Disney Transportation Hours

[disney4life2008]

What time do the buses/monorail stop running after park close?

What time does DD close and what time is the last bus that leaves from DD?

What time does Beaches and Cream close?

 

[WDWNooby]

Great question...I was wondering the same thing but just had not posted yet.

 

[JPVonDrake]

What time do the buses/monorail stop running after park close?

Monorail Transportation

Magic Kingdom Express Monorail

Monorails start running 30 minutes prior to advertised Magic Kingdom Park hours. Monorails continue operation until Magic Kingdom clears of guests.

Resort/Epcot Monorails

Monorails start running at 7am every day. Monorails continue operation until two hours after Magic Kingdom and Epcot close, whichever has the latest close for regular park hours. During Extra Magic Hours or Special Events, Monorail runs until parks clear.

Motorcoach Transportation

Between Resorts and Theme Parks

Buses begin running from Resort approximately 1 hour prior to Park opening and generally arrive at the Park approximately 30 minutes prior to Park opening. Buses run until Parks clear.

Between Resorts and Water Parks

Buses begin running from Resort approximately 30 minutes prior to Water Park opening. Buses run until Water Parks clear.

Between Resorts and Downtown Disney Marketplace

Service begins at 8:30am. Last bus back to Resort leaves at 12 midnight.

Between Resorts and Downtown Disney Pleasure Island / West Side

Service begins at 10:00am. Last bus from Resort leaves at 1:45am, last bus from Pleasure Island leaves at 2:00am.

Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground Transportation

Bus service to Transportation and Ticket Center available from 7:00am to 2:00am. Internal Bus service available to all camp loops from 7:00am to 2:00am.

Between Parks

Buses run between Parks 30 minutes prior to later Park opening
Buses run until later Park clears

Applies to:
Between TTC and Animal Kingdom
Between TTC and Disney's Hollywood Studios
Between Disney's Hollywood Studios and Epcot
Between Disney's Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom
Between Animal Kingdom and Epcot

Disney's Wide World of Sports

Guests traveling to Disney's Wide World of Sports must first take transportation to Disney's Hollywood Studios. Service to the Sports Complex begins 30 minutes prior to Disney's Hollywood Studios open. Last bus departs the Sports Complex back to Disney's Hollywood Studios at 8:30pm

Water Transportation
(Watercraft operations may experience interruptions due to inclement weather. Routes may vary depending on demand.)

Blue Launch - Runs 6:45am - 11:30pm

Route: Wilderness Lodge > Fort Wilderness > Contemporary > Wilderness Lodge

Green Launch - Begins 30 minutes before Magic Kingdom opens until 45 minutes after the Park closes.

Route: Fort Wilderness > Magic Kingdom > Fort Wilderness

Red Launch - Begins 30 minutes before Magic Kingdom opens until 45 minutes after the Park closes.

Route: Wilderness Lodge > Magic Kingdom >Wilderness Lodge

Gold Launch - Begins 30 minutes before Magic Kingdom opens until 45 minutes after the Park closes.

Route: Grand Floridian > Polynesian > Magic Kingdom > Grand Floridian

Magic Kingdom Ferry - Begins 30 minutes before Magic Kingdom opens until 45 minutes after the Park closes.

Route: Transportation and Ticket Center > Magic Kingdom > Transportation and Ticket Center

Crescent Lake FriendShip Launches - Service begins at 8:00 am. On days with Extra Magic Hours mornings service begins at 7:30 am. Service ends 1 hour after later park closes.

Route: Epcot > Disney’s BoardWalk Resort > Disney's Yacht & Beach Club Resorts > WDW Swan & Dolphin Resorts > Disney's Hollywood Studios > WDW Swan & Dolphin Resorts > Disney's Yacht & Beach Club Resorts > Disney’s BoardWalk Resort > Epcot

Disney Vacation Club Ferry - Runs 10:00 am to 11:30 pm

Route: Old Key West > Saratoga Springs > Downtown Disney Marketplace > Saratoga Springs > Old Key West

Sassagoula River Cruise - Service between Riverside and French Quarter runs 9am - 11pm. From 10am onward, service adds trip to Downtown Disney Marketplace

Route: Port Orleans Resort Riverside > Port Orleans Resort French Quarter > Downtown Disney Marketplace > Port Orleans Resort French Quarter > Port Orleans Resort Riverside

Downtown Disney Water Shuttle - Runs 11:30am to 11:30pm.

