Hi Michelle!
Welcome to planDisney!
You can usually expect bus
transportation from the resorts to the theme parks to begin about one hour before the listed
Early Entry time. At this time, it looks like Magic Kingdom opens for Early Entry at 8:30 AM during your visit, so my guess is that the buses will start running around 7:30 AM.
While this is subject to change, and it’s possible for the buses to start running earlier, I would err on the side of caution and book a
Minnie Van or rideshare service to the Contemporary to ensure that you make it to your reservation on time.
Of course, you can always try to modify your reservation to move it back a bit, pending availability. If you do decide to take bus transportation, make sure to give yourself time for not only the bus ride, but also the walk from the Magic Kingdom to the Contemporary. I’d say the walk takes about 10 minutes from the bus stop (give or take).
After your meal, it will be easy to walk over or jump on the Monorail to Magic Kingdom. No matter which route you take, you’ll go through security before getting to the main entrance of the park, so once you arrive at Magic Kingdom, you’ll be able to scan right in!
Big Thunder Mountain is set to open on May 3, 2026, which will be perfect timing for your trip! And if you have little ones, it’s good to note that the height requirement for that attraction actually decreased since it was last open. You’ll now only need to be 38” tall to enjoy that attraction. I can’t wait for my boys to experience it on our upcoming trip!
I hope that helps! If you have any other questions as you continue to plan, feel free to reach back out to us.
Jenn J.