One of our favorite things about staying onsite at Walt Disney World is how easy Disney makes it to get to their theme parks like EPCOT.
And if you’re planning to have a drink or two (or even three), this is super important. But, whether you’re going to EPCOT for Drinking Around the World or just need to know how to get there, we’ve got you covered on how to get around.
Here’s what you need to know about how to get to EPCOT:
How to get to EPCOT from your resort (Onsite Guests)
Heading to EPCOT from your resort? The good news is that every onsite Disney resort will have at least 1 FREE way to get you to EPCOT.
But, in addition to the free ways listed below, every resort also has some non-Disney and premium (meaning it costs extra) Disney transportation options for you, too:
Car: Guests staying at any Walt Disney World Resort can drive to EPCOT and park for free. When you drive, you must park at the front of the park and will enter through the main entrance (near Spaceship Earth).
Rideshare (Uber/Lyft): Rideshare services like Uber and Lyft drop off and pick up guests at the front of EPCOT at a dedicated Rideshare area which is located just beyond the bus loop area.
Minnie Van (Premium Disney Transportation): Minnie Vans are Disney’s response to services like Uber and Lyft. Driven by Cast Members, Minnie Vans are a great option for guests who need a car seat – however they cost 2 to 3 times more than an Uber and Lyft. Minnie Vans drop off and pick up at the front of the EPCOT bus loop.
EPCOT Area Resorts (Crescent Lake)
Disney’s BoardWalk Inn
Disney’s Yacht Club Resort
Disney’s Beach Club Resort
Walt Disney World Swan Hotel
Walt Disney World Dolphin Hotel
Walt Disney Swan Reserve
Our favorite place to stay when planning to spend a bunch of time at EPCOT is at one of the resorts within walking distance – the EPCOT Area Crescent Lake resorts
Sometimes our budget doesn’t stretch to staying that close to EPCOT, but when it does, we love how convenient these resorts make getting to and from the International Gateway.
If you are staying at one of the EPCOT Area resorts around Crescent Lake, here’s how you get to EPCOT:
Walking (BEST OPTION): If you are staying at an EPCOT Area Resort surrounding Crescent Lake, we recommend you plan to walk to the park because it is the quickest and easiest way to get to EPCOT. When walking you enter the park at the International Gateway, which is an entrance in the World Showcase at the back of the park, between the France and the United Kingdom Pavilions.
Bus: There is typically no bus transportation from an EPCOT Area resort to EPCOT.
Boat: Friendship boats run about every 20 minutes and will take you to the International Gateway. This is not the quickest way to the park, but it is a lovely ride.
Disney Skyliner (gondolas): N/A
Monorail: N/A
EPCOT Area Resorts (All Others)
In addition to the EPCOT Area resorts that are around Crescent Lake, there are a couple other resorts that are technically part of the EPCOT Area (as well as the Hollywood Studios Area), however they are not within walking distance:
Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
Disney’s Riviera Resort
Here’s how you get from these resorts to EPCOT:
Walking: N/A. Even though these resorts are officially labeled by Disney as “EPCOT Resort Area”, you can not walk to EPCOT from Disney’s Caribbean Beach or Riviera Resorts.
Bus: There is typically no bus transportation from these resorts to EPCOT. The exception is during inclement weather when the Disney Skyliner is NOT running. When that happens, there will be buses available at the FRONT of the park (*not* at the International Gateway where the Skyliner is located). If you run into a situation where the Skyliner is not running and you are already at the International Gateway, it may be faster/easier to exit and walk to the Beach Club and call a Lyft or Minnie Van (if you need a car seat) from there.
Boat: N/A. There is no boat transportation from either Disney’s Caribbean Beach or Riviera Resorts.
Disney Skyliner (BEST OPTION): The Skyliner is the fastest and easiest way to get from Disney’s Caribbean Beach and Disney’s Riviera Resort to EPCOT.
Monorail: N/A
Magic Kingdom Area Resorts (Monorail Resorts)
The Magic Kingdom Area Resorts all have access to the monorail. Typically, when the monorail is running, it will be the fastest option. But, when the monorail isn’t running (weather, maintenance, etc.), a bus will be provided.
Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
Disney’s Contemporary Resort & Bay Lake Towers
Here’s how you get from these resorts to EPCOT:
Walking: N/A. You can not walk to EPCOT from any of these resorts.
