One of the reasons we love going to Walt Disney World on our family vacations is that we don’t have to drive anywhere. No navigating unfamiliar roads, no missing exits, no frustrations, no hauling car seats around. We love the free transportation available throughout the Walt Disney World Resort.
So what transportation is available while visiting Walt Disney World? We have all the different transportation options and where you can find them throughout Walt Disney World.
Buses
The biggest transportation option throughout Walt Disney World are the buses. Buses take Guests to and from all four Theme Parks (Magic Kingdom, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, Disney’s Animal Kingdom) as well as Disney Springs and the two water parks when opened.
Buses are scheduled to come every 20 minutes and make a quick trip to your destination. These aren’t your typical city buses, as they are decorated with amazing Disney themed wraps that make them magical.
No matter where you want to head on Disney Property, chances are a Disney bus can get you there. Make sure you use the My Disney Experience app, as it will allow you to see approximate arrival times for buses at your Resort. This can be extremely helpful when it comes to getting the family out of the Resort on time.
Disney buses are fun for kids as they can see out of the window which they might not be able to do at home from the car seat.
Monorail
The most iconic Disney transportation is the Disney monorail that was part of the original Walt Disney World design. The monorail takes Guests around the Seven Seas Lagoon stopping at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, Disney’s Polynesian Resort and Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa as well as Magic Kingdom and the Ticket and Transportation Center.
Another monorail line runs from the Ticket and Transportation Center to EPCOT giving Guests a great look at EPCOT as well as a quick way to travel between the two Disney Parks.
Even if you don’t find yourself staying at one of the monorail Resorts, we highly recommend taking a ride on the monorail as it is truly a Disney experience that shouldn’t be missed.
Boats and Ferry
There are a variety of areas throughout the Walt Disney World Resort where Guests can enjoy a trip on a boat or ferry
Over near Crescent Lake, Guests can use Friendship Boats to get to and from Beach Club, Yacht Club, and Boardwalk Inn to both EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Sometimes these boats will also stop at Swan and Dolphin, so keep that in mind if you are in a hurry to get to the Park. These boats are nice, leisure rides that allow you to get off your feet and see the property from a slightly different angle..
A second area where Guests can enjoy a nice water ride is over at Magic Kingdom. Guests can choose to use the ferry to cross the Seven Seas Lagoon to get to Magic Kingdom. There is something magical about seeing the castle appear as you cross the water under the morning sun.
The Magic Kingdom Resorts (Bay Lake Tower, Disney’s Contemporary Resort, Wilderness Lodge, Fort Wilderness, Disney’s Polynesian and Disney’s Grand Floridian and Spa) all have boat transportation. Most of the time these water taxis transport Guests to Magic Kingdom; however, sometimes they also stop at other Disney Resorts.
Finally, by Disney Springs, Guests can use boat transportation to get to and from Port Orleans Riverside, Port Orleans French Quarter, and Saratoga Springs Resort and Disney Springs. A nice ride down the Sassagoula River shows Guests some amazing views of these beautifully landscaped resorts. You can also enjoy seeing the lights of Disney Springs come to life as you get closer.
Boat transportation isn’t the fastest mode of transportation in Walt Disney World, but it might be the most relaxing. It also provides beautiful views of Walt Disney World that you don’t always see.
Walking Paths
Another way you can get around parts of Walt Disney World is by using the walking paths. We realize that walking more during your vacation might not be a top choice, but it is an option we wanted to mention.
When you are staying at Disney’s Boardwalk, Beach Club or Yacht Club, you can easily walk to both EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
A newly added it is the walking path that now allows Guests to walk from the Polynesian and Grand Floridian to the Magic Kingdom. This new path gives Guests a great option when it comes to getting to the Magic Kingdom.
Disney’s Contemporary Resort and Bay Lake Tower also offer a walking path to the Magic Kingdom. Again these are nice as there is separate security making getting into the Park quick.
You might not want to add more steps to your trip, but not having to wait for a bus or other mode of transportation can make walking a nice, convenient option.
Skyliner
The newest mode of transportation at Walt Disney World is the Disney’s Skyliner. This new model takes Guests high above Disney while transferring them to and from EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Since the skyliner typically is always moving, it quickly gets Guests to and from their destinations making it a great option.
If you stay at one of the Skyliner resorts (Disney’s Caribbean Resort, Art of Animation, Pop Century, or Disney’s Riviera), it is a fantastic way to get to and from your Resort and the two theme parks.
If you aren’t staying at these resorts, we still recommend taking a ride on the Skyliner to experience the ride and see the Disney property from a different view. The Skyliner is an extremely fun and functional mode of transportation we hope to see expand in the future.
Those are all the free transportation options you will find when visiting Walt Disney World. We like that they are all free to use and allow us to get around Disney property safely and efficiently while on our Walt Disney World vacation.
