Disney World offers free transportation services to all Disney World visitors even if you do not have a park ticket or hotel reservation. This is a huge convenience especially for guests from out of town who do not want to rent a car or pay for an Uber to travel around Disney World's large property throughout their vacation. This is helpful when trying to figure out how to get to other WDW hotels!
Disney World transportation takes guests between each of the Disney World resorts and the theme parks, water parks, and Disney Springs. Disney also offers transportation to and from each of the theme parks and Disney Springs which is very convenient for guests wanting to park hop or end their park day at Disney Springs.
The biggest downside of Disney World transportation is that there are no direct methods of travel between most of the Disney World resorts. For example, if I was staying at Disney's All Star Movies Resort and I wanted to eat dinner at Sanaa at the Animal Kingdom Lodge, I wouldn't be able to take a Disney World bus or other Disney transportation directly from my hotel to the Animal Kingdom Lodge.
Despite this inconvenience, there are several ways in which guests can navigate to and from the various Disney World resorts and be able to enjoy the many restaurants, gift shops, and activities these resorts have to offer. As an annual passholder and Disney Vacation Club (DVC) member, I often “resort hop” between the various Disney World hotels using alternative methods. Therefore, I will discuss which resorts do have direct methods of transportation, as well as how to get between resorts even if there are no direct transport options available.
In this article:
Disney World Resorts with Direct Transportation to Other Resorts
Fortunately, several Disney World resorts do have direct methods of transportation to other resorts without the need for guests to find alternative routes. These resorts are located along the monorail, Skyliner, and boat routes that make stops at various resorts in addition to select theme parks. This is helpful when trying to figure out how to get to other WDW hotels!
Guests of these resorts have the obvious benefit of being able to visit other Disney resorts easily. However, another upside is that guests can travel to any Disney resort through the connected theme parks. For example, for a guest staying at Caribbean Beach which is on the Skyliner, they can take a gondola to Hollywood Studios, and then take any of the resort buses or boats from the park to their desired resort destination. Overall, having easy access to any of the theme parks from your resort will give you a huge advantage to visiting all of the Disney World resorts.
Monorail Resort Transportation
The monorail is one method of transportation that guests can use to visit several resorts. These deluxe level resorts are some of the nicest in all of Disney World, and are very popular amongst guests. For guests 21 and over, I highly recommend the monorail “bar crawl,” which includes stops at each monorail resort bar to try at least one drink. Many guests also take monorail to visit some of the best Disney World resort restaurants. The monorail resorts include:
- Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
- Disney's Contemporary Resort
- Disney's Polynesian Village Resort
All three resorts can be easily accessed via the monorail. Besides the resorts themselves, there are three other monorail stations at Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, and the Transportation and Ticket Center which is where the Magic Kingdom parking lot is located. The monorail is great when trying to figure out how to get to other WDW hotels!
Skyliner Resort Transportation
Disney's Skyliner is Disney World's newest mode of transportation that takes guests in a gondola between four different Disney World resorts, EPCOT, and Hollywood Studios. Some of our favorite resorts are located along the Skyliner route and range in price from value, moderate, and deluxe level. The Skyliner resorts include:
- Disney's Riviera Resort
- Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort
- Disney's Art of Animation Resort
- Disney's Pop Century Resort
Guests staying at any of the Skyliner resorts have very convenient access to the other resorts along the Skyliner as well as both EPCOT and Hollywood Studios. Similar to the monorail resorts, Skyliner resort guests have the advantage of being located near two theme parks that will have buses, boats, or monorail transportation to any Disney World resort.
Lastly, Skyliner resort guests also have the benefit of being conveniently located near the BoardWalk. The BoardWalk is a unique quarter-mile promenade of various shops, restaurants, bars, and nightlife for guests of all ages. Not only is the BoardWalk home to a variety of dining and shopping, but there are also several great Disney World resorts to visit. Skyliner resort guests can take the Skyliner to EPCOT, and then either walk or take a Friendship boat to one of the nearby resorts. The Skyliner is incredibly helpful when trying to figure out how to get to other WDW hotels!
Water Transportation
The last method of free Disney World transportation that takes guests between several Disney resorts include various modes of water transportation. There are several different routes that guests can take to visit various resorts, which include:
- Water taxis take guests between Magic Kingdom, Disney's Contemporary Resort, Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground, and Disney's Wilderness Lodge.
- Water taxis also take guests between Magic Kingdom, Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground, Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows, and Disney’s Wilderness Lodge.
- Friendship boats transport guests between EPCOT, Hollywood Studios, Disney’s BoardWalk Villas, Disney’s Beach Club Villas, and Disney’s Yacht Club Resort. It also makes stops at third party owned resorts: Walt Disney World Dolphin Hotel, and Walt Disney World Swan Hotel.
- The Sassagoula River Cruise boats take guests between Disney Springs, Disney’s Old Key West Resort, Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa, Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside and French Quarter.
As you've probably caught on by now, any of these resorts have the advantage of being able to take direct transportation methods to several other resorts in addition to a theme park or Disney Springs. All theme parks as well as Disney Springs have either a bus, boat, Skyliner, or monorail to any Disney World theme parks which guests can use to visit any Disney World resort. This is all good to know when trying to figure out how to get to other WDW hotels!