Route: Downtown Disney Marketplace > Downtown Disney West Side > Downtown Disney Pleasure Island > Downtown Disney Marketplace

What time does DD close?

Hours will vary by season but generally:

Pleasure Island / West Side Dining
11:00AM-12:00AM

Pleasure Island / West Side Shopping
10:30AM-12:00AM

Marketplace Dining
9:00AM-11:00PM

Marketplace Shopping
9:30AM-11:30PM

What time does Beaches and Cream close?

Again hours may vary by season but generally 11:00AM-11:00PM.


Note all information, including routes and schedules subject to change at anytime without notice.

 

[disney4life2008]

What time do the buses/monorail stop running after park close?

Monorail Transportation

Magic Kingdom Express Monorail

Monorails start running 30 minutes prior to advertised Magic Kingdom Park hours. Monorails continue operation until Magic Kingdom clears of guests.

Resort/Epcot Monorails

Monorails start running at 7am every day. Monorails continue operation until two hours after Magic Kingdom and Epcot close, whichever has the latest close for regular park hours. During Extra Magic Hours or Special Events, Monorail runs until parks clear.

Motorcoach Transportation

Between Resorts and Theme Parks

Buses begin running from Resort approximately 1 hour prior to Park opening and generally arrive at the Park approximately 30 minutes prior to Park opening. Buses run until Parks clear.

Between Resorts and Water Parks

Buses begin running from Resort approximately 30 minutes prior to Water Park opening. Buses run until Water Parks clear.

Between Resorts and Downtown Disney Marketplace

Service begins at 8:30am. Last bus back to Resort leaves at 12 midnight.

Between Resorts and Downtown Disney Pleasure Island / West Side

Service begins at 10:00am. Last bus from Resort leaves at 1:45am, last bus from Pleasure Island leaves at 2:00am.

Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground Transportation

Bus service to Transportation and Ticket Center available from 7:00am to 2:00am. Internal Bus service available to all camp loops from 7:00am to 2:00am.

Between Parks

Buses run between Parks 30 minutes prior to later Park opening
Buses run until later Park clears

Applies to:
Between TTC and Animal Kingdom
Between TTC and Disney's Hollywood Studios
Between Disney's Hollywood Studios and Epcot
Between Disney's Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom
Between Animal Kingdom and Epcot

Disney's Wide World of Sports

Guests traveling to Disney's Wide World of Sports must first take transportation to Disney's Hollywood Studios. Service to the Sports Complex begins 30 minutes prior to Disney's Hollywood Studios open. Last bus departs the Sports Complex back to Disney's Hollywood Studios at 8:30pm

Water Transportation
(Watercraft operations may experience interruptions due to inclement weather. Routes may vary depending on demand.)

Blue Launch - Runs 6:45am - 11:30pm

Route: Wilderness Lodge > Fort Wilderness > Contemporary > Wilderness Lodge

Green Launch - Begins 30 minutes before Magic Kingdom opens until 45 minutes after the Park closes.

Route: Fort Wilderness > Magic Kingdom > Fort Wilderness

Red Launch - Begins 30 minutes before Magic Kingdom opens until 45 minutes after the Park closes.

Route: Wilderness Lodge > Magic Kingdom >Wilderness Lodge

Gold Launch - Begins 30 minutes before Magic Kingdom opens until 45 minutes after the Park closes.

Route: Grand Floridian > Polynesian > Magic Kingdom > Grand Floridian

Magic Kingdom Ferry - Begins 30 minutes before Magic Kingdom opens until 45 minutes after the Park closes.

Route: Transportation and Ticket Center > Magic Kingdom > Transportation and Ticket Center

Crescent Lake FriendShip Launches - Service begins at 8:00 am. On days with Extra Magic Hours mornings service begins at 7:30 am. Service ends 1 hour after later park closes.

