Riding at the front of the monorail?

[ccgegg]

They only allowed 4 patrons to ride up front

Is a lap child (DS almost 2) considered a patron? We'll have 3 adults, DD5, DS2.

 

[DisneyRocks!]

My DS 14 and I did this June 14 this year, tried doing it after a breakfast at Chef Mickey's. The CR CM said he had so many families in front of us that he couldn't tell us how long it would be, and that there were other families at the other MK resorts too.

His advice? Go to the Epcot monorail and wait there! We did, and only had to wait for 2 monorails before it was our turn. We did have 2 others share the ride with us.

I am glad we did - it was a great ride, we could see just about everything from the front car. We took photos, most of them turned out - there was some glare on the window in others. We forgot to ask for our drivers licenses.

-Joe

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

We went in April and had a really good pilot. When we got off I asked DH if he got the license and he said no. I went back to ask and the pilot said they were out but his assistant said they did have them and got one for each of the boys. The pilot said they were out of them for quite a while and he had assumed that Disney had stopped doing them. Hopefully you will get them next time.

 

[Equidae]

My fiance and I have ridden up front several times and it seems to be pretty hit and miss with the driver. We've done it maybe five times in the last three years and only once did we receive the co-pilot license. It's a great view though and a lot of fun, especially at night.

 

[10drum]

The first time we rode up front the pilot was very freindly, he even stopped the monorail by Bay Lake, because we saw 2 Bald Eagles eating a fish on the bank just past the GF.

 

[tamu91]

It's really cool and worth the wait. It's getting ever so popular so you might have to wait for the next monorail but it's really worth it.

Just ask the CM working the platform when you get to the gate.

 

[YEKCIM]

We've lucked out the past two Decembers and had the privilege of riding in the "cockpit". One of the nice "extras"...as good as some of the regular park attractions, IMO. I'm going with my 7YO in a couple of weeks just for a MK visit, and one of the afternoon "get away from the crowds" things we've planned is to ride the Eppacot loop in the cockpit, even if we have to wait for a seat. We love Eppacot and, by riding that loop we can at least say we went there, even if it is a very short visit! And, like an earlier poster, I usually videotape the whole thing!

~YEKCIM

 

[Fire14]

We just did this with my niece in Early June. We had a great driver named Tracy(female) who was very friendly and talkative. My DH and I have done it quite a few times and yes it's usually coming from Epcot.

 

[mimif1]

We rode several times in May, and not a single word was spoken from any of th drivers! The first time my husband took my oldest and she got a pilots license. The second time, he took my middle child but no license. The third time, I took both girls and I saw the licenses in a little folder attached to the wall right behind the pilot. He didn't offer them, but when I pointed them out, he did give them one (although he still didn't say anything!). He didn't look like he really wanted to give them one, but since I could see them, what could he do?

 

[Annette_VA]

Wow, add me to the list of those who had a non-speaking pilot who seemed irked by our presence. I'm going to try again next time we go, hopefully we'll get a good, happy pilot! And, our licenses, since they were out when we rode (at least that was his story...maybe I need to look around the cabin next time & see if that folder mentioned above really is empty! LOL)

 

[alexb]

We got lucky enough to ride in the front in June 04 and the pilot did not say much at all and when you tried talking to him he tried to act like we weren't there. He did not offer a co-pilot license to my DS or DD. Only unpleasant CM I met that trip. Maybe in addition to monorail driver's training they should take Common Courtesy 101.

 

[Princesa]

Ditto for us with the silent driver I had read about this (on the DIS of course!) and thought this would be a great first night after arrival activity. DS3 and DD1 AND DH's first trip!!!

We toured from MK to Epcot to get the longest route, and mums the word the whole way...Seemed annoyed by kids getting excited about seeing deer, etc. (we're talking "oh, look, Mommy!" not jumping up and down or anything!) Let me do the tour guide type speech to DH. Never spoke even when DS3 said thank you...just stared at him, and turned away! grrrr...

So...my kids had still had a fabulous trip as they and DH hadn't known just how cool a chatty driver could make it. We swung around into the back section of the monorail for the ride back.... I proceeded to inform DH in tones that were not meant for kids, but wondered if new CM riding nearby wouldn't just happen to "overhear" Needless to say, I didn't have to say a word to him....he came right over and told me he heard that I was disappointed, apologized, chatted with my kids about what they would see, etc,. As we arrived into the MK station, said wait right there and came back with the licenses. Applogized again and suggested we try again before our trip was over (I did say to this CM that my kids were perfectly happy...I was the only one disappointed) As we left, I see our nice CM over at the cockpit door having a "discussion" with the driver....

