Types of Transportation by Reece Smith

Types of Transportation

 by Reece Smith

Disney theme parks have many forms of transportation to take to and from their parks, resorts, and other entertainment areas. Their main form of transportation from the Disney resorts to the parks is their WDW Transportation buses. There are 350 buses which make up the third largest bus fleet in Florida.  Depending on the day whether or not that park has a special event or the season these buses can be very busy.  These buses arrive usually about 10-20 minutes apart on average depending on which park you’re going to and how far away from your resort it is located. There are also screens to let you know when the next bus is arriving.  This will be your easiest way to the parks if you don’t have a car at your hotel. The drivers are entertaining and add to the Disney magic.  While you ride, you are also given information about the park you are going to.  Don’t forget where you get off the bus so that you can get back at the end of the day.  Of course, if you are tired from all the fun you spent at the park there is always a cast member waiting to assist you.

At the Bay Lake resorts surrounding Magic Kingdom, Contemporary, Polynesian and Grand Floridian, you can take the monorail to Magic Kingdom and back to your resort. Monorails used to allow you to ride in the very front and back but don’t anymore due to safety concerns. Occasionally special designs are painted on the monorails for fun usually following the theme of an upcoming movie.  You can also ride the monorail between the Magic Kingdom and the Ticket and Transportation Center or the Ticket and Transportation Center and EPCOT. The second monorail actually goes into EPCOT even if you don’t have a ticket.  If you just want to go for a ride and take in the scenery, this is the way to go.

 Also there’s a boat that travels between EPCOT and Hollywood Studios and all the resorts along the way, Swan, Dolphin, Boardwalk, Yacht Club and Beach Club, until you arrive at the other park. It is a relaxing ride and a good way to get between the 2 parks fairly quickly.  Also around the Seven Seas Lagoon in front of Magic Kingdom you can take a boat to the park from the Polynesian or the Grand Floridian if you so please instead of the monorail or Magical Express bus system.

They also have a new transportation system that you can use which are gondolas called the Skyliner. It connects EPCOT, Disney’s Art of Animation resort and Disney’s Pop century Resort, Disney’s Caribbean resort, Disney’s Riviera resort, and Hollywood Studios. The gondolas are decorated with many Disney characters.  They are an ongoing system that takes you into the air for some spectacular views you can’t get anywhere else.

One of the newest forms of transportation are the Minnie vans.  They are like ubers from Disney resorts to parks or wherever you want to take them.  However, this mode of transportation requires money.

Everyday that the parks are open and running these forms of transportation and the cast members that run them are working from about 6 or 7 am until about midnight or sometimes even later.