Sprawling across a whopping 27,520 acres of land, it’s no surprise that the Walt Disney World transportation system is pretty extensive.
While you can choose to drive yourself or get an Uber/Lyft around the property, you can also opt for one of Disney’s handy options. These range from the iconic Monorail and Disney buses to the more recent addition of the Skyliner system.
And the best part? The majority of Disney transportation is free and efficient.
Getting Around Walt Disney World
If the thought of navigating Walt Disney World transportation leaves you scratching your head, don’t panic. Here’s what you need to know before you go.
Buses
The most common way to travel between each park and resort for free is via the Disney buses. Each Walt Disney World Resort offers complimentary bus service to and from the theme parks and Disney Springs. These run from around 45 minutes before park opening and an hour after closing.
It’s a little bit trickier if you want to visit a water park. Disney’s All-Star Resort hotels and Coronado Springs Resort offer direct bus transportation to and from Disney’s Blizzard Beach water park. If you’re staying elsewhere, take a bus to Animal Kingdom and then transfer to Blizzard Beach. You'll also need to head to Disney Springs and hop on a bus to Typhoon Lagoon from there.
We’ll warn you: buses are not always the most efficient way to travel between locations. They fill up incredibly quickly during peak times and you could be left waiting around 20 minutes for the next bus to arrive if you don’t manage to fit on the first one. Guests can check bus times on the My Disney Experience App.
Monorail
Another way to get around Walt Disney World is by the Monorail. This is one of the most popular ways to travel between the Transportation and Ticket Center (TTC) and a handful of resorts, Magic Kingdom, and EPCOT.
There are multiple Monorail lines:
- The EPCOT Monorail travels between the TTC and EPCOT.
- The Express Monorail travels directly between the TTC and Magic Kingdom.
- The Resort Monorail travels between Magic Kingdom, Disney’s Contemporary Resort, Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, Disney's Polynesian Village Resort, and the TTC.
The Monorail lines begin operating 30 minutes before the parks open. The Resort and Express Monorail lines stop one hour after Magic Kingdom closes, while the EPCOT Monorail runs for two more hours after EPCOT closes.
Skyliner
The Skyliner system is Disney’s most recent addition to its free transportation lineup. Featuring over 300 gondolas (each seating up to 10 guests) in an array of different designs, we think that this is one of the best methods of transportation if you are heading to EPCOT or Hollywood Studios.
There are five Skyliner stations – one at EPCOT, one at Hollywood Studios, and three at the following resorts:
- Disney’s Art of Animation Resort (shared with Pop Century)
- Disney’s Pop Century Resort (shared with Art of Animation)
- Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
- Disney’s Riviera Resort
Note that if you’re travelling to Hollywood Studios, you will need to change Skyliner at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort. You must choose alternative transport if you want to visit Magic Kingdom or Animal Kingdom.
The Skyliner runs one hour before early park entry and stops around 90 minutes after the parks close. The Skyliner gondolas travel at around 11mph, so they’re certainly not the speediest method of transportation, but the incredible views of Walt Disney World from the sky more than make up for it.
Water Transport
Many guests know about the Magic Kingdom ferry connecting the park to the TTC, but the smaller water taxis often fly under the radar. These boats connect Magic Kingdom to Fort Wilderness Resort, Grand Floridian Resort, Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, and Polynesian Village Resort.
Another underrated way to travel between a select number of resorts and Disney Springs is by boat. Guests staying at the following resorts can take free (and very pretty) boat rides to Disney Springs until late at night:
- Disney's Old Key West Resort
- Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort
- Disney's Port Orleans Resort - Riverside and French Quarter
Disney also boasts FriendShip Boats, connecting EPCOT, Hollywood Studios, and a handful of EPCOT-area resorts. Guests can also board FriendShip Boats to travel between the Mexico, Germany, Canada, and Morocco pavilions at EPCOT.
Minnie Vans
If you would prefer to travel around Walt Disney World privately, the best way to do so is by using Minnie Vans.
These are not free and can be very expensive depending on where you’re travelling to, but they can be a great way to avoid waiting in transportation queues when WDW is busy.
You can call a Minnie Van by using the Lyft app. Simply download the app to your phone, type in your destination, and select the Minnie Van option and the next available car will be on its way to you. You can see your journey’s estimated price before you book a vehicle.
Additionally, you can choose between a regular car and an accessible van, which is ideal if you’re visiting the parks with strollers and/or wheelchair users. Guests can also request up to two complimentary child seats if needed.
Walt Disney World Transportation Tips
- If you're heading to a park for an early breakfast reservation or to rope drop your favourite ride, avoid taking the buses as they get incredibly busy around this time. Instead, opt for the Skyliner or private transportation options to ensure you get to the park before the crowds.
- Use the My Disney Experience app to locate transport information – the app shows you where the different transport stops are located.
- Sadly, Disney discontinued its Magical Express shuttle system that previously transported guests between Orlando Airport and the Disney resorts. The main options now are to rent a car, take a paid shuttle service, or use a ride-sharing app like Lyft or Uber. Minnie Vans used to run between the airport and WDW, but this is currently unavailable.
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