disney transportation

There are many different ways to get around Walt Disney World Resort.  This overview will help to give you a general idea of what options are available, but you can always ask a cast member or use the My Disney Experience app to help with directions if you are unsure how to get somewhere. To use the app just select a destination on the map and choose “Get Directions”. You can use your current location or select a different location to start from. It also helps to familiarize yourself with your resort so that you know what options (boat, Monorail, Skyliner, bus) might be the easiest to use. 

Walt disney world transportation map

buses

Buses are the most common way to get around Walt Disney World Resort. When you check in to your resort be sure to find out where the bus stop is. Some large resorts have internal bus routes that will loop through the resort, or there may be multiple stops within the resort for busses headed to Theme Parks. Bus stops have a Disney Transport screen that will let you know when to expect the next bus and what bus to take to get to different destinations. You will need to fold down your stroller to ride, so be prepared. There are also sometimes designated places for those with scooters or wheelchairs to wait for assistance in boarding the bus

Resort to/from Theme Park buses run from every resort to every theme park (as long as there is not another easy mode of transportation). Buses typically run from an hour or so before park open to an hour after park close. These times can vary with crowd levels, sometimes running longer than that. The only time that you cannot get a bus from a resort to a theme park is if there is another easy transportation option. For example, there isn’t usually a bus from Caribbean Beach Resort to Hollywood Studios because the Skyliner runs between those two. You also can’t get a bus from the Polynesian Resort to Magic Kingdom because you have the monorail and boat as other options. There are sometimes exceptions if there is a weather related closure or something, so if you are unsure always check the MDE app, Disney Transport screen, or with a Cast Member.

 

Resort to/from Water Park buses are sometimes running, but typically you will have to make a transfer. To get to Typhoon Lagoon you usually have to take a bus to Disney Springs and then board another bus for the short ride to Typhoon Lagoon. To get to Blizzard Beach you may have to take a bus to Animal Kingdom and then board a transfer bus to Blizzard Beach. These can vary depending on what resort you are staying at and what time of year you are travelling. The Disney Transport screen or app will usually tell you what bus to board, but always check with a Cast Member if you are unsure.

 

Resort to/from Disney Springs buses run during Disney Springs operating hours.

 

Theme Park to Theme Park buses currently run during park hopping hours, but with those going away soon you should be able to get a bus from park to park during most of the day, although there are sometimes better ways to get there (Skyliner, boat, or Monorail).

 

You cannot go from resort to resort or from a theme park to Disney Springs on a bus.

monorail

There are three different monorails lines available at Walt Disney World. They generally begin running an hour before park open and stop running an hour after park close (the EPCOT monorail may run up to 2 hours after park close). You can drive your stroller right on without needing to fold it, and a cast member will assist you with a ramp if you have a scooter or wheelchair.

 

The Resort Monorail runs clockwise around Seven Seas Lagoon with stops at the Contemporary Resort, the Ticket and Transportation Center (TTC), the Polynesian Village Resort, the Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, and the Magic Kingdom. The entire loop usually takes about 20 minutes.

 

The Express Monorail runs counterclockwise around Sven Seas Lagoon with stops only at the Ticket and Transportation Center and the Magic Kingdom. It takes less than 10 minutes between the two stops.

 

The EPCOT Monorail runs between EPCOT and the Ticket and Transportation Center. It takes less than 15 minutes between the two stops.

skyliner

The Disney Skyliner is an aerial gondola that takes guests on a relaxing flight between two theme parks and four resorts. There are three different Skyliner lines that generally run 90 minutes before park open and 90 minutes after park close. You can drive your stroller right on, and if you are using a scooter or wheelchair there is a special area where you can load onto a gondola while it is stationary.

 

The Pop Century/Art of Animation line runs between the Hourglass Lake station and the Caribbean Beach Resort station. It is a quick 5 minute ride and guests must disembark at each station.

 

The Hollywood Studios line runs between the Caribbean Beach Resort Station and Hollywood Studios. The ride takes about 7 minutes and guests must disembark at each station.

 

The Riviera/EPCOT line runs between the Caribbean Beach Resort station and the EPCOT International Gateway station with a stop at the Riviera Resort station in the middle. The ride between Caribbean Beach and Riviera is about 5 minutes and the ride between Riviera and EPCOT is about 9 minutes. Guests must disembark at the EPCOT and Caribbean Beach Resort stations, but may choose to stay on as they ride through the Riviera station.

 

Note that the Skyliner station is located at the International Gateway entrance of EPCOT, while the parking lot and Monorail station are located at the Main entrance.

water transportation

There are a number of different boats and ferries that you can ride while at the Walt Disney Resort.

Ferries run between the Ticket and Transportation Center and the entrance to the Magic Kingdom. They are large and can carry a lot of people, and strollers and scooters can be driven right onto the lower deck. The 10 minute ride across Seven Seas Lagoon is an easy way to get to and from the parking lot.

Water Taxis run from the Magic Kingdom to various resorts in the area. These taxis take passengers to the Grand Floridian, Polynesian, Contemporary, Wilderness Lodge, and Fort Wilderness Resorts. There are unique color flags for each route, so check the signage or with a cast member to ensure that you are on the right boat. Some of these boats are wheelchair/scooter accessible, especially those going to Fort Wilderness and Wilderness Lodge, while many of those going to the other “Monorail loop” resorts are not, and strollers must be folded on all boats to board.

Crescent Lake Friendship Boats run between the EPCOT International Gateway and Hollywood Studios, with stops at the Beach & Yacht Club, Boardwalk, and Swan & Dolphin Resorts. They are typically wheelchair and scooter accessible and strollers may be pushed onboard unless you are asked to fold it down during busy times. These boats are sometimes slow, and it may be quicker to walk on the paths rather than take a boat, especially at the end of the day.

Sassagoula River Ferry boats run across Disney Springs and from Disney Springs to the nearby resorts. Saratoga Springs, Old Key West, and Port Orleans (French Quarter and Riverside) are serviced by these ferries. They have unique flag colors depending on their destination, so make sure to check the signage or with a Cast Member to ensure you are on the right one. Stroller may need to be folded, but these boats should be wheelchair and scooter accessible.