Guests trying to get around Magic Kingdom encountered an unusual transportation headache on September 16.
One Walt Disney World Monorail route stopped operating, and another initially offered an alternative. Then that second route ran into trouble, too.
By the time the situation developed, both the Express and Resort Monorail lines were unavailable, affecting transportation between Magic Kingdom, the Transportation and Ticket Center, and nearby Disney resorts.
Disney hadn't revealed what caused the problems, leaving guests with alternate transportation options while questions remained about what happened.
Trouble Starts With the Express Line
The first sign of trouble came from the Express Monorail.
Disney posted a message at Magic Kingdom telling guests that Monorail service wasn't operating and that they should use alternate transportation.
The Express route normally carries guests directly between Magic Kingdom and TTC without stopping at the nearby resorts.
That direct connection makes the line particularly useful for guests who park at TTC and need to reach Magic Kingdom.
Fortunately, the Express line isn't the only Monorail route connecting those two locations.
At first, guests could turn to the Resort Monorail instead.
The Resort line takes a longer route because it serves hotels surrounding Seven Seas Lagoon, but it still reaches both Magic Kingdom and TTC.
For a short time, that gave visitors a relatively straightforward backup plan.
Then the backup plan disappeared.
Resort Line Runs Into Its Own Problem
Guests aboard a Resort Monorail train eventually reached Disney's Contemporary Resort, but their ride ended there.
Disney took the train out of service and required everyone aboard to exit.
The Resort Monorail line subsequently stopped operating.
During the trip, Express trains had also been spotted sitting on the line around TTC and Disney's Polynesian Village Resort.
What remained unclear was whether the Resort problem had anything to do with the earlier Express shutdown.
The Resort train eventually departed the Contemporary, and another train arrived before parking.
Without a confirmed explanation from Disney, there was no way to determine whether one issue caused both closures or whether two separate problems happened close together.
For visitors, the distinction didn't change much.
Both Monorail options around Magic Kingdom were unavailable.
Not Every Monorail Route Was Down
Despite the problems around Magic Kingdom, the entire Monorail system didn't appear to be affected.
The EPCOT Monorail continued operating.
There also wasn't an indication that weather had forced the Express and Resort routes to close.
The operating EPCOT line was good news for guests traveling between that park and TTC, but anyone continuing toward Magic Kingdom still had to find another way across Seven Seas Lagoon.
That's where Disney's other transportation options became especially important.
Guests Could Still Take the Ferryboat
Ferryboat service between TTC and Magic Kingdom continued during the Monorail disruption.
Boats were also still serving nearby resorts.
That prevented guests from completely losing transportation across Seven Seas Lagoon, but having two Monorail lines unavailable at once could still complicate a Disney day.
Transportation around Magic Kingdom works differently from Disney's other three theme parks. Guests parking at TTC aren't within walking distance of the park entrance under the normal arrival process. They need another form of transportation to complete the journey.
That's one reason Monorail disruptions can become noticeable so quickly.
The Resort line is also an important transportation option for guests staying at hotels around Seven Seas Lagoon. Its closure can affect visitors who aren't using TTC at all.
The situation also changed quickly enough to show why guests shouldn't necessarily assume an alternate route will remain available.
When the Express Monorail stopped running, the Resort Monorail seemed like the obvious alternative. Not long afterward, guests aboard that line found themselves exiting at the Contemporary as Disney removed their train from service.
For now, Disney hasn't provided a confirmed explanation for the unusual double disruption.
The EPCOT line continued operating, and ferryboats provided another option around Magic Kingdom. Still, guests traveling through the area faced an unexpected transportation change that could add time and frustration to an otherwise carefully planned Disney day.
