Moving around Walt Disney World can be a bit complex at first, especially for first-time visitors. With four major theme parks, water parks, a huge downtown district, and countless stores, it’s not unusual to see guests wondering how to get to their favorite spots as soon as they arrive in Florida. Sure, you could rent a car, use that marvelous invention called GPS, and navigate on your own, but did you know that Disney offers complimentary transportation for anyone who wants to get not only to the theme parks but also to the hotels?
Disney World transportation, as this guide’s title implies, is divided into four main categories:
- Buses
- Boats & Water taxis
- Monorail
- Skyliner
All of these are complimentary for guests - not only for those staying in a Disney hotel but for everyone. Really. Even if you aren’t staying at a resort, you can hop on a bus or take the monorail and move around Disney World just as Mickey Mouse intended. While most transportation options are linked to specific hotels and resorts, you can still head to any hotel, board a bus, and make your way to Hollywood Studios or any other theme park without spending a dime.
Now, let’s take a detailed look at each transportation option and the resorts with easy access to them.
Buses at Walt Disney World
- Available on: every Disney World resort and hotel.
- Operating hours: Buses start about one hour before Early Entry and run until one hour after the theme parks close.
- Runs every 20 minutes.
Ahhh, buses. You can’t go wrong with them! You know, those long, stretched vehicles that carry a lot of people around? They’re simple and effective. Bus stops are available at every Disney World resort, and it doesn’t matter if you’re staying in a Disney Value Hotel or the luxurious Grand Floridian. This is definitely the easiest way to get around.
Keep in mind that if you’re staying at a Disney hotel, you have access to early entry, which allows you to enter a theme park thirty minutes before other guests. This means the first bus of the day will likely arrive 45 minutes to one hour before early entry starts. If you want to take advantage of this great perk (and you should), make sure to head to the bus stop a bit earlier and get ready for a day full of magic.
The bus is the easiest way to get around Walt Disney World, but it can also take the most time. At some Value hotels, buses are shared, which can make the trip to Disney take a bit longer. Not every bus stops at every theme park, either. Be sure to check the bus schedule when you arrive at your resort, or feel free to contact us at the time of your trip, and we’ll be happy to help!
Boats & Water Taxis at Disney World
- Available on: several hotels and Disney Springs.
- Operating hours: For Magic Kingdom, water taxis typically start 30 minutes before Early Entry and run until 90 minutes after the park closes. For Disney Springs, water taxis operate from 10:30am until about 1:30am.
- Runs every 15 to 30 minutes.
Let’s take a look at the destinations and resorts that offer water taxi services:
Magic Kingdom
- Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground
- Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
- Disney's Polynesian Villas & Bungalows
- Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
- You can also hop on a boat from the Transportation and Ticket Center and then head to Magic Kingdom instead of taking a Monorail.
EPCOT and Hollywood Studios
- Disney’s BoardWalk Villas
- Disney's Beach Club Villas
- Disney’s Yacht Club Resort
- Walt Disney World Dolphin Hotel
- Walt Disney World Swan Hotel
Disney Springs
- Disney's Old Key West Resort
- Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa
- Disney's Port Orleans Resort - Riverside
- Disney's Port Orleans - French Quarter
Water taxis connect the following resorts
- Disney’s Contemporary Resort
- Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground
- Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
As you can see, water taxis are a bit more complex at Walt Disney World. They offer a charming way to reach the Happiest Place on Earth, even if they’re not the fastest option. Water taxis are perfect for those who want to sit back, relax, and enjoy a refreshing breeze. While several hotels and theme parks are connected by water taxis, most guests use them primarily to get to Magic Kingdom.
Ferry boats aren’t as fast as the monorail, so we recommend the latter if you’re looking to save time. Still, the boats offer a charming option for a romantic moment, letting you feel like Mickey & Minnie as you arrive at Disney.
Monorails at Disney World
- Available on: Magic Kingdom, Transportation and Ticket Center, Disney’s Contemporary Resort, Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, Disney's Polynesian Village Resort.
- Operating hours: Monorails start 60 to 90 minutes before Magic Kingdom opens for Early Entry and run until one hour after the park closes.
- Runs continuously
The monorail is probably the most efficient way to get to Magic Kingdom and some of Disney’s hotels. It’s fast and simple, and you never have to worry about traffic, making it easy to estimate your arrival time at your destination. The only downside is that it’s available at only a few resorts - specifically, some of the most expensive options Disney offers. If you’re staying at one of those, the monorail is definitely the best way to travel.
Guests not staying at a Disney hotel or who don’t want to take a bus will need to drive and park at the Transportation and Ticket Center (TTC). From there, they can hop on a ferry boat or catch the monorail to reach Magic Kingdom.
Skyliners at Disney World
- Available on: Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, Disney’s Pop Century Resort, Disney’s Riviera Resort.
- Operating hours: Skyliners operate one hour before Early Theme Park Entry begins at EPCOT or Disney’s Hollywood Studios and close 90 minutes after those parks close.
- Runs continuously
The Skyliner is one of the most enjoyable transportation options at Walt Disney World, and it’s a favorite among kids. However, keep in mind that it only connects specific resorts to EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios - there are no Skyliners linking hotels to Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, or Disney Springs.
While the Skyliner is fun, it can take a while to reach your destination. It moves slowly, and there’s a good chance you’ll encounter long lines before boarding. If you don’t mind the wait, it can be a great experience. It’s also important to note that the Skyliners do not operate during inclement weather, so if it’s raining, you should head to the bus stop instead.
Getting to the Water Parks at Disney World
Transportation Options to Blizzard Beach
- Bus available on: Animal Kingdom, Disney’s All-Star Resort hotels and Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort.
You can reach Disney’s water park only by driving or taking a bus. Animal Kingdom has a bus that operates between the theme park and Blizzard Beach, while Disney’s All-Star Resorts and Coronado Springs offer direct bus transportation to the water parks.
Here is what Disney has to say about it:
- From all Disney Resort hotels, please take the bus to the Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park and then transfer onto the bus for Disney’s Blizzard Beach water park.
- Bus service from Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park to Disney’s Blizzard Beach water park begins approximately 30 minutes prior to water park opening.
- Bus service from Disney’s Blizzard Beach water park to Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park ends approximately 60 minutes after water park closing.
Transportation Options to Typhoon Lagoon
- Bus available on: Disney Springs.
You can reach Typhoon Lagoon only by bus or car. While there are no buses that directly connect hotels to Typhoon Lagoon, you can take a bus to Disney Springs and then transfer to a bus heading to the water park.
Here is what Disney has to say about it:
- From all Disney Resort hotels, please take the bus to the Disney Springs area and then transfer onto the bus for Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon water park.
- Bus service from Disney Springs to Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon water park begins approximately 45 minutes prior to the water park opening.
- Bus service from Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon water park to Disney Springs ends approximately 60 minutes after the water park closing.
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