Choosing a Disney resort is a huge part of your vacation planning experience. When it comes to comparing the amenities on offer, it’s important to look at the transportation options for the resorts you are considering staying at. One of the best areas to stay in Walt Disney World is within the monorail resort loop, which offers you quick and convenient access to the Magic Kingdom and Epcot. Let’s take a look at what resorts are considered part of the monorail resort collection and how this transportation option will make your time here so much more enjoyable.
Which Disney Resorts Does The Monorail Go Through?
There are three resorts that are considered part of the monorail resort group: the Contemporary Resort, Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, and Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa. All three of these resorts have a monorail line which will drop you directly at the Magic Kingdom or the Transportation and Ticket Center, where you can switch onto the Epcot monorail line. These three resorts are all part of the Disney Deluxe resort collection and so are on the pricier end of the resort options on offer. You’ll find they all have different theming and room options, with some fantastic views stretching over to the Magic Kingdom.
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Contemporary Resort
The Contemporary Resort is an A-frame-shaped resort that the monorail runs directly through. For anyone who is a particular fan of monorails or trains, you’ll love to see them travel right past your room as you head out to the parks each day. The Contemporary Resort also has the Bay Lake Tower building, which is part of the DVC resorts. Families and individuals love staying here for its convenient access to the Magic Kingdom, as it also has a short walking path that gets you to the front of the park in just a few minutes. You’ll find that the waterfront location makes for a very relaxing stay, and you can easily travel to Wilderness Lodge by boat if you are looking to try somewhere else for dinner. There are some great watersports facilities here too, which offer you a new way to explore the resort.
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Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
This classic Disney resort is without a doubt the most popular resort on property, and it can be quite a challenge to find bookings here throughout the year. The rooms here are themed to the Polynesian islands, and you’ll enjoy spectacular views over the Seven Seas Lagoon to the Magic Kingdom. If you are looking to book a once-in-a-lifetime Disney vacation, consider one of the waterfront bungalows, which are some of the most sought-after rooms on property. Dining here is some of the best in Walt Disney World, with family favorites such as ‘Ohana and Kona Café. The pools are a lot of fun for children as well, so it’s a great option for families looking to enjoy a luxury vacation in Orlando.
Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa
Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa is the resort’s signature property, offering the most luxurious accommodation at Walt Disney World. The resort has expanded over recent years and also offers some great suites and larger rooms for extended family trips. While we think this resort is best suited to adults and couples, it still has some great swimming pools for children. The dining here is fancier than you will find elsewhere in the resort, but it’s perfect for anyone celebrating an anniversary or birthday during their trip. You can walk directly to the Magic Kingdom from here or hop on the monorail to save your legs after a long day in the parks.
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The Benefits of Staying at a Disney Monorail Resort
There are many reasons why you may opt to stay at a monorail resort over the other options on offer to you. These are a few of the great benefits of staying at a Disney monorail resort during your upcoming trip.
Convenient Location
If the Magic Kingdom is the main focus of your vacation, you’ll find that the monorail resorts have the most convenient location for this park. You can opt to walk, take the boat, or catch a monorail directly to the park. You also have the option of getting the monorail to Epcot, which makes traveling here more enjoyable and quicker.
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Luxury Accommodation Options
All of the monorail resorts offer some of the most luxurious accommodation options in the resort. You’ll find that they all offer spacious rooms which are well-appointed to fit all of your needs. They also all offer some form of DVC accommodation, which is great for larger families who need more space to spread out on their vacation. You’ll find that the dining options at all of these resorts are great, so you could even opt to spend a couple of days just relaxing and enjoying your resort instead of rushing around the parks.
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Amazing Views of the Magic Kingdom
Thanks to the close proximity of all of the resorts to the Magic Kingdom, you’ll enjoy amazing views over the Magic Kingdom. You can wake up to a Magic Kingdom view if you opt to upgrade your room to this option, allowing you to see the castle first thing in the morning until late at night. If you don’t fancy facing the crowds for the fireworks each night, you can enjoy watching from the viewing area in your resort. This is such a magical experience and one that makes staying at these resorts truly special.
Read More: Best Viewing Spots for Fireworks in Magic Kingdom
There is a Monorail Resort for Everyone’s Needs
When you look into the monorail resorts and deluxe resort options, you might be wondering if these would be a good choice for your family. Kids and teens will love any of these resorts, but Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort is particularly good for families. Children love the themed pools, which for them will be just as fun as a day in the theme park. If you are traveling from a cooler climate, you’ll want to factor in a day chilling at your resort, so you can enjoy the amazing amenities these resorts offer.
