Monorail Refurb & How It Affects MK Resorts

[tony609]

If we want to take a cab from the GF to MK for an early adr should we arrange the night before or just in the am

 

[Nancyg56]

We were there from July 1 to July 6 at the GF and had no problem at all with the monorail. When is the work supposed to start?

It has begun. The work is being done as we speak, but the impact is intermittent. They advised us that we may need to make travel adjustments during our stay.

 

[spiceycat]

Okay, so that is ridiculous. I guess we will drive to Epcot. If the monorail is late picking up for MK, we can walk. I just don't want to overdo the walking with my bad knee. As it is, I hear that we put in about 6 miles of walking a day!

I always walk over to the MK from BLT - the monorails lets you off and pick you up on a hill. the walk over is almost flat - so much easier on my knees. don't have to worry with hills until at the mk and have to walk up that one.

 

[spiceycat]

If we want to take a cab from the GF to MK for an early adr should we arrange the night before or just in the am

would take the boat - the taxi would have to let you out at the front of the ttc - so you would need to take the ferry or monorail to the MK.'

gf has a boat that it share with the polyn that goes back and forth to the MK.

 

[Linda M]

Interesting that the work started in May. We saw no evidence of any type of disruption in service in the six days we were there at the beginning of July.

@tony609 We took the boat that runs between the GF, Polynesian and the MK a few times while we were there and it was a nice, relaxing trip that took about 5 minutes once the boat was underway from the MK. The boat was almost empty each trip but my guess is that if the monorail isn't running, it will likely be more of a wait and more crowded. Also check to see if they've expanded the schedule. I believe when we were there that the boats didn't start until 8:30.

 

[Aurora0427]

Last year we stayed at GF and the monorail was on this schedule too and I saw Epcot buses while waiting for AK bus.

Yes, this. We were at GF in December 2014 and there were busses to Epcot everyday, and the monorail was running normally. If the monorail is under refurb there most definitely will be busses to Epcot from the GF, otherwise no one has any way to get there.

Does anyone know if there will be additional boat service TO MK if the monorail is down in the am? Usually the boat picks up GF and then heads to Poly which adds travel time to MK. Do you think they'll do dedicated boat service in the busy morning hours?

 

[spiceycat]

well both the poly and gf would need extra help with the monorail down - but that say guests at Polyn can easily walk over to the TTC and take the ferry if they want too. of course you could walk over from gf - but a much, much longer walk to the ferry.

glad I generally stay at BLT - walking is much easier to the MK.

although in Sept staying at PVB again.

 

[koho]

We just stayed at the Poly (6/18-6/27). The were times that the monarail was down. This was usually during the mid afternoon. We did find it easier to take the boats to and from MK. I will say that there were several times that the monarail was down and the boats were not running because of lighting. If this happens then they have bus service to Poly and GF.

As far as getting to EPCOT for 8:00 ADRs, there is a trick if you do not want to rake a cab. Either walk or take the monarail to the TTC. Now the EPCOT monarail does not until half hour before the park opens. However, if you walk over to the TTC information window they will arrange for a bus to take you to EPCOT in time for your ARD. On this trip they had us wait for a bus and then all of the sudden a Disney can pulled up. The guy driving the van said that he knew we were going to EPCOT and he did not want us to wait for a bus. So we had a van for just the 4 of us, it was great.

I hope that helps.

 

[AngiTN]

If we want to take a cab from the GF to MK for an early adr should we arrange the night before or just in the am

You don't typically need to arrange for a cab, they are generally at each resort.
But, you also do not want to take a cab from anywhere to the MK.
That puts you at the TTC, where you are then going to need to get on a boat (provided the monorail is down)
If you do anything you take a cab to the CR where you then walk over to the MK.

 

[Ismo]

Great thread!

 

[Ismo]

I found this on the GF thread but I keep hearing conflicting things but there is a hard schedule in the link... I don't know how accurate anything though is ever. I think I might just stick with buses just incase. The most im worried about though is my 8:05 ressie in MK when we go in September.

