Walt Disney World Resort is huge in fact I have read that the whole resort is the same size as San Francisco so to get around there are quite a few transportation options. If you have never visited Disney World before and you are planning your first trip, I thought I would share some tips on Disney World Transportation between parks and resorts.
Other than Minnie Van’s and taxis the transportation won’t cost you anything either so let’s take a look.
More on Disney World Transportation
- The Disney World Monorail Map and Routes
- The Disney Skyliner Routes
- Hollywood Studios and Epcot Friendship Boats
- Walking from Epcot to Hollywood Studios
- The Disney World Monorail Hotels
1. Mears Connect Can Pick You Up From Orlando International Airport
The Mears Connect is the bus service (run by Mears) that picks up guests staying at any of the Walt Disney World Resorts from Orlando International Airport and it will take you straight to your resort hotel. This paid service replaced Disney’s Magical Express bus service and will also take you back to Orlando International airport at the end of your vacation.
So, if you are considering a rental car to get to your Walt Disney World Resort Hotel from orlando International Airport have a rethink as Mears will pick you up. Just make your travel agent aware or contact Mears directly to book your place on the service. You can find the latest prices here ahead of your next Walt Disney World trip.
I certainly miss the free Disney Magical Express bus service from Orlando International airport to the Disney World resort hotels but Mears Connect is basically the same service. Just a paid service though (although I don’t consider it an expensive one).
2. Resort Buses Will Get You Around Walt Disney World
Once you are at your resort hotel it is highly likely you will use one of the Walt Disney World resort buses to get you to the theme parks, water parks or Disney Springs. The complimentary bus service will get you all around Walt Disney World. My main tip for using the bus transportation is that when you get dropped off at a park take a photo of your bus stop number for the return journey back to your resort. It will save you having to look at the end of the day although most theme parks bus stops are clearly signed with Disney cast members not to far away to help if needed as well.
The bus stops do have real time wait boards so you can see what time your bus transportation will be arriving and it is updated in real time if it gets held up at all in traffic.
At you resort bus stop you will be able to see the arrival time for each bus whether it is for Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom or even Disney Springs (and the water parks too).
Do be aware that you will probably have to wait longer for bus transportation at the end of the night or if you are leaving just one of the theme parks after the fireworks. A lot of people leave straight after the fireworks so transportation does get busy. Consider staying in the park for at least an hour so that crowds can disperse.
3. How to Get to Another Walt Disney World Resort Hotel?
You may have booked to eat at a restaurant that is at another resort hotel or you might just want to visit a specific resort hotel to take a look around. So how do you get there, well it’s easy to be honest.
You can head to one of the theme parks nearest to your Disney World resort hotel destination and catch another bus from there. If you need to get to the Polynesian Village Resort, The Grand Floridian, Disney’s Contemporary Resort or Wilderness Lodge then use bus transportation to Magic Kingdom park and from there get another bus or a boat or the resort loop monorail.
There are lots of options to get around Walt Disney World and once you have a basic understanding of the layout of the resort you will soon know how to get where. Your resort hotel reception staff can help too if needed.
4. Walking Between Walt Disney World Parks
Don’t expect to walk between too many theme parks but you can walk between Hollywood Studios and Epcot via the Boardwalk. The walk between Disney’s Contemporary resort hotel and Magic Kingdom Park isn’t very far either.
You can also walk from Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort hotel to Magic Kingdom as well.
5. Take a Boat Ride for Disney World Transportation Between Parks
You can also take Disney’s complimentary boat service between Hollywood Studios and Epcot International Gateway which my family have done many times. It is a nice 15 to 20-minute sit down for the adults and the kids love the boat ride too. You can get off at the Boardwalk too on this route between the two parks and can have a look around before continuing your journey.
You can also take boats from the Polynesian, The Grand Floridian and Wilderness Lodge to and from the Magic Kingdom.
Ferry transportation is also available from the Disney Springs area resorts such as Old Key West Resort, Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa, Port Orleans Riverside and the French Quarter over to Disney Springs. So, if you are staying at one of those resorts you can hop on the complimentary boat service to Disney Springs.
