Transportation Options at Disney’s Boardwalk Inn (Everything You Need to Know)

Disney’s Boardwalk is a popular destination for all guests. But if you’re staying at the Boardwalk Inn for your vacation, you’re privy to not only the resort’s location but also its multiple complimentary transportation offerings.

So you’ll want to know how to efficiently use those modes of transportation to benefit your vacation. That’s where we can help! We stay at Disney’s Boardwalk often and know how to get around.

Below, we’ll share our practiced experiences and favorite ways of getting to the theme parks and other resorts. With all of our transportation guides, we recommend reading this before your trip.

It will help you become familiar with names of locations and ways to get there. We’ve also provided photos from our stays that will jog your memory when you see them in real life.

After you finish reading, bookmark this guide on your phone in case you need a quick reference while on-site. But if you’re already there, here are a few quick links to some of the main destinations at Walt Disney World from Disney’s Boardwalk Inn:

• How to Get from Disney’s Boardwalk Inn to Magic Kingdom
• How to Get from Disney’s Boardwalk Inn to Epcot
• How to Get from Disney’s Boardwalk Inn to Disney’s Hollywood Studios
• How to Get from Disney’s Boardwalk Inn to Disney’s Animal Kingdom
• How to Get from Disney’s Boardwalk Inn to Disney Springs

By the time you’re finished, those anxious worries about getting lost or being late will have subsided. You’ll feel confident, refreshed, and ready for vacation!

Disney’s Boardwalk Inn Transportation Options

The following forms of transportation are available at Disney’s Boardwalk Inn:

• Friendship Boats
• Disney’s Bus Service
• Walking
• Skyliner (within walking distance)

*You can also walk to two theme parks from the resort, which we’ll discuss in more detail below.

Disney’s Boardwalk Inn to Magic Kingdom

For Magic Kingdom, you’ll want to take the bus from Disney’s Boardwalk Inn. The bus stop is down a walkway from the Boardwalk’s lobby near the resort’s convention center. Disney’s Boardwalk only has one bus stop.

Typically, Disney’s Boardwalk doesn’t share bus service with the other Epcot Resorts. However, we have had times when the bus dropped off at Disney’s Yacht Club and Beach Club on the return trip. If so, the ride will take a few minutes longer than usual. However, you will not have any stops on the way to the theme parks.

Disney’s Boardwalk Inn to Epcot

Disney’s Boardwalk is only a hop, skip, and jump away from Epcot. Well, that or a boat ride. So, there are two ways of traveling from Disney’s Boardwalk Inn to Epcot.

#1 Walk to Epcot from Disney’s Boardwalk Inn

You can walk from the Boardwalk to the Epcot International Gateway entrance. It’s a short walk that averages less than ten minutes, depending on your room’s location.

We mapped the walk on our last visit, and it was 0.34 miles to Epcot from the Boardwalk’s lobby. It took approximately eight minutes.

When you exit the Boardwalk on the lower level, you’ll take a right to walk towards Epcot. You’ll walk past the Boardwalk Deli and Ice Cream Shop, up a small hill, cross a bridge, and then back down a small hill to the right. You’ll see the Skyliner station, Epcot Boat Dock, and the entrance to Epcot ahead.

#2 Take a Friendship Boat from Disney’s Boardwalk to Epcot

If you prefer, you can take a Friendship Boat from Disney’s Boardwalk Inn to the International Gateway at Epcot. When exiting the Boardwalk’s lobby, you’ll walk out to the Boardwalk. The Friendship Boat dock sits in the center of Disney’s Boardwalk.

For Epcot, you’ll join the line on the right-hand side. The Boardwalk is the last stop on the route to Epcot.

Therefore, it takes approximately three minutes to get to Epcot from the Boardwalk via the Friendship Boat. Of course, that doesn’t include the time you wait for a boat to arrive.

In most instances, we prefer to walk this route. However, sometimes, if I’m leaving the park and happen upon the end of a line loading the boat, I will hop aboard.

Related: Everything You Need to Know about Disney’s Friendship Boat Service

Disney’s Boardwalk Inn to Hollywood Studios

Like Epcot, you’ll have the same options for traveling from the Boardwalk to and from Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Those options are walking and the Friendship Boat service.

#1 Walk to Hollywood Studios from Disney’s Boardwalk Inn

However, the walk to Hollywood Studios from the Boardwalk is a bit further. It’s approximately 0.65 miles from Disney’s Hollywood Studios to the large sign where you enter the Boardwalk. When I timed this distance, it took 14 minutes.

