MAPS OF DISNEY WORLD: (click each to view)- Magic Kingdom
- Epcot
- Hollywood Studios
- Animal Kingdom
- Typhoon Lagoon
- Blizzard Beach
- Downtown Disney (including Marketplace, West Side & Pleasure Island)
- For all individual resort maps, CLICK HERE.
- FULL MAP OF WALT DISNEY WORLD PROPERTY
Magical Express - What is it?
If you are flying to the Orlando airport, this will apply to you. When you book your vacation, they will ask you if you'd like to use Magical Express. This is a free shuttle service for anyone who is going to be staying at any of the Disney resorts, but advance reservations are required for this service. They will need to know your flight number, etc. and will book you a spot on the shuttle when you arrive! Best part? You don't even have to pick up your luggage when you get to the Orlando Airport. You will be sent special luggage tickets that will allow Disney to pick up your luggage for you, and deliver it directly to your room when you arrive! So you just hop off the plane at Orlando Airport, go down to the Magical Express desk in the airport and hop on your shuttle! Your bags will follow you there. If you don't know your flight number right away, you can always call back and give them the info to have this service.
To book your Magical Express, ask your travel agent, or call 1-866-599-0951.
What if my luggage tags & package don't arrive? This has happened to a few people - they are leaving for their trip but their Magical Express tags still haven't arrived in the mail. Don't worry. As long as you have booked with Magical Express in advance, you'll be okay. Typically, your Magical Express package will arrive 2-3 weeks before your trip, but if you're concerned, you can always call them (at the number above) and they will either rush another package to you, or give you instructions on how to pick up your own luggage and catch the shuttle bus.
For a more detailed description of this service, click here for the official Disney website.
Driving To & Around Disney World:
The Walt Disney World Resort is located just off of the I-4, west of Orlando. Because of the sheer size of the property, there are numerous highway exits that lead you into the vacation kingdom and are clearly labelled.
Getting around the World in your car is fairly easy as there are numerous road signs wherever you go. But it doesn't hurt to have a printed map of the full property in your car just in case. If you'd like to plan your route in advance (or see how long it will take you to travel from place to place), there's a really great program on the DIS website here.
Parking: If you are a Disney resort guest, you will be given a parking pass at check-in that allows you to park at anywhere for free. Parking is free at both the water parks & Downtown Disney for everyone. If you are not a Disney resort guest, these are the current parking rates at the theme parks (subject to change at any time):
Car/Taxi/Shuttle/Limo/Motorcycle --- $14.00/day (yes, if you take a taxi, you are still required to pay parking)
Camper/Trailer --- $15.00/day
Bus/Tractor Trailer --- $18.00/day
Theme Parks: There are parking lots at each theme park, except the Magic Kingdom. For this park, you will park at the Transportation & Ticket Center, and then take a monorail or ferry to the Magic Kingdom. (You can also take a monorail to Epcot from the Transportation & Ticket Center if you'd like!)
Each parking lot is HUGE - so remember to write down or take a cell phone picture of your parking section. Nothing is worse than forgetting where you parked in a sea of cars at the end of a long day! And if you ever need assistance with your car, security vehicles are continuously driving through the parking lots and can give your battery a boost too.
Theme Parks: There are parking lots at each theme park, except the Magic Kingdom. For this park, you will park at the Transportation & Ticket Center, and then take a monorail or ferry to the Magic Kingdom. (You can also take a monorail to Epcot from the Transportation & Ticket Center if you'd like!)
Each parking lot is HUGE - so remember to write down or take a cell phone picture of your parking section. Nothing is worse than forgetting where you parked in a sea of cars at the end of a long day! And if you ever need assistance with your car, security vehicles are continuously driving through the parking lots and can give your battery a boost too.
Using Disney's Complimentary Transportation System:Regardless of whether or not you're staying at a Disney resort, you can use Disney's complimentary transportation system to get around from place to place while you're on property. There are buses that you can use to get everywhere, plus 3 monorail lines and numerous ferries that will get you where you need to go.
Obviously, I can't list directions to everywhere from everywhere, but I know somewhere you can look! Click here to access a neat program from the DIS website that you can input your starting & ending points, and it will tell you the best way to go!
So you've made all your decisions now! Let's book it!
Go ahead and move on to Step #7 - Putting it All Together & Booking It!