Transportation at Walt Disney World
A Brilliant Guide from Wishful Thinking
QUICK JUMP:
In our Brilliant Guides, we simplify things. Get expert tips for first-timers & returning guests. Perfect for Disney newcomers & travelers from abroad, we cover the basics & highlight what matters most.
In our Brilliant Guides, we simplify things. Get expert tips for first-timers & returning guests. Perfect for Disney newcomers & travelers from abroad, we cover the basics & highlight what matters most.
QUICK JUMP:
Transportation at Walt Disney World
From airport arrivals to Disney’s own monorails, boats, buses, and gondolas, let’s cover how to get you where you need to go.
FLYING TO ORLANDO
Looking at flights? Orlando International Airport is just one of several options.
The vast majority of Walt Disney World guests fly directly to Orlando, but here are your airport options:
Orlando International Airport (MCO) | Driving time to Walt Disney World: about 30 minutes | Transportation options: private shuttles, rental cars, LYNX public bus, Uber / Lyft / Taxi.
Orlando Sanford International Airport (SFB) | Much further away from Walt Disney World. Driving time: about 60 minutes. | Transportation options: rental cars, private shuttles. We do not recommend flying into Sanford unless you’re planning to use a low-budget airline and intend to rent a car.
Tampa International Airport (TPA) | Driving time to Walt Disney World: about 90 minutes | Transportation options: it’s preferable to rent a car. Megabus offers daily shuttles between Tampa and Orlando, but note that the departure and arrival points may be inconvenient. | Reasons to select Tampa: if your Florida trip includes a visit to Gulf Coast beach resort towns like Clearwater Beach or St. Pete, or if you’re planning to visit Tampa area attractions like Busch Gardens.
Gainesville Regional Airport (GNV) | Driving time to Walt Disney World: about 2 hours | Transportation options: you’ll need to rent a car. | Reasons to select Gainesville: occasionally, airlines will offer flights into Gainesville for very low fares. Typically, it’s more expensive to fly to Gainesville than Orlando.
Fort Lauderdale International Airport (FTL) | Driving time to Walt Disney World: about 3 hours | Transportation options: you can rent a car or take a bus. Megabus offers regular daily departures between the two cities. | Reasons to select Ft. Lauderdale: this Atlantic Coast city is one of Florida’s most popular destinations. Millions of guests travel here every year to enjoy the spectacular beaches of this beautiful coastal city.
Miami International Airport (MIA) | Driving time to Walt Disney World: between 3 – 4 hours | Transportation options: you can rent a car or take a bus. Megabus offers regular daily departures between the two cities. | Reasons to select Miami: one of Florida’s most popular vacation destinations, the diverse and exciting city of Miami is well worth a visit. The resort hotels in South Beach are legendary. Additionally, Miami offers many international flight arrivals from airlines around the globe. | Note: If you are considering a cheaper flight which arrives into Miami versus one which connects to Orlando, it is typically more economical to take the connecting fight rather than renting a car and driving. If you don’t plan to stay and see Miami, it’s generally preferable to fly to Orlando.
Early planning gives you the most airfare options. Start a plan now ▸
DRIVING & CAR RENTALS
Don’t forget: you have to pay for parking. Whether your thinking of driving or renting a car, here’s what you need to consider.
To put it simply, you don’t really need a car to visit and enjoy all of Orlando’s attractions. The transportation within the Walt Disney World Resort is free for all guests, even if you’re not staying in a Disney hotel.
To visit other Orlando attractions like Universal Studios, Sea World, or the outlet malls, a taxi or rideshare makes getting there easy and affordable.
But if you’re considering driving to Orlando or renting a car, here’s what you need to keep in mind.
RENTING A CAR
Most guests who rent cars in Orlando pick them up upon arrival at Orlando International Airport (MCO). However, it’s vital to know that you don’t have to rent a car for your entire Orlando vacation stay; it’s actually quite easy just to rent a car for a day or two within your vacation.
Several resort hotels within the Disney Springs area have rental counters to arrange a rental pick up after your vacation has already begun. Arranging a pick up from one of these counters means that if you’re already staying at Walt Disney World, you can easily take a Disney transport bus to the pickup location without having to trek all the way out to the airport.
Contact us for the best rates, discounts, and advice on which Orlando rental car location is best for you.
