Monorail access at BLT: a net positive, or a net negative?

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Like others I agree when going to the Magic Kingdom from the Contemporary or Bay Lake Tower it's faster to walk and when returning it's faster to use the Resort Monorail. When going to Epcot I never found taking two Monorail's to be a problem because it's very easy switching at the TTC. Now even though returning from Epcot takes a bit longer since the Resort Monorail will stop at the Polynesian, Grand Floridian and Magic Kingdom, I would rather go that route then dealing with the buses. Finally even though the Contemporary shares their bus service with the Polynesian and Grand Floridian, I say the fact they are the 1st location to be picked up and dropped off at is a major plus.

 

[FCCA]

More than anything else, staying at CR/BLT offers you options. Depending on where you are going and your personal situation, you can either walk, take the monorail, or take the bus.

We visit MK more often than the other parks, so the resort's proximity to MK is what makes it appealing for us. We're able to walk over to the park in the morning, and take a quick monorail ride back to the hotel for an afternoon break. Except for our last night there, we try to leave the park before it closes. This makes for a short wait at the monorail station for our trip back to the hotel.

The only other resort we have stayed at is the Poly, so I'm not able to compare the frequency of bus service to and from other resorts. I will say though that we've never experienced any long delays while waiting for a bus at CR/BLT. Also, all of the buses we caught from CR/BLT only stopped at the Poly before proceeding on to its final destination. We never stopped at the GF. I don't know whether the routes have changed, but that's the way it was when we were there in July.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

The only other resort we have stayed at is the Poly, so I'm not able to compare the frequency of bus service to and from other resorts. I will say though that we've never experienced any long delays while waiting for a bus at CR/BLT. Also, all of the buses we caught from CR/BLT only stopped at the Poly before proceeding on to its final destination. We never stopped at the GF. I don't know whether the routes have changed, but that's the way it was when we were there in July.

In the mornings the Contemporary buses will share with either the Polynesian or Wilderness Lodge, then it will go onto it's destination. However in the afternoons and evenings it shares with the Polynesian and Grand Floridian.

 

[gkrykewy]

Now even though returning from Epcot takes a bit longer since the Resort Monorail will stop at the Polynesian, Grand Floridian and Magic Kingdom, I would rather go that route then dealing with the buses.

But there is no "dealing with the buses" unless you've got a stroller or wheelchair, however. At most resorts, you simply board the appropriate bus and it takes you directly to your destination - no stops in between, and no transfers.

It's a simple fact that if there were a direct bus from EPCOT to the CR, it would get you there *much* faster than the monorail does, without exception.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

It's a simple fact that if there were a direct bus from EPCOT to the CR, it would get you there *much* faster than the monorail does, without exception.

But you also need to factor in the Polynesian and Grand Floridian since they don't have buses going to Epcot. Now with the Polynesian it's about a 10 minute walk to the TTC when going to the Epcot Monorail which is not bad, although I say taking the Monorail from the Contemporary is a lot faster. However anyone staying at the Grand Floridian has no choice to take the Resort Monorail when going to the TTC, plus they will also need to stop at the Magic Kingdom and Contemporary before arriving there.

 

[puntagordabob]

Further, where on earth were you waiting 40-60 minutes for a bus anywhere on WDW property? That is insane. We've been staying all over property for 25 years, and I don't think I've ever had to wait more than 20 minutes for a bus. I took special note this past trip, and honestly anything longer than a 5 minute wait at Kidani was unusual.

We were at DHS in Dec 2008 waiting for a bus to Old Key West between 50 and 60 minutes...it was so bad that we flagged a bus down and the driver radioed their dispatch saying there were a ton of OKW people here and etc.... At DTD waiting to go to the CR in the spring of 2009 it was 45+ minutes (my wife was timing it for some reason lol)...in April at BWV was a long wait at the bus station(not sure of where we were traveling to), and lastly the week in June we spent at SSR seemed to be the "week of long bus waits"...seemed liked we saw 3 or so busses for Coronado Springs every time before our SSR one showed up and i didnt matter which park we were at either...it was sorta the Big Joke by the time the week was over.

So, count yourself very lucky on that account... I dont complain though, its Disney, and as we all know a BAD DAY at Disney is better than a GOOD DAY anywhere else!

 

[Tara]

This is not supposed to be the AKV is too remote thread - we already have a bunch of those. Since you brought it up, however, I will say that (again, aside from monorail resorts and MK) we felt BLT to be more remote than AKV-Kidani, perhaps since the MK is not the center of The World for us... geographically, it's about as much at the edge of WDW property as AK/AKL.

I'm not sure how was my comment making it an "AKV is too remote" thread? I was simply saying that my decision to buy BLT had no more to do with the speed of transportation than my decision NOT to buy AKV did.

That said, it was really my stays at the GF that pushed me over the transportation edge, not because the resort area is remote (I don't think it is because MK is integral to our WDW experience and will remain - I found the bus service to be very slow and going home was painful with the stops at other resorts. That's when we started using our rental car pretty much exclusively. I had half-hoped that when BLT was added, the CR would get its own bus route, but I knew that was crazy since it never had it before when the north wing was operating.

I suspect the walk to MK will be a big deal to many people and the cool factor of the monorail to Epcot will outweigh the speed of transportation, though.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

I had half-hoped that when BLT was added, the CR would get its own bus route, but I knew that was crazy since it never had it before when the north wing was operating.

