Transportation at Walt Disney World

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Walt Disney World Resorts have a variety of different transportation options available for guests to make your travel to and from your resort to parks and shopping easy and stress free.

Magical Express is Disney’s bus system that takes guest to and from Orlando International Airport (MCO) to Disney World Resorts. This is an easy and stress free option included in your resort package. Want more detailed information about the Magical Express? You can find more information in my post here.

Magical Express buses waiting to whisk you away to WDW!

Disney buses are provided for guests staying on property at a Disney Resort, as well as, to and from Disney parks. Disney buses run roughly an hour before parks open and until all guests arrive back at their resort locations once the parks and shopping close at night. Disney buses have various bus stops throughout the resorts. Value resorts share one combined bus location at the front of each resort, moderate resorts have bus stops throughout the resort and deluxe resorts have special stop areas outside their resorts in covered areas. You can find detailed information about each resort’s bus pick up schedule and area in your My Disney Experience app and also in the resort maps you receive upon check in. Bus stops are also located at the front of each park back to resorts and also from park to park.

Waiting on our Disney bus…

Disney Boats operate from several deluxe resorts including Wilderness Lodge, Fort Wilderness Camp Grounds, Polynesian and Grand Floridian Resorts back and forth to the Magic Kingdom area. Boat drop off locations vary by resort and all are dropped off right before the gates of the Magic Kingdom. The Ferry boat also runs from the car parking area outside Magic Kingdom to the front of the park for easy access. Boats also operate to and from Disney Springs and Port Orleans Riverside and French Quarters, Key West and Saratoga Springs resorts. Additionally, you can also ride boats to and from Epcot to Board Walk Inn, Beach Club, Yacht Club, Swan and Dolphin Resorts. The boats are small and make for a much calmer back and forth! Boats generally run every fifteen to thirty minutes back and forth.

Riding the boat back to Wilderness Lodge

Disney’s Monorail is a closed track train system that runs on two separate run tracks. The Magic Kingdom line runs and drops off at the Magic Kingdom, Contemporary Resort, Grand Floridian Resort and Polynesian Resort. The Epcot and ticket and transportation line runs from the parking area of ticket and transportation through Epcot and Magic Kingdom. The monorail is one of those magical Disney must dos so even if you don’t have a reason to ride the monorail you should definitely add it to your Disney bucket list.

Monorail,monorail,monorail!

Disney’s Skyliner is a gondola system that runs to and from select resorts and parks. Disney’s Skyliner operates with a hub at the Caribbean Beach resort which allows guests to travel onto both Epcot and Hollywood Studios. Skyliners rarely have lines and move quickly through the air. The Skyliner has an option for guests in scooters and wheelchairs set up as well-simply look for the Handicap signs when entering the Skyliner area and wait in line at those locations. If you’re traveling with a stroller no need to fold them up. Strollers can be pushed directly onto the Skyliner with your child inside. The Skyliner operates from the Caribbean Beach Resort, Riviera, Pop Century, and Art of Animation.

Skyliners coming our way.

Disney Minnie Vans are operated through the app Lyft. Simply download the app and book your ride. Ride costs vary based on time of day, length of trip and size of vehicle. Minnie Vans can take you to and from the airport and throughout the Disney Parks and Resorts. Minnie Vans are great for the end of the day, when you need to quickly get to a dining reservation at another resort or my favorite for your last ride back to your resort before boarding the Magical Express to fly back home.

Minnie Van picks up areas are different at each park so ask a Cast Member.

Disney has so many ways to get from one place to the next! Which way will you travel? Need help planning a magical vacation! Feel free to message me at callie@fairygodmothertravel.com or find me on Facebook at Callie at Wanderkeep Travel. As always my services are complimentary!

5 Reasons to Stay at a Disney World Resort

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You’ve saved your pennies to take your family to the most magical place of all-Disney World! There are so many benefits to choosing a Disney resort to stay at while on your magical trip. I’m always surprised when I talk to friends who are considering taking their families to Disney World who ask what’s the big deal about staying on site. Let me tell you!

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  1. Seamless Disney Trip-Staying at a Disney resort allows you to have a seamless Disney trip. What does that mean? The service of Disney is in every detail-this includes their hotels. The hotels are painstakingly themed and make you feel like you’re in the Polynesian Islands, the Caribbean, or in the middle of a Disney movie-like at Art of Animation. The moment you walk on property you are greeted with “Welcome Home”. They mean it! All the magic that happens at Disney parks happens at your hotel too.
  2. The Magical Express-No CAR….That’s right you really don’t need a car when traveling to Disney World. The Magical Express is available to take you straight from the Orlando International Airport directly to your hotel. This is included when staying on property. Simply follow the signs in the airport down to the bottom level, scan in at the kiosk and wait less than 15 minutes to ride on a super cushy bus complete with a magical Disney welcome movie to watch while you’re driven right to your hotel. No need to worry about traffic, maps and all those Florida tolls. Let Disney handle it. Oh and they’ll take you back to the airport when it’s time to fly home.
  3. Luggage Service-As part of the Magical Express package you’ll receive luggage tags for your groups luggage. Attach these tags to your checked baggage and check it at the baggage check when you fly out. Once you land in Florida there is no need for you to pick up your bags at baggage claim-why??? Oh Disney does it. That’s right Disney picks up your bags and delivers them to your room-or in your room within two hours of arrival. So in other words once you check into your hotel go to the parks. Your luggage will be there when you get back! Time to fly home? Disney will hold your carry ons for you. You can also check your bags in the morning in the lobby-they get sent right to the airport. How about that!!! Go to the park your last day!
  4. Dining Plan-The Disney dining plan is only available to guest who stay on property. You can pick a meal plan that fits your needs. One with or without table service restaurants. The dining plan saves you money and allows you to get what you want rather than penny pinching. If you choose to have table service as part of your plan then character dining is included! Want that 50 dollar steak and a dessert-it’s included. You can eat better and pay less! You will also receive a refillable mug at your resort which you can use at your resorts quick service dining throughout your trip.
  5. Magic Bands-Magic what? Those pretty little bracelets are magic I tell you! They are shipped out about thirty days before your trip and are customizable. These bad boys hold everything. You room key, reservations, special ticket events, magic express pass and can even store a credit card for shopping while on vacation (to be used with a customized pin). These bands have made it so I can literally walk into the park with my phne and the band and that’s it. These are included in your price when staying at a Disney resort.

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I honestly could say so many other amazing things about staying on property at Disney-like purchases made inside the parks are shipped to your resort for free! See no carrying or losing anything. Or transportation to and from parks is included-no parking! It has been so worth it for my family. Each resort has a fun feel-we have tried a ton! They have resorts to fit every budget too. My cousin and I laugh because nothing is like a Disney trip and anytime we go anywhere else we think-where’s my magic band and transportation! What’s your favorite things about staying on property?