How to use Disney transportation (bus, monorail, Skyliner)

Disney World is roughly the size of San Francisco. That means, if you’re heading there, you’ll need a plan for how you’ll get around.

Here’s everything you need to know about navigating Disney transportation, including information on buses, the Disney Skyliner, the monorail, boats, and more.

(We even have a handy transportation tool that will show you the best way to get around the Walt Disney World Resort! More on that below, too.)

Let’s get started…

Forms of Disney World transportation

As you can imagine, the size of Walt Disney World makes good transportation a must.

To help you get around, Disney uses several forms of transport within its system:

• buses
• monorail
• boats & water taxis (sometimes known as Friendships) and ferryboats
• Minnie Vans
• gondolas (Disney Skyliner) 

And the best part?

Most of the options are free.

Another huge perk with Disney transportation is that you don’t have to be staying onsite to use any of it.

All visitors to Disney World – whether they are staying onsite or off – can use any of the transportation options listed below.

Disney World Transportation tool

Disney World has started including navigational information in the My Disney Experience app, but it’s confusing and often completely incorrect, so we made our own!

Open this tool on its own page to easily reference it anytime.

You might also consider going to that link on your phone and adding it to your home screen to pull it up easily during your trip.

Disney World Buses

The Walt Disney World buses will take you just about anywhere on property and are the main form of transportation throughout the entire resort.

Disney World buses are also free and typically are fairly reliable.

And as an added bonus, some of the newer buses even have charging ports and WiFi.

VIDEO: Quick Facts on Disney World Buses

Disney World Bus Schedule

Buses for different parks typically begin running at slightly different times, depending on each park’s schedule.

With every park participating in Early Theme Park Entry, expect the first bus of the day to arrive to your resort between 45 minutes to 1 hour before Early Theme Park Entry starts.

If you want to be on that first bus of the day (which we do recommend you do), aim to be at the bus stop about 90 minutes before Early Theme Park Entry begins.

According to Disney, bus service between Disney Resort hotels ends 1 hour after closing.

For Disney Springs, buses are available during operating hours and end 1 hour after closing.

You should also always give yourself at least 60 to 90 minutes for transportation. You never know if there will be delays, long lines, etc.

During peak times, buses for the parks usually arrive at least every 20 minutes or so. During non-peak times (like in the afternoon), the wait may be a bit longer.

Unfortunately, unlike a city transportation system, there is no set schedule for buses.

If you are waiting for a bus at a resort, however, you can check to see when the next one is set to arrive.

The bus stops at the resorts have handy display boards like this one:

How to see bus wait times in My Disney Experience

Or, if you’d rather, the My Disney Experience app will also show you when the next bus is scheduled to arrive to your resort.

You must have a Disney Resort hotel reservation and be logged into your Disney account in order to see bus times at your resort via the My Disney Experience app.

My Disney Experience —> Resort Hotel

Unfortunately, the parks and Disney Springs don’t have anything similar that will tell you when the next bus is scheduled to arrive. You can only find out bus arrival info at the resorts.

Park Bus stops

Bus stops for all of the parks are located outside of the main entrance.

There are giant Bus Directory signs nearby that will direct you to the correct gate for your resort.

The gate numbers can change from day-to-day, so it is a good idea to always check your resort’s location.

Resort Bus Stops

As for the resorts, the number of bus stops at each resort varies and depends upon the size of the resort itself.

The Value resorts (Pop Century, Art of Animation, All-Star Sports, All-Star Music, All-Star Movies) plus the Disney Deluxe Resorts all have only 1 bus stop that is located at or near the front entrance/main building.

Port Orleans-French Quarter, which is a moderate resort, also only has 1 bus stop.

Most of the Moderate Resorts (Port Orleans-Riverside, Caribbean Beach, Coronado Springs) all have multiple internal bus-stops, as do both Old Key West and Saratoga Springs (Deluxe Villa Resorts). 

What about bus sharing?

Some resorts share buses, meaning that 1 bus will go to multiple different resorts.

