Traveling with Small Children – Taylor's Adventures in Wonderland

Planes, trains and automobiles…well something like that! Transportation at Disney comes in many shapes and forms starting from your arrival at Orlando MCO if you’ve decided to fly!

If you have decided to fly, no need to worry about the hassle of renting a car – if you’re staying in a Walt Disney World Resort you can hop on the Magical Express, a complimentary service to take you from MCO to your resort and then back to the airport at the end of your stay.

When you arrive at MCO follow the posted signs to the Magical Express area and get checked in with your MagicBand. You will then be guided to your Magical Express coach bus and off into the world of magic you go!

Magical Express Bus at Orlando MCO Airport

Now that you’ve entered Walt Disney World – it’s time to figure out how to get to each of the parks and Disney Springs! You’ll have a couple of options, some of which are dependant on which resort you’re staying in.

The iconic Disney transportation of course is Disney’s Monorail. This runs in a loop around the Magic Kingdom as well as over to Epcot. You can board the monorail from the Ticket and Transportation Center near Magic Kingdom to go directly to either Epcot or the Magic Kingdom. If you are staying in a monorail resort- Disney’s Contemporary Resort, Disney’s Polynesian Resort or Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort- you will also be able to get to Magic Kingdom from the resort loop or switch over to the Epcot monorail at the Ticket and Transportation Center.

The newest mode of Disney transportation takes you high in the sky on the Disney Skyliner. The Skyliner connects 4 Disney Resorts – Disney’s Riviera Resort, Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, Disney’s Pop Century Resort and Disney’s Art of Animation Resort- to Epcot and Hollywood Studios.

Depending on where you board the Skyliner you may go directly to Epcot, Hollywood Studios or have to pass through a transfer station at one of the resorts. If you’re going to Epcot, the Skyliner will take you to the World Showcase Entrance between the France and U.K. Pavilions which can be perfect for a breakfast stop at Les Halles Bakery!

Skyliner boarding at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort

With its abundance of water, you can also find boat transportation all over Walt Disney World! Some of the resorts have their own boats to take you directly to the parks and some share among a few resorts. You can also take a Ferry boat from the Ticket and Transportation Center to Magic Kingdom.

Friendship Boat Launch at Disney’s Boardwalk Resort

Epcot & Hollywood Studio Resort Area

Disney’s Yacht & Beach Club Resort, Disney’s Boardwalk Resort and the Walt Disney World Swan & Dolphin Resort share the Friendship boats to either Epcot or Hollywood Studios.

Magic Kingdom Resort Area

Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort, Disney’s Polynesian Resort, Disney’s Contemporary Resort, Disney’s Wilderness Lodge and Disney’s Fort Wilderness have their own boat launch to take you directly to the Magic Kingdom

Disney Springs Resort Area

Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort, Disney’s Port Orleans Resort (Riverside & French Quarter) and Disney’s Old Key West Resort have a boat launch to Disney Springs

We cannot forget the “get to all the places from anywhere” mode of transportation in Walt Disney World- the buses! If your Disney Resort doesn’t offer any of the other transportation options, you will be able to take a Bus to any of the theme parks and Disney Springs. This is also true if your resort has say the monorail to Epcot and Magic Kingdom but no direct route to Hollywood Studios and Epcot.

While this mode of Disney Transportation is not complimentary like the ones above, I’d be remiss not to mention Minnie Vans! Minnie Vans are available for transportation anywhere on Walt Disney World property for a fee through the Lyft app.

They are just as cute as they look and similar to Lyft you will be assigned a driver to take you wherever you want to go. Minnie Van’s can seat up to 6 and are equipped with up to 3 car seats so there’s no need to worry about the little ones. Safety always comes first at Walt Disney World so when you order a Minnie Van, it is a Disney Cast Member who is driving you. They always know where they’re going and will usually share fun facts or tips during your ride.

Minnie Van ready to pick guests up at Magic Kingdom

With so many different ways to get around Walt Disney World – do you have a favorite or preferred way to get around!? Share in the comments!

Traveling with small children but still want to experience all the “big kid only” attractions? Not to worry, Disney’s Rider Switch has you covered!

Disney’s Rider Switch allows your entire family to get in line for an attraction, then when its your turn to board, one can wait with any guest who does not want to or can not ride while the rest of the family experiences the attraction. When the rest of the party returns to supervise non-riding guests, the other adult can board the attraction without having to wait in the regular line again.

Rider Switch is available at select attractions in each of the 4 Walt Disney World theme parks.

How Rider Switch works:

Before you get in line, check with a Cast Member to see if rider switch is offered at the select attraction
When at the attraction with your entire party, approach the greeting cast member to get a Rider Switch pass for at least one adult member of your party and the guests who are not riding. This group, who will be referred to as “Party 2” will be asked to wait in a designated area which is sometimes outside of the attraction.
The other party members referred to as “Party 1” ride the attraction
After their ride is complete, Party 1 will locate Party 2 to hand off the Rider switch pass so Party 1 can take over supervision of any non-riding guests
Party 2 enters and boards the attraction without having to wait in the queue for a second time. When Party 2 enters, the Rider Switch Pass will be given to the rides Cast Member. (TIP: If the person in Party 2 waited alone with a child, he or she may bring one other guest back to ride the attraction, as long as there is still an adult to wait with non-riding guests).

Current attractions offering Rider Switch: