Is The Monorail The Only Mode Of Transportation At Disney World Or Are There Other Options?
Want to know if the monorail is the only transportation at Disney World?
While the Disney World monorails are probably the most notable and nostalgic form of transportation, they are far from being the only one.
There are a boats, ferries, buses, and the Skyliner too!
Each theme park and resort has different transportation available to them because Disney World is so spread out.
Keep reading for more details about the different types of transportation at Disney World and how to use them.
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Is The Monorail The Only Mode Of Transportation?
So like I said, the monorail is not the only mode of transportation.
But let’s talk about the monorail system for a minute.
There are 3 monorail routes that can take you around the Magic Kingdom resort area and Epcot.
1. Resort Monorail Line
First you have the resort monorail line.
This line makes a complete loop, running clock-wise.
So the order will always be:
- Transportation and Ticket Center
- Polynesian Village Resort & Spa
- Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
- Magic Kingdom
- Contemporary Resort
This is the line you’ll take if you’re staying at any of those resorts or if you just want to resort hop the monorail resorts for fun (or food).
2. Express Monorail Line
The express monorail line only runs between the Transportation and Ticket Center and Magic Kingdom.
Hence the name, the express line.
This line runs counter-clockwise, but it doesn’t really matter since it just goes back and forth.
Most guests will be taking this monorail line because all Magic Kingdom parking is at the Transportation and Ticket Center.
3. Epcot Monorail Line
The last monorail line runs between the Transportation and Ticket Center and Epcot.
It’s a little bit longer of a route since it has to go all the way to Epcot, but what’s great about it, beyond the convenience, is that it takes you on a loop through the park before dropping you off.
This line is best for park hopping between these two parks.
I don’t recommend parking at the Transportation & Ticket Center and taking the monorail to Epcot just to go to Epcot because you can just park at Epcot and save yourself all that time.
And the same thing vice versa.
Don’t park at Epcot to take the monorail to the Transportation & Ticket Center and then transfer monorails to the Express monorail line to go to Magic Kingdom.
Just park at the Transportation & Ticket Center.
Other Transportation Options at Disney World
Since the monorail line is so specific to one area of Disney World, let’s talk about what the other transportation options are and where you can take them.
Watercraft
There are 4 different boat options and areas throughout the property.
Here’s how each one works.
Magic Kingdom Ferry
So one boating option is the Magic Kingdom ferry.
This runs back and forth between Magic Kingdom and the Transportation and Ticket Center – just like the express monorail.
This is a great option if you have strollers, wheelchairs, ECVs, etc., because you don’t have to fold them up and there’s plenty of room for them.
Magic Kingdom Resort Area Boats
Magic Kingdom and it’s surrounding resorts sit along the Seven Seas Lagoon and Bay Lake.
I have another blog post where I did a deep dive into the Magic Kingdom resorts and their boat transportation options, so be sure to check that out if you want more info.
This boat system uses a combination of “cruisers” and “water taxis” or “water launches”.
The cruisers are the enclosed ones and have a little more accommodations than the water taxis/launches.
The water taxis or water launches are the historical colonial time looking boats.
These boats go to Magic Kingdom, the Transportation and Ticket Center, Polynesian Village, Grand Floridian, Contemporary, Fort Wilderness, and Wilderness Lodge.
There are different routes for different boats and resorts and that’s what I go into in that blog post.
Epcot Resort Area Boats
Another area you can take boats is between Epcot and Hollywood Studios and the resorts in-between.
These boats are the “cruiser” style – the ones that are partially enclosed.
In addition to Epcot and Hollywood Studios, you can take these to the Yacht Club, Beach Club, Boardwalk, Swan, and Dolphin.
Disney Springs Resort Area Boats
Lastly, the other area you can take boats is between Disney Springs and it’s neighboring resorts.
These resorts include Saratoga Springs, the Treehouse Villas, Old Key West, Port Orleans French Quarter, and Port Orleans Riverside.
Skyliner
Disney World’s newest form of transportation is the Skyliner!
These are the “gondolas in the sky” that take you between Hollywood Studios, Epcot, and some neighboring resort hotels.
The hotels included in the Skyliner routes are Caribbean Beach, Riviera, Pop Century, and Art of Animation.
I also have a blog post with a bit more of a deep-dive on how the Skyliner works, what the routes look like, and where all you can take it.
Buses
Last but not least, Disney World has an extensive bus transportation system.
The buses run between all the resorts and the theme parks and the water parks and Disney Springs!
For the most part, this is the most convenient option unless you’re staying in walking distance to a park (like the Boardwalk area resorts next to Epcot and Hollywood Studios) or you’re staying at a monorail resort and wanting to go to Magic Kingdom or Epcot.
I have a blog post where I did a comparison on when it’s best to drive your own vehicle versus when it’s best to take Disney’s buses if you need more info.
The buses are completely free and you don’t need to be staying at any of the Disney World resort hotels to use any of the transportation options I’ve mentioned.
Bonus: Minnie Vans
I do actually have one more transportation option to share, but this one is not free.
Minnie Vans operate through the Lyft app as a rideshare service, but it’s driven and operated by actual Disney cast members.
I have another blog post where I talk about how rideshares work at Disney, including the Minnie Vans if you want to check it out.
Where To Stay At Disney World
If at all possible, it is always best to stay at a Disney Resort Hotel.
These come with a bunch of additional perks and immerse you more in the Disney experience.
As a second choice, there are also a ton of partner hotels that are on Disney property, but aren’t owned by Disney.
For example, there’s all the hotels in the “Disney Springs Resort Area” along Hotel Plaza Boulevard and the Bonnet Creek Resort Area hotels.
Additionally, there is the Swan & Dolphin, Shades of Green, and the Four Seasons that are all on Disney property.
If none of those are available or are out of your price range, then I recommend local timeshare resorts.
They are available to non-timeshare owners just like a regular hotel would be, but they usually have more amenities like full kitchens, extra bedrooms, and more.
I’ve reviewed a ton of my favorites on another blog of mine called Timeshares, Resorts, and More.
These are some of the resorts I recommend checking out:
Aqua Sol
Aqua Sol is the furthest away.
It’s on the far side of Animal Kingdom, but it has it’s own mini water park and mini golf and a ton of other resort amenities.
The 2 bedrooms are recently renovated and absolutely beautiful and so spacious.
For the rooms themselves, this is my first choice.
Cypress Pointe
Cypress Pointe is just 5 minutes outside of Disney Springs and it’s my favorite place to stay when I can’t stay on property.
It’s one of the cheapest of the resorts and they have a really nice volcano pool and cafe.
I won a drawing for a free pool cabana for a day and made the absolute most of it!
Grande Villas
Grande Villas is actually right across the street from Cypress Pointe.
These two resorts actually share their amenities and guest access points with each other since they are both owned by Hilton Grand Vacations.
I enjoyed the pool deck area of Grande Villas because all of the amenities and entertainment were centrally located.
It’s usually pricier than Cypress Pointe, but the rooms are nicer.
Grand Beach
Grand Beach is on the south east end of Disney, closer to places like Wide World of Sports and Art of Animation, but still easily accessible to Disney Springs.
This resort looks like the Grand Floridian, so you might have seen it before when driving around Orlando.
The rooms are definitely a little dated, but the jacuzzi tub in the room is really nice and so is the pool.
It was one of the quieter resorts I’ve stayed in too.
Mystic Dunes
The last one I want to mention is a good compromise between all the resorts.
It’s usually pretty cheap, but not the absolute cheapest.
It’s about 15 minutes from just about any of the Disney theme parks, so it’s really convenient.
The resort is closer to more residential type areas and is really spacious.
There’s a golf course and it has more of a vacation resort feel than all of the others.
We’ve stayed here several times and it’s also the most convenient for us to visit family.
The Wrap-Up: Is The Monorail The Only Mode Of Transportation Or Are There Other Options?
So now you know that while the monorail system is quite iconic, it is not the only mode of transportation at Disney World.
Depending on where you are and where you want to go, there are a variety of options from boats, buses, the Skyliner, and even rideshare services.
Additionally, you can always use your own transportation when you visit Disney World!
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