Monorail Estimation

[RaineinMD]

Could someone please give me their best estimate on how long it would take (mid January) to get from the Magic Kingdom to the Polynesian right after watching wishes. The CM wants to give me a dinner time of 1 and a half hours after wishes...that seems a little long to me does it to anyone else?

 

[ldo]

If you are in MK and you have to work you way through MK and then wait in line for monorail on a busy night, it could be 1.5 hrs.
But, if you are closer to MK entrance and you make a bee-line right after and are near the beginning of the line--you could make it in as short as 30. IF you can be near the front of mainstreet, then I think 1 hr would be plenty.

 

[Sea Turtles]

Consider using the Poly boat. The line should be considerabley shorter than the monorail.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

There is also a boat that goes from the Magic Kingdom to the Polynesian, which might be faster if it's there when you leave. I know it also shares with the Grand Floridian, however someone just told me during busy times of the day they have seperate boats. So I would assume closing time after Wishes would be one of those times.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

That seems a little long to me too. Maybe if you were going to one of the moderates or Pop and you also had to walk across the resort when you got back, then it could be an hour and a half.

The boat line isn't usually as long, but the monorail also takes a lot of folks at one time, and January (Except right near New year's ) isn't a peak time. When you walk up to that are, you can see how extensive the crowds are for each form of transportation. I'd also encourage you to watch Wishes from Main St - and leave right away.

Keep in mind, they also want you to arrive before your ADR time. I'm also assuming that you are NOT talking about the luau show, which only seats at certain times.

If you do get there early, it is pretty easy to kill a little time at the Poly - esp. after a day inthe park. Check in, then tour the art gallery. After that, grab a seat and relax in the lounge area.

Last, it is possible to see the fireworks from 'Ohana - I think it is. I've never done it from there, but I understand they pipe in the Wishes music during the show. If that's the case, you'll want an ADR for an hour before the start of the show.

 

[spiceycat]

some of the CM's that you talk to don't understand the layout of WDW.

they are told 90 minutes for resort.

call back and hopefully this time you will get a CM who knows what you are talking about.

if they are still telling you - 90 minutes - then tell them you can ride the monrail from MK to Polyn and 30 minutes maybe 45 minutes should be fine.

Now if this is MLB or any other holiday - stick with 1 1/2. It can easily take an hour to get out of the MK on those nights.

 

[Mickiethepooh]

It is a long time. Also I would take the Ferry not the monrail, and then have a nice stroll around the Poly till time to eat.

 

[cdrn1]

I loved taking the ferry rather than the mono; the ferries run back and forth and we never waited more than 15-20 minutes, usually less, and they were pretty quick. They stopped at GF and then on to the Poly. Plus we didn't have to walk up that mono ramp after being on our feet for hours! Taking the ferry, I would say 35 minutes, tops.

 

[SonicGuy]

One night last month I made it from the middle of main street to my room at the Poly (Tahiti) in under 20 minutes. Had my 62 y/o mother-in law and DD17 (who is in a wheelchair) so we did not exactly run back. He just happened to hit the resort monorail line just right and left just as Wishes ended. It NEVER took us an hour and a half to get back to the room, including on the night of MNSSHP. The resort monorail will drop you off right at the Great Ceremonial House, where the restaurants are.

 

[sjdisneywedding]

thats not the ferry that goes to poly, thats a completely different boat, dont take the ferry!

also you can view the fireworks from the beaches at poly the music is piped in there and gives a different perspective. certainly not as great as being at MK itself though

 

[Baltazar]

Could someone please give me their best estimate on how long it would take (mid January) to get from the Magic Kingdom to the Polynesian right after watching wishes. The CM wants to give me a dinner time of 1 and a half hours after wishes...that seems a little long to me does it to anyone else?

It's a courtesy hold, not a reservation. If you show up early, you will eat early. When you show up (check in) at the restaurant they will put you on a list. If you show up an hour early, right on time or half an hour late, they will put you on the list.

 

[jdm]

You can see wishes from OHana's and they do pipe in the music. But, they cannot guarantee you a table with a good view. The first time we had an excellent view and the second time, not so great. But, you can get up and move toward the window to watch them. We love going there and watching the fireworks while we eat dinner.

