Transportation at Walt Disney World

We hope you are planning on joining us in Orlando, FL, from December 19-21, 2024, for our 38th Annual Family & Scientific Conference, or for our SPIRIT Conference for adults with MPS and ML! Part of the magic of our conferences this year – aside from celebrating 50 years! – are their proximity to Walt Disney World.  We truly hope that our attendees will take advantage of this fact, and spend some quality time with their families before or after sessions on Disney property. We hope that this resource will be helpful, but we also recommend reviewing Disney World’s free Accessibility Planning Guide, or visiting Disney World’s dedicated accessibility web pages for guidance on planning your trip.

How to Get to Disney World

• Mears Airport Shuttle: If you are trying to get to Disney from the airport, you can book a shuttle that will take you from MCO Airport to any Disney resort (and/or back). Tickets are approximately $16 one way.
• Uber: The best way to get around Orlando is by using a ride-share service like Uber or Lyft. 
• Rental Car: The other way to get around Disney and Orlando is by rental car. You can book a rental car at the airport, or at many locations around the Orlando area. There is a Car Care Center on Disney property, with complimentary transportation to/from Disney resort hotels.

Where to Park at Disney World

If you are driving yourself to Disney and are not staying at a Disney Resort, the best place to park is Disney Springs, which has free parking and is located across the street from the host hotel for the 38th Annual Family & Scientific Conference. Guests can get a bus from Disney Springs to any Disney Resort, and from there can use the free transportation options to get anywhere on Disney property. Just be sure to budget enough time for transportation!

• Note: You can park for free at a Disney resort if you are a guest of that resort. You can also usually park for free if you have a dining reservation there, even if you are not staying overnight.

Free Transportation at Disney World

Once you get on Disney property, there are many free modes of transportation, including:

• Skyliner
  • This is an enclosed gondola, ski-lift styled transport, that is accessible to individuals with wheelchairs or other mobility devices. If you are afraid of heights, you don’t want to use this transportation.
  • The Skyliner stops at Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, Art of Animation/Pop Century Resorts, Caribbean Beach Resort and the Riviera Resort. You can also access the Swan & Dolphin, Beach Club, Yacht Club and Boardwalk Resorts from the EPCOT station.

• Monorail
  • The monorail is a train ride that goes from several of the resorts to Magic Kingdom and EPCOT. This form of transportation is accessible: when you get to the station, look for a Disney World cast member who will direct you where to board the train.
  • You will have to go through security to get on the monorail, even if you are not entering a park.
  • The monorail lines stop at the Contemporary Resort, Polynesian Resort and Grand Floridian Resort.

• Boats
  • It’s fun and relaxing to take a Disney boat ride on one of the many lakes around the property. All boat rides are wheelchair and EVC accessible!
  • The Polynesian, Grand Floridian, Wilderness Lodge and Fort Wilderness Campground all have boat transportation to Magic Kingdom.
  • Swan & Dolphin, Yacht & Beach Club, and Boardwalk Resorts have boat transportation to EPCOT and Hollywood Studios.
  • Saratoga Springs, Old Key West, and Port Orleans Resorts have boat transportation to Disney Springs.
  • Tip: Riding a boat near Magic Kingdom at night is a great way to see the fireworks!

• Buses
  • Buses traverse the whole of Disney’s property, and arrive at each bus-stop approximately every 20 minutes. Buses are equipped to accommodate wheelchairs, EVCs, and other mobility devices as long as they can fit on a standard lift.
  • Note: the Skyliner will occasionally close down due to adverse weather. If this happens, Disney will send buses to temporarily replace this method of transportation.

All forms of transportation at Disney are handicap accessible! Just let the cast member at the entrance know you will need an accessible ride and tell them about any mobility aids that may be riding with you, and they will direct you to the best boarding area.

Further Reading

If you would like more information about getting around Disney World, the author has an even more in-depth article on her blog about Disney transportation.

If you have any more questions about visiting Disney World, check out the Plan Disney blog, with lots of frequently asked questions. You can even ask your own question!

About the Author: Julia Rexford is the cousin of Society board member Jason M., and daughter to Wayne, both of whom have MPS II. She (along with Wayne, Jason and the rest of their family) has been to Disney World countless times over the years, and has developed some content to help families attending the 38th Annual Family & Scientific Conference or SPIRIT Conference have the best Disney experience possible. Julia is also the author of a travel blog, where you can find more Disney insights and tips: Planned Wanderings.