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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jul 2005
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    Texas 1137 miles from WDW
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    Default Share your monorail stories

    I thought with the sad news maybe we could all maybe share some good or happier stories about the monorail to get some good pixiedust going.

    For me, I always liked the views of the park from the monorail. Also, I loved how random strangers would strike up conversations with you to pass the time. That's something that doesn't happen much on most public transport, but it is yet another sign you're in WDW. And of course, who could forget the announcements. "Welcome to the Magic Kingdom!", "Please stand clear of the doors", and so on. Its an essential part of the trip, and I can't wait to ride it again.
    Last Ride Ridden - Test Track
    Last Eatery Visited - Tangerine Cafe

    July 1984 (off WDW)
    June 1995 (off WDW)
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  3. #2
    Join Date
    Dec 1969
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    Smile

    I, too, love the monorail ... the one thing that always sticks out with me is the portion of the narration as you near the TTC that says, "If this concludes your vacation to the Walt Disney World Resort, we hope you had a wonderful stay."

    No matter how many times I hear that, if I am concluding my vacation it always gets me choked up!
    Ian șOș
    INTERCOT Senior Imagineer

    Veteran of over 60 trips to Disney theme parks and proud to have stayed in every Disney resort in the continental United States! ș0ș

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  4. #3
    Join Date
    Aug 2003
    Location
    Modesto, CA
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    I agree that people tend to chat a lot on the monorail. I usually ride the bus system, and it's often quiet. Everybody is mad on the bus, it seems, but that's not the case on the monorail. One day I'll spend enough money to stay at a monorail resort.
    My name is Gator. You killed my Sorcerer's Hat. Prepare to die.

    DL 2-17,8-17, 11-17; DL 2016; DL 11-2015; DL-DL-Hotel 2-2015; DL 2014; DL-Paradise Pier 2013; POFQ Dec 2012; CSR - Jan 2011; AKL-Kidani - Jan 2010; A.S.Mov - Dec 2008; CSR - Dec 2006; DL Feb 2006; CBR - Feb 2004; POR - Jun 2002

  5. #4
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
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    i have all the narrator quotes memorized! including the spanish translations! i cant even speak spanish!

    one of my earliest memories in my life is riding the monorail and looking out the window out at the Contemporary Resort at a purple sunset and the lights were just turning on outside the resort. I was soo little and i didnt really realized what it was until a more recent trip where i had a moment of deja vu and put two-and-two together.

    im not gunna lie. i love when its like closing and your in a monorail car (or bus) standing room only and you just cant help but have a good time with the other people your standing with. i've had the most random conversations in those situations and some of my favorite disney times.

    i cant wait until the next time i get to go on the monorail, because i know that disney will work through this and make the monorail system better than ever, even if its only in the technical aspects that i wont be able to notice.
    1991 - Fairway Villas, 1993 - Old Key West, 1995 - Yacht Club, 1997 - Fort Wilderness, 2003 - Fort Wilderness, 2004 - Contemporary, 2005 - Caribbean, 2007 - Polynesian, 2012 - Disneyland Paris, 2014 - Beach Club, 2015 - Beach Club
    2016 - Contemporary
    Lisa

  6. #5
    Join Date
    May 2005
    Location
    Clarence, NY
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    Default

    Thanks for starting this thread!

    I too love the monorail and have the entire "speach" on my iPod for "pick me ups"...
    As others have stated, the random conversations are what I love. I love seeing a family sitting together and thekids are all excited... and I always say the same thing "Did you guys just arrive? Is this your first day?" and even if it's not the stories just start flowing... and I love sharing my "tips" as a disney veteran (addict? ) The monorail has always been (and always will be) an Icon of WDW for me!
    SorcererJim

  7. #6
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Location
    South Jersey
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    Smile

    The best memory for me was when we took our boys on the monorail for the first time. It was sweet to see the boys all excited...but it was my husband's reaction that will stay in my mind forever. He acted like a little kid! Since we were alone, he swung on the bars and jumped over the seat. I even have a picture. I hadn't seen the boy in him for a very long time.
    He went every year as a child and his favorite memories were of riding the monorail with his brother. He was sooo excited to be in Disney once again. It makes me smile, just thinking about it.
    "You make me smile with my heart."
    • DH...almost every year growing up.
    • Me...1978...I think.
      Our Family
    • January 2006-CBR
    • April 2007-Bonnet Creek
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    • November 2012-Bonnet Creek:)

