A Complete Guide to Disney World Transportation: Skyliners, Monorails, Boats & More

Walt Disney World Resort — home to four theme parks, two water parks, and dozens of hotels— offers a vacation like no other. Operating as a city, it features an elaborate on-site public transportation network ensuring guests remain completely immersed in its magical bubble throughout their entire stay. The complex system features shuttle buses, boats, the iconic Monorail, Skyliner, and serene walking paths — and it’s entirely complimentary to all guests.

Walt Disney World Resort spans over 40 square miles, leading to different transportation options based on hotel location and proximity to theme parks. The My Disney Experience app provides a complimentary feature that allows guests to enter starting and ending locations for detailed transit directions. Some Disney resorts, such as Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort and Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, also feature an internal bus system to streamline travel within the resort.

Bus service is one of Disney’s most popular transportation options, typically operating between most Disney resorts and theme parks, starting 45 minutes before park opening and running until one hour after park closing. However, it is important to note that all modes of service can be interrupted or altered due to weather conditions such as thunderstorms. All theme parks have parking lots for personal vehicles; standard parking is $25 per vehicle and is complimentary for guests staying at Disney hotels.

Minnie Van, a service created in partnership between Lyft and Walt Disney World, also offers convenient transportation between resorts and select locations for an additional fee.

Transportation Options at Magic Kingdom Park

Magic Kingdom is unique in that it does not provide direct parking for guests driving to the park. Instead, visitors must drive to the Transportation and Ticket Center, where they can take a ferry boat or Monorail to the park.

Guests staying at resorts along Seven Seas Lagoon, such as Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, Disney’s Contemporary Resort, and Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, have the option of walking or taking Disney’s Monorail or ferry service. For those staying nearby on Bay Lake, at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge and Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground, ferry boat service or bus service is available.

Complimentary buses are available for all other resort guests traveling to Magic Kingdom Park.

Transportation Options at Epcot

Guests at Magic Kingdom-area resorts, including Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, Disney’s Contemporary Resort, and Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, can reach Epcot by bus directly from their resort or via the Monorail through the Transportation and Ticket Center.

Those staying at Disney’s BoardWalk Inn, Disney’s Yacht & Beach Club, and the Walt Disney World Swan, Dolphin, and Swan Reserve can enjoy a delightful short walk or boat ride to the park’s International Gateway entrance.

For guests at Disney’s Pop Century Resort, Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, and Disney’s Riviera Resort, the newest transportation mode, the Disney Skyliner, is available to reach Epcot. Limited bus service is also offered from these resorts.

All other resort guests can utilize complimentary bus transportation to get to Epcot.

Transportation Options at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Guests at resorts in the Epcot area – including Disney’s BoardWalk Inn, Disney’s Yacht & Beach Club, and the Walt Disney World Swan, Dolphin, and Swan Reserve — can conveniently walk or take a boat ride to Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The Disney Skyliner also provides access from Epcot’s International Gateway after transferring at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort Skyliner station.

For those staying at Disney’s Pop Century Resort, Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, and Disney’s Riviera Resort, the Disney Skyliner can also be used to reach Disney’s Hollywood Studios, along with limited bus service available from these resorts.

All other resort guests can take complimentary buses to Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

Transportation Options at Disney’s Animal Kingdom

While other theme parks offer multiple transportation options, Disney’s Animal Kingdom has a singular option for guest transportation. All visitors can take the complimentary bus from their Disney hotel to this unique park.

Transportation to Disney World Water Parks

Guests visiting Disney’s water parks — Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon and Disney’s Blizzard Beach — can enjoy complimentary bus service from all Disney resorts, with transfers at Disney Springs. This service operates from about 45 minutes before the water parks open until 60 minutes after closing.

Transportation to Disney Springs

Disney resort guests can utilize bus service to Disney Springs during operating hours, which runs up to one hour after closing.

Additionally, guests staying at Disney’s Saratoga Springs and Disney’s Old Key West Resort can take a walking path or boat transportation to Disney Springs, while guests at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort may also enjoy a boat ride to Disney Springs.

Those wishing to visit Disney Springs from a theme park must first transfer to a resort.

Orlando International Airport Transportation Options

Disney has retired its Magical Express option, but there remain several ways to travel between Orlando International Airport (MCO) and Disney World. Ride shares like Lyft and Uber are readily available, with prices varying depending on demand and time of day, typically ranging from around $40 to $60. Furthermore, several companies offer shared shuttle bus transfers, such as Sunshine Flyer and Mears Connect, which can be booked in advance.

The popular Minnie Van service remains available for airport transfers to Disney World resorts, although it is exclusively for club-level guests and requires advance booking.