Now, I’m not speed-walking by any means, and I often pause here and there along the way to take a few photos. It’s not uncommon for others to pass me. So you can probably shave a few minutes off that time if you pick up the pace a bit.

I do want to caution, though, that this is a rather long walk. So if it’s exceptionally hot or impending weather is looming in the distance, you might be better off to take the boat.

#2 Take a Friendship Boat to Hollywood Studios from Disney’s Boardwalk Inn

Most guests will take the Friendship Boats back and forth to Hollywood Studios since it’s a longer distance. However, you’ll make two additional stops before arriving at Hollywood Studios.

Here’s how the boat travels from Boardwalk to Disney’s Hollywood Studios:

• Boardwalk’s Promenade Pier (This boat came from Epcot.)
• Disney’s Beach and Yacht Club
• Disney’s Swan and Dolphin Hotel
• Arrives at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

When you’re leaving Hollywood Studios, the boat travels in the opposite direction, making the same stops until it finally reaches Epcot. Typically, three to four Friendship Boats travel these routes across Cresent Lake during operating hours.

It takes the boats an average of 25-30 minutes to travel the entire distance between Hollywood Studios and Epcot. Naturally, the time it takes to load and unload will vary along the way.

On the return trip from Hollywood Studios, the boat’s captain will likely mention that if you’re staying at Disney’s Boardwalk, you might prefer to exit at Disney’s Swan and Dolphin.

If you elect to exit at the Swan and Dolphin, you can walk across the bridge and be back at the Boardwalk in less than five minutes. This will be your quickest option because you won’t have to make the stop at Beach and Yacht Club before traveling to the Boardwalk.

Disney’s Boardwalk Inn to Animal Kingdom

You’ll also need to take the resort bus service to get to Disney’s Animal Kingdom from the Boardwalk. It takes approximately 10 minutes to travel to Animal Kingdom from the Boardwalk.

Disney’s Boardwalk Inn to Disney Springs

While Disney Springs isn’t far from Disney’s Boardwalk, you might run into more traffic than some of the other destinations. When you get near the venue, Disney buses have their own lane, which helps.

Travel time between Disney’s Boardwalk and Disney Springs averages seven minutes. But again, it can take longer if you hit a decent amount of traffic signals or traffic.

Accessibility at Disney’s Boardwalk Inn

Most transportation options at Disney’s Boardwalk accommodate guests with accessibility needs. Disney provides an overview of each form of transportation on their website.

All bus stops have a separate spot for guests in wheelchairs and ECVs to wait. Additionally, the Friendship Boats and the Skyliner accommodate most wheelchairs and ECVs. Disney has an excellent resource on their site if you want to learn more: Transportation and Mobility Disabilities at Disney World

Boardwalk to Disney’s Water Parks

Occasionally, Disney offers direct bus service to and from the resort to Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach. However, that is rare. When you reach the Boardwalk’s bus stop, an electronic sign will indicate which bus to take to which water park.

For Typhoon Lagoon, you’ll take the bus to Disney Springs. When you reach Disney Springs, you’ll exit that bus and board a transfer bus to Disney Springs. Someone will be in the area to direct you to the correct bus stop. (It’s not far.)

However, when you leave Typhoon Lagoon, you’ll have to walk further to find the Boardwalk’s bus stop at Disney Springs. So you’ll want to make sure to have a change of clothes for the return trip.

For Blizzard Beach, you’ll take a bus to Disney’s Animal Kingdom and then board a nearby transfer bus to Blizzard Beach. You’ll then return in the same manner.

Disney’s Boardwalk to the Skyliner Resorts

Guests often enjoy experiencing the Disney Skyliner for leisure. If you’re staying at the Boardwalk, there’s no real need to take the Skyliner to a theme park. It would be out of the way.

But you might want to take a gondola ride to visit the resorts on the Skyliner. So below, we’ll discuss where to board the Skyliner and where it will take you.

A Skyliner station sits outside Epcot’s International Gateway, and there’s one near Hollywood Studios entrance. As we already discussed, you can walk or boat from the Boardwalk to either park. From there, you can board the Skyliner.

