I have a few transportation questions I anticipation of my upcoming trip at the Poly next week. I see different info on different sites online.
1. What time does the monorail start running if MK opens at 8 am?
2. What time do the boats start leaving from the Poly for MK?
3. Is the monorail or boat faster [or preferable in any other way] from Poly to MK in the morning?
1) You can find monorail hours on the weekly Times Guide. Pick one up when there just to confirm hours for your week, and here's a helpful link too:
http://www.orlandoparksnews.com/p/weekly-walt-disney-world-times-guides.html
Looking at this week, as a moment in time example, MK opens at 8am this Saturday and the monorail starts running at 7am. I went back and looked at the Times Guide for Easter week which had many 8am MK park openings and it also lists the MK monorail starting at 7am. So, a relatively consistent pattern.
2) Poly Boat - I've stayed at Poly more than any other resort and I couldn't tell you exactly when the boat will start running. The Times Guide and other Disney info will say "30 mins prior to park opening" but that can't be taken as hard fact. My general rule is if I see it out on the water or hear the toots, it's running. If I don't see any evidence, I steer clear first thing. Not to be cynical, but asking a CM might not be of much help as answers can be inconsistent.
3) We tend to default to the monorail when it's early, mainly because I can trust the published hours and barring mechanical delays or problems, it's a pretty quick/predictable mode of transportation. Boat is prettier/more peaceful. From Poly, the boat goes straight to MK (it will have already picked up at GF before getting to Poly). How long you'll wait for the boat can vary - if they only have one running and you just miss it, you'll be waiting awhile. If they have two running the loop, it'll be more reasonable.
For monorail, you go through security at the Poly monorail platform. For boat, you go through security when the boat docks at the MK boat dock.
Hope that helps!