Monorail questions!!

[jupers]

will someone please explain the Disneyland monorail? I'm a wdw vet, but I don't get it at Disneyland. I hear it's more like a ride??

 

[disney world dreamer]

yeah pretty much.
you can get on/off at tomorrowland or downtown disney district.
when getting on at DTD you must show your ticket.
not much too it and personally i'm not a fan of how you sit.
i'd much rather take a ride on the monorail at WDW.

 

[purple figment]

The DL monorail is more an attraction than a mode of transportation, although you can use it to get to and from DTD near the Disneyland Hotel. There are 2 stations - one inside DL in Tomorrowland and one in DTD near the DL Hotel. Because everyone has to get off at the Tomorrowland Station you need a park ticket to ride when getting on at DTD. Getting off at the DTD station is optional so it's an attraction in the sense you can take a round trip from Tomorrowland.

 

[allsaintsatx]

two other things to consider: the windows can roll down, and you can ride in the front of the monorail.

More of an attraction, yes, but if you are staying at any of the DLR hotels some mornings it can be a great way to beat the long lines at the main gate.

It's also exclusively for resort guest use during EMH, since it is dropping you off in the park.

Or, if after a long day of walking and you're way in the back end of the park, you can take the RR to the Tomorrowland station and it is an easy walk to the monorail which will take you within a small walk of any of the DLR hotels.

 

[gottalovepluto]

It's half a ride and half transport mode for us. When going into Tomorrowland it loops through the land and goes around the Matterhorn pretty close. It's really nice to depart downtown Disney and be right in the middle of Tomorrowland. On the return trip to Downtown you get a different view of DCA (sit facing the left side!). For early entry we found it awful though (admittedly this was a couple years ago), sometimes it wasn't running with passengers until part way though EMH, and when it did run we usually ended up on the second or third monorail leaving us like 20 min to enjoy in the park before official opening. We LOVED it for returning to the on site hotels at night when we were tired. Downtown Disney is a crush that time of night and it was nice to get off our feet. We obviously went during crowded times- last couple trips both during busy summers a couple years back.

Also, I'm going to have to dispute the riding in front part. Unless it's changed in the last 2 years that's an absolute no now after the WDW accident a few years back. We used to love it though so no complaints here if they reversed that policy! You CAN ride in back by request, and I totally recommend it.

 

[gottalovepluto]

Apologies to allsaintsatx I just saw some YouTube videos of people riding in front this year!! I'm SOOO excited that's back, I thought it was gone forever! (It was a ridiculous rule anyway for DL...)

 

[Rubygoose]

It's half a ride and half transport mode for us. When going into Tomorrowland it loops through the land and goes around the Matterhorn pretty close. It's really nice to depart downtown Disney and be right in the middle of Tomorrowland. On the return trip to Downtown you get a different view of DCA (sit facing the left side!). For early entry we found it awful though (admittedly this was a couple years ago), sometimes it wasn't running with passengers until part way though EMH, and when it did run we usually ended up on the second or third monorail leaving us like 20 min to enjoy in the park before official opening. We LOVED it for returning to the on site hotels at night when we were tired. Downtown Disney is a crush that time of night and it was nice to get off our feet. We obviously went during crowded times- last couple trips both during busy summers a couple years back.

Also, I'm going to have to dispute the riding in front part. Unless it's changed in the last 2 years that's an absolute no now after the WDW accident a few years back. We used to love it though so no complaints here if they reversed that policy! You CAN ride in back by request, and I totally recommend it.

We rode in the front in July 2013 and again a couple weeks ago. We just got there early and asked. One time they didn't let anyone ride in the front because it was too hot (which is why we wanted to ride in there!)

 

[Pigletears]

Can anyone board from downtown disney or do you have to be a resort guest? Also.....2012 rode in the front and it was pretty cool....they had the windows covered with cars overlay so not as clear......

 

[allsaintsatx]

Anyone with a park admission can board it. There is a bag check and a gate before you can enter the monorail platform.

It's treated like a mini front gate to the park, so if there's EMH, only people eligible for EMH can board the monorail in that hour, but the rest of the day it's anyone with a ticket.

Also, just to clarify, you can ride in the front of the monorail, you just have to ask. But, the last time we were there in august they were not letting people ride in the rear of the monorail anymore. Why. I don't know!

