If you’re staying at Disney and planning to drink around the world, figuring out how to get to EPCOT (without driving) is key. Good news: Disney makes it pretty easy, if you know what you’re doing.
Here’s everything you need to know to get to EPCOT, no matter where you’re staying.
Transportation Options (for Everyone, No Matter Where You’re Staying)
Before we get into the resort-by-resort details, here’s a quick look at the transportation options that work for anyone — whether you’re staying onsite, offsite, or just trying to avoid public transit with a hangover.
Getting to EPCOT from Your Disney Resort (Onsite Guests)
Staying at a Disney resort? You’ve got options, and at least one of them is free. Every Disney hotel has a way to get you to EPCOT, though not all routes are created equal.
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. These resorts are within walking distance to the International Gateway entrance, aka the back door to World Showcase (right between the U.K. and France pavilions).
If you are staying at one of the EPCOT Area resorts around Crescent Lake, here’s how you get to EPCOT:
- Walk (Best Option)
- Quick, easy, and margarita-adjacent. You’ll be through the turnstiles before anyone on a bus even finds a seat.
- Boat
- The Friendship Boats run every ~20 minutes and drop you off at the International Gateway. Not the fastest, but it’s scenic — especially if your feet are tired or your drink count is high.
- Bus
- Nope. No buses to EPCOT from these resorts.
- Other Disney Transport
- No Skyliner. No monorail. But honestly, you don’t need ’em.
EPCOT Area Resorts (All Others)
Technically EPCOT Area resorts, but not walkable; don’t let the name fool you. Your best friend here is the Skyliner.
- Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
- Disney’s Riviera Resort
Here’s how you get from these resorts to EPCOT:
- Disney Skyliner (Best Option)
- This is what you’re paying for. Hop on at your resort, glide over to the International Gateway, and be in the park in under 15 minutes.
- Bus
- Only runs when the Skyliner is down (weather, maintenance, etc.). If you’re at the International Gateway and the Skyliner stops running, your best bet might be walking over to Beach Club and calling a Lyft.
- Boat, Walking, Monorail
- None of the above. Stick with the gondolas or plan for a backup.
Magic Kingdom Area Resorts (Monorail Resorts)
If you’re staying at one of the classic Magic Kingdom monorail resorts, you’re already halfway to EPCOT… sort of. You just need to transfer monorails at the Transportation and Ticket Center (TTC).
- 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:
- Monorail (Best Option)
- Take the Resort Monorail to the TTC, then hop on the EPCOT Monorail.
- Hot tip: If you’re at the Polynesian, it’s usually faster to walk to the TTC and skip the Resort Monorail entirely.
- Bus
- Only available if the monorail is down. Don’t count on it otherwise.
- Boat, Skyliner, Walking
- Not gonna help you here. The monorail is your golden ticket.
Magic Kingdom Area Resorts (Wilderness Lodge & Fort Wilderness)
These resorts are in the Magic Kingdom area, but they don’t have monorail access, and EPCOT isn’t exactly next door. Don’t overthink it: just take the bus.
- 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:
- Bus (Best Option)
- Direct to the front of EPCOT. It’s the easiest and most efficient way from either Wilderness Lodge or Fort Wilderness.
- Monorail via Boat Transfer
- Technically possible: take a boat to Magic Kingdom, walk to the monorail, ride to the TTC, then transfer to the EPCOT line. But unless you’re sightseeing, this is a waste of time.
- Walking, Skyliner, Boat to EPCOT
- None of those go to EPCOT. Stick with the bus.
Animal Kingdom Resort Area
Whether you’re staying at Animal Kingdom Lodge, Coronado Springs, or the All-Stars, there’s exactly one way to get to EPCOT: the bus.
- 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:
- Bus (Only Option)
- Runs regularly and drops you off at the front of EPCOT. It’s not glamorous, but it gets the job done.
- Everything Else
- No monorail, no Skyliner, no boat, no walking path. Just you, a bus stop, and maybe someone loudly unwrapping snacks next to you.
Hollywood Studios Resort Area
Staying at Pop Century, Art of Animation, Caribbean Beach, or Riviera? Congrats! You’ve got Skyliner access, and that’s your golden ticket to EPCOT.
- 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:
- Disney Skyliner (Best Option)
- Ride the gondola from your resort to Caribbean Beach, transfer lines, and head straight to the International Gateway entrance. Easy, breezy, and honestly kinda fun.
- Bus
- Only runs if the Skyliner is down. If you’re stranded at International Gateway, your fastest fix might be walking to Beach Club and grabbing a Lyft or Minnie Van.
- Boat, Walking, Monorail
- Nope. None of those connect here.
Disney Springs Area Resorts
If you’re at Saratoga Springs, Old Key West, or Port Orleans (French Quarter or Riverside), the only way to get to EPCOT is by bus. The boats here are just for floating over to Disney Springs and not the theme parks.
- 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:
- Bus (Only Option)
- Each of these resorts has direct bus service to the front of EPCOT. It’s not fancy, but it works.
- Skyliner, Monorail, Boat to EPCOT
- Nope. None of those go from here to EPCOT.
- Walking
- You’d have to be training for a marathon (but really, there isn’t any way to do it).
How to get to EPCOT from your resort (Offsite Guests)
Staying offsite? You’ve still got ways to get to EPCOT — but you’ll either be paying or planning ahead.
- Drive Yourself
- Standard parking: $30
- Preferred parking: $45–$55
- Unless you’re an Annual Passholder, expect to pay. You’ll park at the front entrance, near Spaceship Earth.
- Rideshare (Uber/Lyft)
- Quick and easy. Rideshare drop-off is just beyond the main bus loop which is super close to the park entrance.
- Hotel Shuttles
- Some offsite hotels offer shuttles, but we do not recommend relying on them unless you love weird departure times and long waits. Always check the schedule (and then triple-check it).
How to get to EPCOT from Other Disney Parks
Park hopping? Here’s how to get to EPCOT from each of the other three Disney World parks — with direct links to full guides:
- How to Get from Hollywood Studios to EPCOT: Walk, boat, bus, or take the Skyliner (our favorite if you want to sneak in the back entrance near France).
- How to Get from Magic Kingdom to EPCOT: Monorail is your best bet here — unless it’s down, then you’re on a bus.
- How to Get from Animal Kingdom to EPCOT: Spoiler: it’s the bus. It’s always the bus.
How to get to EPCOT from Disney Springs
No, Disney doesn’t run buses from Disney Springs to the parks — but you can still get there with a quick workaround.
How to Do It:
- Take a Disney bus from Disney Springs to a resort
- Then use that resort’s transportation to EPCOT
The key is picking the right resort based on which EPCOT entrance you want:
Entering at the Back (International Gateway)
Want to start your day in World Showcase? Choose one of these:
- Pop Century or Art of Animation → Bus there, then Skyliner to EPCOT
- Disney’s Riviera Resort → Bus there, then Skyliner
- Beach Club Resort → Bus there, then walk
Entering at the Front (Main Entrance)
Prefer to be dropped off under Spaceship Earth?
- Polynesian Resort → Bus there, walk to the TTC, take the EPCOT monorail
- Any All-Star Resort → Easy transfers (one bus stop per resort)
- Port Orleans French Quarter → Same deal, one bus stop makes transfers quick
Tell us what you think
That’s the full rundown on how to get to EPCOT, without a meltdown, an Uber surcharge, or accidentally ending up at Magic Kingdom.
Got a tip we missed? Drop it in the comments (especially if it involves shortcuts or alcohol). We’re always down to improve our buzzed-up transportation game.