Walking Path from EPCOT Skyliner Terminal to Disney's BoardWalk
Free Disney World Vacation Quote
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Alternative Transportation Methods Between Resorts
As you can see by now, there are several Disney World resorts that are conveniently located near other resorts as well as theme parks. However, this doesn't mean Disney World visitors should completely avoid other resorts. Especially if you don't plan on visiting many other resorts, there are so many amazing Disney World hotels to try. Additionally, there are several ways guests can travel between their resort and any destination on Disney World property, including other resorts. This is all helpful for trying to figure out how to get to other WDW hotels!
Disney World's Transportation Network
As you have probably realized, guests wanting to travel between resorts may have to take two different methods of transportation in order to reach their desired resort. Although this can be tricky and time consuming, there is always a way for guests to get anywhere in all of Disney World property. Additionally, it would be a logistical nightmare if Disney were to add bus routes between each of the resorts between finding enough vans, drivers, and overall road space. So there is a good reason why you need to figure out different ways when trying to figure out how to get to other WDW hotels!
Overall, guests looking to travel between resorts will probably have to take at least one bus. Each of the bus stops have numbers correlating to their destinations, and some have posted wait times with when the next bus will arrive. Buses typically run every 15 minutes and can accommodate guests in mobility devices. Check out our complete guide to Disney World buses here.Â
Rideshare – Uber, Lyft, Minnie Van
Although Disney World's transportation services are extremely convenient and help families save tons of money, they can also take longer than ideal wait times and can be unpredictable. Especially during park opening and park closing times, the lines to board the transport vehicles can take 30 or more minutes alone, especially when you don't arrive early. This is good to know when trying to figure out how to get to other WDW hotels!
Therefore, ordering a rideshare vehicle is very convenient and fast especially in a pinch. When I want to rope drop a park, or make sure I don't miss a dinner reservation, I often use a ride share app such as Uber or Lyft. Guests are also able to order a rideshare vehicle from any theme park, water park, or Disney Springs which all offer designated pickup areas.
Another rideshare option are the Minnie Vans, which you may have noticed driving through Disney World property with their bright red colors and white polka dots. Minnie Vans are operated by Lyft and guests can call a Minnie Van in the same way as they would call for a ride. One difference between Minnie Vans and regular Lyft drivers is that the vehicles are Disney owned and operated by cast members. They also include up to two complimentary child seats if needed which is convenient for families with children under six years old. Minnie Van also offers Accessible Minnie Vans that can seat up to five people and offer one complimentary car seat and two spaces for mobility devices. Although the pricing may be higher compared to normal ride share vehicles, Minnie Vans are a fun and quick way to navigate around Disney World and offer special accommodations if needed.
Rideshare is always a great and convenient option when trying to figure out how to get to other WDW hotels!
Plan Your Next Disney World Vacation
For more ways to save money on your next Disney World vacation, be sure to subscribe to our FREE newsletter for the most up-to-date planning information. This also includes exclusive deals and the lowest ticket prices anywhere. Additionally, make sure to check out our other guides to help plan your next Disney World vacation:
- Magic Kingdom Rope Drop and Early Entry Strategy
- FREE Things to do at Walt Disney World
- Finding Discount Walt Disney World Tickets
- How Much is Uber and Lyft from Orlando Airport to Disney World?
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there transportation between Disney resorts?
Yes, there are several modes of free Disney World transportation which allows guests to travel between all of the Disney resorts. The resorts located on the monorail, Skyliner, and water transportation routes have an additional advantage because they can take their respective modes of transportation directly to other resorts. However, most Disney resorts will require guests to take at least two modes of transportation to visit another resort. For example, most guests will need to take a bus to any of the theme parks or Disney Springs, and then wait for the next bus to their desired resort destination. Although at times it can take a long time, it is possible and also cost effective to use Disney World's free transportation to travel in between the Disney resorts.
Do Disney buses run between resorts?
No, Disney World does not offer direct transportation between resorts, unless they are on the same monorail, Skyliner, boat, or bus transportation route. However, Disney offers hotel transportation from all theme parks, water parks, and Disney Springs. Therefore, guests wanting to visit other resorts will have to use alternative routes such as taking a bus from their resort to Disney Springs, and then waiting for another bus to their desired resort destination.
Can you use Disney buses if not staying on site?
Yes! All visitors to Disney World can take advantage of their free transportation, even if they do not have a hotel reservation or park ticket. Disney World transportation includes their buses, Skyliner, monorail, and boats.
Should I drive or take the bus to Magic Kingdom?
Disney resort guests will likely get to Magic Kingdom faster by taking a bus instead of driving. Although driving to the other Disney World theme parks will be faster than taking a bus, Magic Kingdom's parking lot and rideshare drop off location is located at the Transportation and Ticket Center versus the resort buses which drop guests off in front of the park gates. Therefore, it will probably take longer for guests to take the ferry or monorail from the TTC to Magic Kingdom. Either way, definitely plan on getting to your resort bus stop or parking lot early, as it can take up to 30 minutes to enter the park alone.
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