Why isn't the monorail a single loop with a stop at the transportation center?

[CraigInPA]

Until the recent rebuild of the Poly monorail station, there were platforms on each side, as there were at CR too. When my sister and I visited WDW in 1976, staying at Poly, you had to choose which direction to go (straight to MK or to CR then MK) and then climb stairs from ground level to the appropriate platform. I’ve never noticed whether GF has both platforms or not, and I don’t know when the Resort vs. Express routes were implemented.

When I went in 1974, the monorails were Express and Resort. Express went from T&TC to MK and back. Resort stopped at Contemporary, Polynesian, T&TC, and MK. They wouldn't pass each other in a resort station. In order to get onto the Resort monorail, you had to show a cardboard pass with the dates you were staying printed on it. Back then, you could ride in the front with the driver, which I got to do on monorail hi-ho-silver. Back then, the driver's read the announcement and often ad-libbed, such calling the monorail "hi-ho-silver" or "the big yellow banana", or saying "If you're taller than 5'4" tall and would like to remain that way, please lower your head and watch your step as you leave the monorail".

I remember the Poly station having the stairs to get to the Express monorail, but they were blocked because the Express monorail didn't stop at the Poly.

 

[Chuck S]

I remember the Poly station having the stairs to get to the Express monorail, but they were blocked because the Express monorail didn't stop at the Poly.

I remember when you had to show resort IDs to ride the resort busses, as well.

 

[CarolynFH]

When I went in 1974, the monorails were Express and Resort. Express went from T&TC to MK and back. Resort stopped at Contemporary, Polynesian, T&TC, and MK. They wouldn't pass each other in a resort station. In order to get onto the Resort monorail, you had to show a cardboard pass with the dates you were staying printed on it. Back then, you could ride in the front with the driver, which I got to do on monorail hi-ho-silver. Back then, the driver's read the announcement and often ad-libbed, such calling the monorail "hi-ho-silver" or "the big yellow banana", or saying "If you're taller than 5'4" tall and would like to remain that way, please lower your head and watch your step as you leave the monorail".

I remember the Poly station having the stairs to get to the Express monorail, but they were blocked because the Express monorail didn't stop at the Poly.

Interesting - I remember asking my sister which one we wanted to ride at that moment, then running up the stairs (no loading from the 2nd floor). Memory!