While the buses are the most easily accessible mode of transportation for most resort guests there are alternatives for others that can take you to and from parks and other resorts. All of these additional modes of transportation are free to all guests of Walt Disney World so you don't have to worry about paying for them. Again, only the minni-van service comes as an additional fee when it comes to transportation.
When it comes to ground transportation, there is one other mode besides the buses and mini-vans that you can use to get around. Now, bear with me here, but the mode I am speaking of is by foot. Certain parts of the Walt Disney World Resort are within walking distance of each other, which to be honest has saved me a bunch of time in a day. There are several resorts that are within walking distance of one another. For example, Disney's Pop Century Resort and Disney's Art of Animation Resort are literally across a lake from one another and there is a bridge connecting the two. In addition the three All Stars resorts are all within walking distance from one another. I used this to my advantage as on one trip my room at All-Star Movies actually ended up being closer to All-Star Music's bus stop. It was a neat little shortcut that I used for pretty much the entire trip. It felt kinda weird because I ended up using All-Star Music for pretty much anything I needed food and drink wise too because it was just closer than the lobby of the resort I was staying at.
In addition to some resorts being within walking distance to one another, some resorts are within walking distance to the theme parks. Disney's Contemporary Resort is literally right next door to the Magic Kingdom. Disney's Polynesian Resort is and soon Disney's Grand Floridian Resort will also be in walking distance to the Magic Kingdom. My absolute favorite walk though is the walk from EPCOT to Hollwood Studios and everything that comes with it. Yes readers, it is very possible to walk from Hollywood Studios to EPCOT or vice versa. The length of the walk is just about 1 mile, but the amount of things you pass on the way will make you think you walked a whole lot more than that. Say you are leaving from EPCOT. You would take the park exit by the France Pavilion in the World Showcase and walk until you come to a fork in the road. Take the fork to the right and the walk is longer as you pass by the Beach and Yacht Club Resort. To the left is Disney's Boardwalk Resort which is a whole lot of fun to walk through. Along the way you'll pass traditional boardwalk shops and an ice cream parlor. You may also see some boardwalk style entertainment and activities going on as well. Next you'll come to a canal which you will follow all the way to Disney's Hollywood Studios. Across the way from you will be the Swan and Dolphin Resort and eventually Hollywood Studios itself. It's a great walk with a lot of really great scenery. It can be hot if you do it in the middle of the day though, so plan accordingly.
Did I mention a canal? I thought so. The canal that you walk along serves a very important purpose other than moving water. That canal is also part of the Disney Transportation System. Boats are another way to get around Walt Disney World Resort. Ferries depart from a few locations throughout the day and offer a very relaxing alternative to the often hectic buses. The largest ferries run from the Ticket and Transportation Center to the Magic Kingdom. These are massive ferries that can carry hundreds of people at a time. They need to be as there is nothing like a post fireworks crowd at the Magic Kingdom transportation stops. It's a pretty quick ride considering the size of the boat you are on. I do advise though trying to be either the first or towards last off the boat. It can get crazy with everyone trying to get off the boat at the same time.
If you are staying at a Walt Disney World resort you may not need to take this ferry at any point as it only goes to the Ticket and Transportation Center. I only took it for the first time on my most recent trip as I wanted to use as many means of transportation on the trip as possible. The big ferry is not the only ferry though. Inside of EPCOT you will find ferries that will transport you across the World Showcase. These small ferries offer seating and are a very relaxing ride. This same type of ferry also has a route that extends from EPCOT to Hollywood Studios. Should you board the ferry at the International Gateway by the France Pavilion you will take a trip to Hollywood Studios that includes stops at Disney's Beach and Yacht Club, Disney's Boardwalk Resort, the Swan and Dolphin Resort, and finally Disney's Hollywood Studios. The boat path nearly mirrors that of the walking path, so it is much more relaxing. Overall I am not sure if it is any faster than walking. Honestly because of the stops and depending on how long it takes to load and unload the ferry, walking may be faster. Either way I highly recommend doing this mode at least once because it is very relaxing and sometimes you may even get a skipper that will give you some information on the resorts you stop at.
The final way to get around Walt Disney World is through the air! There are two different modes of sky transportation at Walt Disney World. The first is the classic monorail system. There are a few monorail lines that currently operate on the property. The EPCOT Line is pretty easy to follow. It runs from the Ticket and Transportation Center to EPCOT. The Express Line runs from the Ticket and Transportation Center to the Magic Kingdom. The Resort Line includes five stops. The stops are the Ticket and Transportation Center, Grand Floridian Resort, Polynesian Village Resort, Contemporary Resort, and the Magic Kingdom. While the monorails are really cool to ride in and offer some great views, especially the EPCOT line which goes over a good chunk of the park, I find the monorails to be one of the least reliable modes of transportation. I've had several not bad, but not good experiences involving breakdowns and delays. Fortunately none of the ones I've been on have broken down mid ride, but one time I was stuck just past the Grand Floridian for a solid half hour because another train broke down on the line. There is ongoing construction right now on the monorail lines so be wary of modified operating schedules with it as well.
The final mode of transportation at Walt Disney World is brand new and that is the Disney Skyliner. Personally I cannot tell you anything about my experiences on it because I don't have any yet. The skyliner opened just a few months ago, so while I have seen it, I have not ridden it. What I can tell you is that the Disney Skyliner runs from the Pop Century/Art of Animation Resorts to Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort. From there guests will be transported to either Disney's Hollywood Studios or Disney's Riviera Resort. From the Riviera Resort guests will be able to travel to EPCOT. I've heard a lot of good and bad things about the skyliner, so I can really say is experience it for yourself before making a judgment. Yes it has had some technical issues, but there are also countless reports that it is the absolute best way to get around the EPCOT/Hollywood Studios area. As a result of the skyliner opening, bus transportation at all the resorts listed above see reduced service. Where buses normally arrive every 20 minutes, buses at these locations for EPCOT and Hollywood Studios arrive every 60 minutes. Disney is really pushing for guests to use the skyliner to get around this portion of the property and as long as it's working, I don't see the harm in that at all.
So there you have it. The various ways to get yourself around Walt Disney World. For me the buses remain the easiest to use and while sometimes they are delayed it sure beats driving. The ferries between EPCOT and Hollywood Studios are by far the most relaxing mode of transportation, but the trip can be a bit long depending on how the stops go. Getting around on foot is never a bad option when available, but Disney World is host to a massive amount of walking already so it is nice to get off your feet for a bit. The monorail gets you from place to place really fast, but suffers from mechanical issues frequently and when I say it can get crowded. I mean it can get really really crowded, especially at night. The skyliner is apparently super efficient and offers great views, but is still working out some kinks in the system and does not operate in poor weather conditions.
All of them have their ups and downs, so really it is up to you to form your own thoughts and strategies for getting around. Whatever the case, it all sure beats having to worry about driving and parking at the parks or Disney Springs for that matter. Thank you all for joining me on this look at the Walt Disney World Transportation System! Stay tuned as the next blog will be coming real soon!
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