Where Does Disney’s Monorail Take You?
Disney’s monorail stops at the three resorts we shared above, the Magic Kingdom, the Transportation and Ticket Center, and Epcot. There is one line from the Transportation and Ticket Center to Epcot and then two lines serving the Magic Kingdom. If you are driving to the Magic Kingdom, you’ll park at the Transportation and Ticket Center and then take the Express Monorail or ferry over to the park. The resort guests in this area use the Resort Monorail, which stops at every resort, the Magic Kingdom, and the Transportation and Ticket Center. If you are staying at one of the three resorts or looking to travel from the Magic Kingdom to Epcot, you’ll switch at the Transportation and Ticket Center onto the Epcot line.
The monorail is generally a much better option than taking buses to and from the parks each day. While the Express Monorail can get busy at peak times, it’s a very quick and efficient way of traveling around the resort. Although the monorail has been around since the parks first opened, it’s a fun way still to travel around and a thrill for younger children who’ve never been on this type of transport before. The monorail runs from 30 minutes before the first park opening time until an hour after the latest of the closing times. It will also run during special park events, but you’ll want to double-check the exact opening times at the resort you are staying at. Staying at a monorail resort allows you to enjoy quick and convenient transportation around the resort, so you can spend more time enjoying the attractions or fit in an afternoon break with ease.
What Disney Parks Are Connected By Monorail?
Epcot and the Magic Kingdom are the only two theme parks connected to other areas via the monorail. If you are looking to travel to Disney’s Hollywood Studios or Animal Kingdom from a monorail resort, they run the bus service in the same way that all of the other resorts do. Many guests who stay at the monorail resorts opt to spend most of their time in the Magic Kingdom and Epcot, as they are just so convenient when staying there. Another great way to minimize your time hopping around the resort is to take the different buses between the parks. They run from the time that park hopping opens up so that you can travel from one park to another for the rest of the day.
Disney’s Hollywood Studios has a few other transportation options, which allow you to quickly hop between the park and Epcot or the Epcot area resorts. You can either take the footpath which passes throughout the Boardwalk Resort, or you can hop on a boat to the resorts. There is also the Skyliner now, which allows you to travel between even more resorts, Epcot, and Hollywood Studios. With so many different transportation options on offer, you may decide that another resort is a better option than the monorail resorts. There are many resorts that are more affordable that now have great transport options, which can save you time waiting for buses each day.
Read Also: EPCOT vs Hollywood Studios
How Long is the Monorail from Magic Kingdom to Epcot?
If you are looking to travel from the Magic Kingdom to Epcot, one of the easiest ways to do this is to take the monorail. The complete journey takes roughly 15 to 20 minutes, but this will depend on how long you have to wait for a monorail. You’ll take the Express Monorail to the Transportation and Ticket Center first before hopping on the Epcot monorail. These are both very enjoyable journeys, and you’ll travel through Epcot before arriving at the station. It’s a great way to start your day in Epcot, as you get amazing views of the park before entering it.
One thing to keep in mind is that the monorails are busier at the start and end of each day. Guests from the monorail resorts are all trying to get into the Magic Kingdom for opening, so you’ll have less chance of getting a seat for your journey. If you want to avoid the busiest time, wait a little while to enter the park. Alternatively, try to take the first monorail of the day, and you’ll get some fantastic photos when entering a quiet Magic Kingdom.
Can You Walk From Epcot to Magic Kingdom?
Unfortunately, walking from Epcot to the Magic Kingdom isn’t an option. When you take the monorail between these two parks, you’ll see that it’s quite a long journey, which would take you a good while to walk. That’s why the monorail and buses service these parks so that you can quickly and easily get between the two areas. The only parks which have a walking path are Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Epcot, where you can take the 15-20 minute walk to get between the parks. You can also walk from the monorail resorts to the Magic Kingdom, with the Contemporary Resort being the closest option for this journey.
Read Also: Is EPCOT good for Toddlers?
As you can see, there are so many reasons to consider staying at a monorail resort on your next vacation. These resorts all offer easy access to both the Magic Kingdom and Epcot, and you’ll find that you can maximize your time in the parks by choosing one of these two resorts. Keep in mind that they are some of the most pricey options on the property, so you’ll need to make sure they are within your budget before planning a trip here. Of course, there are resort options to fit everyone’s needs and budget, so you’ll have no trouble finding somewhere to stay on the property that fits your requirements. We hope that wherever you stay on your next trip, you have a fantastic time enjoying all of the amazing parks and resorts that Walt Disney World is home to.
