Disney World Transportation: Which Resorts are Easiest to Get Around From?

Monorails, Skyliner, buses and boats... OH MY!

I believe a major misconception about Disney World is the assumption that, similar to Disneyland, you can walk to most locations. Instead of investigating further, many people rely on this belief. They view the Monorail, Skyliner, buses, and boats as merely entertaining extras. In truth, Disney World is so vast that walking from the furthest points, the edges of Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom, spans between 7 and 8 miles. Most people, understandably, choose their resort based on the theme, the pools, the price, and while none of that is wrong inherently, it does leave a lot to be discussed about how to get to and from the parks. A gorgeous resort can feel less convenient if every destination requires a bus. None of this is to say that there is a right or wrong method of transportation at Disney World, by the way, just personally, I am trying to spend my Disney vacation at Disney World, not stuck staring at a map and questioning my sanity over the best way to get to the park of my choice.

Disney World Transportation 101: How can you get around?

Disney offers several main forms of transportation, on property; the monorail, the Skyliner, their expansive bus system, and boats, are the most common to discuss. However, there are several resort options that make walking a legitimate option for transport and of course there is the option to rideshare or rent a car, if you're flying into Orlando. Most resorts on the Disney property utilize multiple means of transportation. For example, Disney's Pop Century Resort is on the Skyliner, but it also utilizes Disney's impressive internal bus system to transport guests to parks not supported on the Skyliner. A resort having one of Disney's more unique transportation offerings does not mean you won't ride a bus at some point during your vacation.

The Monorail Resorts: Two Systems, Two Parks

The Monorail is the form of transportation that most people are probably familiar with. Built in 1971, the original monorail line in Disney World connected two resorts, The Polynesian and The Contemporary, the Magic Kingdom, and Disney's massive parking area, The Transportation and Ticket Center or TCC for short. By 1982, a second line was established that created a loop between the TCC and EPCOT, allowing for easy travels in and out of EPCOT. Then, in 1988, the final stop was added along the original resort system, adding The Grand Floridian to its loop. Since then, multiple trains have been added so that wait times at the various stops are lower and to better accommodate the number of people that the parks see on a regular basis.

The resorts included on the Magic Kingdom loop are the Grand Floridian, the Contemporary, and the Polynesian. These three resorts are considered deluxe resorts because of their transportation options and due to the amenities, views, and luxury feel. Their prices can be substantially higher than a value or moderate resort. However, these three resorts are directly connected to the Magic Kingdom as well as EPCOT, via monorail transfer. That kind of ease can be so incredibly helpful at the end of a long day at the Magic Kingdom or perhaps after one too many drinks at drinking around the world in EPCOT. As well, one of the biggest perks of the monorail is that you do not have to fold up your stroller to board. Your child can remain in their stroller, and you don't have to schlep it on and off like it's an awkward piece of luggage.

Jamie's Take: I would strongly recommend these resorts for families with little ones due to the convenience of not folding up a stroller. The same can be said about how easy it is to get back to your resort if your kiddo needs an in-room nap or just a park break. The ease of the monorail for Magic Kingdom and EPCOT is worth that price. Pro Tip: I can sit down and help you find an even better deal if your dates are flexible by booking with DVC points. Some stays can be up to 60% off rack rate when we book them this way!

The Skyliner Resorts: High in the Sky Transportation

If you don't do well with heights, this may not be the transportation option for you. The Skyliner is a really neat transportation feature that you don't see everywhere, or really anywhere that I can think of for that matter. The Skyliner hub is Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort and runs 3 separate routes, two of which connect directly to parks.

The Skyliner has one route that runs directly from the Caribbean to Hollywood Studios with that being the only two stops on the route. The second route runs from the Caribbean to EPCOT with a stop at Disney's Riviera Resort along the way. The final route connects Disney's Pop Century and Disney's Art of Animation to the Caribbean. So, from the central hub at the Caribbean, you can access EPCOT and Hollywood Studios. A superb perk of the Skyliner is that this is another mode of transportation that does not require strollers to be folded down and dragged on; you can leave your kiddo in that stroller and roll them right on!

