Disney’s Wilderness Lodge to Magic Kingdom (Both Options with Times)
If you’re planning a stay at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, you’ll want to know your options for visiting Magic Kingdom. Disney’s Wilderness Lodge is only a short boat or bus ride from the Most Magical Place on Earth. However, one of these routes requires an additional stop along the way.
Below, we’ll discuss taking the resort watercraft and bus from the Wilderness Lodge to Magic Kingdom, including the return trip. We’ll also compare each route’s average time so you’ll know how long it takes. This article is part of our Resorts Gal Routes series, where we examine individual routes between popular destinations at Walt Disney World.
Route 1: Taking the Boat from Wilderness Lodge to Magic Kingdom
The most popular way of traveling from the Wilderness Lodge to Magic Kingdom is the resort’s boat service. The boat dock at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge sits behind the resort along the shores of Bay Lake. A raised wooden walkway leads from behind the Copper Creek Springs Pool to the dock. You’ll take the walkway to the boat dock and wait for the next available boat.
It takes approximately 12 minutes to reach Magic Kingdom by boat. When you arrive at Magic Kingdom, you’re dropped off directly in front of the park’s entrance. You couldn’t be any closer! However, you must walk through a security clearance before you reach the ticket entry area. For details on accessibility and the types of boats, see our photo walk-through of taking the boat from Wilderness Lodge to Magic Kingdom.
Return Route: This return route is the same, taking approximately 12 minutes. If you would like to learn more, see our overview of boat services at Disney World.
Route 2: Taking the Bus from Wilderness Lodge to Magic Kingdom
You can also take a bus from Disney’s Wilderness Lodge to Magic Kingdom. While we prefer the boat, the bus route is a decent alternative. However, you will want to know that the bus service between Wilderness Lodge and Magic Kingdom is shared with Fort Wilderness. So when the driver picks you up at the Wilderness Lodge, they will take a back road to the Settlement at Fort Wilderness. After picking up at Fort Wilderness, they continue to Magic Kingdom.
The average total time we’ve tracked for this route is 12 minutes. But it’s important to note that the additional stop can vary based on guests loading/unloading. For instance, a parent might take extra time collapsing a stroller, or someone might need assistance loading an ECV. These types of things are common and to be expected when using complimentary transportation at Walt Disney World.
Return Route: The return trip by bus from Magic Kingdom to Wilderness Lodge is much shorter because the driver stops at Wilderness Lodge first on the way back. We have tracked an average travel time of 6 minutes for this route. For more details on this service, learn how the buses work at Disney World.
The Resorts Gal Spin
We almost always prefer to take the resort boat service because of the scenic journey. However, if I’m in a hurry to return to the Wilderness Lodge, it’s usually quicker to take the bus. Wilderness Lodge has the very first bus stop at Magic Kingdom, immediately next to where the Minnie Vans drop off.
Final Thoughts
As you can see, the boat and the bus are viable options for visiting Magic Kingdom from the Wilderness Lodge. Of course, one is more pleasant than the other. If you would like to learn more, see our guide to Wilderness Lodge transportation. If you would like to compare options, here are a few more ways to get to Magic Kingdom from nearby resorts.
For more on getting around, see our overview of all transportation at Walt Disney World. Check back with ResortsGal.com.
In the Comments
Did you find this overview of traveling from Disney’s Wilderness Lodge to Magic Kingdom helpful? Which route would you take? Let us know in the comments section below.