Route: Epcot > Disney’s BoardWalk Resort > Disney's Yacht & Beach Club Resorts > WDW Swan & Dolphin Resorts > Disney's Hollywood Studios > WDW Swan & Dolphin Resorts > Disney's Yacht & Beach Club Resorts > Disney’s BoardWalk Resort > Epcot

Disney Vacation Club Ferry - Runs 10:00 am to 11:30 pm

Route: Old Key West > Saratoga Springs > Downtown Disney Marketplace > Saratoga Springs > Old Key West

Sassagoula River Cruise - Service between Riverside and French Quarter runs 9am - 11pm. From 10am onward, service adds trip to Downtown Disney Marketplace

Route: Port Orleans Resort Riverside > Port Orleans Resort French Quarter > Downtown Disney Marketplace > Port Orleans Resort French Quarter > Port Orleans Resort Riverside

Downtown Disney Water Shuttle - Runs 11:30am to 11:30pm.

Route: Downtown Disney Marketplace > Downtown Disney West Side > Downtown Disney Pleasure Island > Downtown Disney Marketplace

What time does DD close?

Hours will vary by season but generally:

Pleasure Island / West Side Dining
11:00AM-12:00AM

Pleasure Island / West Side Shopping
10:30AM-12:00AM

Marketplace Dining
9:00AM-11:00PM

Marketplace Shopping
9:30AM-11:30PM

What time does Beaches and Cream close?

Again hours may vary by season but generally 11:00AM-11:00PM.


Note all information, including routes and schedules subject to change at anytime without notice.

WOW!! Thank you. Even though there is no Pleasure Island anymore, the buses still run until 2am?

 

[Monty]

WOW!! Thank you. Even though there is no Pleasure Island anymore, the buses still run until 2am?

There are still restaurants and such that are on or near PI that would be serviced by buses. Raglan Road, T-Rex, Planet Hollywood....

 

[JPVonDrake]

WOW!! Thank you. Even though there is no Pleasure Island anymore, the buses still run until 2am?

While the club are closed, Pleasure Island is still operational for restaurants and shopping.

(Oops, MontyMon beat me to it! )

 

[disney4life2008]

There are still restaurants and such that are on or near PI that would be serviced by buses. Raglan Road, T-Rex, Planet Hollywood....

Thanks!!

 

[Monty]

While the club are closed, Pleasure Island is still operational for restaurants and shopping.

(Oops, MontyMon beat me to it! )

Maybe, but I coulda never dug up the transportation details as quickly as you did! :lol:

 

[Disneykidder]

Holy thorougho, Batman!! I think everyone should print that and take it with them on trips!

 

[CleveRocks]

There's one thing in the official Disney info posted by JP that is very incorrect, and I don't know why Disney keeps advertising this incorrect information.

It is NOT accurate that Disney Transport buses start running 1 hour before park opening.

Disney Transport buses can get people to even the very earliest breakfast reservations at any of the 4 theme parks. In other words, let's say Magic Kingdom opens at 9 a.m. Cinderella's Royal Table (inside MK) and Chef Mickey's (across the street at Contemporary Resort) both open at 7 a.m. Buses start pick-ups at the resorts as early as 6:15 or 6:30 a.m. EVERY DAY, to get people to those earliest ADRs. It is similar at the other parks (the time will vary, based upon the earliest available ADR ... I'm just using MK as an example).

I can't explain why Disney keeps putting out this misinformation, and I can't explain to you why on Earth you should trust the words of some stranger in New Jersey versus the official words from Disney, but in this one case, I'm right and they're wrong.

 

[Monty]

There's one thing in the official Disney info posted by JP that is very incorrect, and I don't know why Disney keeps advertising this incorrect information.

It is NOT accurate that Disney Transport buses start running 1 hour before park opening.

Disney Transport buses can get people to even the very earliest breakfast reservations at any of the 4 theme parks. In other words, let's say Magic Kingdom opens at 9 a.m. Cinderella's Royal Table (inside MK) and Chef Mickey's (across the street at Contemporary Resort) both open at 7 a.m. Buses start pick-ups at the resorts as early as 6:15 or 6:30 a.m. EVERY DAY, to get people to those earliest ADRs. It is similar at the other parks (the time will vary, based upon the earliest available ADR ... I'm just using MK as an example).

I can't explain why Disney keeps putting out this misinformation, and I can't explain to you why on Earth you should trust the words of some stranger in New Jersey versus the official words from Disney, but in this one case, I'm right and they're wrong.

