Where does the monorail go exactly

[TinkerTay]

The Monorail was an attraction when it was first built, Walt’s vision as public transportation of the future. They expanded the track a couple years later by 2 1/2 miles, and put in the station that’s by DLH (which has since been torn down and rebuilt). You used to be able to buy a separate ticket to take a round trip ride without a park ticket, just as a sightseeing tour. What‘s considered an easy walk through DTD now wasn’t quite as walkable (at least not enjoyably) before, as it was mostly a giant parking lot.
These days, it’s considered more as another park ride/attraction in itself, but still a good means of transportation if you’re tired and want a slightly shorter walk back to DLH.
I always love going over the submarines and seeing the water, I sure hope they get it filled up soon, having to look at a ton of construction and unfinished projects is already gonna be a huge bummer for our trip in < 2 weeks!

 

[bluecruiser]

I'm not arguing about stops....read it again...she said "but it doesn't go "through" the inside like the Contemporary"...and I showed how it very much goes through the hotel.

At the Contemporary, you can be inside the hotel and see the monorail as it goes through.

At the Grand Californian the monorail goes through a solid-walled tunnel underneath the hotel. You can't see into the hotel from the tunnel, nor can anyone in the hotel see the monorail through the tunnel walls. I think that's what other posters were referencing.

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

Since there is some discussion about the monorail and the Grand Californian Hotel...

Here is a nice little article showing when the Grand Californian Hotel was first built and the monorail going through it. Initially, it was supposed to stop there, but budget cuts back in 2000 stopped that in its tracks.

https://www.monorails.org/tMspages/DLspec1.html

Here are some photos showing how the monorail goes through the Grand Californian Hotel.

Video showing the monorail going through the GCH courtyard, and then tunnels through the hotel, headed towards the hotel entrance.


Monorail leaves Tomorrowland, goes through California Adventure and enters the Grand Californian Hotel courtyard.



The monorail as it exits through the front of the Grand Californian Hotel on its way to the Downtown Disney station.

 

[CeCe0906]

We aren't doing rope drop, as I walk too slow to make it effective. People would just pass me by, even if I was up front.

So on our Disney reservation days,probably going to at least try to ride the monorail in at least once. Staying at DLH, coming into DTD from that direction.

So since I have one grandkid that can't wait in super long lines( have a DAS, but, but that isn't used on the monirail), can you people who go frequently, help me to judge the line? Like, if it's past ××××, just keep walking to main entrance it's probably more than 20 min

We do plan to go near opening time, when does the app start populating the wait times. Just looked now and wait time were short, but didnt think the app would help close to opening .

I was thinking if park open is 8, then arriving at monorail around 820, would clear out the people who had queued up before park open, and have a shorter line.
I'm going to be checking out some videos, looking for how to go through security, and scan tickets either at monorail, or front gate. My DAS grandkid will do much better if she sees and understands what happens next. Keeps the anxiety level low.

 

[Ladyslug]

We do plan to go near opening time, when does the app start populating the wait times. Just looked now and wait time were short, but didnt think the app would help close to opening .

The app should start showing wait times starting at park opening (if the monorail is up and operating normally). We used the monorail as a step-saver from Tomorrowland though Downtown Disney when we were headed for the Disneyland Hotel for a midday snack (and because I like it just as a ride) as the DTD stop is at the far end right near the entrance to the hotel. Do note that the monorail typically stops running much earlier than park closing (like 7pm).

 

[DizMe]

Both camps are correct about the monorail and GCH. It does go right through the hotel (not next to it) but you can't see the inside of the hotel from the monorail. It goes through the Brisa Courtyard, which is inside the hotel but is an enclosed outdoor patio area with a number of hotel rooms that face it. "Courtyard View" is a popular hotel room option because you can see the monorail stream past. It's not in DTD, it's in the hotel. However, it doesn't go through the lobby or any other indoor area the you can see because of the tunnels others have mentioned.
Here's a link that has a walk-through of the courtyard.

 

[Kerr84]

Can you ride it round trip without getting off or do you have to exit and reboard?

 

[goooof1]

Yes, you can stay on the Monorail and ride round trip.

 

[BadPinkTink]

Can you ride it round trip without getting off or do you have to exit and reboard?

Yes, this is what I always do. I always do the round trip from Tomorrowland. When they allow it, I prefer riding in the front section with the driver. They only allow 6 people max in this section, so I always tell the driver / loading CM that I will be doing the round trip, in case anyone at Downtown Disney has requested to sit in the front section.

In January I was just in a normal carriage and I just stayed seated when it stoped and the loading CM opened the door.

 

[DisneyJamieCA]

sure looks like rooms above the rail to me. What part of those rooms are NOT a part of the hotel?

View attachment 665073

It goes through the outdoor places of the hotel, not inside, like the Contemporary. Which is factually true, so nothing they said was wrong.

 

[NorthernCalMom]

We usually get on the Monorail in Tomorrowland and then take it round trip, getting off and back on at Downtown Disney. My younger one loves monorails. If you ask, they'll let you sit in the front with the conductor.

Did they start doing this again? This hasn’t been an option for a while, due to COVID-19 restrictions.