Disney World property spans over 27,000 acres, making it one of the largest theme park destinations in the world. There are four theme parks, two water parks, Disney Springs, and over 20 different Disney resorts. This leads us to the question of what is the best Disney World hotel transportation?
Disney World conveniently offers all visitors access to free transportation from any Disney World hotel to all of the theme parks, water parks, as well as Disney Springs. There are various modes of Disney World transportation including the monorail, Skyliner, buses, and boats. There is also transportation to and from each of the theme parks and water parks for guests who are park hopping between the parks.
We have stayed at every hotel at Disney World, and have come to find there are several that are more conveniently located depending on which park you plan on visiting. Disney transportation can take a long time depending on which hotel guests choose to stay and which parks they plan on visiting.
Therefore, we decided to compile a list of all the best Disney hotels based on their location and available methods transportation. Whether you are planning on visiting Magic Kingdom or EPCOT, we will share our recommendations on the best hotels based on their transportation options.
Planning a Disney World Vacation?
Get exclusive access to prices on hotel & tickets just for Mickey Visit subscribers. Don't miss our travel hacks newsletter!
Modes of Transportation at Disney World
There are various ways guests can travel throughout Disney World property. Transportation is free to all visitors of Disney World, even if you do not have a park ticket or hotel reservation. Disney World's modes of transportation include:
- Buses: Buses are the most common mode of Disney World transportation and are available at all resorts, parks, and Disney Springs. They take guests between any Disney World hotel and any theme park, water park, or Disney Springs. Buses also take guests between any of the parks and Disney Springs. However, the buses do not take guests between the various Disney World resorts. To travel between resorts, guests have to take a bus from their hotel to a park or Disney Springs, and then wait for the next bus or other mode of transportation to the desired resort. Buses usually run about every 10-15 minutes. However, sometimes it may take longer during busier times such as the beginning and end of park operating hours. See our full guide to how to get from one resort to another at Disney World for more details on transportation options.
- Skyliner: Disney's newest form of transportation, the Skyliner, is a gondola-style vehicle that transports guests between four different Disney World resorts, EPCOT, and Hollywood Studios. The four resorts on the Disney Skyliner include Disney's Riviera Resort, Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort, Disney's Art of Animation Resort, and Disney's Pop Century Resort. Check out our ultimate guide to the Skyliner transportation system here. The Skyliner is continuously boarding guests into the gondolas, however the lines tend to get long especially right before park open and right after park close.
- Monorail: The iconic monorail is a people-mover style vehicle that transports guests between several resorts, Magic Kingdom, and EPCOT. The resorts located on the monorail include Disney's Grand Floridian Resort and Spa, Disney's Contemporary Resort, and Disney's Polynesian Village Resort. The monorail boards guests every 5-10 minutes, and typically is not a long wait unless it is near park open or park close.
- Water Transportation: A unique way to travel between several Disney World resorts, EPCOT, and Hollywood Studios are the Friendship boats, water taxis, and ferry boats. Most routes run between 15 and 30 minute intervals. The various boat types and their routes include:
- The ferry boats take guests between Magic Kingdom and the Transportation and Ticket Center, which is where the parking lot for Magic Kingdom is located.
- Water taxis take guests between various routes, one of which is from Magic Kingdom to Disney's Contemporary Resort, Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground, and Disney's Wilderness Lodge.
- A different water taxi route takes guests between Magic Kingdom, Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground, Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, Disney's Polynesian Villas & Bungalows, and Disney's Wilderness Lodge.
- Friendship Boats transport guests between EPCOT, Hollywood Studios, Disney's BoardWalk Villas, Disney's Beach Club Villas, Disney's Yacht Club Resort, Walt Disney World Dolphin Hotel, and Walt Disney World Swan Hotel.
- Guests can also take the Sassagoula River Cruise boats between Disney Springs, Disney's Old Key West Resort, Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa, Disney's Port Orleans Resort – Riverside and French Quarter.
Best Disney World Hotels Near Magic Kingdom
For guests wanting to stay near Magic Kingdom, the best Disney World hotels are located along the monorail route. Guests staying at these resorts have the option of taking either the monorail or a boat to and from the iconic park. Guests can also transfer monorail lines at the Transportation and Ticket Center in order to visit EPCOT. All of the monorail resorts are deluxe level resorts which means although they are more expensive, they offer the best amenities, rooms, and restaurants at any Disney World resort. The monorail resorts include:
- Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
- Disney's Polynesian Village Resort
- Disney's Contemporary Resort
Additionally, Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground is also very close to Magic Kingdom. Although you cannot take the monorail from Fort Wilderness to Magic Kingdom, there is a boat from Fort Wilderness that takes guests directly to Magic Kingdom as well as the other Magic Kingdom area resorts. Guests can take a bus from Fort Wilderness to Magic Kingdom as well which will be a very short trip.
Free Disney World Vacation Quote
Our favorite Disney-approved re-seller, Get Away Today, offers the best Walt Disney World discount tickets around. In addition to great discount prices, their customer service and helpful support staff is absolutely amazing and incredibly dependable. They have an entire department dedicated to making sure every order has a wonderful experience and they are on-call to help you during your vacation if you need them.
