One thing that can make or break your Disney World vacation? Transportation!
EPCOT monorail
Depending on where you’re staying and where you’re going, there are half a dozen different methods of transportation for getting around Disney World. Some of them are fan favorites, while others are not as beloved. And perhaps the most controversial of them all is the Disney World buses.
Disney World offers bus transportation to just about every main location on property, which makes it the most widespread of the complimentary transportation methods. Every Disney Resort comes equipped with at least one bus stop where you can hop a bus to the parks and/or Disney Springs. But if you haven’t been to Disney World in a while, there’s one critical bus BLUNDER you might make during your vacation, and we’re here to warn you!
Disney Bus
Before the pandemic, Disney World offered bus service one-way from the four Disney World theme parks to Disney Springs, starting at 4PM each day. This service would allow on-site guests without their own vehicles to easily get from the park they were visiting to Disney Springs, usually for a dinner reservation.
Disney Springs
However, since the parks and Disney Springs reopened, this bus has NOT been offered. You will also not find a bus going in the other direction (from Disney Springs to the parks). Why? Disney hasn’t stated for sure, but it’s likely because people were finding ways to abuse the system.
Bus directory in Disney Springs
You see, parking is free at Disney Springs, but it starts at $30 per vehicle, per day for the theme parks. In the past, many people have attempted to park for free at Disney Springs and then use various transportation methods to get to the theme parks without paying parking fees. In the end, it’s a pretty inadvisable “hack” because it takes up a LOT of time at the beginning and end of your day, and it’s complicated to accomplish.
Orange Garage
Also, there seemed to be a shortage of bus drivers for a while in Disney World (they were constantly hiring for that particular role on the Disney Careers website). And when bus drivers are in low supply, some routes have to get cut. The Disney Springs route from the parks likely wasn’t nearly as popular as other bus routes, so it’s possible that’s why it was put on the chopping block.
Inside a Disney Bus
No matter what the reasoning was, it’s important to know that you will not have access to direct bus transportation between the parks and Disney Springs during your visit. If you want to travel between the two places, you’ll either need to drive, get a rideshare, or first travel to a resort and then transfer to a different transportation option.
Rideshare Pick Up Zone
It’s important to factor in this travel delay if you’re planning a dining reservation at Disney Springs or you’re trying to get to the parks at a certain time after visiting Disney Springs. Plan smart!
We’ll make sure to keep you updated with any more transportation tips for those visiting Disney World. Stay tuned to DFB!
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Just take the bus to Saratoga Springs and get off at the Congress Park stop. You’ll be right by the entrance to Disney Springs