Resort Monorail for All

[tbaptista]

Is there any policy restricting me from taking the resort monorail loop to the TTC.

Does this annoy monorail resort guests and will I be catching dirty looks?

 

[sam_gordon]

Is there any policy restricting me from taking the resort monorail loop to the TTC.

No.

Does this annoy monorail resort guests and will I be catching dirty looks?

Only if you go around telling people you're not a resort guest. And they're still in the wrong. If you don't say anything, they'll never know.

 

[tbaptista]

Oh I can assure you! I wouldn't be telling a soul... Confrontation avoidance is my specialty!

 

[goofy4tink]

Anyone is able to use the monorail, boats and buses. The only time resort guests 'might' be annoyed is at park closing. There have been those that have reported people using the Resort monorail line, and getting off at the TTC, rather than the Express monorail that runs between MK and the TTC..no other stops.
They have said that it clogs up the resort monorail line for those staying at the MK resorts.
Do I think this is a huge issue? Nope, not really.

 

[Polydweller]

Is there any policy restricting me from taking the resort monorail loop to the TTC.

Does this annoy monorail resort guests and will I be catching dirty looks?

The answer to both is no. They are for everybody. People use them to get to ADRs all the time so nobody will care or notice.

 

[seashoreCM]

I think it would be a good idea to have some resort monorail trips not stop at the parking lot area (Ticket & Transportation Center) as crowds exit the Magic Kingdom at closing. This would give more space for resort guests.

Also, at park opening, some resort monorail trips should go empty to the Polynesian.

 

[sam_gordon]

I think it would be a good idea to have some resort monorail trips not stop at the parking lot area (Ticket & Transportation Center) as crowds exit the Magic Kingdom at closing. This would give more space for resort guests.

Also, at park opening, some resort monorail trips should go empty to the Polynesian.

The problem though is how do you support resort guests who decided to drive to MK?

I think this comes down to how big an issue is it to have anyone allowed on the resort loop. If it's only a handful of non-resort guests getting on the resort loop, no problem. If there are a ton of them, then Disney can easily staff someone at the entrance asking for KTTW card.

 

[NJRRK]

The problem though is how do you support resort guests who decided to drive to MK?

I think this comes down to how big an issue is it to have anyone allowed on the resort loop. If it's only a handful of non-resort guests getting on the resort loop, no problem. If there are a ton of them, then Disney can easily staff someone at the entrance asking for KTTW card.

First, what monorail resort guest would drive to the MK?

Second, I have seen it happen that resort id was required to get on the "local" monorail. But that was a really really long time ago.

 

[tbaptista]

First, what monorail resort guest would drive to the MK?

Second, I have seen it happen that resort id was required to get on the "local" monorail. But that was a really really long time ago.

I think that over the years crowd size has grown at the park. And I'm sure from Disney's view they just want to get people out of the park at the end of the night as quickly and efficiently as possible. I'm sure they don't really care how you get out as long as you get out. Lol

I don't think there will ever be a dedicated monorail for monorail guests only unless they build another loop.

 

[conniehar90]

We were there in July on a rare night that the MK closed at 10pm. Usually, it is 11 and many guests leave after Wishes so it is not a problem to leave at 11. So, we left after Wishes on this night and OMG - I have never seen so many people in my life. They actually had ropes up outside the turnstiles to create a queue for the express monorail. The ferry line was ridiculous. We got in the express monorail line for a bit but it was so uncomfortable (just crowds of people smashed together not moving). So, we got out of line and just sat on the ground by the turnstiles for awhile waiting for it to die down. Finally, my DD noticed that the resort monorail line was not that long. We headed over there and waited for one monorail. It was crowded but it was heaven to be on our way. No dirty looks at all. We got to our car around 11:45! It was unbelievable.

 

[mb187143]

I think it would be a good idea to have some resort monorail trips not stop at the parking lot area (Ticket & Transportation Center) as crowds exit the Magic Kingdom at closing. This would give more space for resort guests.