For example, it isn’t unusual for the All-Star resorts to share a bus or for Port Orleans-Riverside and Port Orleans-French Quarter to share. 

Sharing is less likely during the busy morning hours or at park closing, though. 

Monorail

We’re not sure that there is any more iconic form of Disney transportation than the monorail.

Disney’s Monorail service connects 3 resorts (Grand Floridian, Polynesian, Contemporary) and 2 parks (Magic Kingdom and Epcot) and at the center of it all is the Transportation and Ticket Center (TTC), which is kind of like the main transportation hub for Walt Disney World.

Monorail Lines

There are 3 separate monorail lines: 

• Express Line which runs from the Transportation and Ticket Center to Magic Kingdom
• Resort Line which runs between Magic Kingdom, Disney’s Contemporary Resort, Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa, Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, and the Transportation and Ticket Center.
• Epcot Line which runs between the Transportation and Ticket Center and Epcot

Monorail Schedule

The schedule for the monorail tends to vary a lot because, unfortunately, it is prone to operating under reduced capacity due to maintenance issues.

Officially Disney states, “The Walt Disney World Monorail System operates from 30 minutes prior to earliest park opening until one hour after latest park closing,” however, we always recommend you check at your resort for the most up-to-date schedule.

Transportation and Ticket Center

The Transportation and Ticket Center (or TTC) is the transportation hub for all of Walt Disney World.

The TTC is where you park if you drive to Magic Kingdom. It is also the only place you can catch (or transfer to) the monorail to Epcot.

If you plan to take a taxi or Uber/Lyft to Magic Kingdom, this is the official drop-off spot for that, as well as being the place where some of the offsite buses drop off guests for Magic Kingdom. 

You can also purchase tickets here, snag the ferryboat to Magic Kingdom, and even grab a cup of coffee or snack from the Joffrey’s stand.

Boats and Water Taxis

Disney World has LOTS of water, and with that comes lots of options for water transportation.

Boats and water taxis routes

You can access the parks via a boat or water taxi from the following resorts:

Magic Kingdom

• Grand Floridian Resort & Spa (Gold Flag route)
• The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa (Gold Flag route)
• Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort (Gold Flag route)
• Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground (Green Flag route)
• Wilderness Lodge (Red Flag route)
• Boulder Ridge Villas (Red Flag route)

Keep in mind that some of the water taxis from the above resorts may be limited. Here’s what is open at the Disney Resort hotels right now.

Epcot and Hollywood Studios

• BoardWalk Inn
• BoardWalk Villas
• Beach Club Resort
• Beach Club Villas
• Yacht Club Resort
• Walt Disney World Swan Hotel
• Walt Disney World Dolphin Hotel

Disney Springs is also accessible via boat from these resorts:

• Port Orleans Resort—French Quarter
• Port Orleans Resort—Riverside
• Old Key West Resort
• Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa

Resort to Resort

• Contemporary – Fort Wilderness – Wilderness Lodge (Blue Flag route)

Boat Schedule

The schedule for the boats and water taxis can vary, and of course, the tricky weather in Florida can be an issue. We recommend you inquire at your resort upon your arrival for an updated schedule. Most routes run on 15- to 30-minute intervals.

Ferryboat (Magic Kingdom only)

In addition to all the water taxis, Disney also operates ferryboats between the Transportation and Ticket Center and Magic Kingdom.

These boats – the Richard F. Irvine, the Admiral Joe Fowler, and the General Joe Potter – are large vessels capable of transporting around 600 guests at a time.

Ferryboat Schedule

The ferry boats typically begin running around 30-45 minutes before park opening and up until about 90 minutes after the parks close.

Disney Skyliner (gondolas)

The Disney Skyliner gondola system is the newest transportation option and connects 4 different resorts to 2 theme parks:

Resorts:

• Art of Animation (shares station with Pop Century)
• Pop Century (shares station with Art of Animation)
• Caribbean Beach (home to the main station where you transfer if heading to Hollywood Studios)
• Riviera Resort

Theme Parks:

• Hollywood Studios
• Epcot (via the International Gateway)

The gondolas are adorable and, aside from mishaps at the beginning, they have been operating smoothly.

