The Resorts Gal Guide to Tackling Transportation at Disney World's Resorts

Transportation options are an important consideration when choosing a Disney World Resort. For instance, if you stay at a resort like Disney’s Grand Floridian, you can walk, take the monorail, hop on a boat, or use buses, depending on where you’re going. However, if you stay at one of Disney’s All-Star Resorts, the only transportation option to and from the resort is a bus. Needless to say, there’s a vast difference between modes of transportation among the resorts.

Below, we’ll review some of the most frequently asked questions regarding transportation at Walt Disney World’s Resorts. Then, we’ve provided a list of individual transportation guides we’ve created for each resort. Additionally, we have a list of each transportation mode further down with the resorts that have that offering listed underneath. For example, under the Disney Skyliner, we have the resorts listed that have a Skyliner station.

When you decide on a resort, make sure to read the corresponding transportation guide. Our resort-specific transportation guides detail our experiences traveling to and from that particular resort. We provide as many travel experiences as possible to help save you time on vacation.

a monorail and bus stop at a Disney Resort

What is the Best Disney Resort for Transportation?

Okay, we’ve thought long and hard about this question, and ultimately, our answer has to be Disney’s Contemporary. Why? The Contemporary not only has access to the monorail, but the monorail runs through it! So, if you’re a transportation nerd (like me), this is the most incredible hotel!

FAQs for Transportation at the Disney Resorts

Here are some of the most commonly asked questions regarding transportation at Walt Disney World Resorts. Of course, all of these answers are based on our experience.

Is transportation free at Disney’s Resorts?

Yes, when it comes to traveling to and from Disney Destinations like theme parks, water parks, and Disney Springs, complimentary transportation is available to and from your resort at no extra cost.

Is a free shuttle or bus service available from the airport to the resorts at Disney?

Unfortunately, Disney no longer offers complimentary transportation between the resorts and the airport. The former Magical Express service option ended a few years back. Instead, you’ll need to arrange a car service or motor coach transportation to and from the airport. Mears Connect is the most common service we see at the resorts.

Mears Connect Bus picking up guests to take them to MCO airport.

Can you use Disney transportation to travel between resorts?

Yes, but in most cases, you will have to make at least one transfer on your way to get to a resort. For example, if you’re at Disney’s Coronado Springs and want to visit Disney’s Polynesian Resort, you’ll need two forms of transportation.

First, you will take a bus from Coronado Springs to Magic Kingdom. From Magic Kingdom, you can take the resort monorail or watercraft to Disney’s Polynesian. When you get to Magic Kingdom, you’ll have to walk from the bus stop through the security clearance to access these forms of transportation. However, you won’t have to walk through the park’s ticketed entry area, so a ticket isn’t required.

Here’s another example of what you could do in the same scenario. You can take a bus from Coronado Springs to Hollywood Studios. When you exit the bus at Hollywood Studios, find the bus stop for Disney’s Polynesian Resort. Then you can take the next bus from Hollywood Studios to the Polynesian.

You’ll begin to think about things differently as you learn how transportation works and what hotels and theme parks they service. Of course, it will nearly always be quicker to hire a car service or taxi for travel between the resorts when you’re in a time crunch. But if you’re spending the day leisurely resort-hopping, like most things, the fun is in the journey, not the destination.

Tip: In most circumstances, we usually allow 1 to 1.5 hours for travel time when traveling from one resort to another for dining.

Can I take Disney transportation to a resort if I’m not staying at Disney World?

All Walt Disney World guests (resort or off-site guests) are welcome to use Disney’s transportation options to and from its other popular destinations, such as theme parks, resorts, water parks, and Disney Springs. Of course, you’ll have to be on the property to use the transportation system. But if you’re at Epcot and want to visit Port Orleans French Quarter for beignets mid-afternoon, you can take a bus from the park to the resort. Then, return to Epcot the same way later.

Are car services (i.e., Uber, Lyft, Taxis) allowed at Disney’s Resorts?

Yes, various car services (Uber and Lyft) drop off and pick up guests at Disney World’s Resorts. However, in some instances, you might be required to have a confirmed dining reservation at the resort.

Additionally, Disney’s Minnie Van Service is available via the Lyft app. You can read more about Minnie Vans on Disney’s site.

Do all Disney Resorts provide transportation to the parks?

Yes, all Walt Disney World-owned and operated resorts provide complimentary transportation to and from the theme parks, water parks, and Disney Springs.

