Getting Around the World
With four theme parks, two water parks, a shopping district, sports complex, a number of resorts, and more land to spare, WDW is huge! Therefore, getting from one place to another can be a little daunting and sometimes confusing, especially if you're on a schedule.
Monorail
The Monorail is probably the most popular form of transporation at WDW. It is like a quick, efficient train that runs high above the ground! They are wheelchair accessible and allow strollers. Monorails run from Disney's Contemporary, Grand Floridian, and Polynesian to and from the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, and the Transportation and Ticket Center. Monorails give you amazing views of the parks, resorts, and the world in between. Monorails have three different routes, but all of the routes go to the Transportation and Ticket Center.
Express Monorail: On this route, the monorail stops only at the Transportation and Ticket Center and the Magic Kingdom.
Resort Monorail: This route takes you to the resorts, the Magic Kingdom, and the Transportation and Ticket Center. We advise using this monorail route to resort hop! If you get on the monorail at the Magic Kingdom, your route will run clockwise beginning with the Contemporary, then the Transportation and Ticket Center, the Polynesian, and the Grand Floridian before coming back to the Magic Kingdom.
Epcot Monorail: This monorail route stops only at the Transportation and Ticket Center and Epcot.
If you want to get to Epcot from the Magic Kingdom, or vise versa, take the express monorail or Epcot monorail to the Transportation and Ticket Center and then switch to another monorail. Monorails are wheel chair accessbile and allow strollers. They also provide handrails if no seats are available. Be aware that you may have to wait a period of time for the monorail you want so be sure to allow more than enough time if you have reservations or are on a time limit.
Express Monorail: On this route, the monorail stops only at the Transportation and Ticket Center and the Magic Kingdom.
Resort Monorail: This route takes you to the resorts, the Magic Kingdom, and the Transportation and Ticket Center. We advise using this monorail route to resort hop! If you get on the monorail at the Magic Kingdom, your route will run clockwise beginning with the Contemporary, then the Transportation and Ticket Center, the Polynesian, and the Grand Floridian before coming back to the Magic Kingdom.
Epcot Monorail: This monorail route stops only at the Transportation and Ticket Center and Epcot.
If you want to get to Epcot from the Magic Kingdom, or vise versa, take the express monorail or Epcot monorail to the Transportation and Ticket Center and then switch to another monorail. Monorails are wheel chair accessbile and allow strollers. They also provide handrails if no seats are available. Be aware that you may have to wait a period of time for the monorail you want so be sure to allow more than enough time if you have reservations or are on a time limit.
Bus
Buses are the most common modes of transportation at WDW. Buses to the parks, waterparks, and Downtown Disney are available at every Disney resort. Buses are air conditioned, wheel chair accessible, and often play recordings that tell tips and park times. To tell which bus is going where, look for a digital sign on the front of each bus that tells its destinations. Disney buses also have handrails if no seats are available. It isn't unusual, especially during peak season, for buses to be capacity and guests having to stand. Be aware of this if you have aching feat or sleepy kids. Also note that strollers must be folded or collapsed before getting on a bus, and that food and drinks aren't allowed.
Bus stops at Disney resorts are typically located just outside the lobbies of deluxe resorts. At moderate resorts, there is often a main bus stop just outside the lobby and a few smaller stops located throughout the resort. Lastly at Value Resorts, there is only one bus stop just outside the main building.
When you arrive at your resorts bus stop, you will signs telling where the bus you need will stop since there is more than one space for buses to park. Also be aware that Disney buses often go to more than one location. For example, if you want to go to Downtown Disney, your bus will stop at Typhoon Lagoon as well; or if you want to go to Blizzard Beach, your bus will also stop at Animal Kingdom. However, buses for Magic Kingdom usually have the park as their only desination. Also be aware that buses may pick up or drop off guests at resorts located near yours or at smaller bus stops that are located throughout your resort. For example, if you want to get off at the lobby at Disney's Port Orlean's Riverside, your bus will also stop at the smaller bus stops located throughout the resort and at Riverside's sister resort, Port Orlean's French Quarter.
Buses usually come and go every 20 minutes. However, the key word in that statement is usually. As in any form of transportation dealing with large numbers of people and traffic, your wait can be longer than 20 minutes; but on the upside, it can also be shorter! Despite, if you have a reservation or are on a time limit, give yourself extra time for delays.
