Getting Around the Disney Parks

Getting around the Disney parks is so easy-but you have to know which form of transportation goes where, as well as the most efficient way to get where you want to go. Today, I am going to share some tips with you for getting around the Disney Parks.

One of the great perks of staying onsite at a Walt Disney World resort is the complimentary transportation at each of the onsite resorts.  Walt Disney World offers several modes of transportation to guests staying on property at a Walt Disney World Resort.  

Many guests, myself included, choose their Walt Disney World Resort based on the transportation options. Personally, I love a resort that offers at least two forms of transportation to a theme park. And, with the addition of the Disney Skyliner, even some moderate and value resorts now have multiple forms of transportation.

Until the addition of the Skyliner, Disney’s Moderate and Value Resorts only used motorcoaches for theme park transportation. Now, guests can access two parks via the Skyliner from Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, Disney’s Pop Century Resort, and Disney’s Art of Animation-all being value or moderate resorts.

Transportation around the Disney Parks comes in many forms.  You can ride the monorail, Skyliner, boats, and even Disney’s motorcoaches.    In fact, some resorts and parks are close enough to each other that you can walk!

One of the huge perks of staying on Disney property is using Disney’s continuous transportation around property.  With a property the roughly the size of Manhattan, it is important to know how to get where you need to go so you don’t miss out on the magic! 

Learn the transportation options at your resort before you arrive at Disney.   Does your resort use Disney motorcoaches exclusively?  Do you have the option of a water taxi, Skyliner, or the monorail?  These are important to know before you arrive.  

From there, look at your dining reservations.  If you are having breakfast at ‘Ohana at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, how are you going to get to Epcot after breakfast?  You will likely take the monorail to the Transportation and Ticket Center and hop on the Epcot monorail from there.  If you are at Disney’s Boardwalk for dinner, how are you going to get back to Caribbean Beach?  You will just walk over to the Skyliner station at EPCOT’s International Gateway and hop on the Skyliner to Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort.

Disney transportation runs continuously.    You are not on a transportation schedule when you are at Walt Disney World.  The transportation starts running an hour before the parks open and up to two hours after they close.  Typically the motorcoaches depart the resorts every 20 minutes or so.  There are monitors at bus stops, as well as CastMembers, to help you if you have questions as to when your bus is coming.  You should plan 90 minutes to get to your Disney Dining reservation, especially if you are leaving from your resort.

Not all Disney resorts share transportation.    Whether Disney resorts share transportation is ultimately dependent on the season.  The large majority of the time, the All Star Resorts share buses amongst the three of them.  Occasionally the Port Orleans will share between them.  As far as the Deluxe resorts go, I have seen the Epcot area and Magic Kingdom area resorts share amongst them.  However, that is not on a consistent basis in my experience.

Consider alternatives to your destination.    I know, Disney involves a lot of walking.  However, walking can be a faster way to get where you need to go.  You can walk to both EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios from the EPCOT area resorts.  These include Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club Resorts and Disney’s Boardwalk Inn.  You can walk to Disney Springs from Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa.  You can also walk to Magic Kingdom from Disney’s Contemporary Resort and Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort.  

Don’t want to walk?  Then you can also take a water taxi!  Disney offers water taxi service to Disney Springs from Saratoga Springs, Old Key West, Port Orleans Riverside and French Quarter Resorts.  You can also take water taxis from the EPCOT resorts to Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

Be prepared to board your Disney transportation when it arrives. This is a huge time saving tip.  If you have strollers or wheelchairs, be as prepared as possible to board the monorail, bus, or boat.  That means having your belongings together, and possibly your stroller folded up so you can easily board the bus with your family.

Getting around Walt Disney World can be fun, and even magical! Which is your favorite form of Disney transportation?