PARKING IN ORLANDO
At Walt Disney World, please keep the following parking fees in mind:
- Disney resort hotel guest parking | As of late 2022, guest parking is once again complimentary for Disney resort guests. | See which hotels are in each category ▸
- Disney theme park parking | Complimentary for Disney resort hotel guests. For all others: Guests pay one fee for a parking pass good all day at all 4 theme parks. Standard vehicles: $25 per day. Oversized vehicles: $30 per day. Preferred / VIP parking: $45-50 per day. More ▸
If you plan to visit other Orlando attractions — like Universal Orlando Resort, Sea World, or LEGOLAND — keep in mind that guests typically pay about $25 per day to park in their parking lots.
WHEN YOU’LL WANT YOUR OWN CAR:
- If you’re staying in a private house or condo within Orlando, and anticipate visiting grocery stores, shops, etc, during your stay
- If you’re planning to visit one of the beach towns on the Florida coast
- If you’re planning to visit Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral
- If you’re planning to visit Busch Gardens in Tampa
- If you’re traveling to other major Florida destinations like Miami or Key West
WHEN YOU’LL BE FINE WITH JUST TAXIS / RIDE SHARES:
- If you’re planning to primarily focus on Disney, but want to spend a few days at other Orlando theme parks
- If you’re planning to stay at Universal Resort, and plan on visiting Disney theme parks for a few days
- If you’re planning to visit outlet shopping malls within Orlando
BUS TRANSPORTATION
Waiting for a bus doesn’t have to be a headache. Getting around Disney can be a breeze. Learn about Disney’s Resort Buses and the private Mears Connect bus, which launched in 2022.
There are many bus services that visit the Walt Disney World resort. To simplify things, we’ll focus on three broad categories: Walt Disney World buses, the Orlando LYNX public bus system, and the series of hotel shuttles.
WALT DISNEY WORLD BUSES
Disney itself operates a massive fleet of buses which travel to all guest areas — its theme parks, water parks, resort hotels, the Disney Springs shopping and dining district, and the ESPN Wide World of Sports recreation area. These buses are open to anyone; there’s no fare, ticket, or hotel reservation required.
Schedule | Disney’s buses typically begin running an hour before that day’s earliest theme park opening, and for about two hours after that day’s latest theme park closing. (The final buses won’t leave the Theme Park boarding area until every last guest has left the park.) The buses arrive about every 10 minutes during peak hours (early morning, late at night) and about every 15-20 minutes at other times of the day.
Avoiding Headaches | It is absolutely worth noting that little frustrates Walt Disney World guests more than waiting for buses. Especially at the end of a long day — potentially dealing with tired feet and exhausted kiddos — a twenty-minute wait can aggravate the best of us. If you’re very tired — or in a hurry — consider other transportation options, like a taxi or rideshare home. Taxi stands are often located just beside the bus stops. More on taxis, Lyft and Uber ▸
MEARS CONNECT
At the end of 2021, Disney phased out its complimentary airport transfer, Disney’s Magical Express. In its place, the private bus company Mears (which had long been contracted by Disney to provide transportation) offers a paid bus airport transfer between MCO airport and each of the Walt Disney World resort hotels. This service offers dropoff and pickup not only at the Disney-owned hotels, but also at all the Disney Springs hotels and select Good Neighbor Hotels (including the Walt Disney World Swan / Swan Reserve / Dolphin and the hotels in the Bonnett Creek area).
LYNX — Orlando’s Public Bus
Many American guests never ride public transportation within their day-to-day lives, so the thought of using public buses often doesn’t come to mind. But Orlando’s LYNX bus system is flat-out terrific. These buses are super clean, air-conditioned, efficient, and Earth-friendly. With the LYNX PawPass App, you can pay for your fare and geo-locate the buses along the route. If you book a hotel along one of the LYNX routes — particularly route 55 & 56 which serves Highway 192 to the Magic Kingdom — the LYNX bus is an affordable, environmentally conscious way to travel to and from the resort. LYNX buses arrive and depart every half hour at the Magic Kingdom Transportation & Ticket Center, every day from 5:30 AM until 11:30 PM. Learn all about LYNX ▸
OTHER HOTEL SHUTTLE BUSES
Many non-Disney hotels within the area offer shuttle buses to and from the resort. For these buses, it’s worth getting into a bit of scrutiny, because the real-world experience from shuttle to shuttle can vary widely. In short, we’ve got a few ‘heads up’ items for you:
Schedules are very limited. | For nearly all of these shuttles, it will be nearly impossible to arrive at the park before it opens or depart after the park closes, especially on days when the parks open before 9 AM or close after 9 PM. Additionally, most hotels only offer a few morning departures and a few evening return trips, so if your schedule varies from theirs, you’ll need to make other plans. In reality, this means it’ll be very hard for you to stay for the evening fireworks.
