Monorail

New Trams, Trivia Monorails, & More; Changes Announced for Disney World Transportation Systems

WDWNT on February 6, 2017

The latest Eyes and Ears Cast Member publication has an interesting article about changes coming to and already in place for the various transportation systems at the Walt Disney World Resort. Below you will find the text from that story, as well as some, photos, videos, and added insight we can offer:

New experiences, improved services, and the latest technology abound in Walt Disney World Transportation and Parking Operations. “Our buses, monorails, boats and trams aren’t just modes of transportation for our Guests and Cast Members,”says JasonKirk vice president of Walt Disney World Transportation Operations, “They are apart of the fun and a part of the immersive Disney experience.”

BUS

THEMED BUS MARQUEES – Special greetings themed to a bus’s destination now appear on the marquees. ‘Charmed To See You” is one of the greetings for buses headed to Magic Kingdom Park.

WE’RE ON THE WAY – New digital screens at all of our resort bus stops let Guests know in real-time when their bus is scheduled to arrive.

SORCERER CLASS – An all-new interior themed to the “Sorcerer’s Apprentice” mesmerized Guests during a limited play test in 2016. Nicknamed “the fun bus.‘ it featured a custom light show, advanced GPS technology and comfy seats. (Video below)

WATERCRAFT

TEAM OUTFIT – Whether piloting the General Joe Potter or sailing as part of the Sassagoula River cruise, watercraft Cast Members across property now sport new costumes.

TRIVIA CRUISE – Cast Members adapted the spontaneous monorail trivia game for our Guests traveling by boat. “Can you name all three of the Magic Kingdom ferryboats?”

FERRYTALE WISHES – Guests have been enjoying a night on the Seven Seas Lagoon, where ﬁreworks can be seen from an entirely new vantage point. Besides all-you-care-to-enjoy desserts and beverages, there’s also a glow-in-the-dark scavenger hunt onboard

FRESH LOOK – The new monorail Cast Member costumes sport a colorful embroidered patch made up of 12 colors representing each of the monorails

TECHNOLOGY UPGRADE – Technology has been updated to a more automated system as part of several recent enhancements, for a safer and more efficient ride.

TRIVIA TRAIN – Monorail Cast Members are hosting spontaneous trivia contests for Guests aboard the monorail and Guests can win prizes. “How many monorail cars make up a monorail train?”

HIGHWAY IN THE SKY DINE AROUND – Five courses. Three resorts. One amazing culinary journey via monorail.

PARKING & TRAMS

TRANSPORTED IN STYLE – Our parking trams will receive an all-new paint job inspired by the monorail colors. New, custom-made tram tractors will also ensure a quieter transit.

We spotted one of the trams out a few months back, but it seems they will now be getting color stripes like the monorails.

PREFERRED PARKING – Guests at all four Walt Disney World theme parks are loving to park preferred!

ARE WE THERE YET? – “We’ll be there in 223 elephant steps.” says the educational, new signage in the parking lots at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park. That’s about a four- minute walk in human steps.

Disney Introducing Monorail Resort Restaurant-Hopping Experience, “Highway in the Sky Dine Around”

WDWNT on November 29, 2016

Walt Disney World has just announced a new dinner experience that will involve monorail hotel hopping and much more around the “Monorail Resorts” near the Magic Kingdom:

Join us for a progressive dinner unlike any other—with sumptuous offerings at 3 Disney Resort hotels.

Your Dine Around adventure begins at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, where you’ll check in at The Wave… of American Flavors restaurant. Relax and mingle with your fellow diners, enjoying a welcoming appetizer and specialty cocktail before setting off on your epicurean odyssey. Bon voyage and bon appétit!

First stop: Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort—where you’ll feel as if you’ve arrived in a far-flung tropical paradise. Celebrate the spirit of the South Pacific and luxuriate in the charm of this exotic retreat, with an enticing variety of island-inspired libations and appetizers.

Then it’s time for a change of scene and cuisine—as the monorail transports you a world away: to the opulent Victorian-style Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. Step inside and step back into a bygone era of elegance and gracious hospitality. You’ll be escorted to the award-winning Cítricos restaurant where we invite you to settle in amid the refined ambience as you’re treated to a special Chef’s main course selection. Afterward, gather in the splendidly appointed lobby to sip champagne and savor a selection of artisanal cheeses.

