Disney World Monorail Hotels: What You Need To Know

ByLindsey Updated

Disney World has a range of options when it comes to transport, and one of the most iconic has to be the monorail!

There are only three Disney World monorail hotels, and they are all deluxe resorts. This means they come with a hefty price tag compared to other hotels, but you get the comfort and convenience of being close to the parks. Plus, the monorail is a pretty nifty way to travel!

Disney Resort Hotels on the Monorail Line

The three Disney World monorail hotels are Disney Contemporary Resort, Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa and Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort.

Walt Disney World has three monorail lines. The hotels all sit on the Resort line.

The three monorail lines are:

Resort Monorail: Stops at Magic Kingdom, Polynesian Village Resort, Grand Floridian Resort and Spa, Contemporary Resort and the Transportation and Ticket Center (TTC).

A map of the resort monorail showing Disney World monorail hotels.

Express Monorail: A direct service between Magic Kingdom and the Transportation and Ticket Center (TTC).

EPCOT Monorail: A direct service between EPCOT and the Transportation and Ticket Center (TTC). See our full Monorail to Epcot guide.

What is the TTC? The Transportation and Ticket Center is a transport hub near the Seven Seas Lagoon, just south of Magic Kingdom. You can also buy park tickets here – you don’t need a ticket to ride the monorail. All three monorail lines stop at the TTC. The resort line does not go to Epcot, so if you want to visit the park from a monorail hotel, you can change to the Epcot line at the TTC.

Hours of Operation

The operating hours depend on the park opening times.

Resort Monorail and Express Monorail: Starts 30 minutes before Magic Kingdom opens and stops an hour after closing.

EPCOT monorail: Starts 30 minutes before EPCOT opens and stops 2 hours after the EPCOT park closes.

What is the Cheapest Disney World Monorail Hotel?

Disney has three tiers of resorts – value, moderate and deluxe. The three monorail hotels are deluxe resorts, so they are all pretty pricey, but what is the cheapest of the three? After some research and filling out a spreadsheet (who doesn’t love a spreadsheet?), I found that overall the Contemporary Resort has the cheapest rooms. In second place is the Polynesian Village Resort. The Grand Floridian Resort & Spa is the most expensive of the three.

However, different factors can affect the pricing of each hotel. They all offer a range of room types and depending on availability and time of year, the cheapest hotel can change slightly.

Disney’s Contemporary Resort

Disney’s Contemporary Resort opened in 1971 and is known for its striking A-frame design. It’s a popular hotel due to its convenient location, as it is just a short walk or monorail ride away from Magic Kingdom. You can even get a view of Cinderella Castle from your room! The resort also has a white sand beach and a marina where guests can rent boats.

Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort

Transport

Disney’s Contemporary Resort is a unique hotel as the monorail runs through the lobby! As well as the monorail the resort also offers bus transport to the other parks.

Dining

The Contemporary Resort has some great dining options, including the California Grill, which offers stunning views of the Magic Kingdom fireworks. Other popular restaurants include Steakhouse 71 and Chef Mickey’s, where you can meet Disney characters in between waffles. The Contempo cafe is also a great quick service option, and you can watch the monorail go by as you eat!

Things To Do

Whether you’re looking for activities or relaxation, the Contemporary Resort has a lot to offer.

  • There are two pools and two hot tubs.
  • Rent private cabanas and relax by the pool in luxury.
  • Roast marshmallows over the fire at the Resort Campfire.
  • Watch movies under the stars by the Contemporary Courtyard.
  • Play volleyball, basketball and tennis.
  • Go on a guided fishing excursion.
  • Rent a boat and sail the Seven Seas Lagoon.
  • If you’re looking for something a bit fancier you can charter a private pontoon boat.
  • Watch the Electrical Water Pageant, a floating parade across the Seven Seas Lagoon.

Disney’s Contemporary Resort Highlights

  • One of the biggest perks of staying at the Contemporary Resort is the location. There’s a walkway between Magic Kingdom and the resort, and it’s only a 10-minute walk.
  • Some of the rooms have a theme park view. You can enjoy the fireworks from your own balcony!
  • You can have breakfast and dinner with Mickey mouse! Character Dining is available at Chef Mickey’s on the resort’s fourth floor.

Polynesian Village Resort

Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort is a tropical oasis nestled along the shores of Seven Seas Lagoon. Inspired by the islands of the South Pacific, the Polynesian Village Resort immerses guests in a world of lush greenery and swaying palm trees. Rooms are decorated with Polynesian-inspired touches, from carved wooden headboards to colourful artwork.

Disney's Polynesian Village Resort bungalows at one of the Disney World monorail hotels.
Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort bungalows.

Transport

Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort is pretty well connected. Not only is it right by the TTC, but it also has its own bus, monorail and boat service. So if you’re off to Magic Kingdom, you can choose between the monorail and water taxi! You can also head to Epcot straight from the TTC.

Dining

One of the highlights of the Polynesian Village Resort is its dining options. You can’t stay without having Tonga Toast for breakfast at Kona Cafe! If you fancy breakfast with Lilo and Stitch, ‘Ohana offers a character breakfast. ‘Ohana also has a lunch and dinner menu that serves Polynesian-inspired dishes. I highly recommend trying the bread pudding! If you’re looking for a quick service restaurant, Capt. Cook’s offers everything from burgers to Thai coconut meatballs.