As far as the Skyliner resorts go, they range in price and amenities. The Riviera is the deluxe option on the Skyliner, with higher prices, newer and "better" amenities, and a more luxury aesthetic. The Caribbean, the hub, is a moderate resort, but it packs a serious punch; with access to two parks and a beach of its own as well as somewhat larger rooms compared to other resorts, the Caribbean is a great option for families. Art of Animation and Pop Century are categorized as value resorts, which puts them at the lower end of the price spectrum as far as Disney World is concerned. Both of these resorts have larger than life theming and offer a lot of really great and really affordable options for families who are looking to be immersed in Disney theming their whole vacation.

Jamie's Take: The resorts on the Skyliner system are varying prices, allowing for a family with small kids to have an easier time of it while also spending what they are comfortable spending. The Skyliner resorts are a much more budget friendly option while still staying transportation friendly. Pro Tip: Art of Animation has multiple types of family suites that can sleep up to 6 adults and children under the age of 3 do not count toward that total.

Taking a Walk: The EPCOT/Boardwalk Area Resorts and You

There are three resorts within "walking distance" of EPCOT and some would argue they are in "walking distance" of Hollywood Studios; me, personally, I am putting in 20k plus steps a day, so I will gladly hop on a bus or other form of transportation to avoid that extra walk, but it is truly a to each their own situation. The Beach Club, Yacht Club, and Boardwalk resorts are all within a 10-to-15-minute walk from the EPCOT International Gateway entrance. This entrance is over in the World Showcase area of the park, so it is not by the Monorail entrance and the EPCOT ball. Now as far as Hollywood Studios goes, these 3 resorts are all within a 20-to-30-minute walk.

One of the great things about walking is the convenience with your stroller if you have a small child in your party. There's no folding it up or getting it on or off of some kind of vehicle such as a monorail or the Skyliner. However, walking isn't the most convenient for every family and for some it just isn't an option. There is no shame in that. I could do the walk in the morning, but by the end of the day, I would be the first one to suggest any other option!

Jamie's Take: Walking is a great option if your family is active and you have more than one stroller to push. Monorails can get full fast and it can be extremely jarring to have to get more than one stroller on. The Skyliner gondolas aren't the largest thing you've ever seen and can accommodate two strollers, but if they are big strollers or you have a larger family, you would be hard pressed to fit everyone in one gondola. Pro Tip: Do not decide Disney World is the place to break in your brand-new sneakers. Bring a pair of sneakers that you know and love and that aren't hanging on by a thread or get a new pair but start breaking them in some time in advance so that you aren't walking on blisters and sore feet unnecessarily.

Hey Jamie, what about the Animal Kingdom area and Animal Kingdom Lodge?

Disney's Animal Kingdom's only form of transportation is buses. This can be really discouraging for some families but hold on! Don't fret! Buses are not the worst thing in the world. I actually love the Disney bus system, and I think folding up your stroller and heading over there, especially with the new Bluey experience, can be incredibly worth it for some families. Disney bus drivers are some of the kindest cast members I have met and are truly lovely; I have never had a negative experience, including while panic folding a stroller that I had only ever folded up once before.

Now as for Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge, you may be saying to yourself, hey we can walk to the park from there, right? I wish. But before you cross this resort off your list because of transportation, let me shed a little light on this resort. Animal Kingdom Lodge is a deluxe level resort and one of the ones with the best pricing on property for a deluxe level, in my opinion. It can be even cheaper if you rent DVC points, with some rooms as cheap as $250 a night during non-peak seasons. The resort is absolutely beautiful and has experiences that you only really find out about if you're staying there. There are various animal encounters and safaris going on, weekly, because of the resort's direct access to its own private savanna. If you've got a little animal lover in your life, this IS the resort to stay at.