Most shuttles only service the Magic Kingdom. | For most shuttles of off-property resorts, you’ll need to take their bus to the Magic Kingdom and then transfer to one of Disney’s buses to reach the other theme parks or water parks. At the end of the evening, you’ll need to add up to an extra hour of travel time from your park exit to make it back to the Magic Kingdom for your pickup.
Many hotel shuttles are overcrowded and uncomfortable. | We speak from experience. You might be on your feet for a thirty-minute bus ride the whole way home. With tired and cranky kids.
The Disney Springs, Four Seasons, Dolphin / Swan / Swan Reserve and Bonnett Creek area shuttle buses are an exception. | Although they do not pick up within the same exact area as the official Disney resort hotels, these buses come quite often and are generally comfortable experiences.
MONORAILS, BOATS & GONDOLAS
Navigate your way without getting lost. Disney’s got more transportation options than you may realize.
Many first-time Walt Disney World guests incorrectly assume that all guest areas are connected on the Monorail or accessible via water shuttle. Not so! Read on for essential transportation tips.
MONORAILS
Walt Disney World’s monorail opened with the park in 1971 as one of the world’s first monorails — and little has changed over the park’s fifty years. The monorail ONLY serves the following guest areas:
- Magic Kingdom
- EPCOT | Main entrance
- Disney’s Contemporary Resort
- Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
- Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
- The Magic Kingdom area’s Ticket & Transportation Center
BOATS
Disney operates dozens of watercraft for guest transportation, but the many waterways within Walt Disney World are not all interconnected. Rather, Disney operates its boats within three separate waterway systems. These free-floating watercraft are free to all guests and offer a pleasant way to get where you need to be. In many circumstances, a boat is the fastest option.
Boat Schedules | Schedules widely vary based on time of year and time of day. If your resort hotel is accessible by boat, you can get a schedule of boat departures from your hotel Front Desk upon arrival. For the most part, boats operate from about an hour before its hotels begin serving breakfast, and for about an hour after its restaurants & bars close for the night. Do take note, however, that the boats which serve Disney Springs tend to restrict their arrivals and departures on busy evenings, so be sure to ask your resort hotel’s concierge for more information.
Boat Routes & Destinations | Here are the guest areas which you can reach upon Disney’s various watercraft transports. We’ve separated them into the three different water routes where they navigate. You can embark or disembark at the destinations within each water route, but boats do not travel from one broader route area to another — the waterways simply don’t connect.
Note: the following routes are our own description; Disney doesn’t label its water routes.
MAGIC KINGDOM WATER ROUTES | Bay Lake & Seven Seas Lagoon
- Magic Kingdom
- Ticket & Transportation Center (via ferry, directly to / from the Magic Kingdom)
- Disney’s Contemporary Resort
- Disney’s Fort Wilderness Campground
- Disney’s Fort Wilderness Lodge / Villas Resort
- Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa / Villas
- Fort Wilderness Campground
- Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
EPCOT & STUDIOS WATER ROUTES | Echo Lake and beyond
- EPCOT | International Gateway entrance at World Showcase
- Disney Skyliner gondola station | International Gateway entrance at World Showcase
- Hollywood Studios
- Disney’s Beach Club Resort / Villas Resort
- Disney’s BoardWalk Inn / Villas Resort
- Walt Disney World Dolphin / Swan / Swan Reserve Resort
- Disney’s Yacht Club Resort
DISNEY SPRINGS WATER ROUTES | Sassagoula River and beyond
- Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa
- Disney Springs shopping district (two arrival & departure docks)
- Disney’s Port Orleans — Riverside Resort
- Disney’s Port Orleans — French Quarter Resort
- Disney’s Key West Resort & Spa
GONDOLAS
In 2019, Walt Disney World opened a brand new gondola transportation system, Disney Skyliner. It’s already become very popular, especially for those resort guests who can now quickly reach EPCOT and Hollywood Studios. The gondolas are both user-friendly and earth-friendly, and they offer a terrific view as you glide above the trees and rooftops. View the map ▸
Skyliner Gondola Schedule | The schedule varies from day to day, but it generally begins shortly before the earliest park opening (among EPCOT and Hollywood Studios) and runs shortly after the latest park closes. When you check in at your resort, the Front Desk can provide you with the gondola schedule during your stay. Additionally, during peak occupancy periods, hotels along the Disney Skyliner gondola supplement their transportation options by providing Resort Buses to the Theme Parks.