Because of the uniqueness of this transportation option we have an entire post dedicated to explaining how the Disney Skyliner works if you would like more information.

If you’re in need of some dining ideas, be sure to also check out our dining on the Disney Skyliner post.

Skyliner Schedule

Probably the most frustrating thing about the new Skyliner is the schedule.

The schedule isn’t published ahead of time and typically you are only able to see the current day’s schedule posted on signs outside of the stations.

Generally, they start running 1 hour prior to park opening and usually go until 90 minutes after park closing.

However, keep in mind that they undergo extensive testing each morning before starting up (which can sometimes delay the opening) and that they do not operate during inclement weather.

When it comes to boarding, depending on your party size, you may have to share a gondola with other guests. Sometimes you’ll be lucky enough to score your own gondola.

Because of the possibility for long lines and the fact that the weather can force the gondolas to pause operations, if you plan to arrive for park opening, we typically don’t recommend you use the Skyliner unless you absolutely have to.

Minnie Vans

Minnie Vans are a premium service and are about as close to door-to-door service as you can get at a theme park.

At first, Minnie Vans charged a flat rate, but now fees are determined by a distanced-based model. Disney’s Minnie Vans charge a $22 flat rate plus additional cost per mile. 

That means they are significantly more than a regular Uber or Lyft, but they can still be a good deal for families needing carseats.

When they first went into operation, Minnie Vans were limited to only onsite guests, but that has since changed. Minnie Vans are now available across the entire Walt Disney World resort area, and anybody can use them (not just Walt Disney World Resort guests).

We really love Minnie Vans and have written an entire post all about how Minnie Vans work and what to expect if you take one.

Minnie Van Schedule

Minnie Vans are available 6:30 a.m. and 12:30 a.m.

Other ways to get around

Uber/Lyft

Outside of Disney World transportation, you can obviously drive, but you can also make use of taxis/Lyft or Uber.

When it comes to using Lyft or Uber, we encourage you to review current policies for both companies before riding, and for general information on how ride-sharing at Disney World works you can read our post on why we prefer Lyft.

Rent a car

If you choose to rent a car, costs can add up between paying for the rental, gas, and paying to park at the resorts. But the trade-off is that you’ll be in control of your arrival time to the parks. You won’t have to rely on a bus or boat or monorail or gondola.

We have found that the parking lots typically open up about an hour before the park is scheduled to open.

Disney Transportation maps

Use the handy transportation maps below to see the drop-off and pickup spots for each of the parks and Disney Springs:

Magic Kingdom

Epcot

Note: With all the new construction happening at this park, things have been changing frequently. Use this as a guide but double check locations when you are there!

Hollywood Studios

Animal Kingdom

In love with Disney transportation?

Here’s a fantastically awesome transportation map from https://www.wdwfocus.com/map/ (click to enlarge) that you might like as a handy reference. I bought a print of it that hangs in my office.

How to get to a theme park from Disney Springs

There are no buses from Disney Springs to the theme parks.

Resort guests can get directly to theme parks or Disney Springs, and you can travel to Disney Springs from the theme parks after 4 p.m., but people wanting to park for free in Disney Springs and go to the theme parks will not be able to do that.

Disney Transportation Refurbishment Schedule

Disney Transportation FAQs

Have a question about getting around Walt Disney World? We have answers!

How long does it take to get to (insert your desired location here)?

Travel times may vary, but we always recommend you allow 90 minutes for transportation, especially if you are planning to arrive in time for a reservation.

Is Disney transportation free?

Yes! The only form of Disney transportation that costs anything are Minnie Vans. All other forms of transportation (buses, monorail, boats, Skyliner) are all free to use for both guests staying onsite and off.

How do you get from the Value and Moderate Resorts to a theme park?

Until the Disney Skyliner opened up in September of 2019, guests staying at all Value and Moderate resorts only had 1 option to get to all 4 parks: bus.

