Updated: February 17, 2020
Originally Posted: January 14, 2019
Congrats - you’ve conquered the challenging questions facing Walt Disney World visitors! You’ve finalized the date of your trip; you’ve chosen your dream hotel; you’ve selected the number of days you’re visiting the parks; and you’ve made your FastPass+ and Advance Dining Reservations. But now you’re wondering how to navigate your way around Disney once you’re there.
Disney’s Magical Express waiting to pick up guests from the Polynesian to Orlando International Airport
For guests who are staying at an on-property hotel, your trip starts off on the most magical note with a ride on Disney’s Magical Express. A free service to Disney hotel guests arriving at Orlando International Airport only, Cast Members will pick up your checked luggage from baggage claim, while you board a comfortable motor coach to your hotel. (To take advantage of this complimentary benefit of staying on property, don’t book flights into and out of Sanford or other Florida airports.)You can feel the excitement in the air as your fellow riders are ready to start their vacation as well! Together, you’ll watch Disney cartoons, catch behind-the-scenes action of park entertainment, festivals and attractions, and test your Disney knowledge as you answer trivia questions. As a round trip transfer, you can also use the service on the way back to Orlando International Airport.
The Magical Express runs 24-7; however if your flight arrives between the hours of 10pm to 5 am, you’ll have to grab your luggage. For additional details on Disney’s Magical Express, check out our earlier blog post on the subject.
You’ve made it to your hotel, checked into your room, had a good night’s slumber, and are ready to tackle your first day in the parks. Unfortunately, the Magical Express will not come back to take you to Magic Kingdom or anywhere else other than Orlando International Airport on the day of your departure. But good news! Disney has a separate bus system that picks up guests from on-property hotels to the four theme parks, two water parks and Disney Springs. The buses, however, will not take you from hotel to hotel. (Getting from one hotel to another hotel, for a dining reservation for example, usually involves taking a bus to a park then boarding a bus at that park bus stop to the second hotel. Sound exhausting? There are other ways to avoid multiple bus routes, so keep reading!)
Bus stop at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Treehouse Villas
Like Magical Express, Disney’s bus service is FREE. Guests who are not staying at a Disney resort can also utilize the bus service throughout Disney property. Once on-site, you’ll find real-time wait times at the hotel bus stops, on the My Disney Experience mobile app and on the television in your Disney hotel room.
Use My Disney Experience to manage bus wait times; it’ll let you know if you have time for a coffee run or if you should be running to the bus stop!
Bus service to the parks from Disney hotels officially opens 45 minutes before park opening and stops running two hours after park close. For those staying at Skyliner resorts (see below), Disney is reducing bus service to the parks to an hourly basis.
For bus service to Disney Springs from Disney hotels, operating times rum from 45 minutes before opening until 1 am Return service to Disney hotels ends at 2:00 sm. One-way bus service from the four Disney theme parks operates daily from 4 pm until 11:00 pm or 2 hours after theme parks close, whichever is earlier.
You can also catch a bus from the hotels to the two Disney water parks; the buses run in 30-minute intervals. Bus service begins 45 minutes prior to park opening and ends one hour prior to park closing with return service to Disney hotels ending 75 minutes after park closing.
If you are looking for a distinctly Disney mode of transportation, look no further than the Monorail. This signature railway in the sky has two lines, so you want to be sure you board the right train. The Resort Monorail makes stops at Magic Kingdom, Disney’s Contemporary Resort, Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, and the Transportation and Ticket Center (TTC). Guests staying at the three Deluxe resorts listed above have the added convenience of boarding the Monorail from their hotel. The Epcot Monorail and Express Monorail originate at the TTC and provide express service to Epcot and Magic Kingdom. An attraction unto itself, we love riding the Monorail to resort hop and check out the beautiful surroundings of the hotels on the Monorail line. We also utilize it to park hop to and from Magic Kingdom and Epcot.
The Monorail operates from 30 minutes prior to earliest park opening until one hour after latest park closing.
Disney’s Monorail approaching Epcot - "Please stand clear of the doors! Por favor manténganse alejado de las puertas!"
Water enthusiasts will enjoy setting sail from select destination points on Disney’s water transportation system. Guests can take a water taxi to Magic Kingdom from the Grand Floridian, Polynesian, Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground, and Disney’s Wilderness Lodge. Although guests staying at Disney’s Boardwalk Inn, Disney’s Beach Club Resort, Disney’s Yacht Club Resort, and the Swan and Dolphin Hotels can easily walk to neighboring Epcot and Hollywood Studios, it’s much more fun and relaxing to arrive via boat. When guests at Disney’s Port Orleans French Quarter and Riverside hotels, Disney’s Old Key West Resort and Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa are ready to eat, drink and shop their way around Disney Springs, ferryboats are ready and waiting to transport them to the lively entertainment district.
Hours of operation vary subject to water and weather conditions.
Disney’s boat service taking guests from the Crescent Lake resorts to Hollywood Studios
Disney’s latest mode of transportation, the Skyliner, launched in the fall of 2019. The gondola system connects Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, Disney’s Pop Century Resort, Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort and the newly-opened Disney’s Riviera Resort to Hollywood Studios and Epcot - an incredible benefit for guests staying at these Value and Moderate hotels. Caribbean Beach serves as the hub for Skyliner activity, where all the lines meet. Riders will transfer at the Caribbean Beach station to proceed to Hollywood Studios and Epcot. Hollywood Studios Skyliner access is located at the front of the park, while the Epcot station is near the park’s International Gateway entrance - bonus for those staying at the Crescent Lake resorts.
Caribbean Beach Skyliner Station
We love this unique mode of Disney transportation. Riding high in the sky affords amazing views of the parks and resorts. We didn’t feel motion sickness, and we didn’t get overly uncomfortable in the summer heat - surprise: the gondolas aren’t equipped with air conditioning.
As the gondolas seat up to 10 people, it’s a fun, intimate way to ride with a large group. The Skyliner accommodates small strollers that are open, as well as wheelchairs. Rather than boarding a (slowly) moving gondola, those with wheelchairs and strollers will board a stationary vehicle.
Unlike the buses, real-time wait times are not available for the Skyliner. Hours of operation are currently only posted at the gondola stations. As such, we wouldn’t recommend using the Skyliner to make rope drop at Hollywood Studios.
Disney’s Skyliner - the newest transportation system
Quite possibly the cutest transfer method, the Minnie Van is Disney’s version of the increasingly popular ride-hailing service. Using the Lyft app, it is a paid alternative to the other modes of Disney transportation, particularly useful if your feet are aching from a long day at the parks or if you just don’t like waiting for buses/boats to arrive. We think it’s worth the cost of calling a Minnie Van to get from your home resort to the site of your dining reservation - think getting from All Star Movies to the Grand Floridian for your 8 a.m. 1900 Park Fare character breakfast. Minnie Vans also offer roundtrip service to and from Orlando International Airport for $150 each way - if riding the Magical Express for FREE isn’t your style!
Disney’s Minnie Van service - the most adorable mode of transporation
We hope that this breakdown of Walt Disney World transportation makes it easier for you to navigate Disney property next time you visit. Of course, we encourage you to reach out to a Beyond Imagination Vacations planner in the early stages of your vacation planning. As part of our concierge-level service, we map out specifics for clients, ensuring you get to where you need to be in the most timely and efficient manner! Because you want to spend your valuable vacation time creating memories - not getting lost at Disney!