Disney World Resort Hopping Without a Car
Disney makes it really easy for guests to get to and from the theme parks via complimentary transportation. However, it does not always provide transportation for guests to travel directly from resort to resort. If you do not have a car onsite, what is the best way to resort hop?
Travel Along the Monorail Loop
One of the easiest ways to resort hop is to explore the resorts on the monorail loop. Traveling along the monorail will take you to the Contemporary and Bay Lake Tower, the Polynesian, and Grand Floridian. Lots of guests take this route for a monorail bar crawl.
Catch the Skyliner
The skyliner helps connect several Disney resorts. You’ll find Art of Animation, Pop Century, Caribbean Beach, and Riviera along the skyliner. Besides resort hopping directly on the skyliner, you can easily take the skyliner to International Gateway and walk to any of the Crescent Lake resorts. These include the Yacht & Beach Club, BoardWalk, and Swan and Dolphin. Visiting Crescent Lake opens up a lot of dining options from Flying Fish at the BoardWalk to Il Mulino at the Swan.
Take Advantage of Bus Stations
If you are staying at a resort close to a park, sometimes it is convenient to travel to a park and then take a bus to the next resort. For example, if you want to go from Bay Lake Tower to Animal Kingdom Lodge, you could walk from Bay Lake Tower to the bus station at the Magic Kingdom and catch a bus to Animal Kingdom Lodge. Similarly, guests at Boulder Ridge or Copper Creek could take a ferry boat to the Magic Kingdom to catch a bus to another resort. Just note the park closing times if you are taking this route for a dinner reservation. Buses stop running one hour after park closing time.
Hail a Ride Share
It is very easy to catch an Uber or Lyft to get around Disney property. On average, traveling from resort to resort can cost around $10-$15. Just note that they do not have car seats, so this option may not work for families with little ones unless they bring their own car seats.
When All Else Fails, Take a Minnie Van
Since Minnie Vans are run by Disney, they sometimes have access to locations that other ride shares don’t. For example, if you want to dine at Hoop Dee Doo Musical Revue, an Uber or Lyft car can’t take you right to the restaurant. However, with a Minnie Van, you can get dropped off right at Hoop Dee Doo. Minnie Vans are also different from other ride shares since they are driven by Disney cast members and have 2 car seats.
Aside from taking a ride share or Minnie Van, these routes may take a little more time. Budget extra travel time, and have fun exploring the resorts!
