Getting around at Walt Disney World
Location! Location! Location! Transportation is a big player in vacation success, and was on your planners mind BEFORE you even booked your resort! Your Help Around the Mouse itinerary is going to tell you how to get from point A to point B on time. But — being informed is always a good idea, and this Clue in may share some tips you will find helpful.
Location! Location! Location! Transportation is a big player in vacation success, and was on your planners mind BEFORE you even booked your resort! Your Help Around the Mouse itinerary is going to tell you how to get from point A to point B on time. But — being informed is always a good idea, and this Clue in may share some tips you will find helpful.
Disney provides complimentary transportation from the Orlando International Airport to your resort. There is no service from other airports. Your Help Around the Mouse planner will sign you up for Disney’s Magical Express if you ask them to. Your flight information will be required. Magical Express could have long lines — or not. You could wait — or not. You could be the first dropped off — or not. Such is the reality of complimentary public transportation. The bus are comfortable, air conditioned and the ride is pleasant. We generally estimate about 2 hours from plane to resort. On the way home, they will pick you up 3 hours in advance.
If you would like something more predictable and possibly faster, you can hire a Town Car or an Uber. You Help Around the Mouse planner will be happy to set up a town car for you. The cost, one way, will usually be under $100, including gratuity. Renting a car is always an option as well.
Help Around the Mouse will take sure your airport transfers are taken care of. You don’t need to remember to do this.
Like any large city (Disney is the size of San Fransisco) there are many ways to get around, and often, systems interconnect to get you where you are going. You can’t be close to everything from one place. Transfers are often necessary. Disney is no different.
FORMS OF TRANSPORTATION
Complimentary
• Buses
• Monorails
• Boats and Ferries
• Gondolas (coming soon!)
• Walking!
Fee Based
• Minnie Vans
• Uber/Lyft
• Taxi
• Your own Car
Buses arrive about every 20 minutes. Your My Disney Experience app has a transportation section that will let you know when the next bus is supposed to arrive at your location. This information
is also posted at most bus stops. Be aware that this is a guide… not a promise.
It can be a long walk from your resort’s bus stop to the theme parks, and from your room to the bus stops. With young children, a stroller will come in handy. Strollers must be folded and carried onto the bus. All buses accept scooters and wheelchairs. There are no seatbelts. Eating and drinking is not allowed - but they do tend to turn a blind eye to coffee cups in the morning. Some resorts provide non-stop transportation, others make multiple stops within the resort or with anther resort.
The Express Monorail goes from the Ticket/Transportation Center (Where off-property guests can park for the Magic Kingdom) to Magic Kingdom with no stops. It travels counter clockwise.
The Resort Monorail travels in a clockwise loop and includes the Magic Kingdom. The stops, in order, are Ticket/Transportation Center, Disney's Polynesian Village Resort, Disney's Grand Floridian Resort, Magic Kingdom, Disney's Contemporary Resort, and back to Ticket/Transportation Center. A full loop takes about 20 minutes, with scheduled stops.
The Epcot Monorail travels from the Ticket/Transportation Center to Epcot. Therefore, Disney's Grand Floridian Resort guests must get the Resort monorail to Ticket/Transportation Center, and then transfer to the Express monorail.
Monorails stop for squirrels on the tracks, or mechanical systems errors (they’re old!), or to maintain safe distances between other monorails. You may leave your stroller open.
The large paddle wheel ferries transport thousands of guests at one time between the Ticket/Transportation Center and Magic Kingdom. If you are lucky enough to be the first on, walk all the way to the other end of the boat and you can be the first off.
The Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney's Hollywood Studios and Disney Springs areas are serviced by 3 different boat systems. The Epcot boats service does not go to Magic Kingdom. The Magic Kingdom boat service does not go to Disney Springs, etc.
Boats do not run if there is lightning in the area. Alternate transportation will be provided.
Boats are ADA accessible. Strollers must be folded.
Magic Kingdom — There are 2 different boat transportation systems in the Magic Kingdom area. One travels from Disney's Contemporary Resort to Disney's Fort Wilderness to Disney's Wilderness Lodge to Disney's Contemporary Resort.
The other travels from Magic Kingdom to Disney's Grand Floridian Resort to Disney's Polynesian Village Resort.
Therefore — you cannot travel from Disney's Polynesian Village Resort to Disney's Fort Wilderness without transferring.
Epcot — These ‘FriendShips’ travel from Epcot to Disney's BoardWalk Inn to Disney's Yacht Club/ Beach Club Resorts to Walt Disney World Swan/Dolphin Hotel to Disney's Hollywood Studios and back to Disney's BoardWalk Inn. It is possible (and probably faster) to walk between all fo these locations.
Disney Springs — Water Taxis shuttle guests from Disney's Port Orleans - Riverside and Disney's French Quarter Resort to Disney Springs. Another set travels from Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort to Disney Springs, and yet another from Disney’s Old Key West Resort to Disney Springs.
When the open in the fall of 2019, The Disney Skyliner will transport guests from Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort, Disney's Art of Animation Resort and Disney's Pop Century — as well as the new Riviera Resort — to Epcot and Disney's Hollywood Studios.