Not exactly.

Disney starts running dedicated, scheduled service to each park one hour prior to park opening. They also run breakfast bus service in order to get guests to early ADRs. The two services are not the same thing though. If a breakfast bus shows up and is going to MK but you have ADRs at AK, they will call dispatch and reroute to AK for you or see to it a bus comes to get you to AK. The scheduled runs to the parks don't have that flexibility.

Ottawa's further away than NJ, so I'm more right, right? :lol:

 

[Rob562]

It may also be that the planned capacity/quantity of the breakfast buses wouldn't be able to handle Guests who are going to the parks but don't have ADRs for pre-opening breakfasts. When you advertise really early buses, there WILL be Guests who take them because they've heard they have to get to the parks really early to avoid crowds. You then end up with Guests camped outside the gates for two hours waiting for park opening time at 9AM...

So, the only people who "know" about the early breakfast buses are those who might need them.

-Rob

 

[CleveRocks]

Not exactly.

Disney starts running dedicated, scheduled service to each park one hour prior to park opening. They also run breakfast bus service in order to get guests to early ADRs. The two services are not the same thing though. If a breakfast bus shows up and is going to MK but you have ADRs at AK, they will call dispatch and reroute to AK for you or see to it a bus comes to get you to AK. The scheduled runs to the parks don't have that flexibility.

Ottawa's further away than NJ, so I'm more right, right? :lol:

I can give you a personal experience that contradicts what you're saying.

A week or two before our trip, I went to the official WDW website and wrote down all of the EMH days and times. I planned to take my son for morning EMH at Epcot. As you know, Future World opens at 9 a.m., except during morning EMH when it's 8 a.m. at 7:20 a.m., we boarded a bus marked "EPCOT" at our resort, and got to Epcot maybe 10 minutes later. We stood in line at a turnstile, waiting for 8 a.m. to hit. Well, we waited ... and waited. We later learned that about 1 week earlier Disney had changed thr EMH schedule, and that the Studios had morning EMH that day but Epcot didn't. We were let through the turnstiles some time maybe 8:30-ish and assembled down the road near the fountain for rope drop.

The bus we got on said "EPCOT," not "BREAKFAST" or anything like that. That puppy was heading straight for Epcot, and we weren't the only ones on that bus.

 

[disney4life2008]

I can give you a personal experience that contradicts what you're saying.

A week or two before our trip, I went to the official WDW website and wrote down all of the EMH days and times. I planned to take my son for morning EMH at Epcot. As you know, Future World opens at 9 a.m., except during morning EMH when it's 8 a.m. at 7:20 a.m., we boarded a bus marked "EPCOT" at our resort, and got to Epcot maybe 10 minutes later. We stood in line at a turnstile, waiting for 8 a.m. to hit. Well, we waited ... and waited. We later learned that about 1 week earlier Disney had changed thr EMH schedule, and that the Studios had morning EMH that day but Epcot didn't. We were let through the turnstiles some time maybe 8:30-ish and assembled down the road near the fountain for rope drop.

The bus we got on said "EPCOT," not "BREAKFAST" or anything like that. That puppy was heading straight for Epcot, and we weren't the only ones on that bus.

wow that sucks. but thats why i always cross check everything with the front desk. and at check in i get all the guides.

 

[Monty]

I can give you a personal experience that contradicts what you're saying.

A week or two before our trip, I went to the official WDW website and wrote down all of the EMH days and times. I planned to take my son for morning EMH at Epcot. As you know, Future World opens at 9 a.m., except during morning EMH when it's 8 a.m. at 7:20 a.m., we boarded a bus marked "EPCOT" at our resort, and got to Epcot maybe 10 minutes later. We stood in line at a turnstile, waiting for 8 a.m. to hit. Well, we waited ... and waited. We later learned that about 1 week earlier Disney had changed thr EMH schedule, and that the Studios had morning EMH that day but Epcot didn't. We were let through the turnstiles some time maybe 8:30-ish and assembled down the road near the fountain for rope drop.

The bus we got on said "EPCOT," not "BREAKFAST" or anything like that. That puppy was heading straight for Epcot, and we weren't the only ones on that bus.