Board the monorail once more to return to Disney’s Contemporary Resort for the culmination of your evening. Here, you and your Dine Around companions will retire to a private patio to enjoy an indulgent assortment of desserts, cordials and coffee. From this exclusive location, watch in wonder as the Wishes nighttime spectacular fireworks light up the night over Cinderella Castle—a musical, magical grand finale to your one-of-a-kind dining adventure.

-Price: $150 per person plus tax; gratuity included.
-The Highway in the Sky Dine Around is offered select Tuesday, Friday and Saturday evenings.
-Reservations must be canceled at least 24 hours in advance to avoid forfeiting the full price of the experience.
-Check-in takes place at The Wave… of American Flavors at Disney’s Contemporary Resort at the time of your reservation. Please arrive 15 minutes ahead of check-in time.
-Guests must be 21 years of age or older to consume alcoholic beverages. A valid form of government identification will be required to verify your age.
-Please alert the host at check-in regarding food allergies. Wherever possible, alternative dining selections will be offered.
-Disney dining plan entitlements may not be redeemed for this event.
-Discounts and promotions are not valid for this event.

Dining experience is subject to change; fireworks experience is subject to change or cancellation without notice.

The event is bering offered starting December 2nd, 2016 and is being offered on Fridays, Saturdays, and Tuesdays starting at 6:45pm through March. It can be booked online here. The event will close the 4th floor patio at the Contemporary to other guests on those evenings.

PHOTOS: Disney World Decorates Monorail for Halloween

WDWNT on November 8, 2016

I’ve seen some strange stuff at Walt Disney World in my time, but never the interior of a Monorail decorated for Halloween…

The inside of the monorail cars on the Magic Kingdom loops today sported Halloween decorations. I certainly don’t recall this ever happening before.

So, what do you think? Is it tacky or fun?

PHOTO REPORT: Disneyland Resort 9/27/16 (Goodbye Tower, Star Wars Land, New Fantasmic!, ETC.)

WDWNT on October 5, 2016

Disneyland reporter Conner Purzycki brings us back to the Disneyland Resort for our latest photo update, looking at both parks as well as Downtown Disney. Let’s jump right in!

Star Wars Land Construction

Construction continues on the Star Wars themed land for Disneyland Park, visible from the Mickey and Friends Parking Structure.

Tram Lane ReconfigurationÂ

The tram route around the Mickey and Friends Parking Structure is currently being reconfigured.

Downtown Disney

World of Disney is open while the facade is being refurbished.

The space next door to Jamba Juice is currently vacant, rumored to be home to Sprinkles, which will open in November.

Naples has blocked off an area for needed outdoor seating for guests.

Some work happening at the former House of Blues space, rumored to be an west coast home to The Edison.

Some work also happening on the bridge area.

Still unsure what will happen to the space next door to this Starbucks.

Disneyland Monorail

Let’s take a ride aboard the Disneyland Monorail.

The Hollywood Tower Hotel sign is gone, visible from the Monorail.

Star Wars: Season of the Force Moves Out (For Now)

Even though Season of the Force is over, it should be returning in November, thus why all of the lighting and such was left up in Tomorrowland. Hyperspace Mountain will likely switch off with Ghost Galaxy until Star Wars land opens, so don’t expect to see regular Space Mountain anytime soon.

All of the Star Wars banners were changed over to generic Tomorrowland banners.

Some work is being done to the Buzz Lightyear’s Astro Blasters FastPass area, which is also used for Star Tours FastPass.

A nifty, yet temporary, Tomorrowland sign replaces the one for the Season of the Force.

I’m honestly surprised that it isn’t flat.

Definitely prefer this to the 1998 signage.

This and That

Some work being done to the sidewalk on Main Street U.S.A.

Star Wars construction, as seen from Frontierland.

Work continues on the Rivers of America while its many attractions are closed.

The Columbia is getting ready to host the Pirates of the Caribbean in an updated Fantasmic!

A fangless, new-faced Mickey meets guests on Main Street.

The canon is missing…

Disney California Adventure

The old Millionaire soundstage now sits vacant, but has seen better days on its exterior.

