Monorail Times

[let'sgo]

At what time does the Monorail start up? I have reservations at 1900 Park Fare at 8 a.m. and was told that the buses start out early for those having breakfast in the park, but once dropped off at MK I have to continue on to GF. Is it possible to do this with Disney transportation, or do I have to take a taxi?

 

[goofy4tink]

The buses will be up and running to MK by 6:30. When you get on the bus, ask the driver if the monorail will be running so you can get to the GF. One of two things can happen.....1. he/she will say they have no idea or 2. they may offer to take you to the GF after leaving MK.

If you can't get dropped off at the GF, the monorail will be up and operating. The resort monorail starts by 7am...so you shouldn't have any issues.

 

[kaytieeldr]

To answer the other part of your question: you won't be able to take a taxi from the Magic Kingdom bus drop to, well, anywhere. Only WDW buses are allowed close to the park. You'd need to get to the TTC to get a taxi, and you'd need to board the monorail to get there - and if the monorail is operating, well, you just stay aboard two more stops and exit at the Grand Floridian!

 

[pulphero]

If you get on the 6:30 AM bus for the Magic Kingdom, the driver may drop you off at the Grand Floridian. I've gotten on that bus and been dropped off at the Contemporary and at the Polynesian for early breakfast reservations ('early' being 7:00). The driver will ask where you're going since obviously you're not boarding for the park. Just let him know.

And make sure you're at the bus stop by 6:25. If you miss the early bus, you won't get another one until at least 7:00 or later.

 

[goofy4tink]

To answer the other part of your question: you won't be able to take a taxi from the Magic Kingdom bus drop to, well, anywhere. Only WDW buses are allowed close to the park. You'd need to get to the TTC to get a taxi, and you'd need to board the monorail to get there - and if the monorail is operating, well, you just stay aboard two more stops and exit at the Grand Floridian!

I think the OP was thinking of taking a cab from his resort to the GF..not to the MK...just saying.

If you get on the 6:30 AM bus for the Magic Kingdom, the driver may drop you off at the Grand Floridian. I've gotten on that bus and been dropped off at the Contemporary and at the Polynesian for early breakfast reservations ('early' being 7:00). The driver will ask where you're going since obviously you're not boarding for the park. Just let him know.

And make sure you're at the bus stop by 6:25. If you miss the early bus, you won't get another one until at least 7:00 or later.

Well....sort of. But, if you miss the bus at 6:25, you most likely won't be standing there, waiting at 7am for another bus. They do come more frequently than that...close to every 20 mins or so. I have walked up to the bus stop, at 6:30, just as a bus to my destination is pulling away...and I was getting on another bus within 15 mins. BUT..it's always better to play it safe...and arrive earlier than you think you need to.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I think the OP was thinking of taking a cab from his resort to the GF..not to the MK...just saying.

Ahem. You may not correct me today. I am ill and still debating whether to go to work. Please hold all future corrections until tomorrow.

Thank you.

 

[pulphero]

Well....sort of. But, if you miss the bus at 6:25, you most likely won't be standing there, waiting at 7am for another bus. They do come more frequently than that...close to every 20 mins or so. I have walked up to the bus stop, at 6:30, just as a bus to my destination is pulling away...and I was getting on another bus within 15 mins. BUT..it's always better to play it safe...and arrive earlier than you think you need to.

Other buses do come, as you say, but only one early bus to the Magic Kingdom is scheduled each day, and that one comes around 6:30. At least that's what I've been told - however, I've been told a lot of things in life, not all of them true.

 

[let'sgo]

Thanks so much everyone! I'm glad that I can do it without having to use a taxi. I'll be sure to be on that early bus.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

I would say don't be upset if the bus drivers are not able to drop you off at the Grand Floridian because sometimes they can not do that. So just because others were able to be dropped off at the Contemporary or Polynesian does not mean it happens everyday. For example with this new bus system WDW has after it goes to the Magic Kingdom it might need to drive over to another resort, so it does not always go back to where you got on from.

 

[goofy4tink]

Other buses do come, as you say, but only one early bus to the Magic Kingdom is scheduled each day, and that one comes around 6:30. At least that's what I've been told - however, I've been told a lot of things in life, not all of them true.

That's just not true. There is an early bus running about every 20 mins. Not sure where you heard that. There are several early buses running to all the parks. I have taken early buses to the MK at 6:20, 6:30, 7:00, just after 7.

Ahem. You may not correct me today. I am ill and still debating whether to go to work. Please hold all future corrections until tomorrow.

Thank you.

Duly noted.

