How did I get here? Transportation at Disney World

One great perk of staying on Disney property at one of their hotels is free transportation.

If you are flying to Orlando, Disney will get you and your bags to the hotel on Disney’s Magical Express. Check out my blog post about my experience with it here: http://onceuponadisneywedding.blogspot.com/2012/06/disneys-magical-express.html

Once you are at your hotel, Disney offers free transportation to and from each theme park and Downtown Disney. For example:

From All-Star Movies, guests can catch a bus to all 4 theme parks, the water parks, and Downtown Disney.

From Port Orleans Riverside, guests can ride a boat to Downtown Disney and Port Orleans French Quarter. Brian said it was a very peaceful trip. Guests can also get to the parks via buses from here as well.

From The Grand Floridian, guests can ride the monorail to The Magic Kingdom or Epcot. There is also a boat to The Magic Kingdom. For other parks and Downtown Disney, guests can take buses.

The Wedding Pavilion!

We have arranged for a private motorcoach to take our guests from All-Star Movies and Port Orleans Riverside to and from our wedding events. Details will be available in the welcome letter in the packet they give you at check in at one of our host hotels. Those at the Grand Floridian can easily walk to all events, since they are being held at the resort.

Here is a map of the Grand Floridian. You’ll find the Wedding Pavilion at the lower right. The Whitehall Room and Patio are in the top right of the building marked 15, in the octagon shape.

Guests staying at other Disney hotels can take Disney transportation to a park or Downtown Disney and transfer to get to the Grand Floridian. One idea is to ride to the Magic Kingdom and then take the monorail. Guide books generally recommend changing buses at a theme park rather than Downtown Disney if possible.

Another option is to drive to the Grand Floridian and the Wedding Pavilion. Make sure to tell them at the gate where you would normally pay for parking that you are going to a wedding event at the Grand Floridian. They will not charge you that way and will point you in the right direction. There is free parking at the Wedding Pavilion, which is before you get to the Grand Floridian. There is valet parking available at the Grand Floridian.

If you are driving to Disney World, Disney has some suggested routes. From Atlanta, GA, they recommend I-75 South to the Florida Turnpike South toward Orlando to Interstate 4 West to Walt Disney World Resort Exits. Guests on the East Coast can also take I-95 South to I-4 West to the Walt Disney World Resorts Exits. Exit 67 is best for Port Orleans Riverside. Exit 65 is best for All-Star Movies.  

Self parking is free at the Disney hotels in our room block. Valet parking is $12 per day at the Grand Floridian.

Here is a comprehensive driving map of Walt Disney World. It has all the parks and resorts clearly labeled. It also shows nearby grocery stores and medical care. If you want to pick up groceries outside of Disney World, I highly recommend Publix. Here is another pretty, but less helpful map to give you a feel for the World.  

This site has a great list of other stores near Disney World with their phone numbers.

Let me know if you have any questions about transportation at Disney World.

93 days to go! =)