But, now guests at Caribbean Beach, Art of Animation, and Pop Century have the option to take the Disney Skyliner (gondolas) to Epcot and Hollywood Studios.

Note: Disney frequently has bus service to and from Epcot for Art of Animation guests.

Guests staying at those resorts wishing to go to any other park will have to take a bus.

And, for guests at all other Value and Moderate resorts, the only option for all 4 parks is bus.

How do you get from a Deluxe resort to one of the theme parks?

Magic Kingdom resorts can take the monorail or boats to Magic Kingdom, monorail to Epcot, and buses to the other parks (guests at The Contemporary, Grand Floridian, and Polynesian can also walk to MK).

Boardwalk resorts (Boardwalk, Yacht Club, Beach Club, Swan, & Dolphin) can take a Friendship or walk to Epcot and Hollywood Studios. Buses are available to the other parks.

Guests staying at Disney’s Riviera (Deluxe Villa) have the option to take the Disney Skyliner to Epcot and Hollywood Studios.

Note: while the Skyliner is open, bus service to Hollywood Studios and Epcot from Disney’s Rivera Resort will be reduced to once per hour.

All other Deluxe resort guests will take buses to theme parks.

How do you travel between resorts at Disney World?

Traveling from resort to resort is one of the most difficult things to figure out at Disney World.

Want to get there fast? Use Lyft/Uber or a taxi

We’ve often considered making a dining reservation at a hotel, but changed our mind once we thought about getting to and from the restaurant.

At least we would do that until we discovered just how easy it is to use a rideshare service or taxi at Disney world.

Hands down the quickest (and easiest) way to get between resorts is often by taxi or Lyft/Uber.

We don’t think this option is used enough at Disney World.

It doesn’t usually cost more than $10 or $15 for a taxi (less for a Lyft/Uber) and can get you to your destination within a few minutes.

When operating, Disney’s Minnie Vans are also an option for a $22 flat rate plus additional cost per mile. 

Free options for traveling between resorts

If you’re using Disney’s free transportation, a good general rule is to get to the theme park closest to the destination resort and catch a bus or monorail from there to your destination resort.

For example, if you’re at Pop Century and need to get to The Grand Floridian, you’d want to take a bus to Magic Kingdom and then take the monorail to The Grand Floridian.

Another example: if you’re at Port Orleans Riverside and need to get to Animal Kingdom Lodge, you could take a bus to Animal Kingdom and then catch a bus over to Animal Kingdom Lodge.

Disney World Cast Members will likely suggest going to Disney Springs and connecting there, but going to the nearest theme park usually makes much more sense.

Does Disney provide a shuttle to and from the airport?

They used to. Until January 2022 Disney had a free airport shuttle service called Magical Express. That service has now ended, and you’ll need to make arrangements to go from the airport to your resort.

Is there transportation from Disney resorts to Universal?

While Disney (and Universal) do not provide transportation between the 2 resorts, you can arrange it on your own.

Here are some options:

• Rent a car on your Universal day(s) – there are a few places to rent a car at Disney World. Just be sure to consider the $26/day parking fee at Universal when determining your best options (and keep in mind that Disney now charges for parking at their resort hotels, too!).
• Take a taxi – this is probably the most convenient option, but not the cheapest for many people. Fares run around $32-45 each way.
• Use Uber or Lyft – if you have the Uber app installed, you can have a driver take you for about $30-50 each way, depending on where you’re starting, if surge pricing is in effect, and which type of car you request. Get more info on how it works.
• Take a shuttle – Mears has shuttles available for around $24 roundtrip (per person) which can be booked online. If you have more than 3 people, 1 of the other options above will be less expensive and more convenient.

How do you get from park to park?

All 4 parks have transportation available to allow you to hop to another park.

