Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort Transportation Options + Tips

Polynesian Transportation Options List

Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort has the following transportation options available:

• Disney World Resort Monorail
• Resort Watercraft
• Disney Bus Transportation
• Walking

You can travel to and from the Polynesian to the following Disney Destinations:

• Magic Kingdom
• Epcot
• Disney’s Hollywood Studios
• Disney’s Animal Kingdom
• Disney Springs

Additionally, you can travel to Disney’s water parks like Typhoon Lagoon, Blizzard Beach, and other Walt Disney World Resorts. However, most of these destinations require the use of multiple forms of transportation. We’ll discuss specifics for traveling to some of the more popular destinations below.

How to Get to Magic Kingdom from the Polynesian

First, we’ll review how to get to and from the Magic Kingdom from Disney’s Polynesian Resort. Several options are available.

Take the Monorail from the Polynesian to Magic Kingdom

The monorail is the most popular mode of getting to the Magic Kingdom from the Polynesian. Disney’s Polynesian monorail platform is located on the second floor of the Great Ceremonial House. For reference, the Great Ceremonial House is the resort’s lobby. Once you get to the lobby, you can use the staircase or elevator to reach the second floor.

Before you reach the monorail platform, you must go through security. However, when you arrive at Magic Kingdom, you’ll still be within the secure area and can walk directly to the ticket turnstiles. Disney’s resort monorail stops at the Magic Kingdom and surrounding resorts. After you leave the Polynesian, you will have one stop at Disney’s Grand Floridian before arriving at Magic Kingdom.

When you exit Magic Kingdom, you’ll want to take the resort monorail back to the Polynesian. It is the monorail line on the left, closest to the lagoon. The resort monorail stops at Disney’s Contemporary and the TTC before it gets to the Polynesian on the return trip from Magic Kingdom.

Related: Disney Hotels on the Monorail

The line on the right at Magic Kingdom is for the express monorail, which travels directly to the Transportation and Ticket Center. If your room at the Polynesian is in a longhouse near the TTC, you might prefer to take the express monorail and walk to your room. The walkway between the Polynesian and Transportation and Ticket Center is relatively short. Pago Pago, Tokelau, and Moorea are the closest longhouses to the Transportation and Ticket Center.

Monorail Hours for the Polynesian

Per Disney, “The Resort Monorail and Express Monorail begin operating 30 minutes prior to when Magic Kingdom park opens and stop one hour after Magic Kingdom park closes.” (Reference: Disney Monorail Hours) These hours include early theme park benefits. Additionally, the resort monorail will continue to run for deluxe resort extended evening hours and extra-ticketed parties at Magic Kingdom.

Walking Between the Polynesian and Magic Kingdom

While not the shortest method, you might like to walk from the Polynesian to the Magic Kingdom. You can take the walking path between the Polynesian and the Island Tower to Disney’s Grand Floridian. From the Grand Floridian, guests can continue to Magic Kingdom.

We enjoy walking this route when the weather is pleasant. It’s an excellent way to decompress from the parks. From the Great Ceremonial House, it takes approximately 25 minutes to reach the Magic Kingdom at an average pace. You’ll take the pathway to the Grand Floridian. Then, join the walkway from the Grand Floridian to the Magic Kingdom. The entrance is just past Gasparilla Island Grill.

Although walking isn’t necessarily the quickest option, it is far better than standing in a long line for the monorail or boats after the evening fireworks at Magic Kingdom. You can’t beat it!

How to Get to Epcot from the Polynesian

You will need to take the Epcot monorail to travel to and from the Polynesian to Epcot. There are two standard options for getting to the Transportation and Ticket Center, where the Epcot monorail line is located. First, you can walk. A walkway from the resort extends to the Transportation and Ticket Center. As mentioned earlier, Pago Pago, Tokelau, and Moorea are the closest longhouses to the Transportation and Ticket Center.