*All Good Neighbor Hotels (not Disney-owned) provide transportation to and from the parks. However, some of these resorts may charge a fee for transportation.

view of Disney's Polynesian across Seven Seas Lagoon

Resort Transportation Guides

Below, we’ve listed all our available transportation guides for each resort. These articles will provide tips for traveling to and from each hotel listed.

Magic Kingdom Resort Transportation Guides:

Epcot Resort Transportation Guides:

Disney’s Skyliner Transportation Options:

Disney Springs Resort Transportation Guides

Animal Kingdom Resorts Area

Other Resort Transportation Guides

We have a number of individual transportation guides for various routes around the Walt Disney World Resorts. You might enjoy one of the following.

Disney’s Grand Floridian Walkway to Magic Kingdom: This guide shares the distance, photos, and tips for walking between Grand Floridian and Magic Kingdom. We love this route and take it often.

How to Get to Hoop Dee Doo Revue at Fort Wilderness: If you have plans to dine at the Hoop Dee Doo Revue, read this guide! Many people will offer you basic advice, but often, those well-intended directions are wrong. We know for a fact.

Walking to Disney Springs from Saratoga Springs (Both Paths): Disney Springs is a hop, skip, and a couple of steps away from Disney Springs. Determine where you’re going first and take the best walking path.

Walking from Hollywood Studios to Epcot: We cut through the Epcot resort area on this walk from Disney’s Hollywood Studios to Epcot. If you’re staying at the Boardwalk, don’t miss this shortcut to Hollywood Studios.

Transportation Options at the Disney Resorts

Below, we’ve listed the resorts at Disney World based on transportation options. Sometimes, a resort has more than one form of transportation, so those resorts are listed multiple times where applicable.

Monorail Resorts

The following resorts are located on the resort monorail line at Walt Disney World.

Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa
Disney’s Contemporary Resort
Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort

Skyliner Resorts

The following resorts all have stops on Disney’s Skyliner.

Disney’s Riviera Resort
Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
Disney’s Pop Century Resort
Disney’s Art of Animation Resort

sunset over the Disney Skyliner from Disney's Riviera

Resorts Within Walking Distance of Magic Kingdom

These resorts have walking paths to Magic Kingdom.

Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa
Disney’s Contemporary Resort

*Additionally, if you’re staying at Disney’s Polynesian, you can take the walkway between the Polynesian and Grand Floridian. Then, you can continue to Magic Kingdom.

Resorts Within Walking Distance of Epcot and Hollywood Studios

These resorts have walking paths to both Epcot and Hollywood Studios.

Disney’s Beach Club Resort
Disney’s Yacht Club Resort
Disney’s Boardwalk Inn
Disney’s Swan and Dolphin Resort

Resorts with Boat Service to Magic Kingdom

Each of these resorts has boat service to and from Magic Kingdom.

Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort
Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa
Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort

Resorts with Boat Service to Epcot and Hollywood Studios

These resorts have boat service to and from Epcot and Hollywood Studios.

Disney’s Beach Club Resort
Disney’s Yacht Club Resort
Disney’s Boardwalk Inn
Disney’s Swan and Dolphin Resort

Resorts with Water Taxis to Disney Springs

The following resorts offer water taxis to and from Disney Springs.

Disney’s Port Orleans French Quarter Resort
Disney’s Port Orleans Riverside Resort
Disney’s Old Key West Resort
Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa

Resorts with Only Bus Transportation

While all the resorts listed above offer bus service to various locations, a few only offer bus service to all destinations. Those resorts are:

Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort
Disney’s All-Star Music Resort
Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort

Related: Disney Resort Bus Schedule

Final Thoughts on Resort Transportation at Disney World

We hope you found this guide helpful in planning your routes between the resorts and other destinations. Walt Disney World is a big place, and often, it’s a headache to figure out the best way to get to and from your resort to another destination on the property.

However, if you have a base idea of how everything works and what options you have, you’re far better off than most. Also, the more familiar you are, the more you’ll be willing to venture to more destinations, including some of Disney’s stunning resorts!

Who knows where you’ll end up? For all of our transportation articles, you might enjoy our guide to transportation at Disney World. Or you might like these resort-related articles:

How Long Does it Take?

Our documented transportation times share how long it takes to get to and from every resort hotel at Walt Disney World to every major destination.

Find Out More

In the Comments

Do you have any other questions on transportation at Disney World’s Resorts? Did you find this guide helpful? What is your favorite resort transportation option?

The Resorts Gal Guide to Tackling Transportation at Disney World’s Resorts