Hi Jessica,
You’re as welcome as can be here at planDisney, and at the Walt Disney World Resort! I’m so happy to hear you have a special first-time visit coming up this fall. I love thinking through the logistics of a busy theme park day and am happy to help you plan your visit.
First things first – even if you aren’t staying at a Disney Resorts Collection hotel, you may park at any theme park and only pay once a day. You may park for free at a Disney Resorts Collection hotel while enjoying a meal there.
With these basics in place, you can certainly drive to each destination throughout the day. You may park at
Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort for breakfast, drive over to Disney’s Hollywood Studios in time for park opening, and then drive to Magic Kingdom Park for the last part of your day. Parking for the Magic Kingdom is at the Transportation and Ticket Center (TTC), where you take a quick ferry or Disney Monorail to the theme park itself just across the Seven Seas Lagoon.
Driving yourself around the property is seamless, with lots of clear and colorful signage to direct you to your next destination. I like to keep a small cooler with a wet cloth and extra iced drinks in the car and use this time as a little refresher break. Sometimes it is nice to decompress from the stimulation of a busy theme park in a personal vehicle as you make your way to the next adventure.
I also understand wanting to leave the driving to Disney while you use the
great complimentary transportation from the parks and resorts. I suggest starting your day at the Transportation and Ticket Center (TTC) where you’ll get a great parking spot and keep your car there safely until the evening. You can then walk to Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, as it is directly next to the TTC with a clear walkway to the Great Ceremonial House (lobby) where
Kona Café is located. After a hearty tropical breakfast (try the famous Tonga Toast and delicious Kona press pot coffee) you can take a bus to Disney’s Hollywood Studios. After 1:30 P.M., busses are available from Disney’s Hollywood Studios directly to Magic Kingdom Park. (If you need to head over before then, you can walk from Disney’s Hollywood Studios to
Disney’s BoardWalk Inn on a nice walking path along the water and take a bus to Magic Kingdom from that resort.) At the end of your day’s adventure, you will take the ferry or Disney Monorail back to the TTC and find your car waiting.
There are a few handy tools in the
My Disney Experience App to support you, Jessica. From the main screen, scroll down to
Transportation and get personalized directions to and from any location on property to understand expected travel time and your options. Keep scrolling down to the
Car Locator to document where you park and easily find your vehicle when it’s time.
I hope this helps you understand what’s possible and eases your mind that there are many options when it comes to moving efficiently around the Walt Disney World Resort! I love that you’re thinking ahead, to me this is key to having a stress-free day as you’ve already made the logistics decisions and can focus on the fun on your vacation.
Please let us know how else we can help you make the most of this magical first visit!
See ya real soon,
Amy