Transportation Options at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort (With Helpful How To’s)
When it comes to transportation at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground, things can get confusing–even for a seasoned pro like me. This massive resort sits on over 750 acres, with sections dedicated to camping, cabins, campsites, recreation, and more.
With those thoughts in mind and a good deal of practice, we’ve created this transportation guide for Fort Wilderness. It includes information on how to get to and from Disney’s Fort Wilderness to other popular Walt Disney World destinations. This guide is also our most recommended read to help you prepare for your vacation. If you’ve never visited Fort Wilderness or haven’t in some time, there are a few things you’ll want to know in advance.
Fort Wilderness is so immense that most guests rent or bring golf carts to get around the resort. Of course, it’s not the end of the world if you can’t rent a golf cart. An internal bus service is also provided. Those buses will get you close to most destinations within the resort. But you’ll want a system for getting to the bus stop nearest your accommodations and then transferring to another bus for the theme parks, water parks, and Disney Springs.
Have I lost you yet? Don’t worry! I visit Disney’s Fort Wilderness at least once a month. Over the years, I’ve learned a trick or two about how the bus system works.
Fort Wilderness Transportation
During your stay at Disney’s Fort Wilderness, you might use any of the following modes of transportation.
- Resort Watercraft (Two Routes)
- Disney Buses
- Internal Bus System
- Walking
You can travel directly from Disney’s Fort Wilderness to the following Disney Destinations:
- Magic Kingdom
- Epcot
- Disney’s Hollywood Studios
- Disney’s Animal Kingdom
- Disney Springs
- Disney’s Contemporary Resort
- Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
Disney Transportation is also available to Typhoon Lagoon, Blizzard Beach, and other Walt Disney World Resorts. However, these destinations require a transfer, sometimes using multiple forms of transportation. We’ll share details for traveling to these locations below.
Resorts Gal Disclaimer: All of the photos and information provided (including travel times) are from our experience, time spent at the resort, and expenditures. We provide additional content via our email newsletter if you want to join.
How to Get to Magic Kingdom from Fort Wilderness
There are two options for traveling to and from Magic Kingdom at Disney’s Fort Wilderness: resort watercraft and Disney buses.
Boat Service Between Magic Kingdom and Disney’s Fort Wilderness
Fort Wilderness has an extensive boat dock near The Settlement. It sits along the shores of Bay Lake. Guests can take the green flag watercraft from Fort Wilderness to Magic Kingdom.
The entrance for the green flag boat to Magic Kingdom is on the left-hand side of the dock. This boat service operates a half-hour before the park opens and runs until one hour after the park closes.
When you leave Magic Kingdom, the boat dock is shared with Wilderness Lodge. Make sure you get in line at the correct gate to return to Fort Wilderness.
Bus Service Between Magic Kingdom and Fort Wilderness
Guests can also take a bus to Magic Kingdom from Fort Wilderness. A bus stop is available on the opposite end of the Settlement from the boat dock.
For reference, the Settlement is home to the Settlement Trading Post, Crockett’s Tavern, Pioneer Hall, and Hoop Dee Doo Revue, among other things. The Settlement ends at the resort’s boat dock. The Settlement Bus Depot is on a walkway that extends from Pioneer Hall. Below is a photo of the path from Pioneer Hall to the bus stop.
It’s common to find an attendant wearing an orange vest at this bus stop. Someone is usually available from late afternoon to early evening when Hoop Dee Doo Revue is open. They work to get everyone on the right bus after dinner. (See How to Get to Hoop Dee Doo Revue for more details.)
So, to make this clear, the Settlement bus stop is the only place you can take a bus to Magic Kingdom. (For all other major destinations, you’ll have to take a bus to the Outpost, which we’ll discuss in more detail below.) Don’t be surprised if five or more buses come through while you wait. Fort Wilderness has lots of internal buses that never leave the resort. On a slow day, those buses come through often.
How to Get to Epcot from Disney’s Fort Wilderness
Guests traveling to Epcot will want to take an internal bus from their location at Fort Wilderness to the Outpost. This is where the resort’s primary bus stop is located. Again, the Outpost is on the opposite end of the resort from the Settlement.
You’ll want to locate the bus stop nearest your campground. Then, board the Orange, Yellow, or Purple line bus and take it to the Outpost.
At the Outpost, you’ll wait for the next bus to Epcot. This bus service is shared with Disney’s Wilderness Lodge. So don’t be surprised if you have an extra stop on the way to the parks. The bus usually stops at Fort Wilderness, Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, and then Epcot.
How to Get to Hollywood Studios from Disney’s Fort Wilderness
To get to Hollywood Studios, you’ll need to catch the Orange, Yellow, or Purple line bus from your location to The Outpost. These lines travel through different areas of the resort. Bus service to Hollywood Studios is not usually shared with another resort.
To give you an idea of how it works, each route starts at The Outpost and ends at The Settlement. Then, the bus driver turns around and starts over. We’ve added a section below that discusses the internal bus system in more detail.
How to Get to Animal Kingdom from Fort Wilderness
For Disney’s Animal Kingdom, you’ll need to take the Orange, Yellow, or Purple line bus from your location to the Outpost. There, you’ll board a bus to Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
Bus service to Animal Kingdom from Fort Wilderness is usually not shared with another resort.
How to Get to Disney Springs from Fort Wilderness
Those traveling to Disney Springs will also want to take the Orange, Yellow, or Purple line bus to the Outpost. There, you’ll board a bus to Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Bus service to Disney Springs from Fort Wilderness is not usually shared with another resort.