Bus: Buses don’t typically run from these resorts UNLESS the monorail is down or not running. When that happens, they will provide bus transportation.
Boat: N/A. Although all of these resorts have boats, none go to EPCOT.
Disney Skyliner (gondolas): N/A
Monorail (BEST OPTION): Except for Minnie Vans, the monorail is the fastest and often the only way to get to EPCOT from these resorts using Disney Transportation. To get to EPCOT, you’ll will need to take the monorail to the Transportation and Ticket Center and then transfer to the EPCOT Monorail. If you are staying at the Polynesian, it is often faster to walk to the Transportation and Ticket Center to board the EPCOT Monorail.
Magic Kingdom Area Resorts (Wilderness Lodge & Fort Wilderness)
The Wilderness Lodge and Fort Wilderness area are also technically part of the Magic Kingdom Area family of resorts, however, they don’t have easy access to the monorail.
Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, Boulder Ridge Villas, & Copper Creek Villas
Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground
If you are staying at one of these resorts, here’s how you get to EPCOT:
Walking: N/A. You can not walk to EPCOT from any of these resorts.
Bus (BEST OPTION): Since these resorts do not have access to the monorail, there are regular buses that will take you to the front of EPCOT from the Wilderness Lodge and Ft. Wilderness Resort areas.
Boat: N/A. Although all of these resorts have boats, none go to EPCOT.
Disney Skyliner: N/A
Monorail: You could technically take a boat to Magic Kingdom or one of the monorail resorts, and then jump on the monorail and take that to the Transportation and Ticket Center, and THEN transfer to the EPCOT monorail – but it is way faster to just take the bus from your resort if staying at either Fort Wilderness or the Wilderness Lodge area.
Animal Kingdom Resort Area
The Animal Kingdom Resort area consists of a collection of resorts that are closest to Animal Kingdom. This includes the popular All-Star Resorts and Coronado Springs, plus the Animal Kingdom Lodge and Villas:
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Kidani Village
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Jambo House
Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort
Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort
Disney’s All-Star Music Resort
Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort
If you are staying at one of these resorts, here’s how you get to EPCOT:
Walking: N/A. You can not walk to EPCOT from any of these resorts.
Bus (BEST OPTION): Bus service is the only free Disney transportation to EPCOT.
Boat: N/A.
Disney Skyliner (gondolas): N/A
Monorail: N/A
Hollywood Studios Resort Area
The Hollywood Studios Resort Area consists of a collection of resorts that are all linked to Hollywood Studios via the Disney Skyliner:
Disney’s Pop Century Resort
Disney’s Art of Animation Resort
Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort*
Disney’s Riviera Resort*
*Because of their location along the Disney Skyliner, these 2 resorts are assigned 2 categories: EPCOT Area and Hollywood Studios Area
If you are staying at one of these resorts, here’s how you get to EPCOT:
Walking: N/A. You can not walk from any of these resorts to EPCOT.
Bus: There is typically no bus transportation from these resorts to EPCOT. The exception is during inclement weather when the Disney Skyliner is NOT running. When that happens, there will be buses available at both the resort and at the FRONT of the park (*not* at the International Gateway where the Skyliner is located). If you run into a situation where the Skyliner is not running and you are already at the International Gateway, it may be faster/easier to exit and walk to the Beach Club and call a Lyft or Minnie Van (if you need a car seat) from there.
Boat: N/A
Disney Skyliner (BEST OPTION): The Skyliner is the main way to get from these resorts to EPCOT. It is also the fastest and easiest, in our opinion.
Monorail: N/A
Disney Springs Area Resorts
The Disney Springs Resort Area includes onsite Disney Resorts that are within close proximity to Disney Springs:
Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa
Disney’s Old Key West Resort
Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter
Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside
If you are staying at one of these resorts, here’s how you get to EPCOT:
Walking: N/A. You can not walk to EPCOT from any of these resorts.
Bus (BEST OPTION): Bus transportation is the only form of free Disney World transportation to get you to EPCOT.
Boat: N/A. Although all of these resorts have boats, none go to EPCOT.
