Oh heavens, you’ve decided to leave the comfort and safety of the Fort, and venture out into the crowds! I suppose you still think you can’t come all the way here and not go to the parks. So, we will describe all the various ways of getting there. But before we do that, let’s consider 5 wonderful and easy excursions that may be even better than the parks, at least some of the time;
- Take a pleasant boat to the Magic Kingdom, and then hop on the resort monorail. Have a 3 pm late lunch at Kona at the Polynesian. It is usually not crowded at that time, so you will feel extra special.
- Instead of #1, or in addition, have a tropical drink at Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto in Fort Wilderness. Be cool, and I promise you will be entertained.
- Take the one-mile hike over to Wilderness Lodge. Sit in the big rocking chairs in front of the humongous lobby fireplace and read a book, preferably one of some controversy.
- Grab a friend and SeaRaycer at the marina ($32 for a half hour) and explore Bay Lake and the Seven Seas Lagoon. Have bonus fun by jumping the wake when the big boats go by.
- Walk over and check out the construction going on at Reflections: A Lakeside Lodge between the Fort and Wilderness Lodge. Share your photos widely and start new rumors.
Notice that I completely left out Grand Floridian. That’s because all that lacy architecture and pretension brings out the full diva in me (and probably you too), and that’s just not so fun.
Getting Around in the Magic Kingdom Areas
The Magic Kingdom areas include the Magic Kingdom, Fort Wilderness,Wilderness Lodge, the Contemporary Resort, Polynesian Village, and the Ticket and Transportation Center.
Magic Kingdom
- Your easiest route is to take a boat (green flag) from the Fort Wilderness marina. These start running 30 minutes prior to MK opening (including Extra Magic Hours), and stop running about 1.5 hours after close. Boats come every 10-15 minutes, and travel time is 13 minutes one-way.
- Alternatively, walk the one mile to Wilderness Lodge and take the red flag boat launch directly to the Magic Kingdom. Travel time is 8 minutes one-way.
- You can also drive your car to the Ticket and Transportation Center, and board a monorail or boat there.
- A third option is to board a bus to the Magic Kingdom at the Outpost Depot in Fort Wilderness.
- Finally, you can hire a Minnie Van (through Lyft app) that will drop you off right at the Magic Kingdom entrance for a price of $25 (seats up to 6 people), or use Uber – a lift from the Outpost to the Ticket and Transportation Center was under $7 for us in fall 2018, and took 7 minutes, including a 1 minute wait
CONTEMPORARY RESORT
- Your easiest route is to take a boat from the Fort Wilderness marina (blue flag).
- If you have advanced dining reservations at the Contemporary, you can drive and park at the Contemporary Resort parking lot at no charge.
- A third option is to walk or boat to Wilderness Lodge, board a bus to the Magic Kingdom, followed by a resort monorail ride or boat ride (gold flag).
- Finally, you can hire a Minnie Van (through Lyft app) for a price of $25 (seats up to 6 people), or use Uber.
POLYNESIAN RESORT
- Your easiest route is to take a boat from the Fort Wilderness marina (blue flag) to the Contemporary, and then get on the resort monorail.
- Almost as easy, but a little longer is taking a boat from Fort Wilderness marina (green flag) to the Magic Kingdom, and then getting on the resort monorail.
- If you have advanced dining reservations at the Polynesian, you can drive and park at the Polynesian Village parking lot at no charge.
- A fourth option is to walk or boat to Wilderness Lodge, board a bus to the Magic Kingdom, followed by a resort monorail ride or boat ride (gold flag).
- Finally, you can hire a Minnie Van (through Lyft app) for a price of $25 (seats up to 6 people), or use Uber.
GRAND FLORIDIAN
- Your easiest route is to take a boat from the Fort Wilderness marina (blue flag) to the Contemporary, and then get on the resort monorail.
- Almost as easy, but a little longer is taking a boat from Fort Wilderness marina (green flag) to the Magic Kingdom, and then getting on the resort monorail.
- If you have advanced dining reservations at the Grand Floridian, you can drive and park at the Grand Floridian parking lot at no charge.
- A third option is to walk or boat to Wilderness Lodge, board a bus to the Magic Kingdom, followed by a resort monorail ride or boat ride (gold flag).
- Finally, you can hire a Minnie Van (through Lyft app) for a price of $25 (seats up to 6 people), or use Uber.
