Need crash course on Monorail System?

[figment27]

It has been a couple of years since I last visited WDW. I will be traveling with a close friend and her 12 year old grandson this time. It will be their first time to WDW since the grandson was 2 years old!
Can someone direct me to a website that clearly explains the monorail system?
I barely remember there is a resort and park monorail.
Are they clearly marked by color or name?
We have a PS our 1st night for 6:30 pm at 'Ohana. We will be leaving from MK to Poly.
Which monorail do we take, and how long will it take to get to 'Ohana from MK using the monorail?
Also, what would be the best way to catch a bus back to our resort, All Star Sports, after our meal and watching Wishes from Poly?
My friend does not believe in having a plan.
I am visually impaired, knowing at least how to get around, to explain it to her, will decrease some of my anxiety!
Thanks

 

[Carrieberry]

Let me see if I can answer everything for you!

"I barely remember there is a resort and park monorail"

Yes, there is a resort monorail that stops at the Transportation ticket Center (TTC), the Polynesian, The Grand Floridian, Magic Kingdom, The Contemporary and then back to the TTC. Then there is the Epcot Monorail that goes form the TTC to Epcot and back with only those two stops.

"Are they clearly marked by color or name?"

Yes, at the TTC there are two ramps up to the two seperate monorails and each has a huge sign above it either saying Magic Kingdom (resorts) or Epcot. You can only get on the Epcot monorail at the TTC. Any monorail you get on at a resort or at Magic Kingdom is going to be the resort monorail. To get form MK to Epcot you would have to take the MK/resort monorail to the TTC, disembark, walk down the exit ramp and then back up the entrance ramp for the Epcot monorail.

"We have a PS our 1st night for 6:30 pm at 'Ohana. We will be leaving from MK to Poly.
Which monorail do we take, and how long will it take to get to 'Ohana from MK using the monorail?"


It would be faster to take the boat from Mk directly to the Polynesian(the little boat specific to the Poly anf GF, not the big ferry boat to the TTC), only about 10-15 minutes plus however long you have to wait which is of course, subjective to crowds. The monorail would be 20-30 minutes (not including wait) since it would stop at the Comtemporary and the TTC for about 5 minutes each before heading to the Poly. If you are leaving close to closing time like in the off season the monorail is extremely crowded. If you do take the monorail just get on at MK and stay on until you get to the Poly, do not get off at the TTC.


"Also, what would be the best way to catch a bus back to our resort, All Star Sports, after our meal and watching Wishes from Poly?"

I would hop back on the monorail to MK (if it is within the 1.5- 2 hours after closing at MK) and hop on the bus from there but expect wait times since you will be leaving after Wishes which means crowds.

Hope this helped!!

 

[dopeys biggest fan]

"Also, what would be the best way to catch a bus back to our resort, All Star Sports, after our meal and watching Wishes from Poly?"

One thing you can do to let the crowds die down a little is watch the electric water pageant from the beach at the Poly. It starts at aroun 9:15 and is pretty cute. after that you can either walk to the TTC from the Poly or hope on the Monorail to the TTC and catch a bus back to the All Star.

 

[betterlatethannever]

Originally posted by dopeys biggest fan
[B...after that you can either walk to the TTC from the Poly or hope on the Monorail to the TTC and catch a bus back to the All Star. [/B]

No. The busses to the All Stars are at the MK, not the TTC.

Yes, at the TTC there are two ramps up to the two seperate monorails and each has a huge sign above it either saying Magic Kingdom (resorts) or Epcot.

Actually, at the TTC there are THREE ramps. One for the resorts monorail, one for the express monorail, and one for Epcot.

Actually, you shouldn't have to worry about the TTC at all. Make sure you use the Resorts Monorail when leaving MK for Ohana's. After Wishes or the EWP, take the monorail back to the MK and get on the All Starts bus.

Ed

 

[Kevenswife2]

I've never stayed onsite and never really worried about Disney's transportation from MK to the resorts. Where do the buses load (at MK) in relationship to where the monorail lets off? I guess I never really paid attention and just figured the buses were at TTC.

 

[betterlatethannever]

Originally posted by Kevenswife2
... Where do the buses load (at MK) in relationship to where the monorail lets off? I guess I never really paid attention and just figured the buses were at TTC.

