Hi Emily!
Welcome to the Disney Parks Moms Panel.
I am so happy to see that you are staying at my favourite Disney Resort hotel -
Disney's Wilderness Lodge! You will love it there, with the stunning lobby, beautiful pools and views over Bay Lake, and several choices of places to eat, it's absolutely wonderful. The short boat ride to
Magic Kingdom Park is lovely (there is also another boat that will take you on a round-trip to Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort, Disney's Contemporary Resort and back to Disney's Wilderness Lodge, and this is something I enjoy doing just for the 20-30 minutes of relaxation!). Most
Resort Transport will begin operating around 45 minutes before park opening, so if Magic Kingdom Park is opening for Extra Magic Hours at 8.00am the buses and boats will begin around 7.15am. There is no other complimentary transport that will arrive at the park earlier than 7.15am, although if you board the first boat you should arrive there before 7.30am, as the boat ride only takes around 8 minutes. I would be waiting in line at the boat dock by no later than 7.00am, and it's always a good idea to check with the Front Desk for the exact running times of the transport.
Have you considered using the
Disney Minnie Van Service? These distinctive vehicles offer an efficient and magical start to your day! Driven by knowledgeable and friendly Disney Cast Members, these vans can be ordered by using the Lyft app on your smartphone, where you can also see the cost of using this service, and make your payment. They can accommodate up to 6 Guests (including 2 child seats if required). You can also order regular Lyft vehicles by using the same app. It's worth noting that the Minnie Vans are the only cars permitted to take you the entrance of Magic Kingdom Park. All other cars, including any taxi service, have to drop you at the Transportation and Ticket Center, from where you need to take the ferryboat or monorail to the park entrance, therefore adding more time to your journey.
Please come back and visit us if you have any further questions. We will be happy to help you plan your magical vacation to Walt Disney World Resort.
Sue