In my defence: One experience does not a policy make... :drevil:

The Bus driver may not have known the schedule change for EMH either. :lol: If it were a breakfast bus it A) wouldn't be going to EPCOT and B) I don't thing they say they're "Breakfast" bus on the front, they just take folks to breakfasts...

I've called the Front Desk at different resorts and asked about transport to breakfast ADRs and had many, varied and in some cases unbelievably inane replies... But I've always found JP's information provided to us here to be accurate. :shrug:

 

[DisneyPrincess5]

Wow thanks for the schedule, JPVonDrake! Very helpful, since I always forget :hammer:

 

[CleveRocks]

MontyMon,

I, too, have never had reason to doubt anything JP has said. However, in this case, it's Disney's information, not his own personally-known information, and strangely, Disney's communications people are just wrong here.

As for front desk staff ... as a group, they are NOTORIOUS for providing just plain wrong information about things that are not part of their exact job. We could have a pages-long thread of misinformation put out there by well-meaning but misinformed front desk staff at the resorts.

 

[JPVonDrake]

To clarify...

Early Morning Character Breakfast Transportation


Early morning character breakfast transportation for resort guests with an advance reservation at a Walt Disney World theme park or resort location is available.

Guest should be at the designated bus loading zone 60 minutes prior to seating time. Fort Wilderness guests should be at their loop bus stop 45 minutes prior to their seating time. Please always inform the driver you are going to a Character Breakfast.

Guests traveling to a theme park location should proceed to the load zone designated for that theme park and board the bus with that theme park location on the marquee.

Guests traveling to the Grand Floridian, Polynesian or Contemporary Resorts should proceed to the Magic Kingdom load zone and board the Magic Kingdom bus. Once at the Magic Kingdom board the resort monorail service which is available beginning at 7:00am.

Guests traveling to the Beach Club may proceed to the Disney's Hollywood Studios load zone and board the Disney's Hollywood Studios bus. From Disney's Hollywood Studios board the water launch to the Beach Club.

The bus will arrive at the load zone within 20 minutes, depending on route.

Guests traveling from a resort to another resort for a character breakfast after park opening should take the normal route using a theme park as a transfer hub, if appropriate.

If guest has any specific question about how to get to their character breakfast from their resort, please direct them to the resort's Lobby Concierge.

Again, it is always advantageous for guests to tell the driver that they are going to a Character Breakfast.

General Character Breakfast Start times:
(These times may vary by season and are subject to change at anytime without notice)

Monorail Resorts
Chef Mickey's Fun Time Buffet Breakfast - 7:00 AM
Ohana's Best Friends Breakfast w/Lilo & Stitch - 7:30 AM
1900 Park Fare Supercalifragilistic Breakfast - 8:00 AM

Epcot Resort Area
Beach Club Breakfast Buffet at Cape May Cafe - 7:30 AM

Magic Kingdom
Cinderella's Royal Table Once Upon a Time Breakfast - 8:05 AM
The Crystal Palace A Buffet with Character Breakfast - 8:05 AM

Epcot
Princess Storybook Dining Breakfast - 8:00 AM

Disney's Hollywood Studios
Play 'n Dine Breakfast at Hollywood & Vine - 8:00 AM

Disney's Animal Kingdom
Donald's Safari Breakfast at Tusker House Restaurant - 8:00 AM

 

[CleveRocks]

Thanks for clarifying, JP. I knew I wasn't nuts (at least not about this :lol. I knew that park buses started earlier than 1 hour prior to opening time.

Disney may put it in writing that the transportation is for people with ADRs, and of course that is 99.9% of the reason they run buses that early, but I want to make it clear to people that such transportation is not limited to guests with applicable ADRs ... drivers don't ask for an ADR number and don't ask if you have an ADR ... they just smile and say "Good morning!"

This is, of course, in stark contrast to the CMs working the entrances of the parks themselves ... no one is getting through a turnstile earlier than usual without an ADR number or some information in lieu of that. But the wearers of the purple pants don't care why you're at that bus stop so dang early.

The bottom line is that buses start running from the resorts to each of the 4 theme parks earlier than 1 hour prior to park opening time, and thus I completely stand behind my earlier statements in that regard. It also makes my earlier-stated Epcot experience exactly what I thought it was, rather than the result of a confused bus driver with an old schedule.