Is it REALLY Worth Staying at a Walt Disney World Monorail Resort? [worth the premium price or not worth it for transportation?]

Have you ever wondered if staying at a Walt Disney World Monorail hotel is actually worth the high price tag? You’re not alone.

The idea of hopping on a monorail to some of Disney’s iconic theme parks without the hassle of parking or long bus rides sounds great.

The downside? These resorts are not cheap!

The 4 and 5-star hotels on the Walt Disney World Monorail are among the most expensive at the entire resort.

So, is the added convenience worth the insane price?

Let’s discuss and decide now!

This post is all about evaluating if it is really worth staying at a Walt Disney World Monorail resort – considering the super high prices.

Walt Disney World Monorail

Understanding the Walt Disney World Monorail System

History of the Monorail System

Back in 1971, when Walt Disney World first opened its doors, the Walt Disney World Monorail system was launched as one of the park’s futuristic innovations – taking guests from the Contemporary and Polynesian to Magic Kingdom.

Current Walt Disney World Monorail Routes and Stops – Where does the Disney World Monorail go to?

There are two Walt Disney World Monorail routes.

The first “most prominent” one stops at:

Disney’s Contemporary Resort
Transportation and Ticket Center (TTC)
Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
Magic Kingdom

The other monorail route goes to:

Transportation and Ticket Center (TTC)
Epcot

How many monorail lines are there at Walt Disney World?

At Disney World, there are 3 monorail lines:

Resort Monorail – to the Disney Monorail hotels discussed above.
Express Monorail – between TTC and Magic Kingdom (not stopping at the monorail resorts).
Epcot Monorail – between the TTC and Epcot.

What Walt Disney World hotels can be accessed by Monorail?

What are the three Monorail Resorts at Walt Disney World?

Disney’s Contemporary Resort (including Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort).
Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa (including the Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa).
Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort (including the Polynesian Villas & Bungalows).

I have written two posts about the Disney World Monorails – one about each hotel and DVC resort, and another dedicated to ranking the monorail resorts.

In those posts, I go into more detail about each hotels. From pricing to amenities (and even tips for saving money), that’s where you’ll find more information.

But let’s quickly review the main things you should know about each main resort:

Disney’s Contemporary Resort

Opening Day Disney World Resort in 1971.
4-star hotel.
Meant to be “contemporary” but really feels stuck between the 1970s and 1990s (though there is also Disney Pixar The Incredibles theming here – mainly seen in the refurbished hotel rooms).
The least expensive Disney World Monorail resort (on the hotel and DVC side).

Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort

Another Opening Day Disney World Resort.
Also a 4-star hotel.
Has more tropical theming.
Since the room refurbishment, there is Moana theming.
Due to a lack of discounts, this often ends up being the most expensive Disney World hotel on property.

Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa

The only on-site 5-star hotel.
Opened in 1988.
Meant to be a Victorian beach-themed hotel – but now has Mary Poppins theming and a Beauty & The Beast bar, called Enchanted Rose (so like the Contemporary – the theming makes little sense in the 2020s).

Is The Monorail System So Much Better than Taking the Bus?

If you’re staying at a Monorail Resort purely for transportation reasons, it ought to be better than taking the bus to and from the parks.

But is it really the best option? Here are some things to consider:

Taking the Monorail is NOT always fast

You would think that the main pro of the monorail is that it’s a time-efficient way to get to the parks.

This is sometimes the case – but cannot be stated as a fact.

For example, if you’re trying to get from the Contemporary to Magic Kingdom, you have THREE stops before you get there. Waiting for people to get on and off the Monorail at these stops may take a while.

On the other hand, getting from Magic Kingdom to the Contemporary takes no time at all – you have no stops between these destinations.

So, how long it takes can depend on where you’re staying and where you’re going on the Monorail.

Also, if you’re taking the Monorail to Epcot, you may have to get one monorail to the TTC and another to Epcot. Does that sound super fast to you?!

[Side note – if you’re staying at the Polynesian, it can be quicker to just walk to the TTC and catch the Monorail directly to Epcot].

The Monorail is More Interesting than Taking the Bus

The views from the Monorail are certainly superior to the bus.

Taking the Monorail to Magic Kingdom? You can see views of the gorgeous resorts, as well as Magic Kingdom itself.

And, if you’re taking the Monorail to Epcot, you get stunning views of the park.

Many Guests Prefer the Disney Skyliner

Epcot monorail — Skyliner at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort

Since the 2019 opening of the Disney Skyliner, these two modes of transportation have been compared. A lot of the time, guests think the Disney Skyliner is more fun – and convenient – than the Monorail.

The Skyliner can take guests to Epcot and Hollywood Studios.

And the best thing about the Skyliner hotels? They are not all Deluxe!

In fact, there is 1 Deluxe, 1 Moderate and 2 Value Resorts on the Skyliner!

It’s Only Helpful if You’ll Spend a Lot of Time at Magic Kingdom and Epcot

Planning to spend more time at Hollywood Studios or Animal Kingdom? Then, the perk of being on the Monorail is hardly helpful.

If you barely – or don’t – visit Magic Kingdom, but love Epcot and Hollywood Studios, you’re better off opting for a Skyliner hotel. Not only would this be more cost-effective (if you opted for a Value or Moderate Skyliner hotel), but it would be far more convenient.

Or, if you love Animal Kingdom, it would make more sense to stay in the Animal Kingdom area (at Animal Kingdom Lodge, Coroando Springs or one of the All-Star Resorts).

Frequently Asked Questions about Staying at a Walt Disney World Monorail Hotel

Can you ride the Monorail at Disney World for free?

Yes, the Disney Monorail is free to all guests.

But if you’re staying at a Monorail hotel, you are paying a premium for the convenience.

What time does the Monorail start at Walt Disney World?

Resort & Express Monorails: 30 minutes before Magic Kingdom opens (& stops 1 hour after the park closes).
Epcot Monorail: 30 minutes before Epcot opens (& stops 2 hours after the park closes).

The time will vary park to park, season to season, day to day.

Check the My Disney Experience app for up-to-date information for your visit.

Why is Disney closing the Monorail?

Disney World is not permanently closing the Monorail.

However, it will close on occasion for refurbishment (or if it breaks down – something that unfortunately can happen from time to time).

Does the Monorail at Walt Disney World allow ECV scooters?

Yes, guests with ECV scooters are able to travel on the Monorail.

Is the Wilderness Lodge at Walt Disney World on the Monorail?

Although Wilderness Lodge is in the Magic Kingdom resort area, it is not on the Monorail.

You can catch a boat from Wilderness Lodge to Magic Kingdom – which is arguably a more enjoyable experience.

Is Animal Kingdom Lodge at Walt Disney World on the Monorail?

Animal Kingdom Lodge is not on the Monorail (this resort is in the Animal Kingdom resort area).

You can only catch buses to the parks from Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge.

Ta Ta For Now

Have you ever stayed at a Walt Disney World Monorail hotel? Do you think it’s worth it?

Share your thoughts in the comments!

This post was all about evaluating if it is really worth staying at a Walt Disney World Monorail resort – considering the super high prices.