Disney Skyliner gondola serves the following areas:
- EPCOT | International Gateway entrance at World Showcase
- Hollywood Studios
- Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
- Disney’s Art of Animation Resort
- Disney’s Pop Century Resort
- Disney’s Riviera Resort
- Disney’s BoardWalk Inn & Villas Resort
- Disney’s Yacht & Beach Club Resort
- Walt Disney World Dolphin / Swan / Swan Reserve (15-minute walk)
MINNIE VANS, RIDESHARES & ORLANDO TAXIS
Can you trust a rideshare service? Yes. Some — like Lyft’s Minnie Vans — are operated by Disney cast members. Licensed taxis are plentiful, too.
As noted above, the Walt Disney World buses can be a major headache, especially very early or late in the day. Even if you’re staying at a Disney World Resort hotel, a quick call to a rideshare app or a taxi can save the day.
WHEN TO USE A RIDESHARE OR TAXI
When might it be extra smart to rely on a rideshare or taxi?
- To travel from one Disney resort hotel to another. If you rely on buses, you’ll have to take two: one to a theme park, and then another one from the theme park to your destination hotel.
- If you’ve got a breakfast reservation at a hotel other than where you’re staying; the buses only begin running about an hour before the theme parks open
- To travel from Disney Springs to one of the theme parks — at most times of day, the Walt Disney World buses only travel between Disney Springs and the resort hotels
- To travel between Orlando International Airport and your hotel
LYFT
Lyft and Uber are the two most popular rideshare apps in America, but we highly recommend Lyft, which is also the preferred rideshare service of Walt Disney World. Throughout Orlando, Lyft drivers are exceptionally polite and professional, and the app’s customer service is prompt and helpful. More crucially, unlike Uber, Lyft isn’t burdened by a well-documented toxic sexist workplace culture.
If you’ve never used a rideshare service before, here are a few helpful facts:
- The Lyft app permits you to schedule a pickup in advance; this is extra smart if you plan to travel just before a park opens or just after it closes. To do so, enter your pickup & drop off locations, then click the “schedule” option on the screen where you select your car type, just above the “Select Lift” button.
- Typically, a car will arrive about 5-10 minutes after you request it, but there can be significant delays very late at night, and it’s not uncommon to find no cars available if you request a pickup just as the theme parks are closing.
- The average fare for a ride within Walt Disney World and areas nearby is about $15-20 USD.
- If you’re getting a ride after leaving the Magic Kingdom or EPCOT, it’s often smart to walk to a hotel nearby, and then request the pickup from the hotel. This gives you a comfortable place to wait, and it makes it very easy to identify when your car arrives. From the Magic Kingdom, request your pickup at the Contemporary Resort. From EPCOT, exit via the International Gateway within the World Showcase, then request your pickup at the Beach Club Resort.
MINNIE VAN SERVICE
Minnie Vans are colorful, polka-dotted transport vans that you book via the Lyft rideshare app. They operate within Walt Disney World property — plus trips to Orlando International Airport. When you select a pickup location within Walt Disney World property, you’ll see Minnie Vans within the various vehicle options before you book your ride.
Minnie Vans are distinct for a few big reasons:
- They accommodate up to six guests
- They feature 2 children’s car seats per vehicle — something that’s very hard to find in a taxi or regular rideshare
- As with all Lyft rides, pricing is dynamic and can vary based on time of day / available rides
TRAVEL TIMES
Avoid running late when you’ve got a reservation or you want to be in the park before the opening rope drop.
First-time visitors to Walt Disney World often underestimate just how huge the resort is: it’s the size of a major city. It can take up to an hour to travel between one part of the resort and another. Here are some good travel time estimates to assist your planning.