I'm not one to demand extras and just assumed that we hit this guy on a bad day....but, come on, when a three year old says thank you...any CM should smile and say you're welcome!!!!

Never did do this again though, but are planning to try it again next time.

 

[LIFERBABE]

My sister visited us for a few days last month and we didnt do the parks, but we drove to the TTC to see the fireworks and ride the monorail. We walked up to the Epcot platform (which was closed but they still have mono serv) and no one else was there, and the pilot motioned for us to come up front.

We rode the entire loop to Epcot and then back to the TTC. Our driver wasnt really talkative either but Im country so I talked to him anyway. He was nice and did offer the licenses, and we thanked him.

We really enjoyed it.

 

[Marseeya]

You've all really got me wondering if a few of us had the same driver! I wish I would have taken a picture of ours. I was afraid to even ask!

Did any of you get a pic?

 

[beattyfamily]

You know you go to Disney too much when you recognize the CM who drove you in the front of the monorail a couple of years ago!!!

We rode in the front of the monorail for the first time in 2002 I think and when we went again this past October, we saw the same conductor but this time he wasn't driving but letting people on the monorail at the Contemporary...he was the one we would ask to ride up front, but we didn't.

It was too funny seeing a CM I knew!

 

[MI mom of 3]

We got to ride up front a couple of times last month. The first time DD, DS and 2 DNeices got to ride. They said they had a great time. I don't know how talkative the driver was but no co-pilots license.

The next time I rode with DD and 2 DS. Had a great driver, very informative, friendly etc. I was wearing my shirt that says "por favor, mantenganse ...." on the back so it was a great conversation starter. SSSHHHH don't tell anyone but he even let me drive!!1 That was so cool!!! I

'm not going to give his name, I don't know if he could get in trouble for that. He took over before we reached the next station, so no one would see me. He was quite proud to give us our licenses.

 

[bsmandi]

We got to ride in the front during our trip in late May. We got on at MK (when everyone else was going in for the night time parade). The monorail going away from MK was empty...we didn't even have to wait in line. Our driver was very nice, even posed for a picture with my 5 year old!! Sorry to hear about all the people that had a bad experience. Maybe they put the "unfriendly" CM's up there by themselves where they come in contact with the least amount of visitors!??

 

[goofy4tink]

We've been very lucky in being able to ride up front also. In '03 we were in the first trip of the day from the Polynesian to CR and had a terrific driver. We had a ball chatting with him. And dd and I got to ride up front about 4 yrs ago when a mom got out with her dd and said we should ride up front since they had come from the CR and had done it long enough. THis was at the GF. So we rode with her dh and ds.

However, we did have a not so nice experience several weeks ago. We were waiting for the Epcot monorail at TTC. We were the first people there, all by ourselves for about 5 minutes or so. Well, idiot me bent down and over a few feet to help my dd with something and a family skanked right past me. Pretended that I didn't exist and started cheering that they get to ride to Epcot in the front car. Dh was really ticked. But, I just sweetly said..."Well, evidently they really need to be in that car otherwise they wouldn't have behaved so rudely." And dd said, quite loudly, that her mother brought her up better than to sneak past people. Thought I was going to fall over trying not to laugh out loud. Then, when we got on the second car, these same people held us all up, trying to decide which people in their large party were going to ride with the birthday boy. Then the birthday boy decided he didn't want to ride up front at all and several of them ended up with us...squeezed about 6 of them in there...now we're on the second car (no big deal really) and we squished over into a corner. Ah well. I hope they enjoyed their time in the cockpit...it has given us way more to laugh about then we would have had if we had been up front instead!!

 

[experiment626mom]

We rode in front twice this past trip. Just ask the CM up front, they'll tell you if you'll have to wait or not. It is phenomenal. The drivers were very pleasant and it was a great surprise for my stepdaughter. As we were waiting to get on, she noticed the family in front, she looks at me and says "Is that the driver's family?" I just cracked up and explained that some people are lucky enough to sit with the driver. She looked at me and said "I hope we get to do that one of these trips." That's when the CM motioned us in. It was one of those teary eyed moments for me.

 

[jbyrn]

Anyone's "quiet" driver named Robert?