Dining and Monorail Hopping, Disney Style

[AuburnJen 771]

Disney is introducing a new package to rid you of more cash from your wallet and put more calories in your body.  This is the Monorail Resort Hopping Experience  "Highway in the Sky Dining Experience"

Thanks to wdwnt.com for the article and information.  Here is the article.

http://wdwnt.com/blog/2016/11/disney-introducing-monorail-resort-restaurant-hopping-experience-highway-sky-dine-around/

Join us for a progressive dinner unlike any other—with sumptuous offerings at 3 Disney Resort hotels.

Your Dine Around adventure begins at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, where you’ll check in at The Wave… of American Flavors restaurant. Relax and mingle with your fellow diners, enjoying a welcoming appetizer and specialty cocktail before setting off on your epicurean odyssey. Bon voyage and bon appétit!

First stop: Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort—where you’ll feel as if you’ve arrived in a far-flung tropical paradise. Celebrate the spirit of the South Pacific and luxuriate in the charm of this exotic retreat, with an enticing variety of island-inspired libations and appetizers.

Then it’s time for a change of scene and cuisine—as the monorail transports you a world away: to the opulent Victorian-style Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. Step inside and step back into a bygone era of elegance and gracious hospitality. You’ll be escorted to the award-winning Cítricos restaurant where we invite you to settle in amid the refined ambience as you’re treated to a special Chef’s main course selection. Afterward, gather in the splendidly appointed lobby to sip champagne and savor a selection of artisanal cheeses.

Board the monorail once more to return to Disney’s Contemporary Resort for the culmination of your evening. Here, you and your Dine Around companions will retire to a private patio to enjoy an indulgent assortment of desserts, cordials and coffee. From this exclusive location, watch in wonder as the Wishes nighttime spectacular fireworks light up the night over Cinderella Castle—a musical, magical grand finale to your one-of-a-kind dining adventure.

-Price: $150 per person plus tax; gratuity included.
-The Highway in the Sky Dine Around is offered select Tuesday, Friday and Saturday evenings.
-Reservations must be canceled at least 24 hours in advance to avoid forfeiting the full price of the experience.
-Check-in takes place at The Wave… of American Flavors at Disney’s Contemporary Resort at the time of your reservation. Please arrive 15 minutes ahead of check-in time.
-Guests must be 21 years of age or older to consume alcoholic beverages. A valid form of government identification will be required to verify your age.
-Please alert the host at check-in regarding food allergies. Wherever possible, alternative dining selections will be offered.
-Disney dining plan entitlements may not be redeemed for this event.
-Discounts and promotions are not valid for this event.

Dining experience is subject to change; fireworks experience is subject to change or cancellation without notice.

[Tri-Circle-D 2,059]

And the hits keep coming!

Brilliant!  They're charging a premium for something that guests have been able to do on their own since Disney opened.

The only thing I don't like about this is that they're taking away the 4th floor viewing area away from resort guests to make it a private patio for this event.

TCD

[shoreline99 137]

58 minutes ago, Tri-Circle-D said:

And the hits keep coming!

Brilliant!  They're charging a premium for something that guests have been able to do on their own since Disney opened.

The only thing I don't like about this is that they're taking away the 4th floor viewing area away from resort guests to make it a private patio for this event.

TCD

SMDH. The only thing I don't like about this is the $150 price tag. It's going to cut in to my party tent cabana budget.

[DaveInTN 3,247]

And what happens when the monorails go down?  That happened to INC and I when we did our own monorail tour a couple of years ago, starting with dinner at CG, then a drink at the Poly and walk to the GF for dessert.  The plan was to return to CG to watch Wishes.  We ended up having to bus from the GF to the MK, then run across the road to get back up to CG in time for fireworks viewing.  Quite magical.  

[Tri-Circle-D 2,059]

37 minutes ago, DaveInTN said:

And what happens when the monorails go down?  

You make a good point.  We got stuck on the resort monorail at the TTC just a couple of weeks ago.  We had to stand in a packed car for about 10 minutes while they performed some "routine maintenance."  It was hot in the car, and we had a crying baby in our car as an added bonus, so I stepped out (at least they left the doors open) and saw a guy with his body half in an open hatch banging away at something inside the train.  Routine maintenance indeed.  The good news is that whatever the guy was banging on did the trick, because we didn't have to evacuate, and continued on our way.

TCD

[keith_h 420]

Speaking of the monorail. Are they going to provide a private one for the guests or just kick passengers off so there is room for the diners? For $150 you better not have to fight for a seat along with all of the Riff Raff.

[DaveInTN 3,247]

2 minutes ago, keith_h said:

Speaking of the monorail. Are they going to provide a private one for the guests or just kick passengers off so there is room for the diners? For $150 you better not have to fight for a seat along with all of the Riff Raff.

Maybe they'll even stick a box of Arm and Hammer under the seats to help with the odor.  

[AuburnJen 771]

6 minutes ago, keith_h said:

Speaking of the monorail. Are they going to provide a private one for the guests or just kick passengers off so there is room for the diners? For $150 you better not have to fight for a seat along with all of the Riff Raff.

riff raff is free, lmao

[Tri-Circle-D 2,059]

20 minutes ago, keith_h said:

Speaking of the monorail. Are they going to provide a private one for the guests or just kick passengers off so there is room for the diners? For $150 you better not have to fight for a seat along with all of the Riff Raff.

