Zaid Perry
Getting around Disney World can be a challenge, especially when you factor in technical issues, weather conditions, or crowds. The Disney bus system is one of the most popular ways to get around, but it can also be confusing. The bus system connects destinations around Disney World, with stops at the theme parks, water parks, hotels, and Disney Springs. The buses are free to use and typically begin running 45 minutes before the park's opening time. They continue operating until about an hour after closing time. The frequency of the buses depends on the time of day and how busy it is, but on average, a bus will arrive every 20 minutes.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Cost | Free |
| Frequency | Every 20 minutes on average |
| Operating Hours | 45-60 minutes before park opening to 1-2 hours after park closing |
| Locations | Theme parks, water parks, hotels, Disney Springs |
| Luggage | Not permitted |
| Alcohol | Not permitted |
| Strollers | Must be folded and stowed out of the aisle |
| Car Seats | Not permitted |
| Food and Drink | Permitted |
What You'll Learn
How to get to Disney's Magic Kingdom from another park
The Magic Kingdom is the central attraction of Disney World, and there are many ways to get there from another park. Here are some of the options:
- By Bus. Disney's bus service is the main mode of transportation for getting around Disney World. The buses are free and go to all the parks. They begin operating around 45-60 minutes before each park opens and continue until about an hour after closing. You can find the bus stops for Magic Kingdom outside the park's entrance, near the ferry boat launch.
- By Monorail. The Walt Disney World Monorail connects the Magic Kingdom with the Transportation and Ticket Center (TTC), as well as the Grand Floridian, Polynesian Village, and Contemporary Resorts. The Resort Monorail connects the Magic Kingdom, TTC, and the three Monorail Resorts, while the Express Monorail provides direct service between the Magic Kingdom and the TTC.
- By Boat. There are two types of boat services to the Magic Kingdom. You can take a water taxi from Disney's Wilderness Lodge, Fort Wilderness Resort, Grand Floridian Resort, or Polynesian Village Resort directly to the Magic Kingdom entrance. Alternatively, you can take the Ferry Boat from the TTC. Most of the Resort boat routes run on 15-30 minute intervals.
- Walking. It is possible to walk to the Magic Kingdom from the Contemporary, Polynesian Village, and Grand Floridian resorts, as well as the TTC. The Contemporary Resort is the closest, with a walking time of around 5-10 minutes. There is also a walkway connecting the Polynesian Village to the Grand Floridian, from which you can continue on to the Magic Kingdom.
- By Car. If you are driving, you cannot park directly at the Magic Kingdom. Instead, you will need to park at the TTC and take the monorail or ferry to the park. To save time, you can have a taxi or ride-hailing service drop you off at either the Contemporary or Grand Floridian Resort and walk to the park from there.
- Other Options. In addition to the options above, you can also use a ride-hailing service like Uber or Lyft, or Disney's in-house Minnie Van service, to get to the Magic Kingdom. These services can drop you off at the TTC or the resort bus loop, from which you can take the monorail or walk to the park.
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How to get to Disney's Animal Kingdom from another park
There are a few ways to get to Disney's Animal Kingdom from another park, depending on which park you're coming from.
From Magic Kingdom
To get to Animal Kingdom from Magic Kingdom, you can take a bus. The bus stops at Magic Kingdom are located outside the park's entrance, near the ferry boat launch.
From Epcot
To get to Animal Kingdom from Epcot, you can take a bus. If you want to take a more scenic route, you can also take a ferry or walk. The bus stops at Epcot are to the right of the park's entrance.
From Hollywood Studios
To get to Animal Kingdom from Hollywood Studios, you can take a bus. The bus stops at Hollywood Studios are located outside the park's entrance, past the Disney Skyliner station.
General Tips
It's important to note that Disney's transportation system is quite extensive and can be confusing, so it's a good idea to use a map or the My Disney Experience app to help navigate. The bus system is free and buses run about every 20 minutes, but there may be longer wait times during peak hours. If you're travelling with a small child, you will need to fold your stroller to ride the bus.
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How to get to Disney's Epcot from another park
There are several ways to get to Epcot from another Disney park, depending on which park you're travelling from and which mode of transport you'd like to use.
Magic Kingdom to Epcot
To get from Magic Kingdom to Epcot, you can take the monorail or ferry to the Transportation and Ticket Center (TTC) and transfer to the Epcot monorail.
Animal Kingdom to Epcot
To travel from Animal Kingdom to Epcot, you can take a bus.
Hollywood Studios to Epcot
Disney's Hollywood Studios is connected to Epcot by bus, boat, and the Disney Skyliner (gondola). You can also walk between the two parks.
Getting Around Disney World
Disney World offers a wide range of transportation options to get around its large property, including buses, monorails, boats, and the Disney Skyliner. All of these options are free to use, except for the Minnie Vans, a premium service that operates like a ride-sharing app and is about as close to door-to-door service as you can get at a theme park.