The Skyliner travels to and from these locations in this order:

• International Gateway at Epcot (board or exit only)
• Disney’s Riviera (can exit here or continue to Caribbean Beach)
• Disney’s Caribbean Beach (all guests have to exit here and reboard)

From Disney’s Caribbean Beach, you can board an individual line to the following:

• Disney’s Hollywood Studios
• Pop Century or Art of Animation (same stop)
• Back to Disney’s Riviera (can exit here or continue to Epcot)

Once you board the Skyliner, a recording will play over the loudspeaker, indicating where you are headed and whether or not you’ll need to exit. So, while it might feel overwhelming, it’s a fairly simple process. Cast members are at each drop-down asking guests where they are headed. If you are supposed to get off, they’ll let you know.

Disney’s Boardwalk to the Monorail Resorts

Most guests will want to visit the monorail resorts for dining or touring. To do this, you can take a bus from Disney’s Boardwalk Inn to Magic Kingdom.

From there, you will have to walk through security at Magic Kingdom. Then you can walk, boat, or monorail to the following resorts:

• Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa (walk, boat, monorail)
• Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort (boat, monorail, technically can walk via the Grand Floridian walkway to Magic Kingdom)
• Disney’s Contemporary Resort (walk or monorail)

Disney’s Boardwalk Inn to Wilderness Lodge or Fort Wilderness

Additionally, you can take a bus from Disney’s Boardwalk Inn to Magic Kingdom to visit Disney’s Wilderness Lodge or Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground. Once you arrive at Magic Kingdom, take a bus or the red flag boat to either resort.

*During inclement weather, you will have to take a bus from Magic Kingdom to Wilderness Lodge or Fort Wilderness. Hopefully, you’ll get to take the boat, though. It’s a pleasant ride and part of the fun.

Disney’s Boardwalk to Animal Kingdom Lodge

To visit Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, we usually take a bus from the Boardwalk to Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Then, we’ll take a bus from the Animal Kingdom to the Animal Kingdom Lodge.

Note that the bus makes two stops at the Lodge. The first is Kidani Village, and the second is Jambo House. You’ll want to know which location is your intended destination.

You can also boat or walk to Hollywood Studios and take a bus to Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge. Remember that complimentary transportation is subject to hours of operation.

Disney’s Boardwalk to the Resorts Near Disney Springs

If you would like to visit one of the resorts near Disney Springs, you can take a bus from the Boardwalk to Disney Springs. You’ll have these options:

• Walk or take a water taxi from the Disney Springs Marketplace to Disney’s Saratoga Springs.
• Take a water taxi from the Disney Springs Marketplace to Old Key West Resort, Port Orleans-French Quarter, or Port Orleans-Riverside.

If you do not want to walk across Disney Springs to the Marketplace and boat to these resorts, an alternative would be to take a boat to Hollywood Studios (during hours of operation) and then take a bus to that resort. 

Related: Disney Springs Transportation Guide

Airport to Disney’s Boardwalk Inn

Lastly, when traveling from the Orlando International Airport (MCO), you’ll need to arrange transportation to the resort. Disney no longer offers transportation between the airport and the Walt Disney World Resort. 

Tip: If you find yourself in need of travel outside of complimentary transportation hours, you can order a car service (i.e., Lyft, Uber, Taxi, or Minnie Van). We try to avoid the extra expense as much as possible. But if we had late dining reservations or comparable, we would take a car service back to our hotel.

Final Thoughts on Transportation at Disney’s Boardwalk

Hopefully, this guide gave you an idea of how to get to and from Disney’s Boardwalk Inn efficiently. I know how overwhelming it can be to figure out how to travel from one place to another.

When visiting, I try to remember that sometimes transportation options can be slow. If I’m traveling to another resort and have to use multiple forms of transportation, I give myself an hour to an hour and a half to get there.

While I don’t recommend intentionally being late for dining reservations, it’s typically not the end of the world if something deters you from arriving on time. If that happens, explain your circumstances to the cast member.

Generally, it’s not an issue other than waiting until another table is available. However, if we are cutting it close, we’ll usually pay out-of-pocket for a car service or Minnie Van. So many people use Uber and Lyft these days. But from our experience, the valet can usually call a taxi up to the resort entrance pretty quickly.

For more information about Disney’s Boardwalk Inn, you might enjoy these individual articles:

• Disney’s Boardwalk Restaurants Guide
• Disney’s Boardwalk Inn Hotel Review
• Disney’s Boardwalk Deli Review
• Disney’s Boardwalk Villas Review

Additionally, we have a full list of transportation options at Disney World and a list of our hotel transportation guides.

In the Comments

Did this article help you figure out how to get to and from Disney’s Boardwalk? Do you have a form of transportation you prefer?