6. Lots of Transport Options at Epcot
Talking about boats you can take a boat ride across World Showcase Lagoon at Epcot if you don’t want to walk all the way around. You can catch a boat just before you get to the Canada Pavilion and it will take across to Morocco. I think you can do this between Mexico and Germany too, but I have only taken the Canada to Morocco boat.
Also, at Epcot you can take a bus to get back to you Walt Disney World resort hotel or you can take the Mono Rail to get back to the Walt Disney World Transportation and Ticket Center where you can hop on another Monorail to get to the resorts in this area or to get to Magic Kingdom.
Just outside of the international gateway at Epcot you will also find the Skyliner Station that can take you to Hollywood Studios too.
7. Take the Monorail for Disney World Transportation Between Parks
It’s great to ride the world famous Mono Rail on your Walt Disney World Resort vacation. It is such an iconic part of Walt Disney World Resort and it’s another form of Disney Transportation my kids love using. So give it a go if you get the chance. You can get some good photos of Seven Seas lagoon from the Mono Rail as well at the surrounding resorts. I have taken some great photos of the Grand Floridian from the Mono Rail.
There is a Mono Rail station at Epcot and at the Transportatation and Ticket Center (TTC) as well as stops for Magic Kingdom and the resorts around Seven Seas Lagoon. If travelling between Magic Kingdom and Epcot just change at the Transport and Ticket Center. Again, everything is very clearly signed for ease of use.
You can find our full monorail guide here.
8. Minnie Vans at Walt Disney World Resort
There was a flat rate to use the Minnie vans but now the service has established itself at Walt Disney World you are now charged based on the distance you are travelling. Minnie Vans operate inside the Walt Disney World Resort area and you can now book them using the Lyft app.
A Minnie Van can accommodate up to 6 guests and they have 2 car seats if needed. So if you fancy a Minnie Mouse inspired treat or do need to get somewhere quickly within the Walt Disney World Resort area this maybe a useful option to bear in mind.
9. Use Taxi’s if you are desperate
You can find Mear’s taxis at each Walt Disney World Resort Park in allocated spots. So, taxis are available if needed and can be booked in advance from your room if needed. I would say these are only really needed if you are really desperate to get somewhere quickly.
During one of our past vacations we wanted to get to Disney’s Hollywood Studios from Epcot in the evening to see the fireworks and for Extra Magic Hours. We were at the front of the park so opted to use a bus. Of course it turned out so did a lot of other people and we did have to wait a little while.
Whilst waiting a few families were getting frustrated and headed for the taxi rank and as soon as they got to the taxis our bus arrived and I am certain we got there before them too. We still made the fireworks and got to enjoy some rides too (Tower of Terror at night is fantastic) so my tip would be use a taxi if really needed but don’t panic. Taxi’s are more useful for getting to places off property such as Universal Resort.
10. Give Yourself Plenty of Time for Disney World Transportation Between Parks
As I said right at the beginning of this article, Walt Disney World is a really big resort so always try to give yourself plenty of time to get somewhere especially if you have a reservation to meet. If you think you are going to be late for a restaurant then my advice would be to give them a call as soon as possible. All the telephone numbers can be found on the My Disney Experience App and they are very accommodating and if you warn them, they can be prepared to move things around.
I have done this in the past as we were running late on one occasion trying to get from Caribbean Beach Resort to the Wave restaurant (now Steakhouse 71) in the Contemporary and the Disney cast member i spoke to was very helpful and although we were a little late, we still had an enjoyable meal.
From my past experiences I have always found the Walt Disney World Transportation to be efficient. Yes, you might have to wait a little longer for a bus at the end of the day and it may be busier first thing in the morning but overall the service Disney provides is pretty good and it should get you around Walt Disney World Resort with ease.
11. The Disney Skyliner Transportation Between Parks and Resorts Gets Busy at Peak Times
The newest form of Disney transportation at Walt Disney World is the Disney Skyliner transportation. These cable cars offers Disney World Transportation between the Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Epcot parks as well as Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, Disney’s Riviera Resort and Disney’s Art of Animation Resort hotels.
It is a really great form of Disney World transportation between parks and the resorts with great views but as with the buses it does get very busy at peak times of the day. My tip would be to use the Disney Skyliner during the day to park hop between Epcot and Hollywood Studios but try to avoid it first thing in the morning and as the parks close.
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