You can walk from Disney's Contemporary Resort to Magic Kingdom.
You can walk from any Epcot resort to Disney's Hollywood Studios and Epcot.
You can walk from Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort to Disney Springs
You can walk from Disney's Polynesian Village Resort to Disney's Grand Floridian Resort
You can walk from Disney's Fort Wilderness to Disney's Wilderness Lodge.
That’s it!
This premium service costs $15 base plus an additional cost per mile. It uses the Lyft app on your phone, and like Lyft, will charge surge pricing. This is as close to door to door as you get at Disney. They seat 6, and have 2 car seats. Some are wheelchair accessible. Because they are driven by Disney employees, they can be quite popular with families in need of safe, fast transportation for young children. Otherwise, Lyft or Uber may be more economical. Minnie Van are the only paid options that are allowed to go to the Magic Kingdom and Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Review.
Lyft/Uber/cab
No problem! They are welcome. Best option if traveling from resort to resort where there is often no direct transportation. Remember the limits, however. Only Minnie Vans go directly to Magic Kingdom. These services have to drop you off at the Ticket/Transportation Center, so it is better to request service to Disney's Contemporary Resort, and walk over.
Your Car
Follow the signs, and not a google map, and you’ll be fine. You don’t want to end up in a backstage location! There is no theme park parking fee for Disney resort guests, but they DO charge you to park your car there over night. Price varies by resort - $13 - 24 per night — and are added to your final folio. Because you have to park at the Ticket/Transportation Center and take a monorail into Magic Kingdom, it is often better to to a bus to Magic Kingdom. Parking at the Magic Kingdom resorts is monitored—a dining reservation may be required.
Buses are the only option.
TRAVELING FROM DELUXE RESORTS TO THEME PARKS
Magic Kingdom resorts take bus, boat or monorail to Magic Kingdom. Disney's Contemporary Resort guests can also walk. These resorts take the Resort Monorail to Ticket/Transportation Center and (Disney Polynesian guests should walk) and transfer here to the Epcot monorail. Take the bus to the other theme parks and Disney Springs.
Epcot resort guests can walk or take the boats to Disney's Hollywood Studios or Epcot. Buses are available to Disney Springs and the other theme parks.
All other Deluxe resorts guests will take buses to the theme parks.
This can be easy or complicated; it can take 5 minutes or 90. This is one of the main reasons guest are lost, late and exhausted.
Unless you are walking or a Resort monorail guest, resort to resort travel almost always requires a transfer. To get from Animal Kingdom Lodge to Disney's Grand Floridian Resort, for example, you’d need to take the bus to Animal Kingdom theme park and then transfer to the Disney's Grand Floridian Resort bus. This can be very time consuming. Disney suggests allowing at least 90 minutes — one way. Ouch.
You Help Around the Mouse planner will ALWAYS keep transportation in mind when planning your itinerary. But when a resort to resort transfer is needed, and not as convenient as you might hope for, the quickest way is always going to be your car, Lyft/Uber, cab or Minnie Van.
- From the Magic Kingdom to:
- Epcot - Take the Magic Kingdom monorail or ferry to the Transportation and Ticket Center and transfer to the Epcot monorail
- Disney's Hollywood Studios - bus
- Animal Kingdom - bus
- From Epcot to:
- Animal Kingdom - bus
- Disney's Hollywood Studios - bus, boat or you can even walk
- Magic Kingdom - Take the Epcot monorail to the Transportation and Ticket Center and transfer to either the Magic Kingdom monorail or take the ferry
- From Disney's Hollywood Studios to:
- Animal Kingdom - bus
- Magic Kingdom - bus
- Epcot - bus, boat or you can even walk
- From Animal Kingdom to:
- Disney's Hollywood Studios - bus
- Epcot - bus
- Magic Kingdom - bus
SPECIAL SITUATIONS
Disney's Fort Wilderness and Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Review
This large campground area has 2 main entrances and many internal buses. The entrance by the road is the Outpost Depot. The one by the water is the Settlement Depot. Only internal buses are allowed to drive in most sections of Disney's Fort Wilderness. Guests traveling to Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Review can drive to the Outpost Depot, park and be taken by an internal bus to Hoop. All others will take the boat from Disney's Contemporary Resort, Disney's Wilderness Lodge or Magic Kingdom to the Settlement Depot and walk to Hoop.
Disney Springs and Theme Parks
There is no transportation from Disney Springs TO theme parks. Guest wanting to travel to Disney Springs FROM the theme parks may do so after 4:00 only. Guests hoping to park for free at Disney Springs and then take a bus to a theme park will not be able to.
Early Morning Breakfasts
Early in the morning, when things are a little stressed, you’re running late, and all transportaion systems aren’t up and running (and might have last minute issues…) might be a good time to hire a Minnie Van or an Uber.
Disney's Epcot Resort Area
This area is nestled between Disney's Hollywood Studios and Epcot. Unless you have hopper tickets, you can’t walk thru Epcot to get there if you went to Magic Kingdom that morning. It is best access via a car.
From everyone at HelpAroundtheMouse.com -- We hope this information helps you have an even more magical Walt Disney World vacation! K
6/19
6/19