Disney World’s Monorail is one of the most unique transportation systems in the world.

It’s no wonder that so many visitors to Disney World want to experience the “Highway in the Sky” — it’s almost its own ride, although it exists outside the parks. But there are some things that many of those visitors might NOT know about the Monorail, things that could be a BIG shock, so we’re outlining everything you need to know about this fun Disney World transportation option.

Unexpected Closures

You might have your heart set on taking the Monorail to EPCOT or Magic Kingdom or one of Disney World’s Monorail resorts, but you might be surprised when you get to the Monorail station and discover that the Monorail is temporarily closed. Here’s the thing — this happens A LOT.

So what happens when the Monorail is closed? You’ll be directed to other transportation options, like boats or buses. Those transportation options might not be as fast or convenient as the Monorail, though.

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Getting Stuck on the Monorail

Another thing that happens a lot is that sometimes the Monorail goes down when you’re on it. So what can you do? Well, there’s nothing you CAN do, you’re basically stuck on the Monorail until the issue is resolved and you can pull into a station where you can safely exit.

Now we’re not saying this is necessarily a bad thing because being on the Monorail close to Magic Kingdom during the nightly fireworks show could be the highlight of your day.

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Long Lines at the Ticket and Transportation Center

If you drive or take a rideshare to Magic Kingdom, you will be taken to the Ticket and Transportation Center, where you’ll have to take the Monorail to the park itself. There’s just one problem with that: the lines at the Ticket and Transportation Center for the Monorail can get VERY long and it might be a while before you can get to Magic Kingdom.

However, you can also take a Ferryboat to Magic Kingdom, which could be your best bet, on some days. Plus you’ll get to see Magic Kingdom from the water.

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It’s REALLY Crowded at Night

If you’re leaving Magic Kingdom (and to a lesser extent, EPCOT), and you’ve waited until park close, you’re going to find the Monorail station extremely crowded. We’re talking about the kind of crowds that could stress you out if you’re averse to those kinds of situations.

In this case, you might want to consider other transportation options: buses and boats will also be running at this time, and may be far less crowded than the Monorail.

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A/C Not Working Properly

The Monorail does have air conditioning, but sometimes it doesn’t work all that well. This could make for a very uncomfortable ride in the summer when it’s already hot and sticky out. Now imagine being hot and sticky and stuck in a crowded Monorail with other hot and sticky people.

There’s not much you can do in this situation, but if you’re prepared for summer weather and have your water bottle and cooling towels handy, you might be a little less miserable.

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There Are Actually Three Monorails

Many visitors to Disney World might think there’s just ONE Monorail because we do just call it “THE MONORAIL.” However, there are THREE monorails and they each go different places, so you’ll need to know which is which.

First, there’s the Magic Kingdom Express Monorail — that Monorail will take you directly to and from the Ticket Transportation Center and Magic Kingdom with no  other stops.

Then there’s the Magic Kingdom Resort Monorail — this Monorail offers service to and from Magic Kingdom and the Monorail resorts. This Monorail route makes multiple stops: Magic Kingdom, Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort, and Disney’s Contemporary Resort.

Finally, there’s the EPCOT Monorail, which offers direct service to and from EPCOT and the Ticket and Transportation Center.

So if you’re going to EPCOT from Magic Kingdom, you’ll need to know about this because you’ll have to switch Monorails to get there. take the Magic Kingdom Express Monorail and then switch to the EPCOT Monorail at the Ticket and Transportation Center).

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There’s No Actual Schedule

If you’re wanting to take the Monorail, you need to know that there’s no actual schedule that the Monorail adheres to. So if you have somewhere to be at a certain time, like an advance dining reservation, be sure to add plenty of travel time to get there, just in case.

The Resort Monorail and Magic Kingdom Express Monorail begin operating 30 minutes before Magic Kingdom opens and stop one hour after Magic Kingdom closes. the EPCOT Monorail begins operating 30 minutes before EPCOT opens and stops two hours after EPCOT closes.

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Sometimes, It Honks

Okay, so this could be a NICE surprise if you experience it. Sometimes, the Monorail honks its horn, and it’s sort of like passing a semi on the Interstate, but WAY more magical.

We hear it honking its horn more often when there’s a runDisney event — the Monorail honks at runners to encourage them to keep on going!

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So be sure you’re prepared for all these surprises the next time you visit Disney World and have plans to take the Monorail or if you’re staying at a Monorail resort. Being forewarned is forearmed, after all.

Stay tuned to DFB for more Disney food, news, tips, tricks, and more!

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Have you run into any surprises using the Disney World Monorail? Sound off in the comments!

The post Be Prepared for these Big Disney World Monorail Surprises first appeared on the disney food blog.