Rules for riding in front of monorail ?

[crzy4dsny]

Can someone tell me what the "official rules" are for riding in the front of the monorail. The way that I understand it is that each resort has a certain color monorail. When that monorail comes to your resort and people are in front, they are supposed to get out for you.
Is this info correct?
Are there any other rules ?
Which color goes with which resort ?

 

[debster812]

The resort loop monorail questions sounds like a job for Tyler aka Chip n Dale Express.

However, here is my personal experience from January:

We wanted to bring DS for a ride on the monorail just to rest/decompress. We were at TTC, and decided to ride out to EPCOT and back. It was 3-ish or so in the afternoon, and we simply asked the station CM if we could ride in front if it was available. It was and we rode from TTC to EPCOT in the front. I think it helped that the TTC was not busy.

Good Luck!!!

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

There are no real "rules" other than not more than 3 or 4 can ride in the front.
Simply ask the CM if you can ride in the front.

 

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

Each beam has a different set of guidelines for riding in the front. However, here are some general guidelines:

• Only four (4) guests may ride in the front cab. Age or size does not matter. A 6 week old infant does count as a person. THERE ARE NO EXCEPTIONS TO THIS RULE, EVER.
• Do not open any gates on your own. Let the CM handle that.
• If someone has already asked, you may elect to wait for the next train. You must let the CM know that you wish this.
• The front cab is NOT always available for guests. Due to weather conditions, training, or technical difficulties, the front cab may become unavailable at any given moment without notice.
• CM's have the final word. Period.
• When in the front cab, photography is allowed. However, for the safety of the driver, we do ask that you refrain from usage of external video lighting, or flash photography. If you need to use a flash, please ask the driver first.
• During night time hours, it is requested that the use of light-emitting toys be discontinued for the duration of the monorail. Such flashy toys become disruptive to the drivers concentration.
• Remember that above all else, the drivers primary responsibility is driving the train. Yes, they are actually driving, and they do have to pay close attention. Talking to the driver is allowed, but do understand they might not be able to respond right away. Radio transmissions and other vital operations take priority.
• Respect your drivers wishes. Some drivers are big talkers, others are not. While this is Disney, our drivers do have a responsibility of driving the train above all else.
• Do not touch any of the Monorail controls.
• Do not EVER open a door to the cab. Let the CM do that for you.
• Do not EVER get into the back cab of the train. This is a very dangerous thing, and can get you into serious trouble.
• On the resort monorail, you may be asked to step out of the Front Cab. Please exit, and step into one of the regular cars if you wish to continue your journey.
• Once you step foot into one of the regular cars, you may NOT transfer to the front cab. NO EXCEPTIONS
• Monorail Pilots are VERY strict about thier rules, and do not bend them.

Epcot Beam @ TTC
Must ask cast member when you first arrive on platform. CM will instruct you to sit on a specially marked purple bench. DO NOT MOVE from the purple bench until you are specifically called over to the Front Cab. If you move from the bench, you lose the front cab.


Epcot Beam @ Epcot
Must ask cast member when you first arrive on platform.

Express Beam @ TTC
Must ask cast member when you first arrive on platform. CM will direct you to the person who is handling the front cab, if it is not themself. CM in charge of the cab will instruct you to stand on special spaces in a special gate.

Express Beam @ MK
Must ask cast member when you first arrive on platform. CM will direct you to the person who is handling the front cab, if it is not themself.

Resort Monorail
The resort monorail works a bit differently than the other beams. Each resort (and sometimes the MK) has a train that is based out of that resort. The color of that train is subject to change at any given moment. Guests boarding at that resort recieve a priority in the front cab when thier train pulls in. If a train pulls in and the cab is empty, guests may ride in that cab until it reaches its home resort. At that stop, the guests may be asked to disembark, and make room for the guests waiting at that resort.

For Example:

Contemporary - Red
Polynesian - Purple
Grand Floridian - Lime

When Red pulls into the Contemporary, guests in the front cab must exit, and make room for those guests waiting. Guests boarding may make up to one full round trip before exiting.

