Riding in the front of the monorail

[mrswh]

There was a thread about this a while ago, just wanted to confirm that you can still ride in the front of the monorail with the pilot at DLR. We did it earlier today.

 

[ssuriano]

Glad to hear! How long was the wait?

 

[MyYearWithTheMouse]

The wait really depends on how many other people are interested in waiting for it. I've found that if I ask, I'm one of the only people who do so. I've never waited for more than two trains to get in the front.

 

[mrswh]

We got "lucky," we were the first in line for the next train - so when we loaded onto the platform we were the first to ask (and nobody was already waiting). When the monorail stops at DTD, people are not required to get off, so if you are boarding there you have to hope that if someone is already riding up front they aren't going back to Tomorrowland. If someone has already requested the front, you can always wait until the next train. We have done it several times at both WDW (though I understand they no longer allow it there) and DLR and have never waited more than one extra train.

 

[TinkBride]

Wow - I am really surprised to hear this considering what happened at WDW.

 

[bumbershoot]

Wow - I am really surprised to hear this considering what happened at WDW.

From what I understand, the situation that caused what happened at WDW literally could not happen at DLR. There's just the one track, and no one is backing into a station while another is sitting there. That's why it is still allowed.

 

[DebbieB]

From what I understand, the situation that caused what happened at WDW literally could not happen at DLR. There's just the one track, and no one is backing into a station while another is sitting there. That's why it is still allowed.

Plus the monorails are new at DL, hopefully stronger. In the accident at WDW, the front cabin was crushed.

 

[NostalgicDad]

Not sure if it's an official change or not but we were just at DL 2 weeks ago and were told they would only allow 4, not our 5, in the front. We last all rode in the front of the Mark VII in 2009 so either we just got lucky that time or they did in fact change the limit to 4 within the past 2 years. All was well though since we could all still ride in the back no problem.

 

[martinp13]

Do they still give "Monorail Operator"/etc certificates?

 

[mrswh]

Do they still give "Monorail Operator"/etc certificates?

We did not get one this time around, but I'm not sure that means they're not giving them out. I feel like they have been hit or miss in the past as well.

 

[skiingfast]

Do they still give "Monorail Operator"/etc certificates?

We did not get one this time around, but I'm not sure that means they're not giving them out. I feel like they have been hit or miss in the past as well.

I didn't see these last time I rode up front. Maybe it was hit or miss, but the pilot seemed a little distracted too and wasn't paying much attention on us, the riders.

 

[mrswh]

I didn't see these last time I rode up front. Maybe it was hit or miss, but the pilot seemed a little distracted too and wasn't paying much attention on us, the riders.

Our driver ignored us entirely. I mean, he didn't even say hello. He just got in, drove, made his announcements, and when we stopped he got out!

 

[skiingfast]

Our driver ignored us entirely. I mean, he didn't even say hello. He just got in, drove, made his announcements, and when we stopped he got out!

This is only my speculation. There has been some problems with the new monorails for about the last 3 months. On my ride in the cabin I think the pilot's attention may of been on the gauges to monitor the problem situtation.

 

[PRCMickey]

I'm glad this is still an option as we are going next week. We miss this in WDW.

 

[pixiewings71]

We've been able to do this many times, we tend to ask in TL because then you are not required to disembark in DTD, you can do a full circle in the front if you board in TL.
We've never received any certificate from the driver but our driver's have always been friendly and chatted, but they don't generally start the conversation, we have to start it first. Also, I know that in previous years they did allow more than 4 people in front but our last trip (early June) we were limited to 4. I'm positive that we rode in the front once with 2 other people, that would make a total of 6, but this last trip they did not allow that to happen. I wanted to ride the monorail so I could take some photos of the Golden Gate before they dismantled it (still sad over that!) and another family also wanted to ride, the CM wouldn't allow it if the 4 of us were in front so DD15 and DBF rode in the second car while DD11 and I rode in front with the Mom and DD from the other family. When we got to TL DBF and DD15 hopped back in front with us for the ride back to TL.

 

[MonorailPilotMulan]

I'm not sure if its the same case in DL, but here at WDW, one of the pilot's highest priorities is to listen to the radio because even if something is happening on a different beam, it may still affect your operation. I'm not sure if DL pilots also have a radio in their cab but it is very important to listen to it, which might be why a couple pilots are really quiet to the Guests and more focused on driving. He may have also been a newer driver who isn't so comfortable driving and speaking to Guests at the same time

 

[mrswh]

I'm not sure if its the same case in DL, but here at WDW, one of the pilot's highest priorities is to listen to the radio because even if something is happening on a different beam, it may still affect your operation. I'm not sure if DL pilots also have a radio in their cab but it is very important to listen to it, which might be why a couple pilots are really quiet to the Guests and more focused on driving. He may have also been a newer driver who isn't so comfortable driving and speaking to Guests at the same time

Oh, I wasn't complaining - probably best for the driver to be paying attention to driving rather than entertaining me. It was just a little different than in the past (and maybe I am thinking of WDW) - I recall the driver being really friendly to the kiddos and giving them the monorail pilot licenses.

By the way, do you have to actually drive the monorail or is it all computerized?

 

[MyYearWithTheMouse]

It does get driven. I've never seen more than a party of 5 in the cone and wouldn't be surprised if a CM limited it to 4. I've also never seen a certificate, which sounds really cool, so I'm bummed if they don't do it anymore.