How to Get Around Walt Disney World using Disney Transportation
How to get around Walt Disney World using buses, monorails, boats, Disney Minnie Van, and Skyliner. This is your complete guide to Disney World transportation.
Walt Disney World has the 3rd largest bus fleet in the state of Florida just behind Miami and Jacksonville. Buses are just one of the ways Disney moves 1 million visitors each week.
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Disney World created a logical, efficient mass transportation system with overhead monorail and gondola systems, buses, watercraft, and even their own rideshare service.
Here’s how Disney moves visitors across its 50 square miles of property in Central Florida every day.
Disney World operates the 3rd largest bus fleet in the state of Florida.
Disney World Buses
Buses are the most common way to get around Walt Disney World. Rather than have bus routes, Disney buses use a point-to-point system making the theme parks themselves transportation hubs.
This eliminates the need to transfer buses in most cases, making it easier for guests, and significantly reduces travel time.
Disney World buses travel between hotels and one of 4 theme parks, more like a shuttle rather than a complex network of routes around a city.
The bus has only one destination so guests do not have to study a map to find their stop.
In exchange for this simplicity, Disney buses do not travel between hotels. They travel between hotels and theme parks, and from theme park to theme park.
The one exception is the Disney Water Parks, guests will need to transfer at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park to get to Blizzard Beach, and to get to Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon, guests need to transfer at Disney Springs.
For this reason, many guests use Uber, Lyft, and Miniei Van.
At the theme park transportation hubs, Disney buses are constantly arriving and departing from other areas on Disney World property.
Guests can get to any destination from a Disney theme park.
But what if you need to travel between hotels for a dining reservation?
Well, in this case, they will need to travel from their hotel to the nearest theme park and transfer there to the other hotel.
Disney World ensures that bus stops are well-marked with signs because most of its visitors have no idea how to get where they’re going. And digital marques on the bus confirm its destination.
Disney’s goal is to have a bus arrive every 20 minutes. They use a dynamic dispatching system that assigns buses to an area in need.
Disney recently began reporting expected arrival times at its hotel bus stops.
Buses begin operating about 1 hour before the theme park’s earliest posted opening time, taking into consideration early park admission. Buses continue to operate for one hour after the park closes including special after-hours events.
In the mid-2000s Disney began investing in low-floor buses that make it easier and faster for passengers with scooters and strollers to board.
Buses can accommodate up to 2 scooters. Strollers must be folded before boarding, so it’s a good idea not to stuff the stroller.
As we're about to discover, Disney has many other forms of transportation available to move guests around property.
For this reason, bus service is not offered or may be limited where there are other options available.
The Walt Disney World Monorail System is the 3rd busiest monorail line in the world.
Using the Walt Disney World Monorail System
The Walt Disney World monorail System is an icon, having been in operation since 1971. 12 monorails carry 160,000 riders every day, making it the 3rd most heavily used monorail system in the world.
The current trains came online in 1989 and operate on 3 lines: Magic Kingdom Resorts, Magic Kingdom Express, and Epcot.
The Walt Disney World Monorail System uses a hub and spoke design, with all 3 lines originating at Disney’s main terminal called the Ticket and Transportation Center.
There are 3 Disney World monorail lines.
The Magic Kingdom Resort Line services 3 Walt Disney World Deluxe hotels:
Disney’s Contemporary Resort, Polynesian Resort, and Grand Floridian Resort plus a stop at the Ticket and Transporation Center for guests who want to transfer to the Epcot line.
For example, say you are staying at Disney’s Contemporary Resort and you want to travel to Epcot.
You will take the Resort Monorail, get off at the Ticket and Transportation Center, and transfer to the Epcot line.
The Express monorail line has only 2 stops: the Ticket and Transporation Center and the Magic Kingdom.
This line is shuttles guests between the Magic Kingdom parking lot and the theme park. Guests who are park hopping between Magic Kingdom and Epcot will also use this line.
And the Epcot monorails operate between the Ticket and Transportation Center Epcot.
Monorails begin operating about 60-90 minutes prior to park opening and after the parks close.
Scooters are accommodated on the monorails, and strollers do not need to be folded to board.