Here you go: http://www.wdwmagic.com/transportat...ney-world-monorail-system-operating-hours.htm

We are staying at VGF in September and have an ADR at MK at 08:05. I hope the monorail's running, but if not I will probably take a cab. We normally take cabs for our early ADRs as I get very anxious if I think we are going to run at all late.

If the monorails are scheduled to be down during early mornings when there and if anyone needs to get to an early ADR and wants a cab...I would recommend booking it the night before as I'm sure a bunch of other people will have the same idea.

Otherwise, in the past when we've taken a cab, we always asked for one on our way out of the resort and never waited more than 2 minutes.

 

[AngiTN]

I've seen a number of people here, and other places, suggest Uber for getting around when the Monorail isn't running.
My question is, will they come out for very short trips, like say GF or Poly to CR, so you can walk to MK? I think it's tough to get cabs for those trips (or at least I was led to believe it was, I haven't tried)

 

[Mousemommy1]

I think that if there is a scheduled downtime, you will be fine, but if it's intermittent than you might see issues.

We stayed at the Contemporary in April, and for the most part, had a fine time with the monorail system. But, one morning, the monorail was down and no one manning the transportation areas seemed to know what was going on.

The gates to the escalator for the monorail were up and the elevator up there wouldn't open. There was no sign or anything stating down times. We went down to the bus area where the CM insisted that the monorail was running and that we should catch it to get to Epcot (mind you we were trying to get to an ADR at the time).

After several back and forths, we did confirm that the monorail was down and then the bus attendant CM had to find us a bus to Epcot, because that hadn't been planned for...we had to take a bus to the TTC and then get off and take a bus to Epcot from there. It was very frustrating, but we did make our ADR on time.

 

[spiceycat]

We are staying at VGF in September and have an ADR at MK at 08:05. I hope the monorail's running, but if not I will probably take a cab. We normally take cabs for our early ADRs as I get very anxious if I think we are going to run at all late.

If the monorails are scheduled to be down during early mornings when there and if anyone needs to get to an early ADR and wants a cab...I would recommend booking it the night before as I'm sure a bunch of other people will have the same idea.

Otherwise, in the past when we've taken a cab, we always asked for one on our way out of the resort and never waited more than 2 minutes.

again a cab will only take you to the TTC - you would have to ask to go to CR - then you could walk to MK. TTC would be monorail or ferry.

 

[Ismo]

again a cab will only take you to the TTC - you would have to ask to go to CR - then you could walk to MK. TTC would be monorail or ferry.

I got a cab straight to MK last time, was that just a special thing that shouldn't have happened?

 

[spiceycat]

the only thing that should go straight to the MK is the WDW buses (offsite go to TTC), monorail, boats to WDW resorts and the ferry. believe with the new security the cab should not be allowed in.

 

[AngiTN]

I got a cab straight to MK last time, was that just a special thing that shouldn't have happened?

It shouldn't have happened. The only vehicles allowed to drive in to MK are Disney work vehicles or buses.
No clue how a cab got in. Where did it let you out in relation to the buses?

 

[Ismo]

It shouldn't have happened. The only vehicles allowed to drive in to MK are Disney work vehicles or buses.
No clue how a cab got in. Where did it let you out in relation to the buses?

He actually dropped us off right where the buses do their little u-turns by guest relations at the park extrance. The next day we were dropped off in the same location by the DVC van after doing our tour. That's when I realized it was odd that the cab dropped us off there too. Cab driver probably isn't allowed to work there anymore after that!

 

[Summertinkerbell]

I'm already planning on driving to Epcot. If the monorail isn't working to MK, we will walk from CR.

 

[DestyTiger]

We are driving to Florida, so we will have our car. If we decide to use our car, will we have to pay for parking in the parks?

As long as you are staying on-site, parking is free at all of the parks.