Last updated on April 6th, 2026
Considering a stay at one of the Walt Disney World monorail hotels?
If you are looking for the ultimate Disney vacation experience, staying at one of the Disney hotels on the monorail line is the most magical way to go! Not only will you have fast and easy access to the parks, but these hotels are all amazing, amenity-packed Disney deluxe resorts.
But here’s a fun fact. You don’t actually have to stay one of the Disney World monorail hotels to enjoy them! If you have some downtime during your vacation or just want to take a break from the parks, you can easily visit them on a fun, self-guided tour of Disney’s monorail resorts. I’m going to share the best way to do it.
Which Disney Resorts Have Monorail Service?
Let’s start with the basics. If you just want to know which Disney resorts have monorail at Walt Disney World, here is the quick and simple answer:
► Disney’s Contemporary Resort
► Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
► Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
All of these hotels are connected to the Magic Kingdom and each other along the monorail line, with the option to transfer to EPCOT at the Transportation and Ticket Center.
Disney World Monorail Hotels
There are three Disney hotels on the monorail line: Disney’s Contemporary Resort, Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, and Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort. Each one is unique and beautiful.
We have been lucky enough to stay at all three on our many visits to Walt Disney World. Even though these Disney monorail resorts are a huge splurge, the benefits of staying definitely make it worthwhile.
All the Disney World monorail hotels are Disney Deluxe Resorts, which means they are the nicest class of hotels on-property and offer the best amenities and perks. Deluxe Resorts will give you the largest rooms, the fanciest bath products, best pool areas (with water slides!), elevated service, and a great selection of dining options and activities.
Let’s start by taking an in-depth look at each of the Disney monorail resorts.
1. Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
The Polynesian At-A-Glance
- Walk to Ticket and Transportation Center for monorail to EPCOT
- Supervised children’s activity center
- Fabulous pool area with volcano water slide and daily pool activities
- Watch the Electrical Water Pageant from shore of the Seven Seas Lagoon
- Numerous restaurants and quick service dining options
- Character breakfast onsite at ‘Ohana Restaurant
- Tropical theming throughout the resort
Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort is one of the two original hotels that opened at Walt Disney World 1971, and one of the most fabulously themed deluxe resorts at Walt Disney World.
It combines all the Tiki goodness of a vintage Hawaiian vacation with the fun of visiting Disney theme parks. The resort is located right on the shores of the Seven Seas Lagoon, taking full advantage of the tropical beach vibe.
One cool thing about this hotel is that in addition to being one of the Disney resorts with monorail service, it is also adjacent to the TTC for easy access to EPCOT without having to transfer! This makes the Polynesian the only resort with easy access to both Disney monorail lines.
Disney’s Polynesian Resort recently underwent major renovations to include Moana-themed rooms and a new monorail station. They also just opened a new DVC tower in 2024. This 10-story tall tower sits right on the shore of the Seven Seas Lagoon and includes studios, one bedroom, and two bedroom villas. The tower also has its own pool, recreation activities, and restaurants.
► Don’t miss our complete guide to Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort for the full scoop on this iconic resort!
2. Disney’s Contemporary Resort
The Contemporary Resort At-A-Glance
- Monorail stops right inside the Main Tower
- Three buildings – Garden Wing, Main Tower, and Bay Lake Tower, a Disney Vacation Club Resort
- Walking path to the Magic Kingdom
- Supervised children’s activity center
- Onsite marina and boat rentals
- Watch the Electrical Water Pageant from shore of the Seven Seas Lagoon
- Numerous restaurants and quick service dining options
- Sleek, modern theme
When Walt Disney dreamed of a magical new future, part of that vision became reality with Disney’s Contemporary Resort. With the Monorail running right through its A-frame tower, the resort became an instant icon – a tribute to the future of imagination and progress on the shores of Seven Seas Lagoon and Bay Lake.
As part of the ongoing evolution of the Disney Resorts, all nine floors of guest rooms as well as the adjacent Garden Wing at Disney’s Contemporary Resort – which is where we stayed on a recent visit – have been completely reimagined. These rooms now blend a sleek Monorail motif with some favorite characters from Pixar Animation Studios’ Incredibles films.
The hotel lobby has also been updated, and features a collection of modern art pieces as well as historical, behind-the-scenes photographs of the resort in development. Custom artwork along guest corridors is modern and futuristic.
If you don’t feel like taking the monorail, the Contemporary is actually close enough to walk to the Magic Kingdom. There is a walking path and it takes only about ten minutes to get there.