Disney World boats operate on man-made canals and lakes.
Guide to Disney World Boats
When Disney World was being built in the late 1960s, a network of canals was created to manage the high water table and to prevent flooding.
Engineers who worked on the Panama Canal were hired by Disney to oversee the project.
Today these canals also serve as major waterways to move guests around Disney World property.
Disney Water taxis connect all 5 Magic Kingdom resorts, ferryboats connect the parking lot to the Magic Kingdom, Epcot is connected to Disney’s Hollywood Studios and all the resorts in between, and Disney Springs is connected to 4 resort hotels via the Disney created, Sassagoula River.
Disney uses a variety of boats around property, some are scooter and wheelchair accessible while others are not.
If a boat is not accessible, an alternate type of transportation is provided - either a different boat, a monorail, or bus will be operating as well.
On Disney’s smaller boats, strollers must be folded and stowed out of the aisle.
But on the larger boats like ferries and the Friendship boats like this one here, strollers do not need to be folded.
Boats arrive about every 20 minutes piloted by 1-2 Cast Members.
They begin operating 60-90 minutes prior to park opening and will continue operating 60-90 minutes after park closing.
There is no central hub on any of the boat routes, they either shuttle between point A and point B or operate a repeating circuit.
Signs are posted to let guests know where the boat is headed.
And some boats are marked with a colored flag that also indicates it’s destination.
Disney World Minnie Van is Disney’s own version of Uber and Lyft.
Disney World Minnie Vans
As rideshare services grew in popularity, Disney had the idea to create its own version of Uber and Lyft to service its 50 square miles of property in Orlando. Disney transportation is free, but it takes time, think of it as public transportation.
It works, but a car is faster.
In many cases, a bus ride at Disney, from start to finish can take over an hour. Minnie Vans can do the same thing but in much less time. But not for free, of course.
How Minnie Vans work at Walt Disney World. Using the Lyft App while on Disney World property, you’ll see a special feature for Disney Minnie Van service.
A red and white polka-dotted SUV driven by a Disney Cast Member will arrive within a few minutes to take you directly to your destination.
Minnie Vans do not leave Walt Disney World property but if you’re staying Club Level at one of the Disney World hotels, you can have Minnie Van pick you up at Orlando International Airport.
The fee is comparable to a private car service.
Minnie Vans come with 2 car seats for kids and accessible Minnie Vans available.
Minnie Vans cost more than traditional Uber and Lyft rides, but it's a premium experience.
Often they can get you closer to the entrance than other forms of transportation, you’ll listen to Disney music during your ride, and you’ll have a 6-passenger Chevy Suburban to ride in.
Traditional Uber and Lyft services are available on Disney property as well.
Disney Skyliner serves 2 Disney theme parks and 4 Disney hotels.
How to Use the Disney World Skyliner System
In 2017 Disney recognized a need to connect several hotels to 2 of its theme parks. A massive network of overhead gondolas took less than 2 years to complete.
Like the Monorail System, Skyliner uses a hub system with a centralized hub, located at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort. One line travels south to Disney’s Pop Century and Art of Animation Resorts, another extends to Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and the third line travels to Disney’s Riviera Resort - terminating at Epcot.
Today a guest can board Disney Skyliner at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort and touch down at Epcot in about 15 to 20 minutes.
But unless you’re staying at Caribbean Beach, you’ll need to transfer to a different route at the hub.
Let’s say you’re a guest staying at Disney’s Pop Century Resort and you want to get to Epcot.
You’ll board Skyliner at your hotel, travel to Caribbean Beach Resort, and transfer to the Epcot line.
Each of the 250 gondolas can accommodate up to 10 passengers. Accessible gondolas are available and can load passengers on a separate, stationary platform if needed.
Disney Skyliner begins operating 1 hour prior to park opening and 1-2 hours after the parks close.
Disney will stop operation if thunderstorms are within 10 miles of Walt Disney World Resort. When Skyliner is not running, buses will be used until it's safe to operate Skyliner again.
If you have questions about getting around Walt Disney World Resort, use the comments below, or contact me at at my website.
Have questions about planning your Orlando vacation? I have answers! Contact me now to get more out of your vacation.
