Everyone going to more than one Walt Disney World theme park will probably ride the monorail. It’s fun, it’s convenient, and it goes to resorts, restaurants, and two of the parks. But did you know that, if you have a party of six or fewer, you can ride up front with the driver?
All you have to do is head to the front of the line. There is a sign there telling you to ask the attendant about riding with the driver; if there’s no one in front of you waiting to ride already, the attendant will escort you to the gate that opens to the driver’s compartment. That’s it — no special charges, no tricks or begging involved.
Once you’re here, you can chat with the friendly driver, take pictures from a vantage hardly anyone has access to, and enjoy the ride. The window in the front gives you a wraparound view of each park you go through, the resorts, and the beautifully-landscaped grounds around the Epcot — Magic Kingdom region.
This is a great way to thrill kids between about three and twelve. If you have handicapped members who can’t ride all the regular rides, this can be a real treat for them as well. The driver is also happy to answer your questions, and most are very knowledgeable about the park system, so you’ll have your own private guide for five to ten minutes.
When you’re leaving, be certain to thank the driver and pick up your special Disney Monorail Driver “license” from the driver. It doesn’t really give you any special rights or license to do anything, but if you’re keeping a scrapbook of your Disney vacation, these pasted in next to pictures of the driver are a perfect memento — and the kids will love having them, too!