Below is a photo of the golf cart parking lot at the Outpost bus stop. Many guests will leave their carts or bicycles at the Outpost bus stop and retrieve them when they return from the parks instead of taking the internal resort buses. An additional golf cart parking lot is available at the Settlement boat dock.
Related: How To’s for Transportation at Disney Springs
How to Get to the Water Parks from Fort Wilderness
You’ll take a bus from the Outpost to Disney Springs for Typhoon Lagoon. From there, you’ll transfer to Typhoon Lagoon.
You’ll take a bus from the Outpost to Disney’s Animal Kingdom for Blizzard Beach. Then, you’ll catch a transfer bus from the park to Blizzard Beach.
How to use the Internal Bus System at Disney’s Fort Wilderness
Below is a photo of the directory for Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground. Looking closely, you can see how each line runs through the resort. Once a bus reaches the Settlement, it will loop at the bus stop and reroute.
When an internal bus returns to the Outpost, it will loop and take the same path back to the Settlement. You’ll need to identify the bus stop closest to your accommodations. Then, see which internal bus (dotted line) comes through at that bus stop.
I’ve walked the resort from the Outpost to the Settlement multiple times for leisure. It’s a straight shot through the center of the resort. Looking at the directory above, you can see where the sidewalk begins near the Outpost. Follow the dotted yellow line to the next intersection.
At that intersection, you’ll cross the road diagonally. Then, you’ll follow the dotted orange line down the same road (the sidewalk continues on the opposite side of the road). Once you reach the Meadow, you’ll cross the road where the sidewalk ends and picks up on the opposite side.
You’ll continue down this sidewalk until you reach the Settlement. It is a long walk that takes approximately 20-25 minutes. I usually stop in the Meadow Trading Post for a water or ginger ale.
One other thing to point out is that the bus stops regardless of the direction. Below is a photo of the bus stop across the street from the Meadow Trading Post.
If the bus stops on the same side as the waiting area, it will be going toward the Outpost. However, if it stops where I’m standing to take the photo, it will be going to the Settlement.
Since there’s usually more than one bus running each line, you’d likely do better to wait on the bus traveling in your direction. But the worst-case scenario would be if you had to ride an extra loop to double back or the same bus picked you up on its return.
Of course, if it’s raining, extremely hot, or chilly, you’re probably better off on the bus. Remember to pay attention to the bus stops and exit at your destination. I know that sounds like common sense. But it’s easy to lose track.
How to Get to the Wilderness Lodge from Fort Wilderness
Fort Wilderness guests have the convenience of direct transportation to and from the Wilderness Lodge. Unfortunately, the walking path between the Wilderness Lodge and Fort Wilderness closed in 2019. It was repaved in 2024, and we are hopeful it will eventually reopen.
Guests can board a bus at the Settlement to Disney’s Wilderness Lodge. This bus runs from early in the morning until late in the evening. It’s a short five-minute ride between the resorts.
Additionally, you can take the blue flag watercraft from Fort Wilderness to Disney’s Wilderness Lodge. This line is on the right side of the boat dock. This particular boat service runs between 3:00 p.m. and 10:45 p.m.
Related: Disney’s Wilderness Lodge Transportation Tips
How to Get to Disney’s Contemporary from Fort Wilderness
Guests can also take the blue flag watercraft to Disney’s Contemporary. This service is available between 3:00 p.m. and 10:45 p.m. However, remember that transportation times are subject to change. We always try to take a photo of the posted hours of operation when we first use transportation on our trips.
Related: Transportation Tips for Disney’s Contemporary
Fort Wilderness to Other Popular Disney Destinations
Here are a few tips for traveling from Fort Wilderness to other destinations:
- For the Polynesian and Grand Floridian, take the blue flag watercraft to the Contemporary and then take the resort monorail to either resort. You can also take the bus to Magic Kingdom and then take a monorail, boat, or walk to either resort.
- For Disney’s Boardwalk (or Beach and Yacht Club), take a bus from Fort Wilderness to Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Exit at Hollywood Studios and walk or take a Friendship boat to the Boardwalk.
- If you want to ride the Disney Skyliner, take a bus from Fort Wilderness to Disney’s Hollywood Studios and board the Skyliner. We have a separate guide that details Disney’s Skyliner’s route. Stops include Caribbean Beach, Art of Animation, Pop Century, Riviera Resort, and Epcot’s International Gateway.
- For Animal Kingdom Lodge, first take a bus to Disney’s Animal Kingdom. From there, take a bus to Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge. Note the first stop at Animal Kingdom Lodge will be Kidani Village. The second stop will be Jambo House.
Tips to Remember
- You can take a bus from the Settlement to the Wilderness Lodge, Magic Kingdom, or the orange, yellow, and purple lines.
- You can take a bus at the Outpost to Epcot, Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom, Disney Springs, Water Parks, or the orange, yellow, and purple lines.
- The yellow and orange lines will also drop you off at the Meadow. The orange line will drop you off at the Meadow Trading Post. The yellow line will drop you off at the back of the Meadow Swimming Pool.
Final Thoughts
Hopefully, this article solved your transportation woes for Disney’s Fort Wilderness. The resort has a bus system that works for everyone, but it can be overwhelming at first glance. Remember not to overthink it.
If you make a mistake or end up late for a dining reservation–no worries! Disney does an excellent job of accommodating their guests. For more information about transportation at Disney, you might enjoy these other resort guides:
- How to Get to and From Disney’s Polynesian Resort
- Transportation How-To’s for Grand Floridian
- Disney’s Boardwalk Transportation Tips
- Everything You Need to Know About Disney’s Buses
Want to save time and energy on your vacation? Get a copy of our 5 best transportation tips for Walt Disney World.
In the Comments
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