You’ll first go through security when you arrive at the Transportation and Ticket Center. Then, you’ll want to get in line for the Epcot monorail. It’s on the far right, past the entrance to the resort monorail and express monorail. Or you can take the resort monorail from the Polynesian nearly full circle to the Transportation and Ticket Center. This option often takes longer because you’ll stop at the Grand Floridian, Magic Kingdom, and the Contemporary before reaching the TTC.

When you exit the resort monorail at the TTC, a separate ramp leads to the Epcot monorail. If you look up, a sign will point you in the right direction, but most people miss it. It takes approximately 11 minutes to reach Epcot via the monorail from the Transportation and Ticket Center. The ride is pleasant, and travels through Epcot before exiting again near the park’s front entrance.

Once you exit the Epcot monorail, you’ll remain in a secured area. This allows you to walk directly to the ticket turnstiles instead of going through another security checkpoint.

*Bus service is only provided during inclement weather or when the monorail goes down.

How to Get to Hollywood Studios from the Polynesian

You’ll need to use Disney’s bus transportation when traveling to and from Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The Polynesian bus stop sits near the parking lot in front of the former Lilo’s Playhouse. A walkway from the Great Ceremonial House leads directly to the bus stop. Signage at the bus stop will indicate the wait times for the next bus.

It takes approximately 15 minutes to travel from Disney’s Polynesian to Hollywood Studios. When you leave Hollywood Studios, the bus stop for Disney’s Polynesian is usually Gate 6, which is within the first bay. The Polynesian’s bus service is shared with Disney’s Grand Floridian. Buses stop at the Polynesian, the Grand Floridian, and the Disney Destination. They then leave the destination and return to the resorts in the same order.

Related: Bus Schedule and Travel Times for Disney’s Polynesian

How to Get to Animal Kingdom from the Polynesian

Those looking to get from the Polynesian to Disney’s Animal Kingdom will also want to take the resort bus service. It takes approximately 20 minutes to travel between Disney’s Polynesian and Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

How to Get to Disney Springs from the Polynesian

Disney’s Polynesian also offers bus service to Disney Springs. The buses drop guests off at Town Center, the venue’s central entrance. Traffic is common around the Disney Springs area. Depending on how long you have to wait for the bus, you should allow 45 minutes to an hour to get to the venue. When you leave Disney Springs, you’ll want to locate the bus stop for the Polynesian. As a reference point, there’s a walkway to the bus stops near the Coca-Cola Store and Wolf Gang Pucks.

How to Get to Disney’s Water Parks from the Polynesian

You’ll take a bus to Disney Springs from the Polynesian when visiting Typhoon Lagoon. From there, you’ll reboard a bus to Typhoon Lagoon. You’ll take a bus from Typhoon Lagoon back to Disney Springs at the end of your visit. Then, you’ll locate the Polynesian’s bus stop.

If you want to learn more about getting around Disney Springs, we have an entire guide with Disney Springs transportation tips. For Blizzard Beach, you’ll take a bus to Disney’s Animal Kingdom. From there, you’ll take a transfer bus to Blizzard Beach. You’ll follow the same methods to return.

Disney occasionally offers direct bus service to the water parks. You can check the wait time screen when you get to the bus stop. When direct bus service is running, it will indicate a separate slot. However, in most cases, it will say, “Take a transfer bus to the destination.”

Tip: All the stops are a bit of a nuisance when returning to the resort. We usually drive or take a car service on the return trip.

How to Get From the Polynesian to Other Popular Destinations

Here are a few other transportation tips for Disney’s Polynesian Resort.

• Take the resort monorail to Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Disney’s Contemporary Resort.

• If you are visiting Disney’s Boardwalk from the Polynesian, take a bus to Hollywood Studios. Then you can walk or take a Friendship Boat to the Boardwalk. (Check to make certain that transportation is within operating hours if you have an early breakfast or late dinner.)

• To reach Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, take a bus to Disney’s Animal Kingdom, then take another bus to the Animal Kingdom Lodge. Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge has two stops. One is at Kidani Village, and the other is at Jambo House (the main lodge). Make sure to exit at the correct stop.

• If you want to take a ride (for leisure) on the Disney Skyliner, take a bus 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.

*Remember these tips are subject to Disney’s transportation hours of operation.