Jamie's Take: Just because a resort is bus only, doesn't mean you get rid of it on your list. It just means you plan a little more to make sure that you are fully prepared for what that looks like. Pro Tip: Practice folding and unfolding your stroller more times than you think you need to. Being a pro at this can save you from panicking in the bus line like I did!

Disney Boats: The Trans-float-ation Option People Forget

Honestly, the Disney World boats could get their own blog post with how many there are and how much they have going on. The biggest thing to know about the boats is that none of them are actually connected to one another; you read that right, not a one. So, let's break this down.

First, we have the Sassagoula River cruises. These are essentially water taxis that transport resort guests* (at any resort) to and from Disney Springs to the Port Orleans resorts, Old Key West, and Saratoga Springs. *The key here is that Disney has recently changed who can use these, so unless you are a resort guest or have a sit-down table service dining reservation at one of these resorts, you cannot use these boats. This is current at the time of posting and should we get an update, I will make sure we get that out the door for you to know about!

Next up, we have the Friendship Boats. These ferry boats connect EPCOT's International Gateway and Hollywood Studios with the Boardwalk Resort, the Beach Club, the Yacht Club, and the Swan and Dolphin hotels. More often than not 3 boats will be running on this route so that your wait is never too long, but this number can fluctuate depending on time of day and demand.

In the Magic Kingdom area, we have two separate boat systems running. The first being the resort water taxis; these are water taxis that run to and from specific resorts that are also along the Seven Seas Lagoon. The Grand Floridian and Polynesian have a water taxi. Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground has their own water taxi, as does the Wilderness Lodge. And the Contemporary has one that it shares with Fort Wilderness and Wilderness Lodge, after 3 PM only. These taxis are open to anyone; however, their run times can change due to weather at any given moment, especially in the Florida rain seasons, causing delays and halts in their running regardless of demand. The most prominent and largest boats for the Disney boat system are the Magic Kingdom ferryboats. These run between the TCC and the Magic Kingdom dock and can hold up to 600 passengers at a time. The run time for these is 7 minutes which is about the same time as the express monorail into the Magic Kingdom from the TCC.

Jamie's Take: If you get seasick, this might not be the best transportation option for you, but if you don't then taking one of the various boats around the Disney park areas can be a really fun experience that your family will cherish. Pro Tip: Be prepared to fold your stroller up on the smaller boats, especially during busy and crowded times during the day. Practice that stroller folding, folks!

The Little Disney Transportation that Could: Disney Trains, Trams, and Vans

Now that we've hit the bigger, more commonly used forms of transportation in Disney World, I wanted to take a moment to touch on some lesser-known forms of transport around the parks. Some of these are park specific and some cost an additional fee unlike the options we've discussed so far.

First up, the Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom Railroad. This is a train that normally runs around the whole of the park, but due to recent construction and park expansion, it currently operates as a shuttle between the front gates by Main Street USA and Fantasyland station. Strollers must be folded on the train and guests using an ECV may not board unless they are able to transfer to a standard wheelchair or a traditional seat.

Another area specific option is the parking lot. JAMIE, what are we doing in the parking lot? Well, as one could imagine, Disney wants to make sure every guest can park if they want to, or they would lose money. So, the parking lots are relatively massive. Therefore, Disney has trams that run from the end of rows to the front entrance of each park, or to the TCC monorail station if you're parking at the Magic Kingdom. My daughter is a huge fan of the trams.

An up charge that can be a game changer depending on how pooped you are when you decide to use it is Disney's Minnie Van service. Operated in partnership with Lyft but driven by Disney cast members, Disney Minnie Vans are a more expensive rideshare that because they are run by Disney, have special perks. Minnie Vans have special drop off and pick up zones that are closer to the parks than traditional rideshare services. Again, if you are just dead tired, this can be a major gamechanger. These vehicles also come with two car seats, so you don't have to stress about that on your Disney day.

