When it comes to getting around Walt Disney World you’ve got options – especially if you’re staying at a Disney owned resort hotel!
While some guests enjoy having access to a vehicle of their own, I love staying on property and letting Disney do the driving. You’re on vacation after all, so save yourself some time and money – and the hassle of driving and parking – by taking advantage of the many complimentary transportation options.
Special Options for Resort Guests
Guests at select Disney Resort hotels can travel to and from all four theme parks, the water parks, and Disney Springs by bus, boat, monorail, or Skyliner. Complimentary Resort transportation begins 45 minutes prior to park opening and up to one hour after park closing time. Buses operate until 11:00 pm from the Disney Springs area.
Stop by one of the convenient pick-up points at your hotel – and throughout Walt Disney World Resort – and your chosen mode of transportation will arrive ready to bring you where you want to go, often within minutes. Keep in mind that certain destinations are not direct, and that you may be required to take a connecting mode of transport to reach your required stop.
If you choose to leave Walt Disney World to explore other attractions in Orlando, you’ll need to arrange alternative transportation, such as Lyft or Uber.
Buses
All Disney buses are wheelchair and ECV accessible, too! If you have a stroller you will need to fold it up before boarding.
Some of the larger Disney owned resort hotels have multiple bus stops throughout for your convenience. Wondering when the next bus is scheduled to arrive at your location? Each resort hotel bus stop has a monitor that displays its estimated time of arrival.
I love taking the Disney buses because they have some of the best air conditioning on property, and they’re rarely too crowded. Sometimes at the end of the night – right after park closing – the first few buses will be standing room only. I recommend waiting a little while before exiting the park if you can; you’ll be able to take some nice pictures with thinned out crowds, and you’ll have a seat for the ride back to your resort hotel!
Each park has a bus depot a short distance from the gates and your stop will be clearly labeled. Disney buses run continuously, so you’ll never have to wait too long for another one to come along!
Boats
Most routes run on 15 to 30 minute intervals and all Disney boats are wheelchair and ECV accessible! If you have a stroller you will need to fold it up before boarding.
If you’re staying at Wilderness Lodge, Fort Wilderness, the Polynesian, or the Grand Floridian you can take a water taxi directly to the Magic Kingdom! If you’re staying in select rooms at BoardWalk, Yacht and Beach, or Swan and Dolphin you can take a water taxi to Epcot or Hollywood Studios. From Old Key West, Saratoga Springs, and Port Orleans you can take a water taxi to Disney Springs.
Wherever you’re headed, the Disney boats are a very relaxing way to get around – though docking, loading, and unloading can take a bit longer than any of the other transportation options.
Monorail
The Magic Kingdom, Epcot, and select Disney Resort hotels are just minutes away by monorail – the “public transport of the future.”
The Walt Disney World Monorail System has 3 separate lines that travel throughout Walt Disney World and operates from 30 minutes prior to earliest park opening until one hour after latest park closing.
The Resort Monorail makes stops at Magic Kingdom, the Contemporary, the Grand Floridian, the Polynesian, and the Transportation and Ticket Center. If you’re staying at any of these accommodations you can enjoy convenient access to all monorail lines, right from your Disney Resort hotel – the Monorail even goes right through the middle of the Contemporary!
The Epcot Monorail and the Express Monorail both originate at the Transportation and Ticket Center and offer round-trip service to Epcot and Magic Kingdom park.
I enjoy using the Monorail to travel between the Magic Kingdom and Epcot if I’m park hopping; just make sure you use the right one to keep your travel time at a minimum! If you’re staying at one of the Monorail resorts and want to get to Epcot, you’ll have to transfer at the Transportation and Ticket Center!
Skyliner
The Skyliner is Disney’s newest mode of transportation! You’ll find yourself gliding over Walt Disney World in state-of-the-art aerial gondolas – many of which are decorated with the characters you know and love.
The Skyliner moves continually but is wheelchair and ECV accessible. Each gondola can hold up to 10 guests, and there is plenty of room for standard strollers; if you have a double stroller you will need to fold it up before boarding.
The Skyliner connects Art of Animation, Pop Century, Caribbean Beach, and the Riviera to Hollywood Studios and Epcot’s International Gateway entrance. If you’re staying at any of these accommodations you can enjoy convenient access to the Skyliner, right from your Disney Resort hotel – in fact buses to Epcot or Hollywood Studios are only available when the Skyliner is not operational due to inclement weather or refurbishment.
I love staying at Skyliner resorts because travel between the resorts and Epcot or Hollywood Studios is a breeze; just make sure you’re on the right line to keep your travel time down!
Minnie Van
If you’d rather not use shared transportation or need to get across Walt Disney World as quickly as possible, you can use a Minnie Van. Minnie Vans are operated by Lyft, are available from 6:30 am to 12:30 am daily, and pricing is based on distance traveled. Minnie Vans come in a variety of sizes, and most of them have car seats available. While they’re not part of the complimentary transportation options, Minnie Vans are operated by Disney Cast Members, and you will enjoy an expedient and informative ride!
Let me book your trip for you! I can book your airport transfers and – once in Walt Disney World – help you get from here to there quickly!
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