One of the best parts of a vacation to Walt Disney World is the free transportation provided to Guests throughout the Resort property. It is extremely helpful to provide transportation, so you don’t have to worry about car seats, renting a car, or driving in an area you aren’t familiar with. So what transportation is available to you when visiting Walt Disney World? We have a rundown of what transportation you can use for free while visiting Walt Disney World.
Buses
The biggest transportation that is available at Walt Disney World is the busses. Disney provides bus transportation to and from all four theme parks (Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, EPCOT, Hollywood Studios) and Disney Springs and the two water parks (Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon). These buses come around every 20 minutes and provide a quick trip to your destination. Kids love the buses as they feel free without car seats, and they can see so much more than they typically can back at home. With amazing Disney themed wraps, these buses aren’t your typical city buses, but instead they have a magical Disney touch. 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.
Boats and Ferry
Throughout the Walt Disney World Resort, Guests can choose to ride boats to get to and from different locations. The first area that you can use boat transportation is on the way to Magic Kingdom. Once parked at the Ticket and Transportation Center, Guests can take the ferry across the Seven Seas Lagoon to arrive at the Magic Kingdom. The Magic Kingdom resorts (Bay Lake Tower, Disney’s Contemporary Resort, Wilderness Lodge, Fort Wilderness, Disney’s Polynesian, and Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa) all have water taxis that transport Guests. Most of these resorts use water taxis to transport Guests to the Magic Kingdom, but sometimes they will stop at a different Resort as well.
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.
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.
Although boat transportation is the quickest mode of transportation at Disney, it is a unique one that provides relaxing and beautiful views of Walt Disney World.
The monorail is the most iconic transportation that Guests can find at Walt Disney World. Part of the Park’s original design, the monorail takes Guests around Seven Seas Lagoon, stopping at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, Disney’s Polynesian Resort and Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa, and Magic Kingdom the Ticket and Transportation Center. There is also a monorail line that runs from the Ticket and Transportation Center and EPCOT. The monorail is a fun, unique way to get around in Walt Disney World. Even if you aren’t staying near the monorail, we highly recommend taking a ride at least once during your vacation.
Walking Paths
Another way to get around Walt Disney World is by the walking paths. We know you probably don’t want to add any more steps than you have to, but the walking paths throughout Disney World are easy and beautiful. 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.
While staying at Disney’s Boardwalk, Beach Club or Yacht Club, you can also walk to and from EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Again having the ability to walk to and from these parts is really convenient. Guests that don’t feel like waiting for a bus or boat can rely on themselves to get to and from the parks. This can be extremely helpful when rushing to rope drop or wanting to get back for nap-time.
Skyliner
The newest model of transportation at Walt Disney World is the Disney’s Skyliner. This amazing model of transportation takes Guests up and above the Disney Property as they travel to and from EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Because it is constantly moving (usually), it quickly moves lots of people throughout the Park. 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.
These are the main modes of transportation that Guests can use while visiting Walt Disney World. While some are more exciting than others, they are all free to use and a great way to move around Disney property safely and efficiently.