Jamie's Take: Disney offers so many transportation options that it can be super overwhelming. If you know where you're staying, start with the direct transportation options and work your way out from there. Pro Tip: Set aside $30 to $60 for one Minnie Van run so you have it when everyone is just dooone and you are, too. Save yourself the headache and backache in advance, future you will thank you.

On the train, choo choo!

Jamie, what about a rental car? If there is all this parking, why not rent a car and drive ourselves?

I am not anti-rental car. In fact, on our last trip to Disney World, we did a split stay on property and off property due to a conference my husband was attending, so we had a rental car. Our off-property hotel did have its own Disney World transportation, but we only used it in the morning and then would drive back with my husband after he would join us after his conference each day.

The reason I rarely, if ever, recommend a rental car is that unless you're planning on going to Universal Studios or another Orlando area attraction, you have no real need for a rental car. That's just an added expense that the money could be put toward an experience rather than a car that you use maybe four times a day, max. As well, there's more than just the cost of renting that car. Daily parking at Disney World is $35 per day if you aren't staying on property. And if you're driving, you're probably using another form of transportation provided by Disney regardless; for example, the Monorail or Ferryboat to get to Magic Kingdom.

Jamie's Take: You don't need a rental car unless you're planning on seeing things outside of the Disney Bubble. If that's the case, pricing out how much alternative transportation is versus a rental car for your whole stay is absolutely the right move. You may find that it's cheaper to get a rideshare for one day than it is to rent a car for your entire trip. Pro Tip: Don't stress about getting to and from the parks, if you have a travel advisor. I will sit down and tell you exactly how to get where you are going from an on or off property hotel!

This is all great and grand, but Jamie, how do I even get to Walt Disney World from the airport?

Your Disney transportation plan actually starts before you ever reach the resort. Since Disney's Magical Express is no longer available, you'll need to decide how you're getting from Orlando International Airport to Walt Disney World. You have three main options if you choose not to rent a car, Mears Connect, Rideshare, or Private Car Service.

Mears Connect is my go-to for families who have little ones and didn't bring car seats along for the trip... me, I am families with no car seat on vacation. Mears is a shuttle service that runs between the various Disney Resorts and MCO. Each way is $17.60 per adult and $14.30 per child, ages 3-9; children under 3 ride free. I, personally, adore the Mears shuttle service. They play old Disney cartoons featuring Mickey, Goofy, and the gang which entertained my daughter to no end. It felt like a truly magical experience to start our vacation.

Your other options are rideshare or a private car service. This is really dependent on who you're traveling with and how far ahead you want to plan. Rideshare can be super affordable and if you aren't too stressed about maybe waiting on it when you arrive at MCO, can be a great option for your family. A private car service is for that extra touch of luxury and also can be great for someone who just doesn't want to worry about anything. You already flew hours in an uncomfortable metal tube in the sky, why would you want to sit on a humid bench at MCO waiting for a car to show up for you? Private car service can also be great for those who don't travel light to be fully prepared in advance or for those who don't fly with their car seats.

Jamie's Take: If you don't mind a shuttle style service, Mears Connect is affordable and very "Disney." If you do mind a shuttle service but don't want the unpredictability of rideshare wait times, a car service is the way to go!

Pro Tip: You don't need your car seat for Mears Connect or a private car service. So, don't bother hauling it around on your trip. It's one less thing to worry about when you already have a million items you're traveling with.

Choose the Transportation that Makes YOUR Disney Vacation Easier

Transportation shouldn't necessarily decide which Disney World resort you book, but it absolutely deserves a seat at the table. When I'm helping a family choose a Disney World resort, I'm not just comparing room prices and which pool looks the coolest. I'm looking at where they're actually going to spend their time, how they want to get around, and which resort will make their vacation easier. That's what you should be doing, too!

Jamie's Final Take: Transportation is huge. You will spend at least an hour of your day, every day, dealing with it. You should at least consider it in your planning.

Jamie's Final Pro Tip: If you want help figuring out which Disney World Resort makes the most sense for your family, that's exactly the kind of thing I love figuring out!