Things To Do

  • There are two pools to enjoy including the Lava Pool with a Volcano water slide.
  • Roast marshmallows around the campfire by Seven Seas Lagoon.
  • Watch Disney movies under the stars.
  • Go bass fishing on a guided fishing excursion.
  • Rent a boat and cruise along the water of the lakes and lagoons.
  • Watch the Electrical Water Pageant from the beach as it lights up the Seven Seas Lagoon.
  • Play volleyball on the resort’s sandy court.

Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort Highlights

  • You can walk to the TTC, which offers multiple transport options.
  • There is a walkway between Magic Kingdom and the Polynesian Village Resort but it takes around 30 minutes.
  • You can watch the fireworks from the Polynesian Village Resort beach or from the ‘Ohana restaurant.
  • Fun activities such as hula dance lessons and pool parties.
  • A great Disney resort when it comes to theming.
  • You can buy Dole Whip at Pineapple Lanai.
  • Drinks and cocktails at Trader Sam’s.
  • You can stay in an overwater bungalow!

The Grand Floridian Resort & Spa

If you’re looking for somewhere fancy, you can’t go wrong with Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. Disney’s flagship resort sits on the shores of the Seven Seas Lagoon, radiating elegance with its grand white facade and red gabled roofs. You can live a life of luxury as you lounge in the lobby and listen to the Grand Floridian pianist before having dinner in a fine-dining restaurant!

The monorail at Walt Disney World Resort.

Transport

The Grand Floridan Resort also offers three transport options – monorail, boat and buses. The monorail and boats take guests to Magic Kingdom. If you take the monorail you can be at Magic Kingdom within minutes!

Dining

The resort’s dining options are just as impressive as the resort, with several restaurants and lounges, including the AAA Five Diamond award-winning Victoria & Albert’s. If fine dining is your thing, then Cítricos is an excellent restaurant with excellent food. The Grand Floridan also has casual meal options, including the Grand Floridian Cafe and Gasparilla Island Grill.

Things To Do

  • Go for a swim in one of the two pools. Don’t forget to take a slide down the 181-foot-long water slide.
  • Rent a poolside cabana to enjoy your pool day with a bit of luxury.
  • Gather around the campfire and roast marshmallows at Grand Floridian Beach.
  • Watch Disney movies outdoors with the nighttime screenings.
  • Have a spa day. The Grand Floridan offers spa, salon and health club services. Whether it’s a massage, body treatment or manicure, you can relax and unwind!
  • Rent a boat and take a relaxing cruise around the lagoon.
  • Spend some time onboard a fishing boat and do some bass fishing.
  • Take a speciality cruise and watch the fireworks from a boat!
  • Shoot some hoops at the basketball court.
  • Watch the Electrical Water Pageant with lights and music at the Seven Seas Lagoon.

Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa Highlights

  • You can use the walkway to walk to Magic Kingdom.
  • You can see the fireworks from multiple places around the resort. You can also watch them from your own balcony with a theme park view room.
  • It’s usually the quietest of the three Disney world monorail hotels.
  • If you have children, there’s a Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique on site to transform little guests into princesses and knights!
  • Drinks at Enchanted Rose inspired by Beauty and the Beast.

Disney Monorail Resorts FAQ

Still have questions about the monorail? Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions!

What hotel does the Disney monorail go through?

The Disney monorail goes through Disney’s Contemporary Resort. The uniquely shaped building allows the monorail to go straight through the lobby!

In what order does the resort monorail go?

The resort line goes on a loop. From Magic Kingdom, the monorail heads to Disney’s Contemporary Resort first. It then stops at the Transportation and Ticket Center before continuing on to Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, followed by Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. The monorail then heads back to Magic Kingdom.

Can you resort hop on the monorail?

Yes! The resort monorail makes it super easy to resort hop between the three Disney monorail hotels.

Can anyone ride the monorail at Disney?

Yep! You don’t need a ticket, and the monorail is free to ride. You don’t have to stay in a Disney World monorail hotel to enjoy the monorail!

How long is a round trip on the Disney Monorail?

It takes around 15-20 minutes to complete the loop on the Resort Monorail. It can depend on how busy it is, and how long it takes people to board.

Is there a monorail timetable?

No, the monorail does not run to a set schedule or timetable.

Which Disney World Monorail Hotel Should I Pick?

Deciding on a monorail hotel depends on what is important to you. If you’re really looking for some monorail magic on your trip, the Contemporary Resort is hard to beat when it runs through the lobby! It also has the advantage of being super close to Magic Kingdom and is the cheapest monorail hotel.

If you plan on visiting Epcot, then The Polynesian Village Resort is close to the TTC, which provides easy access to both Epcot and Magic Kingdom. It also has beautiful theming and is a relaxing oasis after a hectic day in the parks.

Lastly, the Grand Floridian Resort & Spa is a bit of Disney extravagance conveniently located by Magic Kingdom. It offers fine-dining and beautiful grounds, but it does come at a cost.

What’s your favourite Disney World monorail hotel? Let me know in the comments!

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