  8. #7
    Join Date
    Oct 2005
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    Oak Park Heights, MN
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    I just love it when we ride for the 1st time on our WDW vacation and driving through the CR and seeing the MK knowing the fun is about to begin.
    Off Site-- All Star Movies-- Pop Century-- Coronado Springs-- Port Orleans French Quarter
    Walt Disney-"Disneyland is a work of love. We didn't go into Disneyland just with the idea of making money."

  9. #8
    Join Date
    Dec 2002
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    Wisconsin
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    In 2005 we were on the monorail to epcot and the taped speech broke down. it kept repeating itself. All of a sudden it went off and the driver came on and kept everyone entertained for the whole trip with observations and jokes and funny sayings about what he saw outside. he kept it up for the whole trip and at the station when we got off everyone waited for the driver to come out and when he stepped out of the cab, everyone that was on the monorail gave him a huge round of applause. He turned to us and did a great bow. To me that's what disney is all about, keeping people happy.
    fw 75-80-85-90
    cbr 95-98-01
    pofq-02-05-09-13-15
    disney wonder aug 08
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  10. #9
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
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    Greenville, SC
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    The first time my husband and I took our 2 youngest children on the Monorail is my best Monorail memory. We were staying @ the Contemporary, so right after checking in and putting our bags in the room, we went down and hopped on the Monorail to go to MK. We were lucky enough to have our daughter and son's first ride in the front car! She kept pushing a bolt in the front of the nose, and after a couple of times I asked her what she was doing. "Trying to honk the horn!" she said (she was almost 4). The driver heard her and honked the horn the next time she pressed the bolt. He kept doing that every time she pushed it. We laughed and laughed.

    Even when we don't stay in a Monorail hotel, we make a point to ride the Monorail once per trip, even if it means going out of our way. We've ridden in the front car many times, most recently with our 2 younger kids in May. I'll be sad if they discontinue front car rides, but I'll understand if they do. Safety first!
    1994 PO
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    '18 Wonder

  11. #10
    Join Date
    May 2007
    Location
    Park Ridge, NJ
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    I have two favorite monorail stories.

    The first would be my very first trip to Disney. I was 19 years old and was so excited to be there. I will never forget my first ride on the monorail.

    My second would be our trip in April. My children have been to Disney a number of times. This year, they were able to sit in the front with the driver not only once but three times during our trip. They still talk about it. It was a wonderful experience for them....and me too!!!

    Can't wait to go back!!!

  12. #11
    Join Date
    Jun 2009
    Location
    Wisconsin but 2nd home wdw
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    Default

    on the very last day of the trip last year I dstood and The car was half empty so I vidioed! lOL
    Ohanna means family, no one gets left behind or forgotten

  13. #12
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Location
    Easley, SC
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    I'm a train nut, and always considered the Monorail a special form of train. It comes close to being my favorite ride at WDW. And on really hot days, I have left the parks just to ride the monorail, and cool off.
    There are memories of may special rides, from our very first stay at the CR in 75, and our daily rides to MK, to a side trip, to share a meal with DS#2 while he was on spring break, and to ride the monorail....just because...
    But one really special ride....It was July, 1982....They were offering rides on the EPCOT monorail, to and through a soon-to-be finished EPCOT Center. I rounded up DS#2 and DFiL, and we took the ride. Even today, I replay those first views of EPCOT.
    Next Visit-June 2013

    75,80,81,82,99,02,03,05 CR
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    2000 (Christmas) DL (POR)

  14. #13
    Join Date
    Feb 2002
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    Atlanta, GA
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    My favorite monorail experience happened this year - DS and I went down to catch a shuttle launch, and spent the day at Epcot. He wanted to ride the monorail over to the TTC - so we did, and were able to get into the front!