Disney Skyliner (gondolas): N/A
Monorail: N/A
How to get to EPCOT from your resort (Offsite Guests)
If you are staying offsite, you will have a couple of options to get to EPCOT:
Car: Guests staying offsite can drive to EPCOT. Offsite guests (aside from guests with an Annual Pass) will pay to park: $30 for Standard Parking or $45-$55 for Preferred Parking.
Rideshare (Uber/Lyft): Rideshare services like Uber and Lyft drop off and pick up guests at the front of EPCOT at a dedicated Rideshare area which is located just beyond the bus loop area.
Shuttle: Some offsite resorts have shuttles available for their guests. We don’t generally recommend these as the service times can be inconvenient.
How to get to EPCOT from Hollywood Studios
If you are at Hollywood Studios and want to use Disney transportation to get to EPCOT, you’ll have a few ways to do that:
Walking: You can walk from Hollywood Studios to EPCOT. It is about a 1.2 mile walk and takes approximately 20-30 minutes.
Bus (BEST OPTION TO ENTER AT THE FRONT OF THE PARK): There is park-to-park bus transportation available after 10:00 AM. The bus will deliver you to the front of the park. If you wish to enter at the back, consider taking the Skyliner.
Boat: Friendships are available to take you between Hollywood Studios and EPCOT. This isn’t a quick trip – but it is very scenic.
Disney Skyliner (BEST OPTION TO ENTER AT THE BACK OF THE PARK): The Skyliner is one of our favorite ways to get to EPCOT. You’ll first take the Skyliner to Caribbean Beach and then get off and transfer from the Hollywood Studios Skyliner Line to the EPCOT Skyliner Line.
Monorail: N/A
How to get to EPCOT from Magic Kingdom
If you are at Magic Kingdom and want to use Disney transportation to get to EPCOT, you’ll have a few ways to do that:
Walking: N/A. There is no way to walk to EPCOT from Magic Kingdom
Bus: Buses will only run between Magic Kingdom and EPCOT when the Disney Monorail is not in service.
Boat: N/A. Although both EPCOT and Magic Kingdom have boats, the lakes that surround each park are different and are not connected, therefore you can not get from Magic Kingdom to EPCOT via a boat.
Disney Skyliner (gondolas): N/A
Monorail (BEST OPTION): The Disney Monorail is the recommended way to get from Magic Kingdom to EPCOT. You’ll take either the Resort or Express Monorail to the Transportation and Ticket Center, and then transfer to the EPCOT Monorail from there.
How to get to EPCOT from Animal Kingdom
When going from Animal Kingdom, you’ll have just one free option: the bus.
Walking: N/A. You can’t walk from Animal Kingdom to EPCOT.
Bus (BEST OPTION): The Disney bus is the only free way using Disney Transportation to get from Animal Kingdom to EPCOT. Park-to-park bus service begins at 10:00 am.
Boat: N/A. There are no boats at Animal Kingdom
Disney Skyliner (gondolas): N/A
Monorail: N/A
How to get to EPCOT from Disney Springs
There are no Disney buses that go directly from Disney Springs to EPCOT. Instead we recommend taking a bus from Disney Springs to a resort, and then using the transportation from that resort to get you to EPCOT.
Heading to any resort will work, but you can be strategic to save yourself some steps or from having to transfer multiple times.
If you want to enter from the BACK of the park at the International Gateway (which is in the World Showcase), some good options for resorts to bus from Disney Springs to are:
Pop Century (then take the Skyliner to EPCOT)
Art of Animation (then take the Skyliner to EPCOT)
Disney’s Riviera (then take the Skyliner to EPCOT)
Disney’s Beach Club (then walk to EPCOT)
If you want to enter from the FRONT of the park, some good options for resorts to bus from Disney Springs to are:
Polynesian Resort (then walk to the Transportation and Ticket Center and take the monorail)
Any of the All-Star Resorts (they only have 1 bus stop at the resort, so it is easy to get off the Disney Springs bus and then hop right back in line for EPCOT)
Port Orleans French Quarter (again, they only have 1 bus stop at the resort, so it is easy to get off the Disney Springs bus and hop back in line for EPCOT)
Tell us what you think
And that’s it! All the ins and outs of How to get to EPCOT. Did we forget anything? We value your input, even (or especially) when it differs from ours. Plus, we know other readers appreciate varying perspectives, so please take a second to drop your thoughts in the comments!