Wilderness lodge
- The easiest normal route for many people in fair weather is to simply walk the one-mile trail from the Settlement Area in Fort Wilderness to Wilderness Lodge. However, this is closed due to construction – probably until 2021 or 2022.
- Another easy option is to take the boat launch (blue flag) from the Fort Wilderness marina.
- If you have advanced dining reservations at Wilderness Lodge, you can drive and park at Wilderness Lodge parking lot at no charge.
- A bus to the Wilderness Lodge departs from the Outpost regularly.
- Taking a Minnie Van to Wilderness Lodge would be a waste of time and money because it is so very close to Fort Wilderness.
ticket and transportation center
- Your easiest route is to take a boat from the Fort Wilderness marina (blue flag) to the Contemporary, and then get on the resort monorail.
- Almost as easy, but a little longer is taking a boat from Fort Wilderness marina (green flag) to the Magic Kingdom, and then getting on the resort monorail.
- A third option is to walk or boat to Wilderness Lodge, board a bus to the Magic Kingdom, followed by a resort monorail ride or boat ride (gold flag).
- Finally, you can hire a Minnie Van (through Lyft app) for a price of $25 (seats up to 6 people), or use Uber.
Getting to other Magic Kingdom Areas
Other areas include Epcot, Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom, Disney Spring, Typhoon Lagoon, and the many other resorts on Disney property that are outside of the Magic Kingdom area.
EPCOT
- The easiest route is to take your own car to Epcot and park in the Epcot parking lot if you have a car.
- A second and popular option is to take the Epcot bus from the Fort Wilderness Outpost Depot.
- A more extended but fun journey for kids is to take the boat launch (blue flag) to the Contemporary Resort, get on the resort monorail to the Ticket and Transportation Center, and take the Epcot monorail to Epcot.
- Finally, you can hire a Minnie Van (through Lyft app) for a price of $25 (seats up to 6 people), or use Uber.
Hollywood studios
- The easiest route is to take your own car to Hollywood Studios and park in the Hollywood Studios parking lot if you have a car.
- A second and popular option is to take the Hollywood Studios bus from the Fort Wilderness Outpost Depot.
- Finally, you can hire a Minnie Van (through Lyft app) for a price of $25 (seats up to 6 people), or use Uber.
Animal kingdom
- The easiest route is to take your own car to Animal Kingdom and park in the Animal Kingdom parking lot if you have a car.
- A second and popular option is to take the Animal Kingdom bus from the Fort Wilderness Outpost Depot.
- Finally, you can hire a Minnie Van (through Lyft app) for a price of $25 (seats up to 6 people), or use Uber.
disney springs
- The easiest route is to take your own car to Disney Springs and park in the Disney Springs parking garage if you have a car.
- A second and popular option is to take the Disney Springs bus from the Fort Wilderness Outpost Depot.
- Finally, you can hire a Minnie Van (through Lyft app) for a price of $25 (seats up to 6 people), or use Uber.
typhoon lagoon and Blizzard Beach
- The easiest route is to take your own car to selected water park and park in the lot if you have a car.
- A second and popular option is to take the designated bus from the Fort Wilderness Outpost Depot.
- Finally, you can hire a Minnie Van (through Lyft app) for a price of $25 (seats up to 6 people), or use Uber.
Non-Magic kingdom resorts
- If you have an advance dining reservation and a car, you can drive to the selected resort and park in the lot (my favorite: Boma at Animal Kingdom Lodge). However, there are a few resorts that do not have reserved dining, so this will not be an option. These are Pop Century, Art of Animation, All-Star Music, and All-Star Movies.
- A very cool way to explore Port Orleans and Old Key West is to make your way over to Disney Springs (by car or bus), and then take the boat to those resorts.
- Beginning in Fall 2019, you’ll be able to get to Art of Animation, Pop Century, and Riviera Resorts by making a dining reservation at Carribean Resort and hoping on the Skyliner. The Skyliner will also board from Epcot and Hollywood Studios. Can’t wait for the view!
- Finally, you can hire a Minnie Van (through Lyft app) for a price of $25 (seats up to 6 people), or use Uber.
Busses to other areas of walt disney world
All other areas – Buses depart from Outpost Depot. Approximate times to other areas:
- Epcot – 18 minutes
- Disney’s Hollywood Studios – 20 minutes
- Disney’s Animal Kingdom – 22 minutes
- Downtown Springs– 28 minutes
- Blizzard Beach – 24 minutes
- Typhoon Lagoon – 28 minutes
- Magic Kingdom (take boat from Settlement area, not bus) – 11 minutes
