With attractions designed to appeal to children of all ages, Magic Kingdom is one of the highlights of any Walt Disney World vacation in Orlando, Florida. Whether you arrive by car, monorail, bus, or boat, getting there is a big part of your day, and how quickly you get there can really affect the quality of your visit. Take too long to get there and you’ll find yourself in long lines to your favorite attractions, no matter how early you leave your hotel.
As a result, you may want to consider staying at one of the nearby resorts and taking the monorail or boat to get there just as the doors open. Guests at the Grand Floridian Resort, Bay Lake Tower, Polynesian Village, or the Contemporary can take the monorail to the Magic Kingdom, while guests at Wilderness Lodge & Boulder Ridge Villas and Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground can take a boat or bus. Meanwhile, guests at other Walt Disney World resorts only have access to the bus for transportation to the park.
No matter what mode of transportation you take, all Disney’s Magic Kingdom guests must go through an airport-style security check, either at their resort prior to departure or at the Magic Kingdom Transportation and Ticketing Center (TTC).
Travel by car to the magic kingdom
You can travel to the Magic Kingdom by car, whether you stay at a Disney Resort or not; however, resort guests park for free at any of the theme parks. Many die-hard Disney fans choose to travel by car when a monorail or boat is not available. Plus, driving allows you to transport your family in a family vehicle, with car seats if you need them.
There are some drawbacks to driving. Please note that when traveling by car, you will not park near the theme park entrance. You will have to leave your car in a parking lot and take the tram to the TTC, then travel by ferry or monorail to the gates of the Magic Kingdom. If you’ve arrived early enough, it may be quicker to skip the tram and just walk down the sidewalk to the TTC to get on the monorail.
Public transport to the magic kingdom
Fortunately, there are three main forms of public transportation with services to Walt Disney World Animal Kingdom that you can take instead (or from the parking lot): monorail, boat, or bus.
Monorail Travel: One of the best perks of staying at a Disney luxury resort is the monorail. If you’re staying at the Contemporary, the Grand Floridian, the Bay Lake Tower, or the Polynesian, the monorail is the fastest (and most fun) way to get to the Magic Kingdom. However, guests staying at the Contemporary or Bay Lake Tower may walk to the park faster than taking the train. If you’re traveling with preschoolers, choose the monorail if possible – many include it among their favorite Disney World attractions.
Boat Travel – Guests staying at the Magic Kingdom Deluxe or Fort Wilderness resorts have the option of traveling to the park entrance by boat. This is a great option if the weather is nice and you see a boat approaching because if it arrives when a boat leaves, you may have to wait up to half an hour for the next one. If you manage to catch a boat, it will deposit you right at the park entrance, and you will not have to take the ferry or the monorail to enter the park.
Bus Ride: If you are staying at any Disney World resort, you can take the courtesy bus transportation to the Magic Kingdom. The bus will drop you off at the Kingdom itself, so you don’t have to worry about parking or the tram. However, this mode of transportation can be a great way to travel from some resorts, but an excruciating way for others. If you are in a very large resort with many bus stops, you may find yourself on a very long bus trip. Several of the moderate resorts, like Caribbean Beach and Coronado Springs, are known for long delays, while others, like Port Orleans and the luxurious Animal Kingdom Lodge have a central bus stop, so they stop only once before heading out. to the theme park.
