With the recent announcement from Disney that face masks are no longer mandatory on transportation at Walt Disney World, we thought we would take a closer look at all the fantastic options Disney offers to get you from A to B at ease.
So, you’ve arrived in Orlando, looking forward to everything Walt Disney World has to offer, but how do you get to the parks and resorts, and are there any hints and tips to make your travel time easier and more enjoyable? This week we are focusing on transport around Walt Disney World Resort for guests staying both on and off site.
For guests staying on site, there are a host of transportation options on offer. The first to note is Disney’s Magical Express, a complimentary bus service to and from Orlando International Airport for all Disney Resort Hotel guests who make a reservation in advance. This invaluable service saves time, money and stress at the end and beginning of a long day of travel and will be available as a service until January 2022. (After which time, the complimentary service will be replaced with a ‘paid for’ service being operated by Mears Transportation.)
All resort guests are offered free bus transportation to and from the parks. The buses run regularly throughout the day and evening, dropping you right outside the entrance to all the parks, removing the need to wait for trams, monorails or boats, and getting you to the park entrance much faster. In our experience the buses are a reliable and easy way to get around the Resort, though they do get busy at peak times, prepare to stand up for some journeys.
Some resorts offer alternative transportation options. The Contemporary Resort, Polynesian Resort and Grand Floridian all have monorail stations to whisk you straight to the heart of the action in the Magic Kingdom and EPCOT. The monorail goes right through the centre of the Contemporary Resort hotel.
The most recent addition to the transportation system at Walt Disney World is the exciting new Skyliner system where you can cruise around Walt Disney World Resort in style—riding incredible aerial gondolas. Glide across the sky and add an extra dash of pixie dust to your day. This grand, state-of-the-art gondola system conveniently connects Disney’s Hollywood Studios and the International Gateway at Epcot to the following Disney Resort hotels:
• Disney’s Art of Animation Resort
• Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
Guests will enjoy a fun way to travel to Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Plus, the Disney Skyliner station at International Gateway at Epcot is conveniently located just a short stroll away from Disney’s BoardWalk entertainment district, Disney’s Yacht Club Resort, Disney’s Beach Club Resort and Disney’s BoardWalk Inn.
Some hotels also offer a water taxi or ferryboat service to the Magic Kingdom, EPCOT or Hollywood Studios, or to Disney Springs, which is a fun alternative to the usual bus service.
If you choose to hire a car, it’s worth noting that hotel overnight parking is now charged at up to $25 per night. At Disney resort hotels. As transportation options within the Resort are so good and varied, it may be worth skipping that car hire, or, if you are combining a Disney World stay with a stay elsewhere in Florida, perhaps timing car hire to begin after, or before, your stay in the Resort. There are plenty of options to collect hire cars in and around Disney World Resort, and All Ears can make recommendations for this for you.
Guests staying in hotels or villas off site also have various options for visiting Disney World. Many hotels in Orlando offer complimentary transportation to and from each Disney park. In some larger hotels this is running regularly throughout the day and evening, and guests can just hop on the bus at the most convenient time. In smaller hotels and reports, however, the buses run a little less frequently, or need to be booked in advance. Your hotel website or concierge will be able to give you more information for your stay.
Guests who have hired a car for their stay can of course drive to Disney World. Each park has its own car park, from where trams take you to the park entrance (for Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios) or the Monorail/Boat station, from where transport is provided to Magic Kingdom and EPCOT. This may sound like a hassle, but the monorail and boat rides are great fun, and very well organised.
It’s worth noting that parking is charged at a flat rate of approx $25 per car per day, for the theme parks or to visit the hotels, and you won’t be charged twice if you move from park to park.
Parking at the two water parks and Disney Springs is free.
Many guests prefer to use taxis or apps such as Uber or Lyft to get to and from the parks, and around Disney World resort itself. Given the cost of parking, and the need to wait for the tram service to take you to the park entrance, this option is definitely worth exploring.
So as you can see, Disney has thought of everything. For advice on the best transportation options for your holiday, along with planning your magical trip, give us a call, and we can guide you through the variety of options, to make the best choices for you and your family.
Get in touch via our ‘Contact Us’ page for a free tailor made itinerary quotation.