I was also wondering if that was going to happen, however I realized the chances of that were very slim and it turns out we were both right.

 

[disneynutz]

Disney transportation isn't known for it's speed. If you want speed, rent a car or take a taxi.

I wonder how much us BLT dues payers are paying for the Monorail? Guess we better ride it more often!

 

[Mississippian]

I think you make some valid points. Personally, I haven't found the trip from the Contemporary to EPCOT on the monorail to be a problem, but I can see how some of the other trips can sometimes pose problems. Do remember that the Disney monorail was originally an E-ticket attraction. You should view your time on the monorail to EPCOT in the same way as you would time spent on Space Mountain or the Matterhorn Bobsleds.

The biggest transportation problem at WDW is dining transportation. It is virtually impossible to go from one hotel to another. Guests at BLT have access to the monorail hotels, plus they can walk over to the MK buses and go to any hotel on site. In fact, the MK buses offer direct access to the other theme parks as well.

I haven't stayed at BLT yet, but when I do, unless it is first thing in the morning I plan to walk over to the MK for all my non-monorail transportation needs. I think the MK has the best transportation options one could hope for, and by extension so does BLT.

 

[Mississippian]

Further, where on earth were you waiting 40-60 minutes for a bus anywhere on WDW property? That is insane. We've been staying all over property for 25 years, and I don't think I've ever had to wait more than 20 minutes for a bus.

For the most part I've had good luck with buses, but I've waited over an hour for a bus that just wouldn't come. It's almost like playing a slot machine, you hate to quit and drive because it "ought" to hit soon. So instead of waiting 40 minutes for a bus that never came we waited about 75 minutes for a bus from the Poly to the AK. We finally gave up and drove (I'm sure the bus arrived as soon as we left).

There have been other long waits for buses -- I just hate them. It's the uncertainty that's the killer, and knowing that a monorail car will arrive in two to eight minutes every time is just plain reassuring.

 

[Greysword]

My reply may be out of scope, as you mentioned the trips to the other resorts and the weather already. That said, I was hoping to expand on these a little and maybe in a new directions

I am hoping the monorail will add value by allowing my family to take advantage of the pool hopping privilage. We don't go swimming much at WDW, and a bus trip to another resort appeared to be too tedious for the benefits. The monorail will offer easy access to the Poly and GF pools and beaches, which will likely entice us to take advantage of this exclusive benefit.

One thing I thought of while we were considering BLT was the weather that Orlando had this past May. It didn't seem the downpours were isolated or for short periods of time. Having the monorail affords dry transportation to see and do other things that a bus can not easily provide (again the difficulty of moving from resort to resort), which may keep cabin fever at bay. This may be especially true after a hurricane or tropical storm, as many of the roads likely get cluttered with debris and the rail is likely high and clear.

For me, both of these possibilities enhanced the value of Bay Lake Tower due to the monorail access.

Also as an aside, I think Walt Disney purposely planned on the Magic Kingdom experience to begin at the TTC rather than MK's front gate. As such, the monorail is an essential part of the experience, and when we bring friends and family that have never been to WDW, I lobby to drive to the TTC and taking the monorail or riverboat, instead of a bus, so they are not cheated of the first time experince as Walt envisioned.

Thanks for the great post!

 

[Tink-n-Belle]

This is the reason we own at BW and BLT and will do split stays every trip.

IMHO, the monorail is advantageous going to/from the MK and going to Epcot. However, the trip back from Epcot to the Cont is indeed a very long trip, especially after illuminations. (But another poster Had a GREAT suggestion that you can just walk over to the beach club (5 minute walk from inter'l gateway) and hop a bus to the MK. Or hop on the MK bus from the parking lot.

NO resort is perfect. As another poster pointed out the transportation is not very good from the BW (considering this is a deluxe). My kids & I watched wishes from Main St and left the MK at 10:10. We never got home to the BW until 11:00(because we stopped at the S/D & yc & bc before we got to the BW (in order to get home 20 minutes earlier we have to get off at the Swan and walk from there ---which is exhausting after being in the MK all day-- We also left the BW at 8:20 to go see wishes and never got to the MK until 9:00. So it does take a long time to get anywhere from the BW too.

However, the reason I bought at the BLT and am so excited about owning at the BLt is because of the monorail. After Wishes or at closing (now that the kids are getting older) we can just hop on the monorail and be home in 5 minutes!!! Yes, it will take 20 minutes to the Mk in the morning, unless we walk, but that the thrill of taking the monorail (to me anyways) is that we get to stop at the Poly & GF to pick up on the way to the MK. Its just magical watching all the little kids get on so excited. I just think the monorail is just so cool, even if it takes longer to get there.

Just like nothing beat the boat on a beautiful breezy warm evening from Epcot or DS to the BW even though its a slowwww ride.

With the buses- well its just a bus and there can be extremely long waits especially at closing, and half the time you NEVER get a seat. Plus what kills me with the buses is all the traffic lights and turns. You don't get many traffic lights on the monorail . Or you don't have to turn into 3 resorts and then go through the drop off and then get back on the street.

IMHO, I had the best bus service from the All Stars Sports.--- it was a straight shot to every park. That's what I'd expect from a deluxe but since we are in walking distance to 3 parks now-- I can't really complain.