Disney Tip Tuesday: Top 5 Tips for Disney World Transportation

I’ve said before that Disney World is absolutely huge. Normally a blessing, the vast size allows the company and Imagineers to truly expand and create the ever-changing parks we know and love. However, one of the biggest caveats to Disney World’s massive size is that getting around can be a bit of a hassle.

Below are my Top 5 Tips for getting around with Disney World Transportation.

While Disney World offers buses to and from all resort hotels and theme parks, they can get very crowded and the bus run times are often unpredictable. This can be especially inconvenient if you have a reservation you are trying to make or are coordinating schedules with multiple groups of people.

I do recommend you use the busses when they are convenient for you, but there are several other transportation options readily available:

1. Use Water Transport

   

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Did you know there are water taxis available that take you directly to the Magic Kingdom from the MK resorts? These are nice because you don’t have to stop at the Ticket Transportation Center before arriving to the Magic Kingdom gates.

Water taxis also provide direct transportation between Epcot and Hollywood Studios as well as their surrounding hotels.

Ferry boats will take you to the TTC from all MK resorts. The ferries offer a very pleasant ride and are a nice alternative to busses, though they tend to get very crowded after night time spectaculars. Ferry boats will also take you to Disney Springs from Port Orleans, Old Key West and Saratoga Springs resorts.

2. Monorail

   

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Ah, the monorail . . . a classic Disney attraction in and of itself. The “highway of tomorrow” is not only fun to ride, but is a super-efficient means to get around. The monorail runs from all MK resorts to the TTC where you can catch a transferring line to Epcot or simply walk to the Magic Kingdom gates.

The monorail is a great mode of transportation as it allows easy and quick access from Epcot and its surrounding areas to the TTC, making it simple to get to the MK or any one of its area hotels.

3. Magical Express

   

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Disney’s Magical Express is a free service offered to on-site guests that will transport you and your luggage from the Orlando International Airport directly to your hotel. This is a really nice amenity provided that completely takes away the work of navigating the Orlando state highways.

You literally get to kick back and start your vacation the second you hit the ground! You don’t even need to wait for your luggage in baggage claim – Disney does it for you! DME is one of the many incentives to stay on property – see more reasons to stay at a Disney resort here.

4. Uber

   

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Let’s say you’re a Disney pro and you’ve mastered getting around the World. Even then, you’re going to be waiting in lines to hitch a ride on the monorail, and sometimes you just aren’t able to wait out a ferry ride (trust me).

With the advent of companies like Uber

, you can have more control over where you want to go and when, and this can be especially beneficial in a huge resort like Disney World. Uber is a taxi-like service that uses real people in real cars as drivers. It operates from a downloadable app where all scheduling and monetary transactions are made. This makes it super easy to pre-plan when and where you’ll need a ride – you just pop it into the app and you’ll have a driver waiting for you almost immediately.

I really like using Uber in DW when I have a dinner reservation to catch or if the bus lines are simply too unbearable to wait. Uber is typically a fraction of the cost of a cab, and you often get a nicer ride as it will be out of an individual’s vehicle.

BONUS – Uber is also really great for getting to and from Animal Kingdom. As the park that’s furthest away from the rest of the resort, it is inaccessible by water taxi or monorail, and usually takes at least 30 minutes on a bus. Uber is a great way to cut your travel time significantly.

For more information on Uber, click here.

5. Rental Car

For the ultimate freedom in transportation, you can always go for the rental car. If you stay on-property (reasons why you should), parking is free, and you will literally be able to go anywhere whenever you feel like it.

Rental cars at DW are great for those:

• Looking to save the most travel time in order to do the most at the parks
• Wanting travel flexibility or comfort
• Traveling with guests with disabilities who would be more comfortable in a car
• Traveling with small kids that may handle a private car better than public transportation

Keep in mind that a rental is an added cost, and while parking is free for on-site guests, gas and insurance is not. Some of the best places to reserve a rental car in the Orlando area are: Alamo, Budget, Enterprise, National adn Hertz. Go here to see the entire list of rental car agencies at the Orlando Airport.

 

I think traveling around Disney World is part of the fun!  Don’t let the size of the resort intimidate you, but rather play around with your schedule and figure out what travel route makes the most sense for you within the World. There are plenty of ways to strategize getting to and from, and you may just enjoy the ride as part of your vacation!
I always appreciate feedback and comments. Let me know what your favorite ways to get around Walt Disney World are in the comments below. Don’t forget to follow @everafterreport on Instagram!

 

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