There are no buses at your Disney resort to get you to another Disney resort. The only way to do this is to take a bus to the Transportation and Ticket Center or go to a nearby park to jump on another bus.
Bus stops at Disney resorts are typically located just outside the lobbies of deluxe resorts. At moderate resorts, there is often a main bus stop just outside the lobby and a few smaller stops located throughout the resort. Lastly at Value Resorts, there is only one bus stop just outside the main building.
When you arrive at your resorts bus stop, you will signs telling where the bus you need will stop since there is more than one space for buses to park. Also be aware that Disney buses often go to more than one location. For example, if you want to go to Downtown Disney, your bus will stop at Typhoon Lagoon as well; or if you want to go to Blizzard Beach, your bus will also stop at Animal Kingdom. However, buses for Magic Kingdom usually have the park as their only desination. Also be aware that buses may pick up or drop off guests at resorts located near yours or at smaller bus stops that are located throughout your resort. For example, if you want to get off at the lobby at Disney's Port Orlean's Riverside, your bus will also stop at the smaller bus stops located throughout the resort and at Riverside's sister resort, Port Orlean's French Quarter.
Buses usually come and go every 20 minutes. However, the key word in that statement is usually. As in any form of transportation dealing with large numbers of people and traffic, your wait can be longer than 20 minutes; but on the upside, it can also be shorter! Despite, if you have a reservation or are on a time limit, give yourself extra time for delays.
There are no buses at your Disney resort to get you to another Disney resort. The only way to do this is to take a bus to the Transportation and Ticket Center or go to a nearby park to jump on another bus.
Boats
Boats transport guests to the Magic Kingdom from nearby deluxe resorts, from Port Orlean's Riverside and French Quarter to and from Downtown Disney, and guests from the Swan and Dolphin Resort, Disney's Boardwalk Inn, and Disney's Yacht and Beach Club to and from Epcot and Hollywood Studios. We always enjoy taking a boat during our trip to WDW. They provide a relaxing break from the parks, provide beautiful views of WDW, and gives us views of other resorts.
Boats that transport guests to and from the Magic Kingdom range in size; but the boats that transport at Port Orleans and in the Epcot area are typically smaller due to the smaller waterways. All of the boats are covered; but if you want to feel a cool breeze or sit out in the sunshine, there is seating outside.
Just like buses, ferry boats may stop at more than one resort on the way to your resort or to the Magic Kingdom, or on your way to Downtown Disney from Port Orleans. Disney usually employs different colored flags that tell you which route that boat will take.
When trying to catch a boat, pay attention to the signs that tell you which dock to go to and which flag to look for. Also be aware that you may have to wait a period of time for a boat and that on most boats, strollers must be folded or collapsed. Unless weather and water levels create difficulty, boats are wheel chair accessible. If not, a sign should be posted near the docks.
Boats that transport guests to and from the Magic Kingdom range in size; but the boats that transport at Port Orleans and in the Epcot area are typically smaller due to the smaller waterways. All of the boats are covered; but if you want to feel a cool breeze or sit out in the sunshine, there is seating outside.
Just like buses, ferry boats may stop at more than one resort on the way to your resort or to the Magic Kingdom, or on your way to Downtown Disney from Port Orleans. Disney usually employs different colored flags that tell you which route that boat will take.
When trying to catch a boat, pay attention to the signs that tell you which dock to go to and which flag to look for. Also be aware that you may have to wait a period of time for a boat and that on most boats, strollers must be folded or collapsed. Unless weather and water levels create difficulty, boats are wheel chair accessible. If not, a sign should be posted near the docks.
Walking Paths
Disney Resorts that are located next door to parks provide paved walking paths to take you from your resort to the fun! There is a walking path from the Contemporary to the Magic Kingdom; and walking paths at Disney's Boardwalk Inn and Yacht and Beach Club that lead you to Hollywood Studios and Epcot. There is also a walking path betwee
After walking so much at the parks, walking to the parks or back to your room after a long day may sound exhausting. However, a benefit of these paths is that you don't have to wait for transportation. While it may take time to walk to the parks, you can know just how long it takes to get there while monorails, buses, and boats can have delays.
After walking so much at the parks, walking to the parks or back to your room after a long day may sound exhausting. However, a benefit of these paths is that you don't have to wait for transportation. While it may take time to walk to the parks, you can know just how long it takes to get there while monorails, buses, and boats can have delays.
