Monorail question for VGF

[JohnnySharp2]

Hi,

Planning a DVC stay at Grand Floridian Villas next May.

Have generally always stayed in off site villas.

If we have a breakfast dining reservation at MK , can someone confirm what time the monorail starts in the morning?

Also I assume it's a straight forward short journey from the Grand Floridian 'station' to the theme park?

Seen comments on monorail not running early?

Been on the monorail dozens of times in the past but never from the hotels.

Thanks

 

[NedsTJ]

The monorail typically starts 1 hour before the earliest park opening. We're also staying at VGF and facing the same issue this December, with an 8am reservation at Cinderella's table. Which means we probably need to be there at 7:45. MDE says that the MK opens at 9am but that Epcot opens at 8am (Extra magic), so I'm hoping the monorail starts at 7am.

If it doesn't start that early...I think we'll just taxi over to the CR and walk, LOL.

 

[JohnnySharp2]

Thanks - we will have a car, however one of the reasons to stay at VGF is the close proximity to MK & the monorail.

 

[grimley1968]

The monorail, during this time of working on it, has shorter running hours. I can't remember what those hours are, or if they'll still be in effect next May, but there are lots of threads about that.

GF also offers a boat, shared with the Poly, that goes to MK. Normally that would start later than the monorail, but it might actually be a little earlier than the monorail during shortened hours.

If the monorail is not available in the AM, there will be buses to take its place until it opens.

 

[JanaDee]

Currently, the monorail starts running at 8:30am due to maintenance. There has been no end date reported for that maintenance.

Your other options are take the boat launch to MK or they should have buses running in the mornings to MK while the monorail is down.

 

[JohnnySharp2]

Thanks for the replies - will check the other threads.

 

[joelkfla]

As PP said, during reduced schedule due to upgrade work, the Resort Monorail opens at 8:30 am.

Before the schedule was reduced, the Resort Monorail opened at 7 am, no matter what time the parks opened. Currently, buses to replace the monorail also start running slightly before 7 am.

No one knows whether the schedule will be the same after the upgrade is completed.

 

[richmo]

It is hard to predict what the monorail schedule will be next May. Hopefully you'll just be able to hop on for a quick ride.

To answer one of your questions...the GF is the last stop on the resort monorail loop before MK, so it is a very quick ride once you're onboard.

If you do have to drive, you would proceed as if you're exiting the Magic Kingdom area, then there's a loop back to MK parking just before the parking gate (as you're looking at it). Of course, you would still have to deal with trams, TTC, monorail/boat (maybe bus) to MK. Also, perhaps you could catch a boat to MK from GF (?).

 

[JohnnySharp2]

It is hard to predict what the monorail schedule will be next May. Hopefully you'll just be able to hop on for a quick ride.

To answer one of your questions...the GF is the last stop on the resort monorail loop before MK, so it is a very quick ride once you're onboard.

If you do have to drive, you would proceed as if you're exiting the Magic Kingdom area, then there's a loop back to MK parking just before the parking gate (as you're looking at it). Of course, you would still have to deal with trams, TTC, monorail/boat (maybe bus) to MK. Also, perhaps you could catch a boat to MK from GF (?).

Thanks, as you say plenty of time to go, naturally assuming we stay at VGF the monorail is part of the appeal as well as the location.

I think we could catch a launch boat yes.