Also, at park opening, some resort monorail trips should go empty to the Polynesian.

what if a person has a later evening reservation at one of the GF restaurants and they drove and parked at the TTC, and not at the GF (lets say they wanted to go to the MK for the day, then have dinner at the GF to cap off the night, so they parked at the TTC, just to give this situation some background)... so now, its 11 PM, the MK is closing, and these guests need to get to their car at the TTC - should they not be able to get there because resort loop is skipping the TTC? That's ridiculous. The resort loop of the monorail is not exclusivly available to the guests staying in those three resorts - just like busses to the other resorts are not exclusive to the guests staying there either - should you have to take a cab from the GF to the Yacht Club if you want to eat at the Yachtsman, since you're not staying there? Those buses can get rather full from the MK since they serve 3-5 resorts depending on the time of year...

I've stayed all over the property, and never, ever would even think to question whether the person in next to me waiting for the monorail is staying at the Poly like I am or if the people behind me in line to take the bus back to CBR are really resort guests. I've waited in the long long line to go back to the Poly from the MK on a crowded night after park closing, and i've waited in even longer lines to get a bus to POR. No one likes waiting in a line to get where they're going at the end of a Disney day - well no one I know anyway. But really, they're trying to get people where they need to be as quick as they can. Is there room for improvement? Sure, absolutely - but i don't think your suggestion is the answer.

 

[DCTooTall]

First, what monorail resort guest would drive to the MK?

Second, I have seen it happen that resort id was required to get on the "local" monorail. But that was a really really long time ago.

I remember the days when the Resort ID was required for the Resort Monorail. In Disney terms, That's ancient history. (Hell... I think the last time I saw that was before they replaced the turnstiles at the TTC with just the big gates).


BUT.... I can also see a perfectly valid reason for a monorail Resort guest to exit at the TTC. There are a few Poly buildings that are a bit closer to the TTC (or at least, easier to get to) than they are the GCH.

 

[sotoalf]

The policy of asking for resort ID before riding the monorail changed in the early nineties. Someone can correct me. When we visited the GF in July 1988 two weeks after its opening we were politely but firmly told at the TTC resort monorail turnstile that as Hotel Plaza guests (we were at the Grosvenor) we had unlimited use of the buses.

We took the gold-flagged bus to the GF. Remember it? We were the only passengers on it. I don't think anybody used it except a few dozen day guests at a time. A waste of gas.

 

[sam_gordon]

First, what monorail resort guest would drive to the MK?

Second, I have seen it happen that resort id was required to get on the "local" monorail. But that was a really really long time ago.

Do the KTTW card say which resort you're staying at? Just remember, "resort guests" include those staying at ALL on property hotels, not just those on the monorail loop.

Your KTTW gives you unlimited access to ALL Disney transportation. So if someone was staying at POP and wanted to drive to MK, they'd need to get from TTC to MK and back again.

I still return to "is this a problem"?

I think, but am not positive, when we were at the Poly over Christmas/NY's a couple years ago, they may have asked to see a KTTW card before allowing you on the resort line, but maybe I'm misremembering.

 

[goofy4tink]

Are there times when the Resort Monorail line gets crowded? Sure. Usually at park closing. But, so do the buses. And here's the thing...no one is complaining that there are people getting on the BW bus but not staying there. They go there to enjoy the activities at the BW, they go there to access Jellyrolls, etc.
Is it as bad? No, probably not.
But in all reality, it's only a 30 min period that the resort line is bogged down...and that's probably a high number.

So, let's say a guest is leaving MK to get to the Polynesian for an ADR at 'Ohana. The park is closing, the ADR is after park closing. So, does that guest now need to use the ferry or Express monorail to get to the TTC and then either transfer or walk over to the Polynesian?? No, they should be free to use the resort monorail.
The only way they could possibly make it less crowded is have the resort monorail not stop at the TTC. That way, those staying at, or needing to get to, these resorts would be able to. Those trying to get to the TTC would have to use the Express line or the ferry.

 

[seashoreCM]

Maybe we could have every other trip on the resort monorail loop not stop at the parking lot area (TTC) at park closing. Guests having dinner at a monorail resort and then wishing to return to the TTC to get their cars will then have service. It would also be unnecessary to overtly enforce priorities or check resort IDs.

