Tips for Navigating Disney World Resort

Tips for Navigating Disney World Resort

Did you know that Walt Disney World spans over 40 square miles, including 4 theme parks, 2 water parks, Disney Springs, over 20 resorts and much more? That is a lot of ground to navigate while on vacation!

At Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, there are buses, boats, Minnie vans, Monorails and coming soon the Gondola’s. Navigating the Walt Disney World system can be confusing and most guests are not prepared, so they spend a tremendous amount of their time trying to get from one location to the next.

Here are just a few tips to help you navigate the Happiest Place On Earth-

Most people know what theme park they are headed to at the beginning of each day, but sometimes getting back to your resort hotel at the end of a tiring day can be a bit of a head scratcher. One important thing to remember is the area in which your resort hotel lies. Resorts fall into the Magic Kingdom Resort Area, the Epcot Resort Area, the Animal Kingdom Resort Area and the Disney Springs Resort area depending on which park your resort is closest too.

People staying at Value and Moderate resorts currently only have the option of taking buses to the theme parks.

Magic Kingdom resorts can take the monorail or boats to Magic Kingdom, monorail to Epcot, and buses to the other parks (guests at The Contemporary can also walk to Magic Kingdom).

Boardwalk resorts (Boardwalk, Yacht Club, Beach Club, Swan, & Dolphin) can take a ferry boat or walk to Epcot and Hollywood Studios. Buses are available to the other parks.

All other Deluxe resort guests will need to take buses to theme parks.

One of the biggest challenges in navigating Walt Disney World involves traveling between the Disney hotels. Travel between the resorts is common for dining, resort hopping and shopping. Many people assume there must be buses that travel directly between the resorts, unfortunately that is not the case.

The quickest way to get between resorts is often by taxi/Uber, or the new Minnie Van Service.Minnie Vans are a premium service (they cost $25/ride) and are about as close to door-to-door service as you can get at a theme park. Minnie Vans are now available everywhere and anybody can use them (not just Walt Disney World Resort guests).

If you’re using Disney’s free transportation, a good general rule is to get to the theme park closest to the destination resort and catch a bus or monorail from there to your destination resort. This is where you need to know what theme park resort area the Disney hotel is situated in. This way you spend less time trying to navigate the transportation system and more time at your destination.

For example, if you’re at Pop Century and need to get to The Grand Floridian, you’d want to take a bus to Magic Kingdom and then take the monorail to The Grand Floridian.

Many people need to get to Ft. Wilderness for various activities, including the popular Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue show. My previous advice to go to a theme park and catch a bus to your destination resort will work here, but there is also a boat from the Magic Kingdom that you might want to take.

When the parks close and the nighttime entertainment ends be prepared for the long, long, long lines at the bus stops as crowds will be leaving in droves. To avoid this, either-

• Take your time leaving and be toward the last to get to your resort bus
• Position yourself so you’re one of the first to leave the park and one of the first to get to your bus stop
• Leave before the nighttime entertainment
• Take uber/taxi or Minnie Van Service

We hope that this breakdown helps you better navigate during your vacation. If you need additional help, here is a guide. The place listed, is where you are traveling FROM:

From The Contemporary Resort and Bay Lake Tower to:

Magic Kingdom – walk or monorail

Epcot – monorail to transportation and ticket center. Switch to Epcot monorail.

Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom, Disney Springs, Blizzard Beach, Typhoon Lagoon – bus

Wilderness Lodge & Fort Wilderness Resort – water transportation

Polynesian & Grand Floridian – monorail

Any other Disney Resort – walk or take monorail to Magic Kingdom, then board a bus there.

From Grand Floridian Resort and Spa to:

Magic Kingdom – monorail or water transportation

Epcot – monorail to transportation and ticket center. Switch to Epcot monorail.

Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom, Disney Springs, Blizzard Beach, Typhoon Lagoon – bus

Polynesian Resort – monorail or water transportation

Contemporary Resort – monorail

Wilderness Lodge & Fort Wilderness Resort – take monorail to either Magic Kingdom or Contemporary Resort then board water transportation.

Any other Disney Resort – take monorail to Magic Kingdom, then board a bus there.

From Polynesian Village Resort to:

Magic Kingdom – monorail or water transportation

Epcot – monorail to transportation and ticket center. Switch to Epcot monorail. OR I HIGHLY recommend the short walk to the transportation and ticket center!

Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom, Disney Springs, Blizzard Beach, Typhoon Lagoon – bus

Wilderness Lodge & Fort Wilderness Resort – take monorail to either Magic Kingdom or Contemporary Resort then board water transportation.

Any other Disney Resort – take monorail to Magic Kingdom, then board a bus there.

Wilderness Lodge:

Magic Kingdom – water transportation or bus

Epcot, Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom, Disney Springs, Blizzard Beach, Typhoon Lagoon – bus

Contemporary Resort – water transportation

Polynesian Resort & Grand Floridian – water transportation or bus to Magic Kingdom, then water transportation or monorail to resort.

Fort Wilderness Resort – walk, internal bus or water transportation

Any other Disney Resort – take water transportation or bus to Magic Kingdom, then board a bus there.

From Beach Club, Yacht Club & Boardwalk to:

Magic Kingdom – bus

Epcot – walk or take water transportation

Hollywood Studios – water transportation (or walk)

Animal Kingdom, Disney Springs, Blizzard Beach, Typhoon Lagoon – bus

Any other Disney Resort – walk or take water transportation to Epcot or Hollywood Studios and board bus.

From Animal Kingdom Lodge to:

Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom, Disney Springs, Blizzard Beach, Typhoon Lagoon – bus

To any other Disney Resort – board bus to Animal Kingdom (or any park), then bus to resort

From Old Key West to :

Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom, Blizzard Beach, Typhoon Lagoon – bus

Disney – walk, water transportation or bus

Any other Disney Resort – walk, take bus or water transportation to Disney Springs, board bus to resort

From Saratoga Springs Resort to:

Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom, Blizzard Beach, Typhoon Lagoon – bus

Disney Springs – walk, water transportation or bus

Any other Disney Resort – walk, take bus or water transportation to Disney Springs, board bus to resort

From Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground to:

Magic Kingdom – water transportation or bus

Epcot, Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom, Disney Springs, Blizzard Beach, Typhoon Lagoon – bus

Wilderness Lodge – walk, internal bus or water transportation

Contemporary Resort – water transportation

Polynesian & Grand Floridian – water transportation to Magic Kingdom, then either water transportation or monorail to resort

Any other Disney Resort – water transportation to Magic Kingdom then board bus

From Beach Resort, Coronado Springs Resort, All Star Resorts, Pop Century Resort or Art of Animaion Resort to:

Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom, Disney Springs, Blizzard Beach, Typhoon Lagoon – board bus

Contemporary Resort, Polynesian Village Resort, Grand Floridian Resort and Spa – board bus to Magic Kingdom, then board monorail to resort.

Wilderness Lodge, Fort Wilderness Resort – board bus to Magic Kingdom, then board water transportation to resort.

Any other Disney Resort – board bus to any park (preferably Disney Springs) then board bus to resort

From Port Orleans Resort (Riverside and French Quarter) to:

Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom, Blizzard Beach, Typhoon Lagoon – bus

Contemporary Resort, Polynesian Village Resort, Grand Floridian Resort and Spa – board bus to Magic Kingdom, then board monorail to resort.

Wilderness Lodge, Fort Wilderness Resort – board bus to Magic Kingdom, then board water transportation to resort.

Disney Springs – water transportation or bus

Any other Disney Resort – board bus to any park or water transportation to Disney Springs, then board bus to resort

From Magic Kingdom to:

Epcot – either of 2 monorail tracks or water transportation (whichever has shortest line) then board Epcot Monorail at TTC

Contemporary Resort – walk or Resort Monorail

Polynesian Village and Grand Floridian Resort – Resort Monorail or water transportation

Wilderness Lodge or Ft. Wilderness Campground – water transportation or bus

Any other park or resort – bus

From Epcot to:

Magic Kingdom – monorail to TTC, then switch to either of the other 2 monorail tracks or water transportation (whichever has shortest line)

Hollywood Studios – water transportation if you are in World Showcase, bus if you are in Future World

Beach Club, Yacht Club, Boardwalk – walk or water transportation

Any other park or resort – bus

From Hollywood Studios to:

Epcot, Boardwalk, Beach Club or Yacht Club – bus or water transportation

Any other park or resort – bus

From Animal Kingdom to:

Must take a bus every where, no other transportation options

From Disney Springs to:

No option to go directly to a park from Disney Springs

Port Orleans Riverside and French Quarter – water transportation or bus

Old Key West and Saratoga Springs – walk, water transportation or bus

All other resorts – bus

From Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon to:

No option to go directly to a park from the water parks, and must take a bus to every resort.

~Happy Travels~