Since 2010, Darren has been making Orlando vacations easy! As an Orlando resident, he is able to provide insider, expert advice on Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, and Florida-based cruises.
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Easy Guide to Disney Skyliner
Route map, operating times, strollers and wheelchairs and frequently asked questions about using Disney Skyliner
Disney Skyliner opened on Sept. 29, 2019 at the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. Here you’ll find information on Disney Skyliner times, hours of operation, and the route map.
Disney Skyliner
Disney Skyliner Map
Disney Skyliner conveniently transports guests between Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Epcot to four resort hotels:
Disney’s Art of Animation Resort
Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort (hub)
Disney’s Pop Century Resort
Disney’s Riviera Resort
The hub for Skyliner is located at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort. All routes lead to Caribbean Beach. At the hub, you can transfer to other Skyliner routes.
What are Disney Skyliner hours of operation?
Disney Skyliner hours vary. On a typical day gondolas begin flying approximately 1-hour prior to park opening and up to two hours after park closing. Disney does not post Skyliner hours on its website. Instead, there are signs at each Skyliner station that display operating hours. You can also ask at your hotel for daily Skyliner hours of operation.
What are the Disney Skyliner times along each route?
Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort to Disney’s Hollywood Studios: 5 minutes
Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort to Epcot: 15 minutes
Disney’s Pop Century / Disney’s Art of Animation to Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort: 5 min
Disney’s Riviera Resort to Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort: 5 minutes
Disney’s Riviera Resort to Epcot: 10 minutes
Epcot to Disney’s Hollywood Studios: 20 minutes
I have an early morning dining reservation, can I use Disney Skyliner to get there?
This is a tricky one. Disney doesn’t post Skyliner hours online and there are no set hours of operation. Ask at your hotel to be sure. You might have to plan on driving or taking Uber or Lyft.
Are there long lines to board Skyliner?
During the morning and evening rush lines can be as long as 15 to 20 minutes at the Caribbean Beach station. Transportation at Walt Disney World whether you’re waiting for a bus, monorail, boat or gondola, will usually be about 20 minutes when the parks are opening and closing.
The real advantage to Skyliner, however, is that during off-peak times, there’s no wait at all.
Can I use Skyliner for rope drop?
Rope drop is an unofficial term that means, “arriving at the parks slightly before they open.” This allows you to get a head start on crowds and I do highly recommend it.
Often Skyliner will start running 30-60 minutes prior to park opening. Ask at your hotel what time it will start running.
Don’t forget to allow time to board Skyliner during rush hour, wait times can be 15-20 minutes during this period. Yes, another reason to get an early start on your day at Walt Disney World!
Disney Skyliner station
Can I Ride Skyliner if I’m not staying at one of the hotels?
Yes! It’s perfectly ok to board Skyliner at one of the theme park stations to go for a ride. The best time to do this would be late afternoon to early evening. One of the more scenic routes is between Epcot and Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort.
I’m afraid of heights, can I take a bus instead of Skyliner?
Sure, buses still run between the Skyliner hotels and the theme parks, however, they are on reduced schedules and may arrive only once per hour.
Inside a Disney Skyliner gondola
Can I take a stroller in the gondola? Do strollers need to be folded on Skyliner
Most strollers will fit without the need to fold them up, even the double-wide strollers fit in the Skyliner gondolas.
Can I take a wheelchair or scooter on Skyliner?
Yes. Skyliner operators will slow the speed of the gondola allowing you to roll in. You also have the option of boarding a stationary gondola. Stationary gondolas are located on a separate spur in the station. When you’re ready to go, the gondola will rejoin the main line. The gondola will be discreetly marked so the operators at the other station will know to direct it off the main line onto the spur.
Are Skyliner cabins air conditioned?
No, but they have large vents at the top. While the gondolas are moving, there’s a steady breeze that passes through the cabin. Even on the hottest day in Florida, the breeze moving through the gondola is sufficient to keep you cool.
For over 12 years Darren Wittko has been helping people save money at Walt Disney World as both, a travel writer and a travel advisor with Magical Vacations Travel. He’s featured in the Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World as a Best of the Best Disney Travel Agent. Darren resides in Celebration, FL.
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