Getting around Walt Disney World is convenient, but also incredibly confusing the first couple of times that you are on property. With so many different transportation modes, it can be difficult to know what is the best method of transportation to get from Point A to Point B. This is why having a Walt Disney World bus guide is so important.
Buses are just one of Disney’s complimentary transportation options on property, but they are the one type that every single resort and park has, so it is the first type to really get to know and understand how it works. We visit Walt Disney World all the time and have years of experience managing the Disney World busses.
The Disney Buses are also being updated with new amenities to make them a much more enjoyable experience for guests. With A/C, Disney Character Wraps, and even some with USB ports, traveling using the Disney bus system is slowly getting better around Walt Disney World. Keep reading for our full Walt Disney World bus guide.
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Disney World Resort Bus Schedule
When staying at a Walt Disney World Resort Hotel, knowing how to get to and from the theme parks is incredibly important when writing up our Disney World bus guide. You don’t want to figure out how the buses work on the morning you are supposed to head to the park.
When planning for your arrival time at the bus stop and the park, know that on average, buses run every twenty minutes from all Walt Disney World Resorts.
The buses begin running about 1 hour before the park opens (and that includes Early Entry as well). Buses typically stop running about two hours after the last park closes.
If you and your party are traveling to and from Disney Springs, the buses begin running an hour before Disney Springs opens and typically end service around 2 AM.
One item to keep in mind is that if a Disney Resort has access to a theme park via another form of transportation (monorail or skyliner) buses are less frequent if they even run at all. Disney suggests using the quicker mode of transportation instead. For example, The Grand Floridian Resort will not run a bus to Magic Kingdom since it is both walkable and available by Monorail.
There really is no set schedule for the buses, unlike with city transportation. However, at the bus stops, there are displays that will give you an estimated time you can expect the next bus to arrive at your resort.
You can also use the My Disney Experience App to check wait times for the bus. To access, you must have a Disney Resort hotel reservation and be logged into your Disney account.
- My Disney Experience
- Resort Hotel
- See Bus Times
Where Do I Find the Disney World Bus Stops?
Every resort has a different amount of bus stops depending on how large the resort is. The larger the resort, the more bus stops available.
The Value Resorts and the Disney Deluxe Resorts all have one bus stop area located at the front entrance or main building.
Most of the moderate resorts, except Port Orleans French Quarter, Old Key West, and Saratoga Springs, have multiple internal bus stops. This means that the bus will stop at each bus waiting area and load. This also means that a bus could be completely full by the time it makes it to your bus stop and you will need to wait for the next one.
Where Do I Find Bus Stops at the Park?
When you are ready to leave the park, you will find the bus stops outside of the main entrance. Each park has a giant Bus Directory sign that will tell you what number gate your bus is for the day. These numbers do change periodically, so it is important to check every time you leave the park.
How Long Do Buses Take?
We recommend 60- 90 minutes for travel times, especially when arriving for rope drop (first guests into the park) and leaving the park at night. Between long lines to get on the bus, delays, traffic, etc. it is always best to allow for more time.
The rides to and from the park when you are on the bus will vary depending on where your hotel is located and which park you are going to. Some of the bus rides can be as short as 10-15 minutes, like from Animal Kingdom Lodge to Animal Kingdom Park. Other rides on the bus can take almost 30 minutes. The All-Star Resorts to Magic Kingdom is one of the longer bus rides.
Buses from Disney Springs to the Theme Parks
If you want to visit Disney Springs for some shopping or brunch earlier in the day, you are unable to take a bus directly to the theme parks from Disney Springs until after 4 PM. This is to ensure guests are not utilizing the free parking at Disney Springs and taking the free transportation to a park.
If you want to get to a park from Disney Springs earlier in the day, you will need to take a bus to a resort and then another mode of transportation to the park of your choice.
Buses to the Water Parks
Buses to and from the Water Parks can get even more confusing and change frequently. Typhoon Lagoon visitors have to take a bus to Disney Springs and then transfer to the Typhoon Lagoon bus.
For Blizzard Beach, sometimes there is a direct bus, and other times, you will have to take a bus to Animal Kingdom and then transfer to the Blizzard Beach bus there.
Buses Between Hotels
Buses are not scheduled to run from one hotel to another. That means if you have an early morning breakfast reservation at a different hotel, you will be unable to take a direct bus to that reservation.
The exception to this rule is sometimes the All-Star Resorts will share buses, so you would be able to transfer between the three hotels on those special occasions. The two Port Orleans hotels will also sometimes share a bus on the way back from a park, but this is also not guaranteed.
Internal Resort Bussing
At some of the larger resorts: Old Key West, Saratoga Springs, Port Orleans, Caribbean Beach, and Coronado Springs, there are also internal buses that will take you between the several different buildings the resort is made up of. This helps you not have to walk to the main lobby or dining if you are staying at one of the farther buildings from the main hub.
The internal buses are not the same ones that run to the park, so you won’t have to worry about guests trying to get to and from the park if you just want to grab a bite to eat.
Disney World Bus Guide Boarding Rules
Families are a huge part of Walt Disney World’s guests. It is important to note that if you are bringing a stroller, you will be required to fold the stroller in order to board the bus. Guests are required to hold their stroller and are responsible for it the entire ride.
Guests who are bringing their own Wheelchair or ECV to the parks will board first. Note, that only two ECV scooters are able to fit on a standard bus at one time.
Guests are unable to bring luggage onto a bus. If you are checking out of your resort but are still heading to the park, make sure to leave your luggage at the front desk. You will be unable to board the bus with it.
Alcohol is also not allowed on the bus. If you brought it out of the park or Disney Springs with you, you must dispose of the drink before being allowed to board.
However, food and other beverages are allowed. After getting my family ready in the morning, I usually enjoy my breakfast on the ride over to the park. Be careful in what you choose to bring. The buses, especially in the morning and late at night, can be extremely crowded and you may have to stand on your ride.
FAQs- Disney World Bus Guide
Are Disney Buses Free?
The great thing about staying on property is not having to worry about moving your car or how to get around once you have flown in and made it to your resort. Walt Disney World offers complimentary transportation to all four theme parks, Disney Springs, and the two water parks for guests staying and visiting the property.
How Many People Can Fit on a Bus
The Disney buses are large motor coach style buses, meaning they are around 30-40 feet long and can easily fit 70 people. The newer buses, we call them the bendy buses because of the middle section are even longer and can fit twice as many people. Disney typically uses these buses for Magic Kingdom transportation during park opening and closing.
With that being said, that doesn’t mean everyone on the bus gets a seat. Seating is actually very limited on a Disney Bus, so most of the time you will need to stand. The buses have handrails, but it can still be a bumpy ride and difficult to hang on.
Some bus depots at the resorts don’t have typical lines
At resorts like the All Stars, Pop Century, and Art of Animation, there are direct lines and waiting areas for each destination with line guides, but this is not the case at resorts like Port Orleans or Animal Kingdom Lodge. Many of the resorts have a depot style waiting system and while you may have been to the bus waiting area first, it doesn’t always mean you will be the first person on the bus. This can turn into a free for all quickly, especially during a busy time, and before you know it the bus may be filled without you on it.
Plan Your Next Disney Vacation!
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