• From the Magic Kingdom to:
  • Epcot – Take the Magic Kingdom monorail or ferry to the Transportation and Ticket Center and transfer to the Epcot monorail
  • Disney’s Hollywood Studios –  bus
  • Animal Kingdom – bus
• From Epcot to:
  • Animal Kingdom – bus
  • Disney’s Hollywood Studios – bus, boat, Skyliner (gondola), or you can even walk
  • Magic Kingdom –  Take the Epcot monorail to the Transportation and Ticket Center and transfer to either the Magic Kingdom monorail or take the ferry
• From Disney’s Hollywood Studios to:
  • Animal Kingdom – bus
  • Magic Kingdom – bus
  • Epcot – bus, boat, Skyliner (gondola), or you can even walk
• From Animal Kingdom to:
  • Disney’s Hollywood Studios – bus
  • Epcot – bus
  • Magic Kingdom – bus

How do you get to Ft. Wilderness?

Many people need to get to Ft. Wilderness for various activities.

Our previous advice to go to a theme park and catch a bus to your destination resort will work here, but there is also a boat from Magic Kingdom that you might want to take.

If you are short on time, we also recommend taking a Minnie Van (currently unavailable) as this service drops you off extremely close to Pioneer Hall.

How do you avoid the crowds of people heading to the buses at park close?

After the nighttime entertainment ends and crowds leave in droves, there will be long, long…..long lines at the bus stops. To avoid this, consider 1 of these options:

• Take a taxi or Uber/Lyft back to your resort
• Use a Minnie Van
• Position yourself so you’re one of the first to leave the park and one of the first to get to your bus stop
• View from outside the park so you’re not caught in the crowds at all. This mainly works at Magic Kingdom, where you can view fireworks from one of the beaches at the monorail resorts. It doesn’t work as well at the other nighttime shows.

Is there transportation from Disney Springs to Magic Kingdom?

Nope. There is no transportation to any of the parks from Disney Springs. To get to one of the parks you’ll have to go to a resort first.

Disney’s Magical Express (no longer available beginning Jan. 1, 2022)

Important: Magical Express will no longer be offered beginning with arrivals Jan. 1, 2022.

Guests who arrive prior to Jan. 1, 2022 will be transported back to Orlando International Airport after their stay via Magical Express until Jan. 10, 2022. After this date, Disney won’t provide complimentary transportation back to the airport.

Magical Express was one of those staples that we thought would always be around, but after the parks closed in 2020, Disney slowly began pulling back some of the features (like luggage delivery and Resort Airline Check-In) before officially announcing Magical Express would be phased out.

Magical Express was the only free airport shuttle option (it ran from the Orlando International Airport to the Walt Disney World Resort) and for many people, they felt like their vacations began as soon as they stepped on the bus.

With Magical Express ending, you’ll need to find another way to get from the airport to your resort.

Mears (the company that ran Magical Express) is offering a service called Mears Connect. Check out the links below for more information:

• Orlando Airport Pick-up Options
• How Mears Connect Works

Although Resort Airline Check-in is no longer around, luggage assistance is still available at the front of Disney Resort hotels, along with luggage storage at Bell Services and/or transport to the room.

Just make sure you allocate enough time to snag them from there before you need to head to the airport.

Disney World Transportation Links

Want to learn more about Disney World buses, boats, monorail, and more?

Check out these handy posts for even more information on how to get around Walt Disney World.

• How to Navigate with Disney World Transportation
• How to Get Anywhere on Disney World Property (WDW Prep Navigator)
• Strollers on Disney World Transportation (Buses, Skyliner, Monorail, Boats)
• Complete Guide to the Disney Skyliner
• How Minnie Vans Work
• How to use Lyft or Uber at Walt Disney World
• Renting a Car at Walt Disney World
• Everything You Need to Know About Parking at Walt Disney World
• How Mears Connect (the Magical Express replacement) works
• Mears Connect review: Is the airport transportation service worth your time and money?

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Have you tried out one of the Disney World transportation options? Leave a comments below and tell us how it went!

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Heather Thomas

With 15+ years planning Disney World trips, Heather joined WDW Prep in 2014 to help others plan for their own families. As the WDW Prep Editor, she travels monthly to stay current and has helped propel the site to millions of views per year. Email Heather

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