Jenn

 

[RaineinMD]

Consider using the Poly boat. The line should be considerabley shorter than the monorail.

There is also a boat that goes from the Magic Kingdom to the Polynesian, which might be faster if it's there when you leave.

I loved taking the ferry rather than the mono; the ferries run back and forth and we never waited more than 15-20 minutes,

thats not the ferry that goes to poly, thats a completely different boat, dont take the ferry!

Thanks everyone for your responses. I think we will go for 45 minutes after wishes ends and be near the end of main street. I was going to take the ferry but now I am confused about the above post - is there a ferry or not?

 

[NJShoreDad]

IIRC there is a ferry (larger boat) that goes from the MK to the TTC. I guess in theory, you could take that and walk from the TTC to the Poly. There are other boats that go from the MK to resorts. There is one that goes to the Poly after a stop at GF. The resort boat stops right at the Poly marina which would be an even shorter walk to the restaurant as opposed to taking the ferry to the TTC and walking from there.

 

[SnackyStacky]

There's 2 seperate boats. There's a ferry boat which will shuttle you between the Magic Kingdom and the Ticket and Transportation Center.

There's also a resort launch that travels between the Magic Kingdom, Grand Floridian, Polynesian, Contemporary and Wilderness Lodge.

If you're going to the Polynesian, it doesn't matter which you take. The Ticket and Transportation Center is just to the east of the Polynesian and is within walking distance.

 

[cdrn1]

SnackStacky is right and I apologize for my earlier use of the term "ferry". What I was speaking of is the resort launch. It is to the far right after you exit the park. The ferry is a much larger boat, to the left after you exit, that goes to the TTC rather than the Poly/GF.
Sorry to confuse!

 

[buzz5985]

If you take the big ferry - the walk from the TTC to the Poly is a short one - under 5 minutes.

 

[Endeavour105]

There's 2 seperate boats. There's a ferry boat which will shuttle you between the Magic Kingdom and the Ticket and Transportation Center.

There's also a resort launch that travels between the Magic Kingdom, Grand Floridian, Polynesian, Contemporary and Wilderness Lodge. If you're going to the Polynesian, it doesn't matter which you take. The Ticket and Transportation Center is just to the east of the Polynesian and is within walking distance.

The information above highlighted in red is incorrect and misleading. There is no single boat that going to all the locations listed above. And, it definitely does matter what boat you take. Also, in total, there are more than 2 boats operating when the WDW Watercraft are in operation.

Gold flag motor launches (normally 2) go from the Mk to the GF and Poly before returning to the MK.

Green flag motor cruisers (normally 3) run from the Mk to the WL and FWC before returning. Whether or not the WL is the first stop depends on the time of day.

Blue flag motor launches (normally 2) serve the CR, WL and FWC on Bay Lake.

Ferry boats (1 to 3 depending on the time of day) run only between the TTC and the MK.

 

[goofy4tink]

The information above highlighted in red is incorrect and misleading. There is no single boat that going to all the locations listed above. And, it definitely does matter what boat you take. Also, in total, there are more than 2 boats operating when the WDW Watercraft are in operation.

Gold flag motor launches (normally 2) go from the Mk to the GF and Poly before returning to the MK.

Green flag motor cruisers (normally 3) run from the Mk to the WL and FWC before returning. Whether or not the WL is the first stop depends on the time of day.

Blue flag motor launches (normally 2) serve the CR, WL and FWC on Bay Lake.

Ferry boats (1 to 3 depending on the time of day) run only between the TTC and the MK.

Thanks, you beat me to it!!! But, the funny thing is that I never really noticed the different colors before. Do the 'blue flag boats' service only CR, WL and FtW?? Just curious. For some reason I thought that when we got off at the CR, the boat continued on to MK....just never turned around to see where it was headed after we got off, and I"m just curious.

 

[Endeavour105]

Thanks, you beat me to it!!! But, the funny thing is that I never really noticed the different colors before. Do the 'blue flag boats' service only CR, WL and FtW?? Just curious. For some reason I thought that when we got off at the CR, the boat continued on to MK....just never turned around to see where it was headed after we got off, and I"m just curious.

As previously stated, the Blue flag motor launches on Bay Lake serve the WL, CR and FWC - they do not go to the MK.