If Purple pulls into the Contemporary, and is empty, guests may board Purple. When Purple reaches the Polynesian, if there are guests waiting, the guests in the front must exit, and make room for the Polynesian guests who are waiting.

I know it sounds confusing, but it works well. We have found that this is the most fair system.

One MAJOR thing to note: YOU MAY NOT TRANSFER FROM THE BACK OF THE TRAIN TO THE FRONT OF THE TRAIN. This means if you asked to board Lime's cab at the Contemporary, and it was full.... when those guests exit at the TTC, you may not move to the front. This also goes for split parties. You may not 'trade off' with members of your family. Those in front stay in the front; those in back stay in back.

 

[betterlatethannever]

Tyler,

Thanks for the info.

I never knew this about the resort monorail.

Tyler

How often do the cars go back to get serviced? Do they get stored in the maintenance building every night?

Is there a behind the scenes tour of the monorail maintenance facility? I am taking the steam train tour in May and hope to get a glimse of the monorail operation then.

Ed

 

[married2grumpy]

Thanks Tyler for all the info. I wish I would have know the "rules" on our last visit but now I'm prepared for our next. If the drivers of the monorail really do drive, couldn't allowing people to ride the front of the monorail be dangerous. In fact, are there any security checks for people boarding the monorails? It makes me a little nervous.

 

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

Originally posted by betterlatethannever
How often do the cars go back to get serviced? Do they get stored in the maintenance building every night?

Our maintenance building technically has the capacity for 10 of our 12 trains. However, one beam is reserved for the Paint Shed, and one beam is used for the Work Tractors. That leaves 8 beams.

Typically about 6-8 trains will go back to shop every night. Two trains will stay out on the Epcot beam, 2-3 trains will stay on the Resort beam, and maybe one train on Express. The trains that stay out do recieve a comprehensive maintenance inspection. You can actually view this inspection, it occurs at around 10pm.

The trains that go back are the ones that are scheduled for actual maintenance. Each beam at shop has something special about it, so depending on what needs to get done dictates what beam it goes back to.

 

[ckj]

Originally posted by married2grumpy
. In fact, are there any security checks for people boarding the monorails? It makes me a little nervous.

I wouldn't worry too much. There's no real security checks for those who board the busses.

 

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

Originally posted by married2grumpy
If the drivers of the monorail really do drive, couldn't allowing people to ride the front of the monorail be dangerous. In fact, are there any security checks for people boarding the monorails? It makes me a little nervous.

I wouldn't worry... there's not much they can do... It's not as if someone could hijack the train and say, "Take me to MGM!!!" The driver really can only control forward/reverse, speed, and stopping. Contrary to popular beleif, we do not steer. (Amazingly enough, this is the NUMBER ONE asked question.)

For awhile after 9/11, we did not load the cabs... but... we quickly changed back to allowing the rides. Personally, I really wouldn't worry about it...

 

[hAm53]

Tyler,

You're always a wealth of knowledge, and teach us some pretty cool things. As a card-carrying Monorail Co-Pilot, I can say that it's the coolest thing I've ever done at WDW. We were on the Epcot Loop and could almost touch Spaceship Earth.
I'm pretty sure the answer is "No", but I'll ask it anyway. Are there ever tours of the Monorail Bays? I think that would be a great tour.

~Chris

 

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

Originally posted by hAm53
I'm pretty sure the answer is "No", but I'll ask it anyway. Are there ever tours of the Monorail Bays? I think that would be a great tour.

There have been talks about it, but nothing really ever came of it.

 

[Poly Pal]

We've ridden in the front cab on the EPCOT to TTC beam. It was a fun experience...except for the personality of our monorail pilot. He said not one word to us! Not a "hello" when we entered the cab, absolutely silent during the trip to the TTC, and sort of "hurumphed" at me when I asked if I could take 2 co-pilot licenses for our boys as we exited at the TTC. His name was "Joe" according to his tag. I guess he was having a bad day!