Includes New Downloadable pdf Map
Before you plan a trip to Walt Disney World it might be helpful to understand the transportation system options. The basic drive in and spend a day at a park is pretty straight forward. Get inside The World and follow the signs to the selected park. Pay about $20, park and take the transports to the park entrance. But if you’re staying on property the options are many.
Magic Kingdom Transportation Center
When Walt Disney World was just the Magic Kingdom this was featured as the starting point for visitors. Now each park and resort has its own parking. If we’re visiting Disney World and staying at a Disney resort, after check-in, that’s where our car stays.
If you are staying at one of the resorts near the Magic Kingdom (The Contemporary, The Polynesian, The Grand Floridian) you are on the monorail loop that stops at each resort and the Magic Kingdom entrance along with the “transportation center”. There are also New York style ferries that travel back and forth from the transportation center to the Magic Kingdom entrance. Smaller boats from each of those three resorts also sail across Seven Seas Lagoon to the Magic Kingdom entrance. Each resort also offers a bus stop with service to each of the other parks and Disney Springs running about every 15 to 20 minutes. There is also the option of switching monorails at the Magic Kingdom station with service going over to the front Epcot entrance. Also in the Magic Kingdom neighborhood are the Wilderness Lodge and the Fort Wilderness campground, that along with busses also have boats over to the Magic Kingdom entrance.
Boat Service
There are a few resorts that have regular boat service to Disney Springs. They include Saratoga Springs, Port Orleans & Riverside. Saratoga Springs is also near enough to Disney Springs for a nice walk along the trails around the lake.
There is boat service in the Boardwalk area with stops at Boardwalk, Swan & Dolphin, Beach Club and Yacht Club resorts with short rides to the Disney Studios Park and Epcot.
Walking To Parks And Disney Springs – There are not many easy walking trails or sidewalks inside Walt Disney World. If you’re staying in the Boardwalk area (Boardwalk, Beach Club, Yacht Club, Swan and Dolphin) there are sidewalks that will take you on a short walk from the hotels to either The Disney Studios Park or Epcot. The Epcot entrance is into the World Showcase area in the park.
Staying at Saratoga Springs allows a pleasant walk around the lake to Disney Springs and Downtown Disney.
A recent addition to Disney World are the cable cars called the Skyliner. The Disney Skyliner is an enclosed gondola cable-car system now operating six stations connecting the Disney Pop Century, Disney Art of Animation, Caribbean Beach, the new DVC Riviera Resort with two of the theme parks. The Skyliner takes guests to Epcot at the International Gateway and Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
The remainder of the resorts rely on the bus system to get around. Regarding the bus system, you can take a bus from almost all hotels to the six parks (that includes 2 water parks) and Disney Springs, but you cannot take a bus from one resort to another unless they share the same bus route. To go from one resort to another you will have to go to a park bus stop or Disney Springs and switch to a bus going to the other resort. Another word of caution, normally, if you are a resort guest you can drive to other resorts and park. Unfortunately in busy periods they will restrict parking to only guests of that resort so you may get turned away.
It has been announced that Walt Disney World will be starting a dedicated on-property taxi service to provide rides between any location inside the “World” for a flat fee (suggested fare is $29 per ride).
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