How to Ride Up Front With the Monorail Pilot

This Article Was Contributed by Sammy

Many people don't know this, but it is possible to ride in the very front (cab) of a monorail at Walt Disney World. While the information on this page is unofficial, it should be able to help you experience one of the best free activities in all of WDW.

First off, a disclaimer - please understand that at very busy times they often are too busy trying to get as many people through at once that they won't let people ride up front. Often, in inclement weather, or always if there is a trainee driving, they won't let you ride up front. They may or may not let you board monorails at the TTC and the MK, but you can always ask. There is no rule that says they have to let Guests ride in the front, so it's always best not to build your hopes up too high.

There are (currently) three different monorail routes:

Magic Kingdom - TTC Express Monorail
Except as noted above, you can usually board any monorail at either station. Do it at the TTC and see the monorail go through the Contemporary, or do it at the MK to go through the Grand Floridian and the Polynesian. You should ask the Monorail Cast Member on the platform if it would be possible to ride up front. There may be people waiting for the next one or two monorail's front cars, but they will usually let you wait for the next available cab.

Magic Kingdom Resort Monorail
There are usually three (although this can vary) monorails on this beam. Each resort has a different monorail assigned to it for cab rides. For example - Contemporary: Green, Polynesian: Red, Grand Floridian: Blue. Basically, you can only load into the monorail's front cab at the resort it is assigned to. If the monorail of the resort's color pulls into the station, the people in the front have to get out so people waiting at the station can get in.

If the cab is empty for any monorail pulling into a station, then they will usually let the next group of people waiting to ride in the front onboard. For example, if the red monorail's cab is empty when it is at the Contemporary you get in the front. However, when it pulls into the Polynesian Resort you need to get out so the people waiting at the Polynesian can get into the front (you then move into the regular sections of the monorail).

This system is a little more confusing, but it helps ensure equity for the resorts.

Epcot - TTC Monorail
This works pretty much the same way as the MK - TTC express monorail. Note that if you want to go for the loop around Spaceship Earth, you will want to take the monorail from the TTC to Epcot. Timed correctly during Illuminations, this is really cool - you can see the show from the front. It is, however, very hard to time correctly.

Finally, you should know that there is always a limit of 4 Guests riding up front. Again, it is always at the CM's discretion whether to load the front or not, and is in no way a guaranteed thing. Nonetheless, it is a wonderful surprise and a great way to start a visit (or a video tape of your day) if you're lucky enough to be able to do it. Also, in most cases, you may be given a Co-Pilot License as a souvenir of this experience.

For the best opportunities, you should try during off-peak (non park-closing/opening/parade let-out) times and be prepared to wait as a train or two pass by. Often will have a separate queue on the platform for riding up front.