Monorail - can we do for free without park tickets?

[zaz]

Hi,

I am having difficulties understanding the monorail.

Does it go from Disneyland hotel to DTD to Disneyland?

Can we hop on without park tickets or is only for those that have tickets?

Thank you.

Isabelle

 

[Fantaluminishes]

Disneyland's monorail goes directly into Tomorrowland. All riders must have a paid admission ticket to board.

 

[zaz]

OK - that answers my question! Thank you!

 

[bcla]

I heard years ago it was possible to buy an excursion ticket without a park admission ticket, but that was a long time ago. It currently goes from DTD to Tomorrowland. The station location hasn't changed (although the station was rebuilt), but basically the original buildings of the Disneyland Hotel no longer exist.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I heard years ago it was possible to buy an excursion ticket without a park admission ticket, but that was a long time ago. It currently goes from DTD to Tomorrowland. The station location hasn't changed (although the station was rebuilt), but basically the original buildings of the Disneyland Hotel no longer exist.

Prior to Downtown Disney being built, the area around the monorail station there was part of the Disneyland Hotel. It was possible to purchase a round-trip ticket at the Disneyland Hotel for the monorail. You were locked into the tail cone, which did not open at the Tomorrowland stop.

Since the monorail station is now an Entrance to the park, there are no longer round trip tickets, you must have a park entrance ticket to ride it.

 

[mom2rtk]

Just think of the monorail entrance in DTD as a park entrance. They do bag check and ticket scans right there before you board.

 

[madasax12]

We are staying at the DLH - is the monorail the way to go to enter the park VS the main gate?

 

[bumbershoot]

We are staying at the DLH - is the monorail the way to go to enter the park VS the main gate?

We still walked most of the time. Why? Because sometimes the monorail is down, sometimes it doesn't open quite at opening time (or it opens AT opening time, which means you're behind those at the front gate), and the biggest reason? It ends above the Nemo ride, near Autopia. If you're entering the park and trying to get to those rides, or maybe Space, that's convenient. If you're entering and trying to get to Fantasyland and do things in the "right" order (Peter Pan first, etc etc) it's impossible. You're outside of FL, you have to to back to it, you have to pass by all the rides to get to the first ride you should try for, Peter Pan.

If you're heading to Tomorrowland and beyond, take it if it's open and the line isn't awful. Otherwise, IMO, just walk.

Especially the first day and especially if it's your first visit. You gotta enter the park properly.

 

[mom2rtk]

We still walked most of the time. Why? Because sometimes the monorail is down, sometimes it doesn't open quite at opening time (or it opens AT opening time, which means you're behind those at the front gate), and the biggest reason? It ends above the Nemo ride, near Autopia. If you're entering the park and trying to get to those rides, or maybe Space, that's convenient. If you're entering and trying to get to Fantasyland and do things in the "right" order (Peter Pan first, etc etc) it's impossible. You're outside of FL, you have to to back to it, you have to pass by all the rides to get to the first ride you should try for, Peter Pan.

If you're heading to Tomorrowland and beyond, take it if it's open and the line isn't awful. Otherwise, IMO, just walk.

Especially the first day and especially if it's your first visit. You gotta enter the park properly.

We really got hosed once trying to use the monorail at park opening. It had worked splendidly on other occasions, but that day it was delayed opening and we ended up at park opening having to hurry through DTD while all those other people were already entering the park. Not a very magical way to start the day.

Also, you do miss out on the experience of walking down Main Street to enter the park. Our day just doesn't seem complete now unless we enter through Main Street.

 

[ParkHopper1]

Monorail is always a 50/50 crapshoot if it will be faster or not. If you are looking for guaranteed efficiently...walk it.

Think of it as more of a ride than viable transportation.

Now there are times where waiting for the Monorail and ending up in DTD with little effort are totally worth it, but it is not always the fastest option.

 

[Eclectic Goddess]

My favorite use of the monorail as transportation is at night, right before, during, or after the fireworks. If you're on that side of the park, it's good way out of the parks if you want to avoid the crush of Main Street.

 

[bakerudall]

It's also convenient for when you want to eat lunch or dinner in DTD and will be in the TL are before or after the meal.

 

[mom2rtk]

It was pretty awesome the night we were leaving DL and wanted to eat at EOS!

 

[Cholula]

It's also convenient for when you want to eat lunch or dinner in DTD and will be in the TL are before or after the meal.

Yes, especially if you want to eat at Earl of Sandwich.

 

[VicMom]

Not trying to steal the OP's thread, but as it's our first time staying at the DL Hotel, the plan that I was thinking of for using the monorail (as I have a 3.5yr who will be totally ga-ga over it), is to walk into the parks in the morning from the hotel. Then use the monorail to go back for our afternoon break and then to return later in the afternoon. At night, for me it would depend on the line-up and if it looks faster to wait or walk back (or if we want to stop for anything in the downtown area or not).

I'm thinking this way we get to the park when and where we want in the morning but can use it for fun-and to save a bit of walking-later in the day. Sound about right?

 

[mikedoyleblogger]

We are staying at the DLH - is the monorail the way to go to enter the park VS the main gate?

It's not the "official" option and usually not the best option if you're trying to get into the park for Extra Magic Hours in the morning. There is a very limited bag/ticket check area that can get crowded and backed up, delaying you. The monorail is better for hopping out of the park for a midday break or a meal at DTD, or when you're not concerned about time. For the most part, the monorail is more a ride at DLR than a transportation option.