Hey Howdy Hey Elaine,
It is great to see you back at planDisney. It sounds like you and I might share the same favorite theme park as I also love staying as close to
Magic Kingdom as possible!
The
Magic Kingdom Resort area is a perfect place to call home during your
Walt Disney World Resort adventures. There are a number of fantastic deluxe resorts that are just a hop, skip and jump from Main Street U.S.A., with three of them offering the monorail as the main transportation method to
Magic Kingdom and two others using a boat. The monorail resorts include Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, Disney's Polynesian Resort and Disney's Contemporary Resort and the resorts that use a boat are Disney's Wilderness Lodge and
The Campsites at Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort.
If speed is the main deciding factor, the monorail is probably a slightly faster option. These resorts are closer to the entrance at Magic Kingdom and the monorail runs about every ten minutes. Additionally, you would be able to climb aboard a water launch or if you are looking to increase your step count for the day, there is also a walking path from the resorts to Magic Kingdom. Guests at these resorts will also utilize the monorail to head to
EPCOT and a bus to reach
Disney's Animal Kingdom and
Disney's Hollywood Studios. The two resorts that use a boat to head to Magic Kingdom, is a slightly longer trip as they are a little farther and the boat will not run as quickly as the monorail. However, these two locations are gorgeous resorts tucked back into wooded areas. It is often hard to believe they are just a short ride from Cinderella Castle with all the rustic splendor found at this resort and campground. If nature is calling to you, this is the spot for you and the extra few minutes traveling to Magic Kingdom will be well worth staying at one of these magnificent options! Just for comparison - Guests residing at one of these two resorts will use a bus to reach the other three theme parks.
My suggestion would be to choose your resort based on the amenities and theme that you love most as you will find the transportation times relatively similar. I hope this information is helpful in picking just the right place for you and your family. If I can help with any additional planning questions, please stop back and
visit me.
T-T-F-N (Ta-Ta for now),
Margaret