If you are standing at the turnstyles looking at the MK train station, the busses load/drop off at your right (on the way to the CR), the monorail platforms are on your left.

Actually, with the bag check security nowdays, when you get off the bus, you need to walk almost to the monorail platforms to get to security entrance.

The only resort busses that go to the TTC are WL and FW. They do not go to MK.

Ed

 

[Kevenswife2]

Ah, just when you think you know most everything about Disney, you learn something new. Thanks Ed.

I guess I'm always so excited to actually be there, I've never even looked over there. Too busy looking for the shortest security line and keeping track of DH and DD.

 

[figment27]

I don't know if this is completely clear to me or not.

1.There are 3 monorails at the TTC:
a. Resort Monorail: travels in what order from TTC?
From MK it stops: Contemp, TTC, Poly, ?
b. Epcot Monorail - TTC to Epcot, and Epcot to TTC only?
c. Express Monorail- Where does this travel to and from?

2. If I am leaving MK to go to Epcot, I have to take the M/K
Resort monoral to TTC to reach Epcot?

3. If I am leaving MK to go to Poly I can either take:
a. The small boat, specific for Poly and GF, to Poly.
Where is this boat located leaving MK?
Where exactly does it drop you off at Poly?
Will it also be available to take us back to MK after Wishes?
b. Take the resort monorail back to MK to get a bus to All
Stars Sports?

4. The Wishes Fireworks is at 8:00 pm the night we dine at
'Ohana.
a. If the EWP begins at 9:15 pm, how long does it last?
b. Will there be enough time to make it back to MK to catch
a bus after the EWP?

Thanks so much for all your assistance, and patience, with my many questions!
Figment

 

[Carrieberry]

Originally posted by figment27
I don't know if this is completely clear to me or not.

1.There are 3 monorails at the TTC:
a. Resort Monorail: travels in what order from TTC?
From MK it stops: Contemp, TTC, Poly, ?
b. Epcot Monorail - TTC to Epcot, and Epcot to TTC only?
c. Express Monorail- Where does this travel to and from?

2. If I am leaving MK to go to Epcot, I have to take the M/K
Resort monoral to TTC to reach Epcot?

3. If I am leaving MK to go to Poly I can either take:
a. The small boat, specific for Poly and GF, to Poly.
Where is this boat located leaving MK?
Where exactly does it drop you off at Poly?
Will it also be available to take us back to MK after Wishes?
b. Take the resort monorail back to MK to get a bus to All
Stars Sports?

4. The Wishes Fireworks is at 8:00 pm the night we dine at
'Ohana.
a. If the EWP begins at 9:15 pm, how long does it last?
b. Will there be enough time to make it back to MK to catch
a bus after the EWP?

Thanks so much for all your assistance, and patience, with my many questions!
Figment

1-you are correct. 3 monorails. the express monorail goes from MK to the TTC with no stops in between.
Morail runs in a continuous loop. TTC, then Poly, then GF, then MK then Contemp., then the TTC again.
Epcot monorail from TTC to Epcot and back only.

2. Correct you have to change to the Epcot monorail.

3. The boat from MK to Poly picks up directly ahead (and a little to the right) of the exit next to the water. There is a sign and a gated area for this boat. Monorail is to the right as you exit MK and buses are to the left. The boat drops you off at the ferry dock at the Poly, very short walk to Ohana's. Depending on time, and closing at MK it might still be available.
Correct, you can take the resort monorail bcak to MK (2 stops) and then get off the monorail, walk down the ramp, past the MK entrance and you will see the buses.

4. Do you know the closing time for MK that night? The EWP is about 15-20 minutes long. If MK closes right after Wishes at 8, then I would start heading back to MK then, and not stick around for the EWP as you might miss out on the buses that only run for a certain amount of time (up to 2 hours maybe) after MK closing.

Hope this helps!!

 

[figment27]

Thanks Carrie. i know this will help us out tremendously. I plan to print out a copy and place it in my backpack.
Figment

 

[Carrieberry]

No problem! You should have a very easy time as long as you know where you are going and what time you need to be there! Have a wonderful trip and don't forget to ask to sit up front at least once!