This is another guest post by my friend Alexia. Alexia is a Disney Vacation Specialist with Destinations in Florida. When she is not helping plan magical vacations, you can find her on Facebook and Twitter. Click here to contact her and she’ll help you find the best rates for your magical vacation!
One thing I love about staying onsite at Walt Disney World is the free transportation systems. There is no need to drive or rent a car unless you choose to do so. Here is an overview of the Walt Disney World transportation options:
To and from the airport: If you fly into MCO (Orlando International Airport), make sure you sign up for Disney’s Magical Express Service. A few weeks before your check in date, you will receive a voucher and luggage tags in the mail. Once you arrive in Orlando, head straight to Magical Express. No need to pick up your luggage from baggage claim! Disney will do it for you and deliver your luggage to your room. One thing to note: It can take up to three hours for your luggage to be delivered, so be sure you have everything you need for the day in your carry-on bags.
If you drive to Disney World: Parking at all Disney resorts, Disney parks, and Downtown Disney is free if you are staying on the Disney property. I live just south of Nashville, TN, and we always drive to Disney World. It takes about 12 hours for us to get there. Once we are there, the last thing we want to do is more driving, so I love knowing that we can just park our car at the hotel and use Disney transportation to go everywhere on the Disney property!
From the value resorts: If you are staying at All-Star Sports, All-Star Music, All-Star Movies, Pop Century, or Art of Animation, the buses are your only transportation option. Buses run to Downtown Disney, Disney Water Parks, Disney’s ESPN Wide World of Sports, and the four Disney parks. If you plan on visiting another resort, you will need to take a bus to one of the parks or Downtown Disney and then switch busses to the resort you are visiting. Buses usually begin an hour and a half before the parks open and run until about two hours after the parks close.
From the moderate resorts: Like the value resorts, Caribbean Beach Resort and Coronado Springs Resort only offer buses as your transportation option. Port Orleans Riverside and Port Orleans French Quarter also offer a ferry boat to and from Downtown Disney. The Cabins at Fort Wilderness also offers a water taxi to and from the Magic Kingdom.
From the deluxe resorts: Animal Kingdom Lodge only offers buses as your transportation option. Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa, Polynesian Resort, and Wilderness Lodge also offer a water taxi to and from the Magic Kingdom. Disney’s Boardwalk Inn and Villas, Beach Club, Yacht Club, Swan, and Dolphin all offer boats to and from Epcot and Hollywood Studios. Old Key West and Sarasota Springs offer a ferry boat to and from Downtown Disney. Disney’s Contemporary Resort, Grand Floridian Resort and Spa, and Polynesian Resort all offer the Monorail to and from the Magic Kingdom.
If you plan on visiting other theme parks during your stay: Universal Studios offers a round trip transfer ticket option as well. This ticket option includes a shuttle to Universal Studios, one day base ticket to either Universal Studios or Island of Adventure, and a shuttle back to your Disney resort. If you plan on visiting Sea World, Legoland, or else not on the Disney Property, you will need to drive.
What are your thoughts of the Disney Transportation system? Are you a fan or do you prefer to drive?
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