Hi Megan! Welcome to planDisney!
Only a few months away until you arrive at the
Most Magical Place on Earth. There are so many wonderful accommodations close by the Walt Disney World Resort that sometimes they end up working out better for your family. I'm sure everyone is excited about your upcoming trip and the memories that you are sure to make.
I am always fascinated with the different ways to get around the Walt Disney World Resort.
Disney Transportation comes in many forms including by boat, bus, monorail, and even the Disney Skyliner. Depending on where you are trying to get to, there will be a mode of transportation that will take you there.
While all Guests are able to use Disney Transportation during their stay, if you are staying off-site, you are not able to park at a resort and then use the
bus system to travel to the parks. Parking at the resorts is reserved for Guests staying there or dining at a restaurant at that resort. If you are using a rental car during your stay, your best bet will be to park at the theme park you have a park reservation for that day. Once at the park, if you have a dining reservation at a specific resort or just want to explore some of the Disney Resorts Hotels, you will be able to use any form of transportation to get to your destination. If you are using a ride share service, you can have them drop you off at any theme park since there is a designated area for this service.
Each resort does have transportation that will take you to each of the four theme parks. Not every mode will be by bus, as some will use the
Disney Skyliner, boat, or monorail in its place. For example, Disney's Wilderness Lodge uses boat transportation to get Guests to and from the Magic Kingdom Park. Since this is the preferred method, bus transportation is not available to the Magic Kingdom from here. Buses will typically run about 45 minutes before park opening and up to an hour after closing. This allows Guests to get to and from their resorts in an adequate amount of time.
Megan, I highly recommend trying out the Disney Skyliner when you are there. It's a ton of fun to ride it and a unique experience. If you plan on park hopping from Disney's Hollywood Studios to EPCOT any day, this is the perfect mode of transportation to get you there. I hope you have a magical time during your upcoming visit!
Stop back to planDisney any time for help with additional planning questions!
See ya real soon!
Greg