tricky monorail questions (Tyler?)

[erikthewise]

For Early Magic Hour at MK, we drove to the MK parking lot and took the express monorail around 7:30AM. Or so we thought!

After climbing up to the platform clearly marked as the Magic Kingdom (express) monorail (on the right), with the other platform clearly marked as the Resort monorail (on the left), we nevertheless found ourselves on a resort monorail! It went clockwise and stopped at the Polynesian and Grand Floridian. We had enough spare time that we still got in line for MK admission aboput 7:50.

Now I can understand that they may not find it worthwhile to run the express monorail that early in the morning, but my questions are:
(1) why the deception?
(2) how did they pull it off?

As I was not expecting anything unusual, I was not alert to any clues. Did they switch the signs? I don't think so. So how did the express monorail end up on the inside track?!

 

[BCV23]

My guess is that although you walked up the ramp marked express or whatever, you were directed to board on the left as you walked up so that you were in fact on the inside, clockwise, resort monorail. Does that make sense??

 

[erikthewise]

BCV23,

That makes sense. Since the resort and express monorail tracks are usually side-by-side, I just assumed the express platform would be outside the express track. But if the express platform is between the two tracks, then you could in principle board either monorail from the express platform.

The question then is why the deception? Why not just rope off the express platform ramp if the express monorail is not running?

 

[betterlatethannever]

Yes, the entrance ramps for the express and resort monorails are between the two tracks(not outside). This way, when you exit the express monorail at the TCC, you can walk over and get on the Epcot monorail (without having to go down a ramp (and up the other ramp).

It also makes it easier to shift passengers when one monorail is down. They won't have to go down a ramp and up the other one.

The express monorail doesn't start running until after 8:30. Typicaly, offiste guests start filling up the express ramp wiaitng to get to MK.

I suppose they could have roped the express ramp off until later. But this way, they didn't have to answer any questions. (why is the express monorail not running?)

Ed

 

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

There are no signs that say "EXPRESS" -- instead, you followed movable magnetic signs that said MAGIC KINGDOM. And indeed, the Resort Monorail does go to the Magic Kingdom.

No deception -- just movable signs and chains.

 

[erikthewise]

I had noticed that the signs didn't say "express", and wondered why. Now I know!

 

[jann1033]

Originally posted by betterlatethannever
Yes, the entrance ramps for the express and resort monorails are between the two tracks(not outside). This way, when you exit the express monorail at the TCC, you can walk over and get on the Epcot monorail (without having to go down a ramp (and up the other ramp).

It also makes it easier to shift passengers when one monorail is down. They won't have to go down a ramp and up the other one.



Ed

has it always been this way...?I remember having to go down the ramp and up the other side to get on for something..could it have been from epcot to MK or vice versa? just wondering if it is different now or I am remembering wrong( 99% probability for the latter)
Thanks

 

[seashoreCM]

Let's temporarily number the TTC monorail platforms:


1. Resort monorail exit
2. Resort monorail boarding
3. Express monorail boarding
4. Express monorail exit
5. Epcot monorail boarding
6. Epcot monorail exit

From MK to Epcot, you get off the express monorail at TTC onto platform 4, walk across to platform 5, and board the Epcot monorail.

Coming the other way, at TTC the Epcot monorail door onto platform 6 opens first, then you have to go down the ramp to street level, then up the ramp to platform 3. If the ropes and chains and magnetic signs are changed around, you end up on platform 2 and board the local, resort, monorail.

Once in awhile someone sneaks off the wrong door of the Epcot monorail, onto platform 5, then tries to sneak on the resort monorail via the wrong side, platform 4.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

 

[jann1033]

thanks nice to know I am not crazy and didn't trudge up and down the ramp for nothing!

 

[clkelley]

It is extremely annoying early in the morning for the Express to be closed when you are taking the leisurely way to MGM from Ft. Wilderness to have to use the resort monorail (ECVs trying to avoid buses).

In case you were wondering how we did that -

Drive ECV from campsite to Boat Dock - Boat to MK - Monorail to TTC - Monorail to Epcot - Through Epcot - Pathway past Boardwalk to Studios

Carol