How to Use Every Type of Disney World Transportation

Take a look at this complete guide to using Disney World transportation so you don’t miss a minute of the fun on your vacation!

Disney World

There are so many ways to get around the nearly 47 square miles of Walt Disney World Resort. This includes complimentary options for Disney Resort hotel guests.

Bus Service

It’s hard to miss the Disney buses carrying guests around Walt Disney World, especially the ones wrapped with your favorite Disney characters. Bus service is complimentary for all guests and provides transportation from your resort to theme parks, water parks (with transfer at Disney Springs), and Disney Springs.

Disney buses are an easy way to travel between Disney Resorts and theme parks.

To see when the next bus arrives when staying at a Disney Resort, take a look at the My Disney Experience app. However, keep in mind that these times can change. Also, larger Disney Resorts offer multiple bus stops, taking longer for guests to arrive at the theme parks. This is especially important to know if you’re going to rope drop early in the morning.

Bus Tips

Buses are consistently reliable from Disney Resorts to theme parks. However, you cannot take a Disney bus to/from a Disney theme park to Disney Springs. To go to Disney Springs via bus, go to any Disney Resort, and catch the Disney Springs bus.

Another type of bus is the Sunshine Flyer (not Disney-owned or operated) from Disney Resorts and Orlando International Airpot. Check out Monica’s review to see if it’s worth it or not HERE.

Minnie Van Service

One of the cutest Disney transportation options is the Minnie Vans. With Minnie Vans, guests can enjoy being driven around property by Disney Cast Members. However, I’ve heard mixed reviews on driver reliability and skill with this Minnie Van Service. Hopefully, training will continue to improve.

Minnie Van Service is one of the most convenient and personalized transportation options to choose from with drop-offs and pick-ups around Walt Disney World, at prices that vary by route. To book, use your Lyft App and select a Minnie Van vehicle to pick you up!

Minnie Van Tips

Although Minnie vans are quite adorable, they’re also expensive! However, if you need a car seat or even two, this may be your best bet. And Minnie van service is top-notch! Check out our post HERE to see why they’re worth it!

Guests can now request an accessible Minnie Van in their Lyft app.

Walt Disney World Monorail

Then, the Walt Disney World Monorail, one of Disney’s coolest transportation options, offers guests three lines of service with varying stops at each, including:

The Resort Monorail Line:

• Transportation and Ticket Center (Magic Kingdom Parking)
• Magic Kingdom Park
• Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
• Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
• Disney’s Contemporary Resort

The Express Line:

• Transportation and Ticket Center (Magic Kingdom Parking)
• Magic Kingdom Park

EPCOT Line:

• Transportation and Ticket Center
• EPCOT

Monorail Tips

It’s not only super convenient staying on Disney’s monorail resorts, but also a lot of fun! When you enter the parks via monorails, you bypass the busy security checks at Disney World theme parks.

And, if you want to just explore these resorts, just catch the monorail from either Magic Kingdom or EPCOT. Check out our post on why the monorail is the best form of Disney transportation HERE.

Disney Skyliner

Disney Skyliner is one of Disney’s most popular transportation options. These gondolas take guests to and from Disney’s Hollywood Studios and EPCOT between four resorts: Disney’s Riviera Resort, Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, Disney’s Pop Century Resort, and Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort.

Check out our complete guide to using Disney’s Skyliner HERE.

Skyliner Tips

If you’re planning to rope drop EPCOT or Hollywood Studios from Disney’s Riviera, Disney’s Pop Century Resort, Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, arrive early. No worries though, once the skyliner begins operations, the line moves very quickly. If you’re heading to Disney’s Hollywood Studios from the EPCOT resorts, I would recommend taking the boat over the skyliner.

Disney’s Skyliner does not operate during inclement weather.

One drawback of the skyliner is it shuts down during inclement weather. While that’s not a bad thing, it does cause transportation backups because guests are diverted to buses in masses. A wonderful benefit of staying at the EPCOT resorts is you can avoid this transportation chaos and simply walk back to your room.

Boat Transportation

Water transportation is a great way to slow down and enjoy the scenery. Whether you are taking a ferry from the Transportation and Ticket Center to Magic Kingdom Park or even just enjoying a cruise aboard the Friendship Boats in the World Showcase Lagoon at EPCOT, boast transportation is a wonderful option! 

Guests at select Disney Resort Collection hotels can enjoy water taxi options for transportation to theme parks and even Disney Springs. Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campgrounds, Disney’s Wilderness Lodge Resort, Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, and Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa all offer boat service to Magic Kingdom Park.

Boats will not run during inclement weather.

Guests at Disney’s BoardWalk Inn, Disney’s Yacht Club Resort, and Disney’s Beach Club Resort can enjoy water taxi service aboard Friendship Boats to EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Take a look at all the ways to use Disney’s Boat Transportation HERE.

Boat Tips

Boats are so fun at Disney World. Where else can you take a free boat ride? Water taxis are available early for theme park entry as well as early breakfast reservations at other Seven Seas resorts. Take a boat if you go to the Hoop Dee Doo Revue. I hope you’ll try them next visit.

Walking Paths

Also, you can walk to some theme parks from select resorts. Disney’s BoardWalk Inn, Disney’s Yacht Club Resort, and Disney’s Beach Club Resort are just a short stroll to EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

While staying at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, and Disney’s Contemporary Resort, you can walk to Magic Kingdom Park as well using dedicated walking paths.

Walking Path Tips

One of the best things about walking is avoiding waiting for transportation. Not only that but when walking to the Magic Kingdom, there’s a security checkpoint set aside just for walkers. There is virtually no wait!

When walking to EPCOT, guests enter through the International Gateway which is much less crowded than the main gate. Walking to EPCOT also gives guests the earliest chance to ride Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure. I (Susan) hate fighting crowds at the end of the night and walking is so much better if you’re physically able to do so.

Also, my favorite way to get to Disney Springs is the walking path at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa.

Uber/Lyft

Okay, so this isn’t Disney-owned transportation, but so many people use these services, I wanted to include them. You can catch an Uber or Lyft not only from the Orlando International Airport to each Disney Resort but also for dining reservations at Disney Resorts. While Uber and Lift are the fastest way to get around, they are not free. Sometimes airport transportation can be quite steep!

Uber/Lyft Thoughts

While at Disney, I try to maximize my time enjoying the parks and resorts. To do this, I often catch rides using these services. When at the airport, do a price comparison between Uber and Lyft. I’ve seen price differences of up to $10 for the same route.

Compare Lyft and Uber prices on each app to save money.

While you can’t catch an Uber or Lyft from Magic Kingdom, you can from other Disney theme parks as well as Disney Springs. From the Magic Kingdom, take the monorail or ferryboat to the Ticket and Transportation Center to catch a lift there.

As you can see, there are so many ways to get around Disney World property. Let us know your favorite type of Disney transportation and share this post with a Disney planning friend.