Staying on Disney property has a host of perks. One of those being complimentary transportation around Walt Disney World Resort property. There are multiple options that vary by the resort or park with each offering their own value.
Bus
The most tried and true mode of transportation are Disney buses. Buses are scheduled to run an hour before parks open to an hour after park closure and to Disney Springs during operational hours. During the morning hours, buses tend to be heavy at the resorts to get Disney guests to the parks. The opposite is true for the evenings to get guests back for a goodnight sleep.
Monorail
The monorail is one of my favorite ways to get to Magic Kingdom. This railway in the sky links the Ticket and Transportation Center (TTC) with the Deluxe Resorts (Grand Floridian, Polynesian and Contemporary) with Magic Kingdom and offers amazing views of Seven Seas Lagoon.
One track over you catch a ride from the Ticket and Transportation Center to EPCOT. This serene ride takes about 10-15 minutes park to park. Or, if you just need to rest, a round trip will give you about 30 minutes off your feet.
Boat
Ferryboats are another option between Magic Kingdom and the Ticket and Transportation Center. These double decker boats glide along Seven Seas Lagoon for an easy, breezy ride. Water Taxis are available between Magic Kingdom and the resorts along Seven Seas Lagoon and Bay Lake.
Magic Kingdom isn’t the only park with water access. Both EPCOT and Hollywood Studios share access to the Friendship boats. These boats traverse along Crescent Lake with stops at Boardwalk Beach, Yacht Club, Swan and Dolphin Resorts before heading back to the parks.
Watercrafts also travel from Disney Springs to select resorts along the Sassagoula River: Old Key West, Sarasota Springs, and both Port Orleans Resort – Riverside and Port Orleans – French Quarter.
Skyliner
Like the monorail, this transportation can be found in the sky too! The newest transportation option links EPCOT and Hollywood Studios with stops at multiple resorts like: Art of Animation and Pop Century, Caribbean Beach and Riviera. The Skyliner offers tranquil views of some of Disney’s property while getting you to your destination quickly.
Walk
Less glamorous but a few resorts have the option to walk to a nearby park. For the Magic Kingdom resorts there is a walking path around Seven Seas Lagoon starting at Polynesian Village, around to Grand Floridian to Magic Kingdom. From the other side, there is a short walk from the Contemporary to Magic Kingdom. EPCOT can be reached by Beach Club, Yacht Club and BoardWalk and a little further; Swan and Dolphin.
Ride Share
Don’t want to wait on the complimentary transportation? Ride shares like Uber or Lyft or even Disney’s own Minnie Vans. Drop off locations vary from near the preferred parking lot for EPCOT, next to the Skyliner for Hollywood Studios, in front of the park for Animal Kingdom and at the TTC for Magic Kingdom. Minnie Vans have the same drop off locations as other ride shares except for Magic Kingdom. They are the only option that is able to drop off directly at Magic Kingdom.
Drive
If you are a do it yourself’er you have the option to drive. The daily parking fee at your resort covers your parking fees at the parks as well
Notes
In severe weather, both the Monorail and Skyliner are shut down for safety and additional buses are brought in to shuttle guests back to their resorts.
It’s a good idea to allot one hour for travel time from resort room to entrance of park.
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