And at no additional charge, you get FREE concierge Walt Disney World services! These services include having a Get Away Today’s Walt Disney World expert take care of all your dining reservations and more! This really takes all the stress out of planning a Walt Disney World vacation. Rather than waking up at odd hours of the night to book all your reservations, why not let their travel agents take care of it for you- for free!
Best Disney World Hotels Near EPCOT and Hollywood Studios
If guests plan to visit EPCOT and/or Hollywood Studios, we recommend staying at a hotel located on the Skyliner's transportation route. EPCOT and Hollywood Studios are located very close to each other and therefore, the nearby resorts are very conveniently located as well. These resorts include:
- Disney's Art of Animation Resort
- Disney's Pop Century Resort
- Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort
- Disney's Riviera Resort
Additionally, there are several resorts along Disney's BoardWalk which are within walking distance to EPCOT. If guests do not want to walk, they can also take a ferry boat between any of the BoardWalk area resorts and EPCOT or Hollywood Studios. The BoardWalk area resorts include:
- Disney's BoardWalk Inn
- Disney's Yacht Club Resort
- Disney's Beach Club Resort
As you can see, EPCOT and Hollywood Studios area resorts are probably the most conveniently located as they are near two of the best theme parks at Disney World. These resorts are also pretty centrally located within all of Disney World property, and therefore the buses make it easy to visit the other Disney World parks and Disney Springs.
Best Disney World Hotels Near Animal Kingdom
Animal Kingdom is the least centrally located theme park in Disney World property, and therefore is the hardest to get to from most Disney World hotels. The good news is there are several fantastic Disney World hotels that are located near Animal Kingdom.
Although these resorts are furthest away from the other theme parks in all of Disney World, you can still take the buses to and from any theme park, water park, or Disney Springs. These Animal Kingdom area resorts include:
- Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge – Jambo House or Kidani Village
- Disney's All Star Music Resort
- Disney's All Star Sports Resort
- Disney's All Star Movies Resort
Best Disney Hotels Near Disney Springs
Disney Springs, formerly known as Downtown Disney, is a large shopping area with many amazing restaurants, desserts, and activities for the whole family. I always try to incorporate at least a half day at Disney Springs during any Disney World vacation. There are also many hotels in the Disney Springs area, including some not directly owned by Disney. We discuss and rank all of the Disney Springs hotels here.
There are three Disney-owned resorts that are very conveniently located near Disney Springs. Guests can take a bus or a boat from each of these beautiful resorts to Disney Springs. Guests also can walk from Saratoga Springs to Disney Springs! All of the Disney Springs area resorts include:
- Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort
- Disney's Old Key West Resort
- Disney's Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter or Riverside
These are all good choices for some of the best Disney World hotel transportation.
Plan Your Next Disney World Vacation
Be sure to subscribe to our FREE Mickey Visit newsletter for tips and tricks to help plan your next Disney trip. We provide the lowest Disney World ticket prices anywhere and give advice on how to make the most of out your Disney World vacation. We also give tips on the best food, drinks, and desserts you can find throughout Disney World property, such as Disney Springs. For more resources related to planning your vacation and getting the most out of your visit to the parks, check out these other resources:
- How Much Does Genie Plus Cost?
- When to Visit Disney World 2024 Disney World Crowd Calendar
- Best Disney World Discounts 2024: Ranking Ticket & Hotel Deals
- Every Character Dining Disney World 2024 Experience Reviewed
- Disney World Hotels with Kitchens
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, Disney World offers various modes of free transportation including the monorail, buses, Skyliner, and boats. Transportation is free for any Disney World guest even if they do not have a park ticket or hotel reservation. Disney World's transportation takes guests between all of the Disney World hotels, theme parks, water parks, and Disney Springs. Overall, despite the large size of Disney World property, Disney offers free and convenient transportation between each major area without needing to rent a car or pay for an Uber.
Although driving your own car or ordering an Uber is probably the fastest way to get around Disney World, these fees can be very pricey, especially for parking. However, Disney offers free transportation for all guests including the monorail, buses, Skyliner, and boats. Although it may take 10-30 minutes to wait for one of these transportation vehicles, it is an easy and free way for guests to visit the various areas of Disney World.
Depending on where you are coming from, the Skyliner ride to EPCOT can take between 3 and 20 minutes. Guests starting at the Riviera Resort terminal have the shortest ride to EPCOT and is only one stop away from the park. Guests starting at the Caribbean Beach Resort terminal are the second closest hotel from EPCOT. Guests starting at the Art of Animation and Pop Century Resort station will have the longest ride to EPCOT, and will have to transfer gondolas at the Caribbean Beach terminal if they wish to visit Hollywood Studios.
The Skyliner ride from Hollywood Studios to EPCOT can take between 20 and 25 minutes depending on the lines to board the gondolas. Guests will take the Skyliner from Hollywood Studios to the Caribbean Beach resort terminal and will have to transfer lines towards EPCOT. The Skyliner ride from the Caribbean Beach terminal to EPCOT takes about 10-15 minutes and drops guests off at the International Gateway entrance in the World Showcase.
Planning a Disney Vacation? Get Exclusive Discounts + Free Bonuses
In addition to exclusive discounts for Mickey Visit subscribers, get our free planning printable and guide to make your life SO much easier.
