Monorail Service on MK late nights

[MycatlovesEeyore]

We were visiting the MK on Sunday July 21 for extra magic hours. The extra hours were from 11:00pm to 1am. My 8 year old DD and I came out of MK about 5 minutes after midnight. And headed toward the resort monorail for the ride to the Contemporary. She had developed a blister issue so we were looking to avoid walking any further than necessary. Anyway, as we started up the hill to the stop, a cast member stopped us and asked where we were headed. I told him the Contemporary, to which he replied that the monorail service had stopped for the night and that we would need to catch the bus. So dejectedly we head over to the bus loop. I ask the cast member directing the trafficat the loop which stop for the contemporary? His reply? "Take that path right there, it's a 10-15 min walk." I told the situation including the directions from the cast member at the monorail to which he replies that there is no bus service to the contemporary at that time. So we begin our trudge back along the path. As we meander along the path I see no less than 3 trains pass overhead, and STOP at the Contemporary to unload passengers. So you can imagine my irritation by the time we finally reach BLT.

Anyway, my questions are:

Disney proclaims that transportation from the parks to their resorts runs until approximately 1hour after park close. If the MK was open until 1am for resort guests, why was I unable to procure any transportation that night 1hour BEFORE the MK closed? And why was I lied to about the monorail being shut down when clearly it was still running? Does the monorail indeed shut down at midnight on MK late nights? If so why were they still dropping guests off at our resort after we were told they were shut down?

I am just really confused and irritated because the greatest perk resort guests pay the premium for is the transportation. However my DD and I were denied this.

 

[bdklein]

My understanding is that the resort monorail stops running 1 hour after regular park closing, except for perhaps some special nights like Mickey Halloween parade and the Mickey Christmas stuff. Not sure though.

 

[mirage0306]

We were there that night too...in a REALLY long boat line for the Poly (We eventually went and got a bus.)

Yes, the monorail runs to an hour past *regular* park closing, not EMH park closing. It does suck, but they are pretty up front about it. Sorry you were disappointed.

 

[Missyrose]

And honestly? The walk to the Contemporary isn't much farther than the walk up the ramp to the monorail.

 

[MycatlovesEeyore]

It just really ticked me off when there wasn't a bus available either. And then as I am coaxing my daughter and her blisters back to BLT along the path, to see the resort monorail still making stops @ the Contemporary really just rubbed salt in the wound.

We also realized that there is not a single bench between the MK bus loop and BLT. That would have helped some!

 

[MycatlovesEeyore]

And honestly? The walk to the Contemporary isn't much farther than the walk up the ramp to the monorail.

I know how far the walk is...we walked it several times in this and previous trips. As stated earlier, I was trying to minimize the walking for my daughter. Please keep your sarcasm to yourself.

 

[Traveliz]

I know how far the walk is...we walked it several times in this and previous trips. As stated earlier, I was trying to minimize the walking for my daughter. Please keep your sarcasm to yourself.

I don't feel that Missyrose was being sarcastic. I am with her and that the walk to the Contemporary even when you are having trouble with your feet is probably most efficient when leaving the park. The walk and waiting up the ramp to the monorail and then to your room from there must at least equal the walk from the park (especially if you leave from the exits closest to the Contemporary) to your room. I wouldn't even want to try and find a bus to the Contemporary from the MK (does that ever even happen?)

I am not being sarcastic - I know how difficult walking can be with a blister.

Liz

 

[MycatlovesEeyore]

The walk and waiting up the ramp to the monorail and then to your room from there must at least equal the walk from the park (especially if you leave from the exits closest to the Contemporary) to your room.

Liz

It doesn't matter which exit turnstiles you use to leave the MK. The traffic pattern shunts everyone down towards the boat launches for WL and FW. From that point you must choose to either walk to the right and up the hill to the monorail or to the left and up the hill to the bus loops. In my judgement the walk to the monorail from this point and the walk to the bus loops are approximately equal. The walk from the beginning of the bus loop to the contemporary was the part I was trying to eliminate. At either the monorail stop or bus stop my DD could have sat on the ground and then on either ride. As for the walk after either ride, there are plenty of benches to work our way to our room.

The path has no benches. I guess my DD could have sat on the ground for rest breaks during our walk.

As for sarcasm, when someone begins their post with "Honestly?", that wreaks of sarcasm.

 

[Traveliz]

True yes I am thinking about when you walk out and go directly toward the buses or contemporary rather than get in that monorail line.

Liz

 

[smidgy]

when we stayed at BLT I was excited to finally stay at a monorail resort. except for the times we were going to epcot (via the TTC) we used the monorail once. by the time you walk up the ramp (and that ramp is a killer) you could be almost to the resort. the BLT entrance is right there, as opposed to walking from the monorail stop at the contemporary, then over to the catwalk and across to BLT.

even when the monorail was running, it seemed a waste of time and effort.

there is no bus to the CR or BLT from the MK, as it doesn't make sense. just as there is no bus from Boardwalk or Beach club to the front of epcot. buses aren't necessary when the park is within walking distance.

sounds like the main problem is you didn't realize the monorail ran an hour after regular park hours, not EMH. when we stayed at BLT it was right after this went into effect.

I was kinda bummed myself, as we were finally staying at a monorail resort.