 

[abminer]

For early entry we found it awful though (admittedly this was a couple years ago), sometimes it wasn't running with passengers until part way though EMH, and when it did run we usually ended up on the second or third monorail leaving us like 20 min to enjoy in the park before official opening. We LOVED it for returning to the on site hotels at night when we were tired. Downtown Disney is a crush that time of night and it was nice to get off our feet.

We're staying at DLH and have been wondering about using it for emh. If we left really early do they let you line up at the platform? We were going to get to the main gates 30 min early anyway. If we got to the dtd monorail station that early could we get on the first train? It would save time to start in Tomorrowland. We're going gay days weekend so it will be crowded.

 

[SMD]

We're staying at DLH and have been wondering about using it for emh. If we left really early do they let you line up at the platform? We were going to get to the main gates 30 min early anyway. If we got to the dtd monorail station that early could we get on the first train? It would save time to start in Tomorrowland. We're going gay days weekend so it will be crowded.

The first train will not load any earlier than the start of EMH, and they make no guarantee that it will run during EMH. It will take you 10+ minutes to load and ride into the park. It does not take that long to walk down Main St. The monorail doesn't save any time. If you have multiple EMH days you can try it, but if you only have a single one that you''really trying to maximize, this isn't the way to do it.

 

[Malcon10t]

Also, I'm going to have to dispute the riding in front part. Unless it's changed in the last 2 years that's an absolute no now after the WDW accident a few years back. We used to love it though so no complaints here if they reversed that policy! You CAN ride in back by request, and I totally recommend it.

We've ridden up front every 4th of July for about 8 years now. It never stopped in CA>

 

[disneychrista]

Those that are saying they rode upfront do you mean you rode with the captain? The only time I tried to do this I was told no.

 

[gottalovepluto]

We've ridden up front every 4th of July for about 8 years now. It never stopped in CA>

Wow, 2011 & 2012 summers CMs told us not allowed anymore and it just broke our hearts. Maybe since it was early summer they were training or something. Can't wait to go back to DL now & do this!!

 

[mikedoyleblogger]

Also, I'm going to have to dispute the riding in front part. Unless it's changed in the last 2 years that's an absolute no now after the WDW accident a few years back. We used to love it though so no complaints here if they reversed that policy! You CAN ride in back by request, and I totally recommend it.

Only WDW currently bars visitors from riding up front. We rode up front multiple times last month (and last year.) At DLR, safety regulations allow up to 5 people in the front (including the operator). So four visitors can ride at a time. It's easiest to ride from Tomorrowland, since everyone must leave the train. Requesting the front at the DtD station sometimes means waiting for several monorails to go by before there's enough room up front. It's also the only air-conditioned part of the train.

 

[heybets30]

We ride each trip up front - they do limit it to 4 guests only due to seating arrangements.

 

[thatgrljme]

Also, I'm going to have to dispute the riding in front part. Unless it's changed in the last 2 years that's an absolute no now after the WDW accident a few years back. We used to love it though so no complaints here if they reversed that policy! You CAN ride in back by request, and I totally recommend it.

We were there in May and some people asked to ride up front but were told no because it was way too hot that day. I think it's just based off of the temp that day whether they allow people to ride up front or not now.

 

[mom2rtk]

Apologies to allsaintsatx I just saw some YouTube videos of people riding in front this year!! I'm SOOO excited that's back, I thought it was gone forever! (It was a ridiculous rule anyway for DL...)

It was never gone at DLR. Only at WDW. We rode at DLR last December and really enjoyed it!

 

[DCALove]

We were there in May and some people asked to ride up front but were told no because it was way too hot that day. I think it's just based off of the temp that day whether they allow people to ride up front or not now.

This is the same for the trailing cab, as well. On a hot day, you may see some blue tape near the door for the tail cone with "DNL" written on it. Means "Do Not Load" and it's usually because the A/C is busted or can't keep up with the heat of the day.

Or puke.

 

[disneychrista]

This is the same for the trailing cab, as well. On a hot day, you may see some blue tape near the door for the tail cone with "DNL" written on it. Means "Do Not Load" and it's usually because the A/C is busted or can't keep up with the heat of the day.

My understanding is that there is no A/C on the Monorail.