Buckle up. This one is a doozy. Transportation at Disney is intense! There are so many options. Which ones work best for your family.. and which ones should you avoid?! I’m going to break them down individually.. and give you my opinion on each!
I’ve mentioned it already (and I intend to drill it in) but the biggest mistake you can make is not doing your research ahead of time.. especially when traveling somewhere like Disney. I’ve been talking a lot about Disney lately.. and for good reason! I’m headed back there in 11 days for a solo trip! I won’t exactly be “traveling on the spectrum”.. but I will be there to showcase all of the special items that help us as a family when we ARE there together! So stay tuned for a lot of info over the next few weeks.
Your resort choice (which is one of the first decisions you make) will determine WHAT modes of transportation you use your entire trip! When booking online, you’ll type in your dates.. and the options that are available to you will pop up. Under each resort, you’ll see “Transportation Options”. Disregard the “taxi/limo” option- we’re only talking here about the options that are FREE to you with your resort stay. So Pop, for example, has two transportation options- Skyliner and Bus.
Once you have narrowed it down to a few hotels (based on your price point and availability), I encourage you to look at a map and figure out where exactly these resorts are. I also encourage you to decide which parks you’ll be visiting.. as this will impact the resort you choose! So let’s break them down individually:
SKYLINER
This is by far my favorite mode of transportation. It’s like a ride in itself (amirite?). If you are staying at any of these resorts shown on the map, you can use the skyliner to get to both Epcot AND Hollywood Studios. And not only that, but you can hop between ANY of these resort areas for meals! Caribbean Beach is the skyliner “hub” so you will have to disembark here to then get into a new line for either Epcot or HS.. but it’s a pretty seamless process. The lines seem long right now (due to social distancing) but move very quickly.
One of the skyliner CONS is having to fold up a double side-by-side stroller (such as a BOB). If you have a single stroller.. or double that is front to back, you can simply just drive it on and off! No need to fold it up.
MONORAIL
The monorail is a close second for us! It’s a personal favorite of Merritt’s and he always ask to ride it! We’ve been known to ride it just for fun (down to a station and back!).
Typically, the monorail can be used to travel between Epcot, Magic Kingdom, several Deluxe Resorts, and the TTC (Ticket and Transportation Center if you were to self park). Currently, the monorail is not running to Epcot so Bus service would have to be used from these resorts to that particular park.
With THAT being said, I don’t feel the price point of these resorts is worth it without having that convenience. And that’s just my opinion! I like to travel to Disney many times a year.. so I’m not typically looking to spend this much money on a stay.
In regards to strollers, double AND single strollers can be rolled right on.. with your children still seated and buckled, if you like!
BUS
The bus system is our least favorite. While it is definitely a free convenience, it can be unreliable. I’m a patient person who is able to go with the flow.. my husband on the other hand? A late bus is enough to light him on fire. When we travel together, I aim for as little bus time as possible. Knowing your people is important!
If you are planning to Rope Drop at a park and get there EARLY, you need to be at that bus stop EXTRA early. At least an hour before park opening. There may be a line formed already.. and due to social distancing, spots on the bus are limited. So you may wait for several buses before it’s your turn to board.
I find leaving the parks to be a lot less stressful. As people are filtering out at different times, it is a lot easier to grab a bus home in a timely fashion. Knowing the bus system is to know that mornings to the parks are HECTIC.. and traveling to Disney Springs around dinner time is HECTIC. So plan accordingly.. and be patient.
Additionally, you are folding up your stroller.. no matter what size it is. So be prepared and have everything organized in a backpack until you are ready to unload at the parks. If you happen to be traveling with a wheel chair or ECV, you will ALWAYS be the first to load (two ECV’s are able to fit on each bus).
BOAT
We do not personally have a lot of experience with the boat system. We have used it only one time (after leaving a character meal) but never to get to the park. Personally, I find it to be a really fun experience for young families.. and a slower pace with more area to move around. And not only that, but (depending on the boat) most strollers do NOT need to be folded up.
There are boats that travel to both Magic Kingdom.. and to Epcot. The maps for those can be seen here. There are also boats that can be taken from nearby resorts to Disney Springs (not pictured).
WALKING
The last mode of transportation.. is FEET! There are several resorts that are within walking distance to either MK or Epcot. All of the monorail resorts also have a walking trail to Magic Kingdom. If your staying in the Boardwalk Area (Yacht Club, Beach Club, Boardwalk Villas, Dolphin and Swan)- these are all walking distance to both Epcot AND HS. So if you are trying to avoid public transportation all together, maybe consider some of these options for your trip!
That was a lot of info. And hopefully it was helpful. Again, figure out what works best for your family.. and work towards that. Although our son has SPD and Autism, he does not have any issues with transportation. He actually finds all 4 to be a highlight! With that being said, it definitely eases anxiety to take transportation during the NON-PEAK times. If you are planning to obtain a DAS pass and are not in as much of a hurry to “rope drop”, I would recommend letting that morning crowd dissipate.. and to take your time getting in. If you’d prefer morning, then plan accordingly and get there as early as you can. While a park time may be listed as opening at 8 or 9, know that they are opening the gates as early as 30 minutes to 1-hour before that!
DRIVING
Ok, I lied.. there’s one more! And it’s worth mentioning! If you have a car on site (and are a resort guest), you have the option to drive yourself and park for FREE at any of the parks. Now.. this is liable to change at ANY time. So please check this with a resort employee when you arrive. But as of our last trip (Jan 2021), this was an option. Maybe it’s a frequent option?! But more likely than not.. a temporary one to combat the long bus lines.
Planning a trip to Disney can be stressful.. but TRY to have fun doing it. While your first trip is bound to be a little rocky, each subsequent trip will be better and better as you learn the ropes!
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