 

[sam_gordon]

Maybe we could have every other trip on the resort monorail loop not stop at the parking lot area (TTC) at park closing. Guests having dinner at a monorail resort and then wishing to return to the TTC to get their cars will then have service. It would also be unnecessary to overtly enforce priorities or check resort IDs.

I think that would be even more of a problem. If they tell you before you board, those waiting for TTC access would have to stand aside and let people get by them. Depending on the crowd, there may not be anywhere to "step aside". Which means those going to a monorail resort couldn't get on.

If they tell you after you board, you're already on the monorail, you're going to be there when the train returns to MK, again preventing someone else from boarding.

If Disney feels this is a big enough issue, they simply staff (1-2 people) the start of the wait area to the resort loop. Show your KTTW and continue (basically treat the KTTW like a FP). Disney could determine whether a simple show of the KTTW card is sufficient or whether the card would need to be examined to make sure it has the appropriate days on it.

 

[goofy4tink]

If someone has a car, and has an ADR at a monorail resort, then they can head to the TTC, and move their car to the appropriate resort before the ADR. Or they can park there to begin with.

 

[tbaptista]

I think that would be even more of a problem. If they tell you before you board, those waiting for TTC access would have to stand aside and let people get by them. Depending on the crowd, there may not be anywhere to "step aside". Which means those going to a monorail resort couldn't get on.

If they tell you after you board, you're already on the monorail, you're going to be there when the train returns to MK, again preventing someone else from boarding.

If Disney feels this is a big enough issue, they simply staff (1-2 people) the start of the wait area to the resort loop. Show your KTTW and continue (basically treat the KTTW like a FP). Disney could determine whether a simple show of the KTTW card is sufficient or whether the card would need to be examined to make sure it has the appropriate days on it.

But I want to go to the Poly when MK closes for a night cap! Now I can't

Thanks a lot for cutting me out..

 

[mb187143]

Are there times when the Resort Monorail line gets crowded? Sure. Usually at park closing. But, so do the buses. And here's the thing...no one is complaining that there are people getting on the BW bus but not staying there. They go there to enjoy the activities at the BW, they go there to access Jellyrolls, etc.
Is it as bad? No, probably not.
But in all reality, it's only a 30 min period that the resort line is bogged down...and that's probably a high number.

So, let's say a guest is leaving MK to get to the Polynesian for an ADR at 'Ohana. The park is closing, the ADR is after park closing. So, does that guest now need to use the ferry or Express monorail to get to the TTC and then either transfer or walk over to the Polynesian?? No, they should be free to use the resort monorail.
The only way they could possibly make it less crowded is have the resort monorail not stop at the TTC. That way, those staying at, or needing to get to, these resorts would be able to. Those trying to get to the TTC would have to use the Express line or the ferry.

I see what you're saying, but this would make it difficult for guests at the MK resorts to get to Epcot - right now they take the resort line to the TTC and transfer - bueses only run to Epcot from these resorts when the monorail isn't running.

If someone has a car, and has an ADR at a monorail resort, then they can head to the TTC, and move their car to the appropriate resort before the ADR. Or they can park there to begin with.

This is true - but, I know I wouldn't feel like leaving the MK early enough to go to the TTC and move my car to the Grand when i can just enjoy my day at the MK, take the boat over to the Grand, and then take the monorail to the TTC when I'm done eating. And as a resort guest or an AP holder, i get free parking, so i, personally, would not pay to valet my car for the day at the Grand - i'd park at the TTC and use the transportation Disney provides.


Again, the resort monorail is not for the exclusive use of MK resort guests - it's just not. There is not one single sign anywhere at any of those resorts, the MK, or the TTC that says that the resort line is for the exclusive use of those 3 MK resorts. And I say this as someone who stays at the Poly whenever I can, and who has upcoming stays at the Contemporary and the Grand - so I get the argument that the resort monorail line gets crowded and people get off at the TTC. Walt Disney World transportation is for Walt Disney World Resort guests - and Disney uses the word "resort" very liberall, to mean guests of their hotels, as well as guests of "The Walt Disney World Resort" (which to them means anyone visiting their theme parks, water parks, restaurants, shops, and anywhere else that makes them money). So I don't see them enforcing any kind of policy that restricts access to the resort line monorail, because I really think that for most people, it's a non-issue.