NOTE: THE ESTIMATES BELOW INCLUDE WAIT TIMES
It’s common to wait from 5-10 minutes for your method of transport to arrive at your pickup location; we’ve included that estimated wait within these travel times below.
TO MAGIC KINGDOM
- From the Contemporary Resort, via walking path: 10 minutes
- From the Polynesian Village Resort, via walking path: 20 minutes
- From the Grand Floridian Resort, via walking path: 15 minutes
- From the Magic Kingdom monorail resort hotels, by monorail: 10-20 minutes
- From Fort Wilderness and the Wilderness Lodge (and the other Magic Kingdom resorts) by boat: 25 minutes
- From the EPCOT area resort hotels, by bus: 35 minutes
- From EPCOT front entrance, by monorail: 35 minutes
- From Animal Kingdom / Animal Kingdom Lodge, by bus: 45 minutes
- From Disney Springs Resort Hotels, by bus: 45 minutes
TO EPCOT
- From The BoardWalk Inn, Yacht & Beach Club Resorts, or Dolphin / Swan / Swan Reserve Resort, via walking path: 20 minutes
- From the Riviera Resort, via gondola: 15 minutes
- From Caribbean Beach Resort, via gondola: 20 minutes
- From Hollywood Studios, along the walking path: 25 minutes
- From the EPCOT area resort hotels, by boat: 25 minutes
- From the EPCOT area resort hotels, by bus: 25 minutes
- From Hollywood Studios, by boat: 25 minutes
- From the Ticket and Transportation Center, by monorail: 25 minutes
- From Pop Century or Art of Animation Resort hotels, by gondola: 25 minutes
- From Hollywood Studios, by gondola: 30 minutes
- From Animal Kingdom / Animal Kingdom Lodge, by bus: 35 minutes
- From the Magic Kingdom area resort hotels, by bus: 35 minutes
- From the Magic Kingdom park entrance / exit, by monorail: 45 minutes
- From Disney Springs / Disney Springs Resort hotels, by bus: 45 minutes
TO HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS
- From Caribbean Beach Resort, via gondola: 15 minutes
- From EPCOT International Gateway along the walking path: 20 minutes
- From the BoardWalk Inn, Yacht & Beach Club, or Dolphin / Swan / Swan Reserve resorts along the walking path: 20 minutes
- From Riviera, Art of Animation and Pop Century resorts, via gondola: 20 minutes
- From EPCOT International Gateway / EPCOT resort hotels, by boat: 25 minutes
- From Disney Springs / Disney Springs resort hotels, by bus: 25 minutes
- From Animal Kingdom / Animal Kingdom Lodge, by bus: 30 minutes
- From Magic Kingdom / Magic Kingdom area resort hotels, by bus: 45 minutes
TO ANIMAL KINGDOM
- From Animal Kindom Lodge, by bus: 15 minutes
- From the EPCOT and Hollywood Studios area resort hotels, by bus: 30 minutes
- From the Magic Kingdom area resort hotels, by bus: 45 minutes
KEY QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
Walt Disney World in 2024 & 2025
When is the best time to visit? How busy will it be in the theme parks?
Why should I book a hotel on-property vs. off-property?
What’s located at each theme park? What’s a must at Disney Springs?
What rides, dining, & experiences are most popular & need reservations?
How can I combine park tickets, dining, and hotel stays to save money?
What are realistic tips for transportation and getting places on time?
How much do park tickets cost? Which ticket options save money?
When & where do I use the smartphone app, Genie+ and MagicBand?
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Disney pays us to help plan your trip, from your first wish list until your departure. We’ll even assist you during your vacation until you’re happily back home.
Our trip planning is free. When you book a Disney vacation through us, you’ll pay the same price as if you booked it on your own, yet enjoy the bliss of a talented Wishful Thinking travel planner.
A Wishful Thinking travel planner is:
- Bright. We’re nerd-level experts on Disney’s past, present and future.
- Talented. We’ve been designing travel itineraries around the globe for 15 years.
- Realistic. We help you prepare for everything and set honest expectations.
- Whimsical. Spontaneous fun often produces our most treasured memories.
- Inspiring. We’re still kids at heart who believe in the power of dreams.
It’s never too early to start planning!