Getting around Walt Disney World

I wish I had my own personal Dumbo to fly me around Walt Disney World. Take me whereever and whenever I wanted to go. Since we aren't that lucky, we have to deal with WDW transportation and/or a rental car. Some people will swear that a rental car is neccessary, I will swear that it isn't. The trick is to "travel smart".

On both my trips to Walt Disney World, my family relied strictly on WDW transportation. On the first trip we had a rental car, but once we checked in, the only time we used the car was the day we drove to the Kennedy Space Center.

Here are some hints to travel around Walt Disney World, quickly by using only Disney Transportation.

These hints were created before the opening of Animal Kingdom. I haven't been to WDW since AK opened, so the bus schedule may have changed

Early Morning

If you are and early riser, it is to your advantage to catch the first bus in the morning.

  • The first bus to the TTC will leave at 7 AM (might be different with the opening of Animal Kindgom)
  • Early Entry Park: The first bus will leave at 7AM
  • Other Parks: The first bus will leave ONE hour prior to the posted opening time.

The first bus will not be crowded, and DxL guests, the first bus from the South Depot (in front of the Main Building) will go directly to the park. It will not make the loop.

Once the first bus has departed, additional busses wil arrive in 5-10 min. intervals.

Visiting the Resorts

One of the biggest complaints is that there is no easy way to get from one resort to another. Although, there is no direct transportation, you can visit the resorts easily. This is where the "travel smart" comes into play.

Most people will start their day at one park, and then when the lines become impossible, and the sun starts beating down, they head to some other place. Later on in the day, it's time to head for another section of the World.

While you're in transit from one park to another is a great time to check out a resort along the way. For example: visit Typhoon Lagoon in the morning, and when you're done swimming hop on the bus to Caribbean Beach. After you've toured the hotel, hop on the Epcot bus to finish your day with dinner and Illuminations. Here are some other logical times to visit the various resorts, sorted by which park you start from:

  • Animal Kingdom:Take a bus to All Stars or Coronado Springs.

  • Blizzard Beach: Take a bus to Coronado Springs or All-Stars.

  • Epcot: Take a boat to Boardwalk, Swan, Dolphin, Yacht Club and/or Beach Club.

    Take a bus to Caribbean Beach.

  • Disney/MGM Studios: Take a boat to Boardwalk, Swan, Dolphin, Yacht Club and/or Beach Club.

  • Downtown Disney: Take boat or bus to Dixie Landings, Port Orleans.

  • Magic Kingdom:Take the monorail to Contemporary, Grand Floridian, and Polynesian.

    Take the boat to Wilderness Lodge.

  • River Country: Walk to Fort Wilderness or take a boat to Wilderness Lodge.

  • Typhoon Lagoon: Take the bus to Caribbean Beach, Dixie Landings and/or Port Orleans.

Since I have stayed at Dixie Landings, I would also have to say that if you want to see Dixie Landings and Port Orleans, it doesn't depend on where you start your day. Since DxL and PO are in the middle of the property the bus transportation takes about the same amount of time no matter which park you start at.

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Page last updated January 13,1999

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