► For a more in-depth look at what to expect at Walt Disney World Resort hotels, check out this guide to Moderate vs Deluxe Disney Resorts.
3. Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa
Grand Floridian At-A-Glance
- Elegant Victorian design
- Supervised children’s activity center
- Spa onsite
- Beautiful pool area
- “Movies Under the Stars” play nightly on the beach
- Watch the Electrical Water Pageant from shore of the Seven Seas Lagoon
- Numerous restaurants and quick service dining options
The third and final Disney monorail hotel is Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, a Victorian-style deluxe hotel at Walt Disney World. One of the most opulent of Walt Disney World’s Deluxe Resorts, the Grand Floridian combines first-class service, elegance, fun, and convenience.
The Grand Floridian is a AAA Four Diamond, lavishly decorated resort with elegant rooms set among six buildings, many with water views. Its design is inspired by the Victorian era beach resorts built along Florida’s east coast during the late 19th century. This is definitely the most upscale of all the Disney monorail resorts.
You’ll find lots of wonderful restaurants, Disney World’s only full-service spa, and an array of amenities. The Grand Floridian also recently opened a walking path to reach the Magic Kingdom.
How to Visit Disney Monorail Resorts – Even Without a Reservation
Staying at one of the Disney World monorail hotels is amazing, but let’s be honest – they are not within everyone’s budget.
That doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy them even if you’re not staying there. I stop by almost every time I go to Walt Disney World – even if I am staying at an off-property hotel, a Disney Value Resort, or even the Disney Swan and Dolphin, which we also love!
Here’s what you need to do:
Simply take the bus to Magic Kingdom Park and board the Resort Monorail (after passing through Security). From there you can hop on and off at any of the three hotels.
Feel free to explore each hotel’s lobby, grounds, beach areas, marina, restaurants, shops, and basically any public space at any of the resorts. The only place you are not allowed to go into if not a registered guest is the pool area.
My favorite thing to do is buy a Dole Whip at the Pineapple Lanai at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort and take it down to the beach. If you are there in the evening, I highly recommend buying one before the nightly Electrical Water Pageant or fireworks and enjoying them on the waterfront while you watch the show!
There is also a free boat that connects all the hotels, so mix in a relaxing boat ride across Seven Seas Lagoon as you visit the Disney monorail resorts in addition to taking the monorail around the loop. Just follow the signs to the resort boat launches.
Disney Monorail Hours
The Walt Disney World Monorail System operates from 30 minutes prior to earliest park opening until one hour after latest park closing.
The monorails typically run every 10 to 15 minutes, so if you are staying at one of the Disney hotels on the monorail line this is truly the fastest and most convenient mode of transportation.
Riding the Disney monorail is not only super-convenient, but if you are staying at one of the Disney World monorail hotels it’s like starting your day with a fun ride before you even get to the park! This is especially magical if you are traveling with little kids on a family vacation to Walt Disney World.
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About the Disney Monorail
The Disney monorail has been a part of the Walt Disney World experience since the Magic Kingdom first opened in 1971. Riding the “Highway in the Sky” is the coolest way to get around, and if you are staying at one of the Disney hotels with monorail service, it will make getting around on your trip a breeze.
The Walt Disney World Monorail System has three separate lines that travel throughout Walt Disney World Resort.
- The EPCOT Line – Travels continuously between EPCOT and the Transportation and Ticket Center (TTC)
- The Express Monorail Line – Travels directly between the TTC and Magic Kingdom
- The Monorail Resorts Line – Runs in a continuous loop and has five stops, including at each of the Disney hotels with monorail stations:
- Disney’s Contemporary Resort
- Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
- Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
- Transportation and Ticket Center
- Magic Kingdom
The biggest perk of staying at one of the Disney World monorail resorts is of course the monorail itself, and the close proximity to the Magic Kingdom. In addition, you can take the monorail to EPCOT from your hotel simply by transferring to the EPCOT Line at the Transportation and Ticket Center (TTC). If you want to visit Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, Disney Springs, or either of the water parks, you’ll need to take bus transportation.
The monorail travels on a single beam and runs completely on electricity, capable of reaching speeds up to 40 miles per hour. Each train can carry approximately 360 people. It is totally free to ride, whether or not you are a guest at one of the Disney resorts on the monorail line.
Read these articles for more help deciding where to stay on your Walt Disney World vacation:
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