Monorail as 1st point of entry into park?

[firefly87]

When we were there last in 2006, the monorail was still under refurbishment. I was wondering if instead of going to the front gates for our initital entry into the parks for the day, can you catch the monorail in DTD and ride into Tomorrowland?

We would be walking through DTD to get to the front gates and I wondered if it's quicker or less crowded (or even do-able) to get on at the Monorail station.

Anyone have any info on this? (much appreciated!!)

 

[charmama4]

I thought about taking the monorail to start off our day, but then I would miss the excitment of walking down mainstreet as soon as it opens. That would be one the first day to get that out of my system. Second day, I may change my mind. Who knows!!? I did promise myself I would take it back to the hotel after a gruelling day of touring the park. I haven't rode on the monorail since 1979.

 

[firefly87]

I thought about taking the monorail to start off our day, but then I would miss the excitment of walking down mainstreet as soon as it opens. That would be one the first day to get that out of my system. Second day, I may change my mind. Who knows!!? I did promise myself I would take it back to the hotel after a gruelling day of touring the park. I haven't rode on the monorail since 1979.

You're right......I do love that feel of walking in through the tunnels and heading down Main St!

Another question...........can you push a stroller onto the Monorail or do you have to collapse it? At WDW you can push it straight on but it seems like at DL you have to collapse it. I haven't been on the Monorail since 2003 and I can't remember now.......

 

[Tasscrapper]

Does anyone know if you can take an ECV on the Monorail?

 

[amyamya]

You have to fold your stroller to go on the monorail. There is a special car for a wheelchair, not sure if you can drive your ecv in there or not.

 

[pixiewings71]

You have to fold strollers, EVCs and wheelchairs can ride but the space is limited. I would rather walk down MS my first day, but you can ride the monorail back to DTD and back into the parks from DTD later on your trip.

 

[PHXscuba]

So for our second morning (after doing the walk down Main Street and obligatory castle photo on the first day), would it be better to wait at the monorail station in DTD than at the front gates? (We're staying at DLH) Bigger line than front gates, or not?

If it's a Magic Morning, does that affect when the monorail opens and how quickly we'd get into the park?

PHXscuba

 

[marsrunner]

So for our second morning (after doing the walk down Main Street and obligatory castle photo on the first day), would it be better to wait at the monorail station in DTD than at the front gates? (We're staying at DLH) Bigger line than front gates, or not?

If it's a Magic Morning, does that affect when the monorail opens and how quickly we'd get into the park?

PHXscuba

Especially on a Magic Morning you'd have to wait for them to load the monorail and then ride the monorail to get to the Tomorrowland station, by which point you could have walked briskly to Space Mountain, gotten FastPasses for it and be riding Nemo without having to wait in its really long lines. Or, alternatively, get Space Mountain FastPasses and ride it once without FastPasses before the Monorail would get you there.

I wouldn't waste Magic Morning time on the Monorail. Save for a midday break or leaving the park. Just my opinion, of course.

 

[Belle Ella]

Especially on a Magic Morning you'd have to wait for them to load the monorail and then ride the monorail to get to the Tomorrowland station, by which point you could have walked briskly to Space Mountain, gotten FastPasses for it and be riding Nemo without having to wait in its really long lines. Or, alternatively, get Space Mountain FastPasses and ride it once without FastPasses before the Monorail would get you there.

I wouldn't waste Magic Morning time on the Monorail. Save for a midday break or leaving the park. Just my opinion, of course.

My last trip was back when Nemo just opened and taking the Monorail on MM was what guaranteed I was on the first sub out of the morning, otherwise I probably would have skipped it altogether. Sometimes the monorail will get you there before the crowd from the main gates, sometimes it wont.

If you're there for more than one morning, I'd say split it both ways. Sometimes it's just more convenient to get in to where you want to go, but it's definitely a must to get the experience of walking down Main Street in the morning.

 

[firefly87]

Soooo......if at some point we do decide to just ride the monorail into the park instead of going thru the front gate, where do they check your ticket? Is there a security check point at the monorail station?

 

[Belle Ella]

Soooo......if at some point we do decide to just ride the monorail into the park instead of going thru the front gate, where do they check your ticket? Is there a security check point at the monorail station?

They'll check your ticket before you enter the monorail station.

 

[pixiewings71]

The monorail boards between the little pin shop and RFC in DTD. You will walk thru a security point where they will check your bags, then they have a couple turnstiles where they will scan your ticket, then you walk up the stairs to board the monorail. I don't have any idea what the wait is like in the mornings, I've never taken it that early. We do the trip from DTD (when we've eaten at RFC usually) into TL usually.

 

[mechurchlady]

They have a ramp for boarding ECVs, Wheelchairs, rollators, and pushchairs. There is also an elevator. Monorails leave at the park opening which is either MM or regular depending which is going on. AS stated you will take the monorail and be dropped off right in the middle of Tomorrowland were you can be one of the first to ride Splash Mountain, Autopia, and Nemo. You are right next door to Nemo. From there you can take the train that will arrive about 15 minutes after opening and save walking. It is about 5 minutes to each station so Tomorrowland to Frontierland is 10 minutes.

Yes it is fun to walk through the front gates but it is a long long walk each way so you should save your energy by taking the monorail then walking to toontown, Small World, and the rest of the park. Check the cab for a fun ride for up to 4 guests.

 

[McCall]

no problem with riding an ECV on, your own anyway not a rented Disney one of course. Problem comes when they forget to forward the message that you are on board and they forget you before they make the return trip, yeah it has happened to me, but not yet a DL only at WDW. LOL

 

[bumbershoot]

I personally would probably mainly take the monorail when *leaving* the parks, rather than entering them. Not sure why, just seems better for me that way.

 

[mechurchlady]

Last monorail leaves at park closing. Sometimes a minute later but they are supposed to leave at closing time. It is fun to walk in the front gate and see Main Street. It is more fun on a comfty monorail out of the park than herding out of the park or walking back in my opinion.