Wishdrawals Travel
Kiersten Hagquist
A common question travel planners often get is how does a family travel around the Walt Disney World property once they arrive. Especially for those arriving in Orlando by plane, this is a concern of how to get from resort to park and beyond. Whether you are driving or flying to Disney, once you arrive, you can travel around all of Disney property in a variety of ways. From a bus to a private ride in a Minnie Van, there are options for everyone, so let’s take a look at each one.
Bus - probably the most popular mode of transportation around property. All of the resorts offer bus transportation to the parks and Disney Springs. These are running from before the parks open until after the parks close and run regardless of the weather. The buses can accommodate several people at
the same time as well as those using ECVs. If you are traveling with a stroller, you will need to fold up the stroller to board the bus. You will find dedicated stops for the bus at each park, resort and Disney Springs. There are large signs that let you know exactly where you need to be to grab a bus to your destination.
Monorail - this is one of the originals! The monorail is a little more limited, but
allows you to travel between Magic Kingdom and Epcot via the Grand Floridian, Polynesian, and Contemporary Resorts or the Ticket/Transportation center. Depending on the time of day, the monorail can be a bit crowded, but the trip is usually quick and you are on your way.
Skyliner - the highway in the sky! This is a super fun way to travel between Hollywood Studios, Epcot and several resorts. For guests staying at Pop Century, Art of Animation, Caribbean Beach, The Riviera, Beach Club, Yacht Club and Boardwalk, the Skyliner is quick access to each other and Epcot or Hollywood Studios. If you like to resort hop and check out all that Disney has to offer around the resorts, you can see several just by hopping on the Skyliner. The Skyliner is also a great way to take a little break from the parks and let your kiddos relax a little while you ride through the sky. The Skyliner does only run when the weather is favorable. If there is any chance of lightning in the area, the Skyliner will stop operation until it is deemed safe to begin again.
Boat/Ferry - sail across the water to get to your destination. Depending on where you are staying and which park you are visiting, some do offer boat or ferry transportation. If you are driving into Disney and parking at the Ticket/Transportation center you can catch a ferry boat over to Magic Kingdom. They can put so many people on the ferry a
nd get you to that park quickly. If you are staying at the Wilderness Lodge, you also have a boat you can take over the Magic Kingdom. This is a great option also if you are spending the day at Magic Kingdom and have a dining reservation at Artist’s Point or Whispering Canyon. If you are visiting Epcot or Hollywood Studios (or both), you can hop on one of the Friendship boats and get to your destination. These boats go between the two parks with stops at Beach/Yacht Club, Boardwalk and the Swan/Dolphin resorts. And finally, there are also boats that can take you from Port Orleans Riverside, Port Orleans French Quarter and Saratoga Springs over to Disney Springs.
Minnie Vans - The most adorable way to reach your destination. A final option you have on Disney property is by using a Minnie Van. The Minnie Vans are like your typical ride share and are operated through the Lyft app. When on Disney property, you can use the Lyft app and request the Minnie Van to get you where you need to go. The Minnie Vans can drop you off right at the entrance to each of the parks and are a great way to get you where you need to go especially if you don’t want to wait on a bus. This is a great choice if you are attending one of the After Hours events offered at the parks (separate ticket event), or if you want to ride in style. The cost of the Minnie Van will depend on where you are going and the time of day just like a typical ride share vehicle. The Minnie Vans also offer ECV friendly vans as an option. In addition, if you are staying at a Disney resort on the Club Level, you can request a Minnie Van as your transportation to/from the airport.
As you can see, Disney has you covered. Whether you are visiting one of the parks or wanting to spend some time shopping or eating at Disney Springs, you have a variety of options to get where you need to go. This is one of the many benefits of staying at a Disney resort, once you arrive, Disney will take care of you from there. If you would like to see all of these options in action, you can watch my video on YouTube, or by clicking here:
Here at Wishdrawals Travel we would love to help you plan your next magical vacation. Reach out to us at info@wishdrawals.com and we can make the magic happen!
Kiersten Hagquist has been with Wishdrawals Travel since 2019. She resides in central Indiana with her husband, three sons and spirited Yorkie, Norbert. Kiersten loves traveling with her family and would love to help you travel too. She specializes in Disney Destinations, Universal Orlando & Hollywood, all cruise lines, all-inclusive resorts, and more.
Comments