Your Transportation Primer For Walt Disney World Resorts

For the first time Disney World visitor, transportation covering a massive 27,000 acres (roughly 42 square miles) can be daunting.

For those who fly to Walt Disney World, you MUST use their on-site transportation.

For people who drive, you don’t have to, but I’m telling you, you should. There are only a few instances that I recommend driving your own car. Typically, we park the car when we arrive and never get in it again until it’s time to go home.

Disney offers bus, boat and monorail transportation to a variety of places within the property. Knowing the best one to use when can be tricky.

Value Resorts (All Star-Movies, All-Star Sports, All-Star Music, Art of Imagination, Pop Century)

Value Resorts use bus transportation for all parks, water parks and Disney Springs.

• For Magic Kingdom, Disney transportation is the only way to go. First of all, you are dropped off right at the gate. If you drive, you’ll have to park and board additional transportation (monorail or boat) to get to the park. No time savings here.
• For Animal Kingdom, as long as you get an early start, driving yourself is a good option. Later in the day, take the bus.
• For EPCOT and Hollywood Studios, only drive if you can leave early and you have a cumbersome stroller to tote around.

Moderate Resorts

All moderate resorts use bus transportation for parks and water parks.

But for Disney Springs, it’s another story:

Disney Springs Bus Transportation: Caribbean Beach, Coronado Springs, Cabins at Fort Wilderness.

Disney Springs Ferryboat Transporation: Port Orleans Riverside, Port Orleans French Quarter.

• For Magic Kingdom, Disney transportation is the only way to go. You are dropped off right at the gate. If you drive, you’ll have to park and board additional transportation (monorail or boat) to get to the park. No time savings here.
• For Animal Kingdom, as long as you get an early start, driving yourself is a good option. Later in the day, take the bus.
• For EPCOT and Hollywood Studios, only drive if you can leave early and you have a cumbersome stroller to tote around.

Deluxe Resorts

Listing the transportation for the deluxe resorts is a little trickier. Some use bus exclusively (Animal Kingdom Lodge), some also use boats and monorails and your own two legs. If you’re wondering if you should drive, just refer to the suggestions above for Value and Moderate resorts.

Below is a breakdown by destination. Recommendations are in bold. Remember, Animal Kingdom Lodge utilizes only bus service to Disney Springs and all theme/water park locations.

If you’re going to…..

Magic Kingdom

• Animal Kingdom Lodge (bus)
• Boardwalk, Beach Club & Yacht Club, Swan & Dolphin (bus)
• Contemporary Resort (walk or monorail, recommendation: walk there, take monorail back)
• Grand Floridian (monorail or boat)
• Old Key West Villas (bus)
• Polynesian Resort (monorail or boat)
• Saratoga Springs (bus)
• Treehouse Villas (bus)
• Wilderness Lodge (boat or bus)

If you’re going to…

EPCOT

• Animal Kingdom Lodge (bus)
• Boardwalk (walk or boat)
• Beach Club (walk or boat)
• Yacht Club (walk or boat)
• Swan & Dolphin (boat)
• Contemporary Resort (bus or monorail)
• Grand Floridian (bus or monorail)
• Old Key West (bus)
• Polynesian Resort (bus or monorail)
• Saratoga Springs (bus)
• Treehouse Villas (bus)
• Wilderness Lodge (bus)

If you’re going to…

Disney’s Hollywood Studios

• Animal Kingdom Lodge (bus)
• Boardwalk (walk or boat)
• Beach Club (walk or boat)
• Yacht Club (walk-depending on where your room is located or boat)
• Swan & Dolphin (walk or boat)
• Contemporary Resort (bus)
• Grand Floridian (bus)
• Old Key West (bus)
• Polynesian Resort (bus)
• Saratoga Springs (bus)
• Treehouse Villas (bus)
• Wilderness Lodge (bus)

And finally, if you’re going to…

Animal Kingdom

• All deluxe resorts use bus.
• No, you can’t walk to Animal Kingdom from Animal Kingdom Lodge even though it feels that close.
• Drive yourself if you can leave early. Otherwise, take the bus with everyone else.