Disney Monorail Resorts: Are They Worth It for Families?

Want to stay close to the magic during your Disney World vacation? A stay at a Disney hotel on the monorail is a perfect choice! With views of Magic Kingdom nightly fireworks guests are right in the magic. In this post I am sharing what are the Disney hotels on the monorail and if they are a good choice for your Disney vacation.

If you are looking for a beautiful resort that has a bit of luxury, and offers quick access to Magic Kingdom and Epcot, you should consider a stay at one of the Disney World monorail resorts.

These resorts offer guests great amenities and perks as well as great views of the Magic Kingdom over the Seven Seas Lagoon. They fall under the Deluxe Resort category and will have a higher price point than other resort options.

If you are planning a lot of time at the Magic Kingdom or Epcot, these resorts are a great option for their monorail access. For some they may not be worth the extra cost. Let’s get into details of what the Disney monorail resorts are to help you plan your Disney trip.

Comparing all your Disney resort options? Read our Disney Value Resorts Ranked and Disney Moderate Resorts Guide to see how the monorail resorts stack up against more budget-friendly options.

Disney Hotels on the Monorail

• Disney’s Contemporary Resort
• Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
• Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort

The resort line goes in a loop between the 3 resorts and the Transportation and Ticket Center (Magic Kingdom). There is also a second monorail line that goes from the Transportation and Ticket Center to Epcot.

The monorail is free to all guests and can be used to get to Magic Kingdom and Epcot.

Travel Times:

• Contemporary → Magic Kingdom: 4 minutes by monorail, 5-10 minutes walking
• Polynesian → Magic Kingdom: 5 minutes by monorail
• Grand Floridian → Magic Kingdom: 6 minutes by monorail, 15 minutes walking
• All three → Epcot: transfer at TTC required, approximately 20 minutes total

Disney’s Contemporary Resort

Disney’s Contemporary Resort has a modern theme and has also received updates the last few years. It is within walking distance to the Magic Kingdom.

• Rooms and Suites (sleep up to 5 adults) Recently updated to the Pixar movie The Incredibles.
• Rooms and Suites with Club-Level Service (sleep up to 8 adults)
• Deluxe Studios (sleep up to 4 adults)
• 1-, 2- and 3-Bedroom Villas (sleep up to 12 adults), Villas include kitchenette, washer and dryer, and more spacious accommodations.

Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort

Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort has a South Pacific island theme and is located on the monorail route.

• Rooms and Suites (sleep up to 5 adults) Recently updated with a Moana theme.
• Rooms and Suites with Club-Level Service (sleep up to 5 adults)
• Deluxe Studios (sleep up to 5 adults)
• Bungalows (sleep up to 8 adults) Bungalows include kitchenette, washer and dryer, and more spacious accommodations.
• The Polynesian Resort is home to ‘Ohana Dining. Read about it: ‘Ohana Restaurant Disney World Dining Review

Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort

Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort has a Victorian elegant theme.

• Rooms and Suites (sleep up to 5 adults)
• Rooms and Suites with Club-Level Service (sleep up to 8 adults)
• Deluxe Studios (sleep up to 4 adults)
• 1-, 2- and 3-Bedroom Villas (sleep up to 12 adults), Villas include kitchenette, washer and dryer, and more spacious accommodations.

Read our full Grand Floridian Resort Review →

Are the Disney Monorail Resorts Worth It?

The honest answer is yes, but only if Magic Kingdom is the centerpiece of your trip and your budget can genuinely absorb the cost without stress.

The monorail resorts are worth it if:

• Magic Kingdom is your primary park and you plan to visit multiple times. The ability to walk or monorail back to your room during the day changes everything
• You want to watch Magic Kingdom fireworks from your resort beach or balcony without the park crowds
• Extended Evening Hours access matters to your family. All three monorail resorts are deluxe properties which means access to 2 extra hours in select parks on select nights
• This is a special occasion trip where the resort experience is as important as the parks

Stick with a value or moderate resort if:

• Your trip includes all four parks. Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios require bus transportation from monorail resorts, so the convenience advantage disappears on those days
• Budget is a concern. The difference between a value resort and a monorail resort can be $400-600+ per night. That money could pay for Lightning Lane, dining, or an extra day in the parks. Read more about planning a Disney World vacation budget.
• You have teens who spend most of their time at Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom. The monorail perk is largely wasted on Galaxy’s Edge trips. Learn more about visiting Disney World with teens.

My honest take: We have stayed at the Grand Floridian and it is a genuinely special experience that we are glad we had. But we do not book monorail resorts for every trip. Value and moderate resorts give us more budget flexibility. We use that extra for more park days or a special dining experience. The monorail resorts are a bucket list experience, not a necessity for a great Disney trip.