The Disney Transport system also includes taxis like Uber and Lyft, which are not free but may be preferable if you want to avoid crowds or travel directly to your destination.
The buses are the main form of transportation throughout the resort and will take you just about anywhere on the property. They typically run every 20 minutes and are usually reliable, with some newer buses offering charging ports and WiFi.
The monorail connects the Magic Kingdom, the Transportation and Ticket Center (TTC), and Epcot, with three separate lines: Express, Resort, and Epcot. The Resort monorail also includes stops at Disney's Polynesian Village Resort, Disney's Grand Floridian Resort, and Disney's Contemporary Resort.
Boats and water taxis are available at the Magic Kingdom-area resorts, including the Polynesian Village Resort, Contemporary Resort, Grand Floridian Resort, Fort Wilderness Resort, and Wilderness Lodge. Friendship Boats connect Epcot and Hollywood Studios, as well as the Epcot-area resorts such as the Boardwalk Inn, Yacht Club, Beach Club Resorts, and the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resorts.
The Disney Skyliner is a newer option, with colourful gondolas connecting Epcot and Hollywood Studios to select Disney hotels. The Skyliner has three routes: Epcot to Caribbean Beach, Hollywood Studios to Caribbean Beach, and Art of Animation and Pop Century to Caribbean Beach.
To navigate the Disney World transportation system, you can use the My Disney Experience app or refer to transportation maps available online.
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How to get to Disney's Hollywood Studios from another park
To get to Disney's Hollywood Studios from another park, you can use Disney's bus service, which is free of charge. Buses go to and from the theme parks and your Disney resort, as well as from park to park. The bus service is the main mode of transportation for anyone trying to get around the Walt Disney World Resort area.
The buses typically run every 20 minutes, although frequency can vary. In the mornings, they start operating around 45 to 60 minutes before each theme park opens and continue until about an hour after the parks close.
To find the bus stops, you can refer to the map in your My Disney Experience app. The bus stops at Hollywood Studios are found outside of the park's entrance, past the Disney Skyliner station.
Alternatively, you can also use other modes of transportation within the Walt Disney World Resort, such as the monorail, watercraft (ferries, boats, and water taxis), and walking paths.
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How to get to Disney's water parks from another park
Disney World has a vast transportation system, including buses, monorails, boats, and other vehicles, to help you get around the resort. Here is a guide on how to get to Disney's water parks from another park:
Using the Disney Bus System
The Disney bus service is the primary mode of transportation for visitors trying to get around the Walt Disney World Resort area. The buses are free of charge and will take you to and from the theme parks, your Disney resort, and Disney Springs. They also go to the water parks, though a transfer is often required.
The buses typically operate from 45 to 60 minutes before each theme park opens and continue until about an hour after the parks close. They usually arrive every 20 minutes, but frequency can vary.
To find a Disney bus stop, look for clearly marked signs. You can also use the map on your My Disney Experience app to guide you. Here are some bus stop locations:
- Magic Kingdom: Outside the entrance near the ferry boat launch.
- Epcot: To the right of the park entrance when facing it.
- Hollywood Studios: Outside the entrance, past the Disney Skyliner station.
- Animal Kingdom: Directly outside the park entrance.
- Typhoon Lagoon: Right outside the water park entrance.
- Blizzard Beach: Right outside the water park entrance.
Other Transportation Options
In addition to the bus system, there are other transportation options available at Disney World:
- Monorail: This is a good option if you're staying at a resort on the monorail, such as the Contemporary, the Grand Floridian, or the Polynesian. The monorail can take you to Magic Kingdom and Epcot.
- Disney Skyliner: A newer addition to the transportation system, with stations at Caribbean Beach, Pop Century, Riviera, and Art of Animation. The Skyliner can take you to Hollywood Studios and the International Gateway entrance of Epcot.
- Boats: Every park except for Animal Kingdom offers boat transportation to certain parks and resorts. Friendship Boats operate at Epcot and Hollywood Studios, while ferries, water taxis, and other watercraft are available at Magic Kingdom and Disney Springs.
- Walking: There are walking paths between some parks and resorts. For example, guests staying at the Yacht & Beach Club, the BoardWalk, and the Swan & Dolphin can walk to Hollywood Studios and Epcot.
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Frequently asked questions
The duration of travel between parks depends on the parks in question. For instance, the bus ride between Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios is 39 minutes, while the bus ride between Epcot and Animal Kingdom is 42 minutes.
Disney World buses typically run every 20 minutes. However, during peak hours, such as park opening and closing times, buses may arrive as frequently as every 5 to 10 minutes. In contrast, during less busy times in the middle of the afternoon, the wait time between buses can be up to 30 minutes.
Yes, food and beverages are allowed on the Disney World buses. However, it is recommended to use containers with covers to avoid spills due to the crowded and bumpy nature of the bus rides.