Good question.  It wouldn't be hard to make a private car. But something tells me they won't bother doing that for this price point.

TCD

[shoreline99 137]

26 minutes ago, DaveInTN said:

Maybe they'll even stick a box of Arm and Hammer under the seats to help with the odor.  

Monorail Funk scented candles.

[GaDawgFan.....Kelly 799]

They've made an event of one of my favorite things to do.

$150 a person is expensive, but depending on the menu and adult drinks, it's not crazy for 5 courses. I checked and that includes tip as well. 

[Tri-Circle-D 2,059]

The official Disney Parks Blog article says guests will get priority monorail boarding

 The new Highway in the Sky Dine-Around gives guests priority boarding on the monorail for an unparalleled dining journey around the circuit between Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort and Disney’s Contemporary Resort.

https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2016/11/new-highway-in-the-sky-dine-around-launches-dec-2-at-walt-disney-world-resort/

That's going to go over well with regular guests waiting to board.

I agree with GDF, the pricing is not insane for what you get.

TCD

[DaveInTN 3,247]

They are fairly specific on where in each resort you will be drinking/dining, except for the Poly.  I wonder where they will hold this there?  

[GaDawgFan.....Kelly 799]

22 minutes ago, DaveInTN said:

They are fairly specific on where in each resort you will be drinking/dining, except for the Poly.  I wonder where they will hold this there?  

I wondered the same... 

[LONE-STAR 370]

I think the golf cart to Fiend site tour with beer sounds more entertaining. Plus Dave had good beer.

[Friend of a Fiend ... Pam 8]

Maybe they'll even stick a box of Arm and Hammer under the seats to help with the odor.  

Yes - what's up with the stinky monorails?

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[DaveInTN 3,247]

I think the golf cart to Fiend site tour with beer sounds more entertaining. Plus Dave had good beer.

That was a fun night.

[Katman1356...Jason 1,140]

A review.

http://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.touringplans.com%2F2016%2F12%2F06%2Fhighway-sky-dine-around-memorable-monorail-meal%2F%3Futm_campaign%3Dtwitter%26utm_medium%3Dtwitter%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&h=ZAQGq89nY

[Tri-Circle-D 2,059]

17 minutes ago, Katman1356...Jason said:

A review.

http://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.touringplans.com%2F2016%2F12%2F06%2Fhighway-sky-dine-around-memorable-monorail-meal%2F%3Futm_campaign%3Dtwitter%26utm_medium%3Dtwitter%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&h=ZAQGq89nY

Here's a direct link to that review for those who don't use Facebook: http://blog.touringplans.com/2016/12/06/highway-sky-dine-around-memorable-monorail-meal/#more-120087

A couple of my questions were answered. First, about the private monorail ride:

We exited The Wave lounge around 7:15 PM and made our way through a few back doors and stairwells up to the Contemporary’s monorail platform, where we walked straight onto an empty car in a waiting monorail. This was, to put it plainly, a little awkward, considering a rather large crowd of guests waiting to board the monorail watched this happen – this would become a theme of the night. Personally, I felt a bit uncomfortable with the reserved monorail car and that everyone was waiting on us, but I also understand that logistically, that was what I’d signed up for.

Second, we found out that the stop at the Polynesian is the outside deck of Trader Sam's.

It actually sounds like a fun event, and isn't unreasonably priced for what you get.

Making regular guests wait so the group can have a private monorail car is not cool, though.

TCD

[LONE-STAR 370]

I think it would be better if they used a boat to move the people around and served drinks on the boat.

[h2odivers...Ray 952]

16 minutes ago, LONE-STAR said:

I think it would be better if they used a boat to move the people around and served drinks on the boat.

That's an awesome idea.   And that's something I might spend the money doing.  If they used the Grand 1 to take us from resort to resort. 

[LONE-STAR 370]

17 minutes ago, h2odivers...Ray said:

That's an awesome idea.   And that's something I might spend the money doing.  If they used the Grand 1 to take us from resort to resort. 

Heck a larger upscale pontoon boat would work for me.

[Cortezcapt (Derek) 156]

That's an awesome idea.   And that's something I might spend the money doing.  If they used the Grand 1 to take us from resort to resort. 

If it was Grand 1 I'd be interested. But the price would probably jump from 150.00 to 1500.00 per person.

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[Cortezcapt (Derek) 156]

Heck a larger upscale pontoon boat would work for me.

Even one of the old MK boats would be better than the Monorail.

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[Travisma 1,317]

22 hours ago, Tri-Circle-D said:

 

We exited The Wave lounge around 7:15 PM and made our way through a few back doors and stairwells up to the Contemporary’s monorail platform, where we walked straight onto an empty car in a waiting monorail. This was, to put it plainly, a little awkward, considering a rather large crowd of guests waiting to board the monorail watched this happen – this would become a theme of the night. Personally, I felt a bit uncomfortable with the reserved monorail car and that everyone was waiting on us, but I also understand that logistically, that was what I’d signed up for.

 

TCD

Sounds like a scene from Blackish where in the beginning the kids were embarrassed when they cut in front of everyone...

 

But I wouldn't be surprised that a lot of people signing up for this little jaunt get off on holding up others and getting special treatment.  More so than the food and drink experience.