    All in all, it was a heck of a trip, and a heck of a ride! Couldn't get into it for the ride back, though. Ah, well - good enough!
    July '66, Disneyland.
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    In 2009? March for a day - EPCOT! July - Ft. Wilderness!
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  15. #14
    Join Date
    Jul 2006
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    no longer in Oceanport, New Jersey (sad)
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    When I was ten (almost 11) in June '80, we were able to ride up front. We stayed at the Poly that year, so I think that it was on the local line. The driver asked if anyone wanted to drive the monorail and I was the only one who said yes. The driver allowed me to sit next to him and showed me how the controls worked and let me actually stop the monorail at a specific point on the line. It was so cool! I still tell people that I got to drive the monorail, and I'm almost 40.

    We tried to ride up front on our last trip with DS on his first trip to the world, but on the couple times that we tried, a family was already in line or the crew had a "clean-up" situation. I completely understand if WDW doesn't allow people to ride up front anymore, but it's still sad if that is what will happen and my son may never ride up front like I did.
    Last edited by diz_girl; 07-06-2009 at 11:34 AM. Reason: grammar
    Amanda
    Mom of Jay and Sam

    'Please stand clear of the doors. Por favor
    mantengase alejado de las puertas'


    CR - Jun 76, 85 & 89
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    Next - Jersey Week 2015 Baby!

  16. #15
    Join Date
    Apr 2007
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    Harrisonburg, VA--too far from the magic!
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    I always loved the monorail, especially that first ride that meant we were officially there. My sister and I competed to see who could point out the most sites. I remember passing through the CR and looking out and down at all the people. Mom always said her dream was to someday stay there. So we are taking her back for her first trip in 12 years, stretching the budget, and staying in the CR tower with a MK view. She was so excited when she found out that she cried! I also always cry at the end on my last day when it says that they hoped we had a wonderful trip.
    șoș Tiffany șoș

    Many trips offsite growing up
    2/08 CBR
    10/09 Pop/POFQ
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    Next Up:
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  17. #16
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    May 2008
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    We love the spanish version of please stand clear of the doors. We even bought the t-shirt. Now, at random moments in our life, we exclaim, por favor mantenganse alejado des las puertas. Once we were at our local Cheddars and a waiter stormed by saying this exact phrase and I gasped. He stopped and said, "do you know what that is?" I said, "of course, that is what the monorail says!" He was thrilled and so was I.
    A man should never neglect his family for business.-Walt Disney
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  18. #17
    Join Date
    May 2005
    Location
    GA
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    Smile

    Last year, we were monorailing from MK to Epcot, sharing the ride w/ a 3 generation Irish family. As we disembarked, the grandpa handed my friend a pamphlet. We went on to learn that we share the same faith. So, the mom says (in a strong Irish brogue), "Aye, we're family & didn't even know it". We carried on our conversation right into Epcot; that is one of my most favorite memories ever. The grandma said she'd never seen anything like WDW (or been anywhere so hot) & was delighted to have had the opportunity - too precious!

  19. #18
    Join Date
    Aug 2007
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    Roseville, CA
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    Background: In 1999 we went to WDW with DD & her DH. DD had been working for DL for a couple of years, so she had been many times to DL and only once to WDW when she was a young teen. When my DH & I walked up to wait for the monorail, the cm asked if we would like to ride in the front? Our DD & her DH didn't hear the exchange, so when we were all escorted to the cab, I over heard him say to her "how come we only get do the coolest things when your parents are around?"
    nicci
    1975 Off Site
    1993 Dixie Landings
    1995 Dixie Landings
    1999 ASM
    2004 CSR
    2006 ASM
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    2019 CBR
    DL 1971 to now - too many times to count, DL AP holder & Disney stockholder

  20. #19
    Join Date
    May 2005
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    to me the monorail is another thing that screams disneyworld.it's almost as synonomous as spaceship earth is w/epcot.
    i have always thought of a monorail ride as another "attraction"..
    we rode up front with the driver last time and it was very cool

  21. #20
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
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    Patterson, NY
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    I think every ride brings a memory. I can't forget our honeymoon when we rode with the driver and I videotaped. Or the first ride DNephew had, sitting quietly in his stroller not knowing what to think. Now all he can talk about is the monorail.

    #35 - SSR 05/16
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