Let’s be honest: some Disney debates are eternal. Like, Are the rafts a ride? (yes) But perhaps no debate divides the Disney faithful more than this one: Monorail or Skyliner? In Episode 492 We used AI to extensively compare the Skyliner and the Monorail across a whole bunch of categories—wait times, cost, reliability, you name it. In a very close race, the Skyliner edged out the win. I get why on paper the skyliner won but I’m here to say that I am Team Monorail. Always have been, always will be. Here is why…
The Arrival Day Tradition
As far back as I can remember, my family had a tradition on arrival day. We typically arrived in the afternoon and after we settled into our room at the Polynesian (we always stayed at the Polynesian back then), we would take a slow lap around the resort Monorail loop. We’d hop on the Monorail and make our way around, stopping at the Grand Floridian and the Contemporary. We’d poke around the shops, grab a snack, and take in the unforgettable Disney resort ambiance. It wasn’t just transportation it was our welcome ritual. By the time we made our way back to the Poly, we felt like we were home. On the day we left, we often made one final loop on the resort Monorail before saying, “See you real soon.” The Monorail was the first and last thing we would do on our trips to Walt Disney World.
The Same Trains, Now with my Kids
You know what gives me in the feels every single time? Knowing that those same Mark VI Monorail trains I rode as a kid in the 90’s are still gliding down the beam today—and now, my kids get to ride in them. There’s not many things you can say that about after 30 years.
Sure, the interiors have been touched up (a little facelift here, a new color stripe there), and yes, the iconic spiel has changed voices over the years. But when I hear Jack Wagner’s voice say “Please stand clear of the doors. Por favor manténganse alejado de las puertas,” I’m 8 years old again, staring out the Monorail window in pure bliss. Thank you, Jack!
Monorail = History + Street Cred
It’s easy to dunk on the Monorail nowadays. You hear, “It’s always breaking down” or “They really need new trains!” And yeah, sure, she’s not in her prime. But It is important to remember that every transportation system has hiccups. The Monorail just happens to have every single one of them documented and dissected by the internet. That’s the world we live in now.
The truth? The Monorail still transports thousands of guests safely every single day. And it has over 53 years of history at Walt Disney World with a pretty stellar safety record. In fact, the Monorail has been operating at Disneyland since 1959 and at Disney World since 1971. That’s a lot of Disney history right there.
One might even say the Monorail is the Phoenicians of Disney theme park transportation—because it invented it. So the next time you move across your car to make room for everyone, say a little thank you to the Monorail.
For the Newcomers
If you’re newer to Disney or you just love a good breeze in your Skyliner gondola, that’s cool. They’re fun, scenic, and still have that new car smell. But don’t sleep on the Monorail. It’s not trying to be trendy—it is the trend that started it all.
My kids are team skyliner, and I love the skyliner too but my heart will always belong to the Monorail. There’s just too much of my own history wrapped up in it for it to ever be out-ranked. So yes, I’m biased toward the Monorail—and proud of it.
Disney can build new transportation systems as advanced and a fancy as they want but I will still say, “It won’t beat the monorail, I don’t care what they put up!”
Join the Legacy: Team Monorail Merch
If you choose Team Monorail, you’re choosing vintage vibes, classic cool, and a slice of Disney that goes back to Walt’s vision. And yes, we’ve got the merch to prove it.
👕 [Rep your Monorail pride here]
🛸 [Or be a Skyliner person, I guess… here’s your link]
Pick your ride. Pick your side. Just don’t skip the loop.
