How to get from Point A to B at Disney World

Welcome back to my Disney series!

Disney World is in its own bubble and therefore, they have everything they need to be sustainable.  This includes transportation. 

First up is how to get to your Disney resort.

While Disney very sadly, no longer offers the complimentary Magical Express, an airport shuttle, there are other options:

First, Minnie Vans are back!!  Minnie vans are mini vans with a red and white polka dot wrap to differentiate them from any other car.  You order a Minnie Van through the Lyft Rideshare app.  Minnie Vans can pick you up from the front of the resort or theme park whereas other rideshare apps cannot.  They also have 2 car seats if you need one for small children.  It is traditionally more expensive than an Uber or Lyft, but is worth it if you are in a rush as they are dedicated solely to Disney and have better locations for pickup.

There is also the option of renting a car.  Disney has a partnership with Alamo and you can include the car rental on the vacation package if you choose.  The cost for this option varies depending on time of year and size of your party.

Non-Disney options include renting a car from companies other than Alamo, Rideshare such as Uber or Lyft, traditional taxi, and beginning in 2023, the Brightline high-speed train is expected to open in Orlando.

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Now, once you are on Disney property, there are many options to get from point A to point B.

Each resort offers the bus service complimentary between the resorts and parks, as well as to Disney Springs, and some of the higher tiered resorts offer additional transportation. They are:

Monorail

There are three resorts on the monorail line.  Grand Floridian, Polynesian, and Contemporary.  These three resorts can take the monorail directly to Magic Kingdom or to go to Epcot via the Transportation and Ticket Center.   Likewise, if you drive to Magic Kingdom, you will park at the TTC and take the monorail in.  You can also take the monorail from Magic Kingdom to Epcot via the TTC if you are park hopping.

Skyliner

Skyliner is the newest mode of transportation.  It is a gondola system that takes you over Hourglass Lake if you are coming from Art of Animation or Pop Century.  It also stops at the Riviera Resort and the Caribbean Beach resort.  The Skyliner will take you from one of these four resorts to Epcot and the Boardwalk area and to Hollywood Studios.

Boat

Boats are another way to get around.  You can take a boat from both of the Port Orleans resorts, Bay Lake tower at the Contemporary resort, Ford Wilderness, Wilderness Lodge, Grand Floridian, and the Polynesian to get to Magic Kingdom.

For Epcot, you can take a boat from the Yacht Club, Beach Club, BoardWalk Inn, Swan, and Dolphin hotels to the International Gateway.

Speaking of Epcot, you can also take a Friendship Boat from one side of the World Showcase Lagoon to the other, instead of walking.

The Port Orleans resorts, Old Key West resort, and Saratoga Springs resort also offer boat service to Downtown Disney.

There are also ferryboats you can take from the Transportation and Ticket Center to Magic Kingdom.  These boats run about every 10 mins or so, but expect additional time when it’s busy.

Other Options

Of course, if you choose to rent a car, you will be able to drive everywhere, however if you are staying off property, you will have to pay for parking at the parks (unless you are an annual passholder with the free parking benefit or a Disney Vacation Club owner).

You can also choose to use RideShare apps.

That’s it for Disney transportation!  They have so many options that make your vacation truly magical. If you have any questions below about Disney World or its transportation, drop them in the comments below.  At the end of my Disney series, I will do a Q&A post answering all your questions!  Have a great day!