Guide to Walt Disney World Transportation: Part 2

Walt Disney World offers so many transportation options that the average visitor is either confused by or unaware of many options. Here are the basics to help you get started in planning your Walt Disney World vacation. All of these are free to resort guests, and as convenient as Disney can make it.

Airport To Hotel:

Disney currently provides Magical Express as its only transportation between airline and resort. If you don't qualify for Magical Express, or wish to have more flexibility, taxi, limo, and shuttle service are available through the usual channels for a fee.

Magical Express:

Disney launched Magical Express in late 2004 as a perk for Walt Disney World Resort guests. Not only does it convey both you and your luggage from Orlando International Airport to your Walt Disney World hotel and back again at no charge, but they'll even deliver your luggage straight to your room. You can actually take the Magical Express to your hotel, hop onto a Disney bus, monorail, or ferry, and take in some of your favorite attractions before ever seeing your hotel room. Some of the rules for Magical Express can be a bit confusing, so read your information and ask questions early.

Resorts to Downtown Disney:

Ever efficient, Disney offers you multiple ways to get to the non-park activity of your choice. Will that be shopping, dining, clubbing, or one of a kind shows?

Ferry:

Port Orleans Riverside and Port Orleans French Quarter share ferries to the Downtown Disney Marketplace. Old Key West and Saratoga Springs also share ferries to Downtown Disney Marketplace. They may take a little longer, but you won't get views like this from a bus. A separate shuttle can take you from Marketplace to the West Side, but usually isn't necessary.

Buses:

The buses will also take you from your resort to Downtown Disney just as they do to the parks. However, if you intend to go from one resort to another via the buses, it would be better to change buses at a park, rather than at Downtown Disney. The wait for buses can take a bit longer Downtown than they do at the parks.

In The Parks:

These are mostly regarded as one more attraction in the parks. But as they actually can take you from place to place inside the parks, they're a great alternative to walking when you've seen the sights and just want to sit down.

Friendships:

While there are Friendships that can carry you to and from resorts, there are other Friendships in the lagoon at Epcot. One runs between Canada and Morocco, and the other between Mexico and Germany. Unless you walk very slowly, these will not save you any time. But with how large the World Showcase is, it can save your feet a lot of agony.

Walt Disney World Railroad:

The Walt Disney World Railroad travels the perimeter of the park and has stops at Main Street USA, Frontierland, and Mickey's Toontown Fair. You can enter or exit the train at any of these stops.

I hope you've found this article to be of help in planning your Walt Disney World vacation. Part 1 of this article addresses resort transportation.