10 Free Modes of Transportation at Walt Disney World

1. Golf Carts at Fort Wilderness - Walt Disney World Fort Wilderness has electric-powered carts are available as your personal transportation within the Campsites. The carts have windshields and headlights, they seat up to 4 adults and can be rented by the day or the week. It is highly recommended that you do make advanced reservations for the carts if you are looking for them as transportion, and they can be reserved up to one year in advance at (407) 842-2742. Guests must be 18 years of age or older to rent the carts.

2. Tram - The trams are found throughout various parking lots, and while not very exciting they are a useful source of transportation at Walt Disney World parks, for getting you from your car to the park entrance at a quick pace.

3. Train - Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom has the Tomorrowland Transit Authority, which is transportation that enables guests to take an elevated tour above the Tomorrowland Area. The tour lasts 10-minutes, and the tour includes a look at the Tomorrowland attractions, views of early architectural models of Epcot theme park and a peek inside Space Mountain.

4. Monorail - Since 1971, the Walt Disney World Monorail System has been a source of transportation in continuous operation, with a double beam track that circles. The monorail at the time of opening connected Walt Disney World Contemporary Resort and Polynesian Resort with Disney's Magic Kingdom. Later, Walt Dsney World's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa was added into the loop. In 1982, Walt Disney World added a 4 mile extension to the track that travels from the Disney's Magic Kingdom to Epcot Center. The Monorail model that is currently running through the parks began running in 1990, with a fleet of 12 monorails. This transportation model allowed a higher passenger capacity, as well as improved air conditioning, door systems and improved safety features. The 13.6 mile monorail system is used as transportation for over 150 000 guests to the Magic Kingdom and Epcot on an average day.

5. Buses - There are two different bus systems that are used as transportation at Walt Disney World and the Disney Resorts. The first source for buses as transportation is the Disney Magical Express. The Disney Magical Express is a complimentary airport transportation service, luggage delivery and airline check-in. Each guest's luggage is checked at their hometown airport and have it taken directly from the Orlando International Airport to their Walt Disney World Resort. The following airlines participate in this transportation service: AirTran Airways, Alaska Airline, American, Delta, Continental, Jet Blue, Northwest, United and USAirways. More information on this service can be found at http://www.wdwinfo.com/Transportation/magical-express.htm.

The second bus transportation service is the internal bus service from Walt Disney World Resorts, to the Walt Disney World Parks, Water Parks, and Downtown Disney. These Disney buses run on average every 20 minutes, from various bus stops throughout the resorts. Buses do begin transportation at 7:00am to the different resorts for Disney Character Breakfasts, these are the only buses that typically are able to run to other Walt Disney World Resorts. The buses for the theme parks and water parks, start 1 hour prior to the park opening for that day, and Downtown Disney starts running at 8:30. This source for transportation is free and the wait times at park opening and closing can be extensive during the peak season.

6. Port Orleans and Disney Vacation Club Ferry - Guests of Walt Disney World Old Key West Resort and Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa, have the option of using a ferry for transportation from each resort to Downtown Disney. This ferry also extends from both resorts and Downtown Disney to Disney's Port Orleans Resort. The ferry accommodates approximately half the guests that the Friendship boats are able to hold, but are a nice change of pace, and make for a scenic trip. Be sure to check the transportation schedule on when the boat rides will be ending for the evening.

7. Friendship Cruiser - The Friendship Cruisers, are a fleet of boats that operate between Epcot, Disney Boardwalk Resort, Disney Yacht Club Resort, Disney Beach Club Resort , Swan & Dolphin Resort, and Walt Disney World's Hollywood Studios. While this tends to be a slow source for transportation, it is a nice change from the buses, and walking the paths from one Walt Disney World spot to another, and is a great help when using your Disney Park Hopper Ticket, to go from one park to the other. This transportation service begins one hour prior to Walt Disney World Park opening, and ends an hour after the Park closes. If lineups are long at the boat launch, it might be a good idea to simply walk on the paths, it will probably be quicker.

8. Motor Cruiser - Disney Motor Cruisers run from Disney's Magic Kingdom Seven Seas through the water bridge channel to Bay Lake with stops at Disney's Fort Wilderness Lodge and Disney's Fort Wilderness Campground. This fleet of cruisers begin transportation at 8:30am each day (unless there is an Extra Magic Hours morning, in which it begins 1 hour prior to open) and ends one hour after Walt Disney Magic Kingdom shuts down for the night.

9. Motor Launch - The motor launches offers transportation linking Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom with several resorts, including Disney's Grand Floridian Resort and Spa, Disney's Polynesian, Disney's Wilderness Lodge, and Disney's Wilderness Lodge has direct trips across Bay Lake to Disney's Contemporary Resort. The transportation start times for each launch vary, so you may want to check out www.allears.net for more information or at your resort during your stay.

10. Ferryboat - The Ferry Boat was one of the first modes of transportation when Walt Disney World first opened back in 1971. The Ferry is a source of transportation from Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom to Disney's Contemporary Resort, Disney's Grand Floridian Resort and Spa, Disney's Polynesian Resort, Disney's Wilderness Lodge and Disney's Fort Wilderness Campground. There are very few seats on the Ferry, so it is considered a standing-only trip, but the trip from resort to Disney's Magic Kingdom is only 5 minutes long. This service begins transportation 30 minutes prior to park opening and ends one hour after park closes.

What is your favorite mode of transportation at Walt Disney World?

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