibility to parks otherwise is so good that a few delays aren't that big of a deal (they can still be frustrating).

 

[Monorail_Man_NJ]

If the monorail is down and hinders your plans you can ask for a guest services FastPass. Monorail Resorts > The Rest (IMO). But Im a little biased.