Navigating Your Way Around Walt Disney World Parks – 8 Killer Tips

Disney World is a big place. It spans 4 theme parks, 2 water parks, a huge dining and shopping district, and countless resorts. Finding your way from Point A to Point B can be a difficult task, but it needn’t be. The following are 8 helpful tips for getting around the Walt Disney World Resort on your trip!

8 – Maps – Disney invests a lot of money in maps for guests to be able to use to navigate around their resorts and parks. They are extremely helpful in getting the lay of the land when going somewhere for the first time. Guests can take advantage of My Disney Experience and study maps of the parks, resorts, and the entire property before even packing their bags! It is certainly recommended so you have a general idea of where your favorite rides and restaurants are located!

7 – Disney Buses – Disney has a HUGE fleet of buses that help transport guests from their resorts to the parks and back again. The buses are convenient and run constantly before the theme park opens and after they close. Regardless of whether you are staying on property or not, you are allowed to take advantage of this service. Buses pick-up and drop-off right in front of the theme parks, water parks, Disney Springs, and the resorts. If you have any questions, the bus drivers are extremely helpful and able to point you in the right direction if you get turned around.

6 – Boats – transportation between some resorts and parks is offered by boat, as well as bus. The boat offers a different way to see Disney World, as well as allows guests to relax just a little bit before embarking on some more fun. Guests staying at any of the Magic Kingdom resorts are able to access the Magic Kingdom by boat from their resort. In addition, guests who are enjoying Epcot and Hollywood Studios can go between the two by a Friendship Boat, that also makes stops at the Swan and Dolphin, the Boardwalk, and the Yacht and Beach Clubs.

5 – Cars – sometimes it is easier to just drive yourself. Maybe you have reservations at a restaurant and want to enjoy as much time in the parks before having to leave or you just can’t wait to start the fun of your Disney vacation. Guests who are doing the driving themselves can easily navigate around the grounds because of the helpful purple signs indicating where guests need to go. If you don’t want to do the driving yourself, but are in a hurry, guests can also take advantage of services like Uber or Lyft to get around property.

4 – Walking – in very few situations walking may be the best idea for navigating around property. Guests staying in the Boardwalk, Swan and Dolphin, or Yacht and Beach Clubs are able to gain access to two theme parks simply by a short walk. Additionally, guests staying at the Contemporary are able to access the Magic Kingdom quickly and easily by walking.

3 – Monorails – the premier method of transportation at Disney World, the monorails are able to transport guests from the Transportation and Ticket Center to the Magic Kingdom, the Resort Loop Resorts (Polynesian, Grand Floridian, and the Contemporary), as well as Epcot. The monorail are extremely convenient and fun for navigating amongst these destinations.

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2 – Cast Members – if you ever get lost, either inside or outside the park, Cast Members are always able to assist you. They understand that Disney World is large and there are so many different places that you could want to be. Interacting with the Cast Members is also a fun connection to Walt Disney as every Cast Member will never point out where something is with one finger, but will use either two fingers or the entire hand to send you in the right direction.

1 – Get Lost – when navigating falls by the wayside, sometimes getting lost is the way to go. There is something magical about meandering around the grounds of Fort Wilderness or any theme park and discovering things that you never knew existed and appreciating all of the intricate details that are built into the parks and the property.

Navigating can be tough, but with these tips, you’ll be able to make it to where you need to go. What is your favorite Disney navigation tip?

BONUS TIP: Consider planning and booking your next Disney trip with an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner you can trust like Mickey Travels. They’ll help you get the best Walt Disney World deal, share expert advice and their services are totally FREE! It’s genius!

Photo courtesy of Disney Photo Snapper