Disney Transportation: Navigating the Magic with Ease and Convenience

A big part of planning your trip to Walt Disney World is figuring out how you will get from place to place. Utilizing Disney transportation options is one of the best perks of staying on property. Even if you are staying off property, you are still able to use transportation when navigating around Walt Disney property.

Alternatives to Disney Transportation

Renting a car is a great option, especially if you plan on exploring areas outside of Disney World. There is no shortage of rental companies available right at the airport and surrounding areas. Most, if not all, offer carseats as well.

Alternative transportation options are available. Bus, cab and ride share services are waiting at the airport to transport your family to your hotel. Off-property hotels almost always offer shuttle services to all parks in the Orlando area. And on Walt Disney property, Disney transportation has you covered.

Here are a few FAQs and some helpful information about transportation that may help while planning your trip to Disney World.

Walt Disney World Parking Fees

If you plan to drive or rent a car to get around you may be wondering about when you will need to pay for parking.

If you are staying at a Walt Disney World Resort hotel, a fee will be added to your room charge for parking at the hotel. You will not have to pay for parking at the parks themselves. Simply show proof that you are staying on site by scanning your ticket or MagicBand.

When staying at an off property hotel you will pay for parking at the parks. If you choose to park hop and drive to your next park, you will not need to pay for parking a second time. You could also opt to take complimentary Disney Transportation to your second park.

You are also not required to pay for parking when visiting other hotels on property. It is important to note that during busy times you may not be allowed to park at other hotels without a dining reservation.

What are our options for transportation from the airport?

Walt Disney World has ended their complimentary bus service, known as Magical Express, from MCO airport. Mears Connect will continue to offer the service, but it will no longer be free (see below).

Do I need a carseat to get to Disney World from the airport?

Florida Law provides that the carseat requirements do not apply to a chauffeur-driven taxi, limousine, sedan, van, bus, motor coach, or other passenger vehicle if the operator and the motor vehicle are hired and used for the transportation of persons for compensation. It is up you if you would prefer to use a car seat or not in this case.

If you do wish to bring a carseat, they are allowed and accommodated on the airport bus service and will require a reserved seat, even if the child is under 3. All other transportation services should allow your carseat as well.

There are some great options out there for carseats that are great for traveling.

Do I need to bring a carseat if I am using Uber or Lyft to get around on our Disney vacation?

While carseats are not required in hired vehicles, some Uber and Lyft drivers may refuse to drive infants and toddlers without proper child safety restraints. If you plan on using a ride service for transportation between the airport and your hotel or other attractions nearby, you may want to bring your own seats.

If you plan to use Uber for your ride service, Orlando is one of 4 cities where Uber Car Seat is available. For more information about Uber Car Seat you can read the FAQ’s on Uber’s website. You can choose the car seat option within your app and a car with one forward facing carseat will be requested. If you need additional carseats or a different type you may want to bring your own.

What types of complimentary transportation are available at Disney World?

Disney World Resort has several free transportation options on property. These include the bus, monorail, ferry, water taxi and Disney Skyliner. While it is great to have options, it’s important to note that not all modes of transportation will get you to all places on property.

Luckily Disney makes it easy to determine the best way to get you to your next destination by requesting directions in your My Disney Experience app.

If you are planning how you will get around ahead of time, here is a quick idea of what can get you where:

Monorail

There are three monorail tracks:

(1) Transportation and ticket center -> Magic Kingdom
(2) Transportation and ticket center -> Disney’s Polynesian Resort -> Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort -> Magic Kingdom -> Disney’s Contemporary Resort
(3) Transportation and ticket center -> Epcot

Ferry

Transportation and ticket center -> Magic Kingdom

Water Taxi

Boardwalk resorts -> Hollywood Studios and Epcot
Magic Kingdom resorts -> Magic Kingdom
Disney’s Old Key West, Saratoga Springs and Port Orleans resorts -> Disney Springs

Disney Skyliner

Connects Hollywood Studios and Epcot to Disney’s Art of Animation, Pop Century, Caribbean Beach and Riviera resorts

Bus Service

Buses run from all Disney resort hotels to all 4 Disney parks and Disney Springs.

Buses to Disney’s Blizzard Beach waterpark run from Disney’s Coronado Springs and All Star Music resorts. All other resorts will require a transfer at Animal Kingdom to reach Blizzard Beach by bus.

Buses do not typically run between hotels unless they are on the same route. If you wish to hotel hop by bus you’ll first need to take a bus to any park or Disney Springs and connect there for your destination hotel.

Do I need a carseat on Disney World buses?

Walt Disney World buses do not require or accommodate car seats. Also, you must fold all strollers before entering the bus and remain folded for the duration of the ride. Infants will need to be held and toddlers may sit on their own or be held as well.

Can I bring a stroller on all Disney transportation?

You are able to bring your stroller onto all Walt Disney World transportation. You will need to fold down strollers on buses, water taxis, Disney Skyliner (during busy times) and on parking lot trams. They are not required to be folded on the monorail, ferry or on Disney Skyliner when less busy.

For some great, compact stroller recommendations check out this post: Compact Travel Strollers for Disney World

What is the best way to travel from park to park?

If you opt for a park hopper ticket, you may have days where you plan to travel from one park straight to another. Fortunately Disney makes this easy with complimentary transportation options between all parks.

Magic Kingdom and Epcot can both be reached by monorail. You just need to transfer monorail lines at the Transportation and Ticket center.

Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios are connected by both Disney Skyliner and water taxi.

Animal Kingdom is connected to all other parks by bus.

Magic Kingdom and Disney’s Hollywood Studios are connected by bus at the Transportation and Ticket Center.

Can we use Disney transportation to hotel hop?

Hotel hopping is a bit trickier than park hopping and may require a combination of transportation options. The best way to hotel hop from your hotel to another is to take a bus to any park and transfer there for your destination.

A great hotel hopping option is to take a bus to Magic Kingdom and then ride the monorail around to Disney’s Polynesian, Grand Floridian and Contemporary resorts. This is especially our favorite around Christmas time, when they are all decorated!

The Pros and Cons of Disney Transportation

One of my personal favorite things about staying at a Walt Disney World Resort hotel is the ease and convince of using Disney Transportation to get around. I enjoy the simplicity of not having to load up and unload the car and dealing with buckling and unbuckling carseats. My oldest (now 6) often reports that his favorite part of our trip was either the bus or monorail.

I wouldn’t want to leave you thinking that Disney Transportation is always roses. It is important to me that I keep expectations realistic here. At busy times it can be crowded on all modes. You may find yourself waiting in long lines to get on buses, especially at park closing time. And last but not least, having to fold down an overpacked stroller while hanging onto an overtired toddler is not always a great way to end a magical day (again, keeping it totally real here).

We have driven and we have used Disney Transportation many many times and I can’t choose one over the other.

You know your family best. Hopefully this information has helped you to make the best decision for your trip!