 

[pulphero]

That's just not true. There is an early bus running about every 20 mins. Not sure where you heard that. There are several early buses running to all the parks. I have taken early buses to the MK at 6:20, 6:30, 7:00, just after 7.

You may be right, but I heard what I heard from Disney resort employees (two different ones at two different times). Do all those early buses of yours provide (discretionary) service to MK resorts for guests with early breakfast reservations? I was told that only one bus provides such service and that bus comes only once at 6:30. I'm sure there are other early buses that travel to the MK - but not to the MK resorts (again, at the driver's discretion). Does that still sound incorrect? If so, I'm glad to be wrong because it means next time I won't have to drag myself out of bed to catch a 6:30 bus.

 

[gigi1313]

we've had the bus driver take us to the poly for a 9am b'fast ADR, well after 6:30am! all we did was tell the driver nicely when we got on the bus to MK that our ultimate destination was the Poly and the driver offered to take us there

 

[goofy4tink]

You may be right, but I heard what I heard from Disney resort employees (two different ones at two different times). Do all those early buses of yours provide (discretionary) service to MK resorts for guests with early breakfast reservations? I was told that only one bus provides such service and that bus comes only once at 6:30. I'm sure there are other early buses that travel to the MK - but not to the MK resorts (again, at the driver's discretion). Does that still sound incorrect? If so, I'm glad to be wrong because it means next time I won't have to drag myself out of bed to catch a 6:30 bus.

Still incorrect. Here's the problem. Resort CMs basically have no idea how the bus sytem works. Not sure why they can't be trained in it, but they aren't. I have had front desk CMs tell me I will have to get a cab to a park since there will not be a bus running to get me to my early breakfast ADR. Now, I know better...I've done it before, so it isn't only heresay. But, there are going to be guests out there that don't know any better...and they are going to take that CMs info as gospel. And that annoys me.

The early buses are not there for resort to resort service...plain and simple. They run in order to get you from your resort to a specific park for your early ADRs. They are not there to get you to the Polynesian for a breakfast ADR. BUT....some drivers will drop you at the CR, Polynesian and/or the GF. But..that isn't what the bus is for. Otherwise, they would automatically ask you where you are going when you board the bus. And they don't do that.
Same goes for other parks/resorts. There are early breakfast ADRs at YC/BC..they start at 7am for Goofy's Beach Blast Breakfast. But, you don't see the drivers making special stops on their way to either Epcot or DHS early in the morning. The buses go to the parks....and if the driver feels so inclined, the bus may stop at the resort you need to get to.

So, no it is not correct that the 6:30 bus goes to the MK resorts. At least, none that I have been on. And I have had plenty of early ADRs at CR and Polynesian...and have had to get to my ADR on my own. Only once have I been taken to the CR.

 

[pulphero]

So, no it is not correct that the 6:30 bus goes to the MK resorts. At least, none that I have been on. And I have had plenty of early ADRs at CR and Polynesian...and have had to get to my ADR on my own. Only once have I been taken to the CR.

Fair enough. Even though my experience differs from yours (the 6:30 driver has always asked me where I'm going, has always taken his passengers to MK resorts, etc.), I do think you're right about it not being official Disney policy for the early bus to take guests to resort ADRs and that no one should count on it happening for them.

 

[kaytieeldr]

You may be right, but I heard what I heard from Disney resort employees (two different ones at two different times). Do all those early buses of yours provide (discretionary) service to MK resorts for guests with early breakfast reservations? I was told that only one bus provides such service and that bus comes only once at 6:30.

Respectfully, and I'm aware goofy4tink has already responded, the ONLY Cast Members I trust regarding transportation issues and questions are, well, Transportation CMs. There are several who post here on the Transportation (sorry for being repetitive) board. In addition, I trust my own experience and knowledge.

Yes, dropping Guests at a resort is discretionary based on the driver's schedule (and, unfortunately, sometimes mood), but there is NO way in the world this action could possibly be restricted to ONE bus going to ONE park. ALL the parks have breakfasts scheduled to start an hour before the park opens on non-EMH days; many of the resorts property-wide do, as well.

As for resort Cast Members being wrong about transportation, well, my one experience with that is, during Magic Kingdom Evening Extra Magic Hours - ending at midnight on the given night - I was trying to get from Wilderness Lodge to Pop Century or Old Key West (yes, I forget, I'm old ) and at 10 PM the Lobby Concierge CM told me I had to take a bus to Downtown Disney and switch there. Now, the boat may or may not have still been running - but the bus to the Magic Kingdom absolutely was, and saved me an hour or so in travel time

 

[pulphero]

Thank you both for the education - and sorry for clinging so tenaciously to invalid advice given me by resort employees. I hope I didn't mislead anyone!