After 6 years, the backlot stage is finally coming down.

It might actually be nice to see this area back to normal, as ugly as it is.

Hollywood Tower Hotel sign removed from Tower of Terror

As we reported last week, the Hollywood Tower Hotel sign is already gone from the Tower of Terror.

The attraction will close in January to become Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Breakout.

To infinity and beyond!

A lot of guests are angry about this, personally, I still don’t think it actually matters, but to each his own.

Monorail Coral Nose Cone Destroyed Due to Collision with Tractor During Test Run, No One Was Injured

WDWNT on November 13, 2015

During a planned test on the Express Line of the Magic Kingdom monorail this afternoon, a tow tractor collided with Monorail Coral.

Disney blocked all foot and vehicle traffic in the area around Disney’s Contemporary Resort and ensured most guests had no way of visibly seeing what exactly had happened on Wednesday afternoon near Disney’s Contemporary Resort. The planned test was to have the Express Line unavailable to guests all afternoon, but the accident brought all lines of the Walt Disney World Monorail System to a close. They are still closed at this time.

The test was related to the TCS (Train Control System), the long-awaited automation system that might bring driver-less Monorails to Walt Disney World.

No one was injured and no guests were on-board as the train was not in operation.

Another look at monorail – front end of nose is smashed in apparent accident near TTC today. pic.twitter.com/lkhr0Zh8zn

— All Around Orlando (@AllAroundORL) November 18, 2015

Monorail service resumed as normal the next day.

PHOTOS: “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” Monorail Debuts at Walt Disney World np

WDWNT on November 13, 2015

It seems you can’t escape Star Wars right now, especially at the Disney Parks as of late. Well, Monorail Black hit the highway in the sky this morning featuring Star Wars: The Force Awakens decorations featuring the planet of Jakku from the new film:

Thanks to WDWNT Reporter Brian Carey for the photos.

Disney Continues Installation of Monorail Automation Systems, Service Changes in February/March 2015

WDWNT on January 29, 2015

Monorail maintenance has been a fairly frequent thing the last few years as Walt Disney World has been testing and installing a possible automated system of running the Monorails. More infrastructure for the system will be installed over the next few months, leading to following Monorail service changes:

From 11 AM to 7 PM on 2/3-5, 2/9-12, 2/23-26, and March 2-5, the resort Monorail beam will take guests between Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa, and the Magic Kingdom. The express beam will offer a third stop on these days, stopping at Disney’s Contemporary Resort between the Transportation and Ticket Center. Busses to Epcot will be offered at all of the Monorail Resorts during this time.

BREAKING: Lightning Strikes Epcot Monorail Line, Guests Exit Through Emergency Hatch

WDWNT on August 7, 2014

This just in…

Apparently, lightning struck the beam on the Epcot monorail line this evening, stranding guests inside Monorail Gold. The train stopped in the transfer track area where the tractor could not be used to pull the monorail to a safe unloading zone. A very rare instance, the monorail needed to be evacuated via the hatch on the roof with guests pulled down from the elevated vehicle using a cherry picker courtesy of the Reedy Creek Fire Department.

Most guests have already been pulled down safely and there appears to be no injuries. For live, up to the minute coverage, please follow us on Twitter @WDWNT. Stay tuned for further updates!

Joe Hogarty’s 4/24/13 Magic Kingdom Photo

WDWNT on June 4, 2013

WDWNT Reporter Joe Hogarty visited the Magic Kingdom last Wednesday and took a number of newsworthy photos to share with us, so let’s take a look:

The Monsterail!!!

Work continues on the Seven Dwarfs’ Mine Train in Fantasyland

Triton’s Treasures looks nearly completed

A lot of work still to be done over here

We can start to see what the skyline will look like

A close look at the track

HOW DARE YOU?!?!

Mickey thinks it is funny…

Monsters University Monorail Coming to Walt Disney World

WDWNT on April 24, 2013

Disney announced today that it will unveil a Monsters University themed monorail before the film’s release on June 21st, 2013 (click for larger image):

We expect this monorail to run mostly on the Epcot monorail line.

So, what do you think about this “Monsterail” coming to Walt Disney World?

Tag: Monorail