Walt Disney World has multiple free transport options, and one paid option.
Buses – The resort buses take you from the resorts to the parks. They generally start running 45 minutes before park opening until 1 hour after park close. Buses only run to Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom from Disney’s Pop Century, Disney’s Art of Animation, Disney’s Riviera Resort and Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, as they expect you to use the Disney Skyliner to Hollywood Studios and Epcot. Buses will only run from these resorts to Hollywood Studios and Epcot if the Disney Skyliner is non operational.
The buses also take you Disney Springs. These buses usually run during opening hours until 1 hour after Disney Springs closes.
Disney Skyliner – The Disney Skyliner is the newest transport option in WDW. This gondola method connects Epcot and Hollywood Studios theme parks to Disney’s Art of Animation, Disney’s Pop Century, Disney’s Riviera Resort and Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort.
Rather than taking you to the front of Epcot it drops you at the back of the park at International Gateway.
The Disney Skyliner starts running 1 hour before early morning theme park entry at Epcot and Hollywood Studios and stops running 90 minutes after park close. For extended evening hours it runs until 1 hour after close but only to Disney’s Riviera Resort and Disney’s Boardwalk Resort (Epcot International gateway).
Monorail – The monorail has 3 lines in WDW. There is the Express line which takes you to Magic Kingdom from the TTC (Transportation and Ticket Centre).
The Resort line also runs between Magic Kingdom and the TTC, it also stops at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa, Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort and Disney’s Polynesian Villas and Bungalows.
The third and final line takes you from the TTC to Epcot.
The Resort and Express lines run 30 minutes prior to Magic Kingdom opening until 1 hour after the park closes. The Epcot line runs 30 minutes prior to Epcot opening until 2 hours after Epcot closes.
Ferry – The ferry is another way to get from the TTC to Magic Kingdom. On this mode of transport you take a relaxing boat ride across Seven Seas Lagoon.
Friendship boats (water taxis) – The Friendship boats operate on multiple routes. The first is to Magic Kingdom. There are resort launches at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campgrounds, Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa, Disney’s Polynesian Villas and Bungalows and Disney’s Wilderness Lodge.
The second route takes you between Epcot and Hollywood Studios with a resort launch from Disney’s Boardwalk Villas, Disney’s Beach Club Villas, Disney’s Yacht Club Resort, Walt Disney World Dolphin Hotel and Walt Disney World Swan Hotel.
The final routes run at Disney Springs. Here you can get boats from the resort launches at Disney’s Old Key West Resort, Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa, Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside and Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter.
Most routes run in 15-30 minute intervals, however hours of operation can vary subject to water and weather conditions.
Trams – The trams run from the theme park car parks to the park entrances, except at Magic Kingdom where they take you to the TTC. Since Covid they have only been running in Magic Kingdom parking lot and Animal Kingdom parking lot, from September 2023 they will be returning to Epcot parking lot and Hollywood Studios parking lot.
Minnie Vans – The Minnie Vans are the paid option. These are booked in the Lyft app and run within the WDW Resort area. Hours of operation are 6:30am till 12:30am. They are a great option if you need to travel around the Walt Disney World resort quickly.
TTFN, Titch
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