What are the transportation options at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort?
It can be confusing to figure out how to travel from the resort to the theme parks, shopping areas, and other Orlando area activities.
I know when our family travels to Disney, knowing our transportation options BEFORE we arrive is incredibly comforting.
In this post, you will learn about all the modes of transportation available at the Yacht Club so you know EXACTLY how to get around.
8 Transportation Options at Disney’s Yacht Club:
Option #1. Take the Friendship Boats
A fun and relaxing way to travel from the Yacht Club Resort is to take FREE boat transportation using Disney’s Friendship Boats.
Where can I go by boat from the Yacht Club resort?
There are quite a few destinations you can get to on the Friendship Boats! Be sure to read the sign posted on the lighthouse and pick the right line for your destination.
Line up on the RIGHT for these destinations:
- Walt Disney World’s Swan and Dolphin Hotels
- Hollywood Studios
Line up on the LEFT for these destinations:
- Disney’s Boardwalk Inn
- Epcot
And don’t worry if you have a stroller, as they are allowed on the boats, but you must fold them. The Friendship Boats are also accessible for wheelchairs and motorized scooters.
How long is the boat ride from Disney’s Yacht Club Resort?
The length of your boat trip will depend on which destination you’re heading to:
- Disney’s Boardwalk Inn: The boat going to Epcot stops first at the Boardwalk Inn, and it takes about 5 minutes.
- Epcot: The boat ride is short, but you will stop at the Boardwalk Inn first. Then, you will arrive at the International Gateway in about 10 minutes. It’s much quicker to walk to Epcot than to take a boat!
- WDW Dolphin & Swan Hotels: The boats that take guests to Hollywood Studios first stop at the Dolphin and Swan. It takes only about a minute to get there!
- Hollywood Studios: Depending on the length of the stops, it can take between 15 and 30 minutes to reach Hollywood Studios from the Yacht Club. It all depends on whether many people get on and off the boat at the Dolphin and Swan.
Where is the Friendship Boat Dock at Yacht Club Resort?
The boat dock is located on Crescent Lake, right out the back entrance of the Yacht Club. There is a lighthouse at the end of the pier where the boats pull up. It’s a great place to get a family picture while you wait for a boat!
Option #2. Walk from Disney’s Yacht Club!
One of the BIGGEST benefits of staying at the Yacht Club is that you can walk to quite a few Disney attractions. I can’t stress this point enough because being able to walk is MUCH quicker and less stressful than taking a bus, in my opinion!
Where can I walk from the Yacht Club?
There are tons of destinations you can walk to from Yacht Club, including TWO theme parks and THREE other resorts:
Hollywood Studios:
You can arrive at Hollywood Studios in about 20 minutes if you walk there from the Yacht Club. You’ll follow the canal on a walking path directly to the front of the park!
But don’t rush, and keep your eyes peeled for wildlife, including Great Blue Herons and Great Egrets!
Epcot:
If you plan to visit Epcot while staying at Yacht Club, don’t skip this relaxing and fun walk! After you exit the hotel, turn left, then cross the bridge over the canal to reach the walking path to Epcot. You will pass the Beach Club resort, which is next door.
From there, you can enter Epcot at the International Gateway in the heart of France in the World Showcase! It’s about a 5-minute walk from Yacht Club.
Boardwalk Resort:
Maybe you have a dinner reservation at the Boardwalk Inn or want to check it out for your next trip to Disney. Whatever the reason, you can walk there from the Yacht Club in about 10 minutes! Just follow the path around Crescent Lake until you arrive at the back entrance.
Walt Disney World’s Dolphin and Swan Resorts:
The restaurants, shops, and incredible architecture of the Dolphin and Swan Resorts are steps away from the Yacht Club. Treat yourself to a meal at one of the many sit-down restaurants or stroll around the beautiful grounds!
Disney’s Boardwalk:
Disney’s Yacht Club is directly across Crescent Lake from the Boardwalk. There are tons of things to do here as well! The Boardwalk has restaurants, street performers, a classic arcade, and incredible views over Crescent Lake. Plus, it only takes minutes to get there!
Option #3: Take the FREE Disney Bus From the Yacht Club!
Did you know that Disney World provides FREE bus transportation from Yacht Club? One of the greatest benefits of staying at a Walt Disney World Resort is that you don’t have to worry about finding your own transportation to the parks and Disney Springs.
Where can you take the bus from Yacht Club Resort?
The buses at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort provide direct service to:
- Magic Kingdom: The bus ride is approximately 10 minutes. It is 4.5 miles (7 km) away.
- Animal Kingdom: The bus ride is typically between 10-15 minutes. It is 4.8 miles (7.2 km) away.
- Disney Springs: The bus ride is approximately 10 minutes. It is 2.7 miles (4.3 km) away.
No bus service is offered to Epcot or Hollywood Studios from the Yacht Club. That’s because Disney provides boat transportation to both theme parks. In addition, both parks are also close enough to walk!
In addition, you can get to these locations from Yacht Club with ONE bus transfer.
- Blizzard Beach: Take the bus from Yacht Club to Animal Kingdom. Then, get off the bus and find the shuttle going directly to Blizzard Beach.
- Typhoon Lagoon: Take the bus from Yacht Club to Disney Springs. Then, get off the bus and find the bus going directly to Typhoon Lagoon.
- ANY of the other Disney World Resorts: Do you have dinner reservations at the Wilderness Lodge? Or do you want to check out the Polynesian Resort for your next vacation? Luckily, it’s EASY to get to any of the other 20+ Disney hotels from Yacht Club using the free Disney bus transportation. You only need to take the bus to Disney Springs or the closest theme park. Then get off the shuttle and find the bus that goes directly to the resort you want to visit!
- ESPN Wide World of Sports: Check with the front desk regarding bus transportation here. The schedule and operating hours change depending on what events are being held. If there are no direct buses, you must take a bus to one of the parks and transfer to ESPN Wide World of Sports.
What is the bus schedule from Yacht Club?
Bus service typically begins 45 minutes before the parks open and ends 1 hour after they close. Once they start, the buses run continuously throughout the day. I have found that you can typically expect a bus to arrive around every 20 minutes.
You will find a screen at the bus stop showing when the next bus to each destination is expected to arrive.
When our family takes the bus, we typically leave our room about an hour before we want to arrive, just to be safe.
Where is the bus stop located at the Yacht Club resort?
The bus stop is just a short walk outside the main lobby entrance.
When you exit the front lobby, turn left slightly, and you will see a covered area with the bus schedule screens.
Option #4: Ride and relax on the Disney Skyliner!
My FAVORITE way to travel from the Yacht Club is on the Disney Skyliner.
Where is the Skyliner Boarding Station at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort?
While there technically isn’t a station at the resort, it’s only a 5-minute walk to the Skyliner station at Epcot’s International Gateway. As you walk out the back entrance of the Yacht Club, take a left, go past the Beach Club, and cross the canal bridge. Various signs point you to Epcot.
Where can I go from the Yacht Club on the Skyliner?
You can go to the following places via the Skyliner when you board at the International Gateway station:
- Caribbean Beach Resort: This Skyliner station is the main hub, so you can go to any of the other locations from here. Additionally, you can check out the island in the middle of the lake, the Spanish Citadel-inspired main pool, or Old Port Royale’s dining and shopping area. It takes about 15 minutes to get to Caribbean Beach on the Skyliner.
- Hollywood Studios: This is my favorite theme park at Walt Disney World! This relaxing trip on the Skyliner takes you to the front gate, giving you an amazing view as you arrive. The Skyliner trip from Disney’s Yacht Club to Hollywood Studios takes about 30 minutes. It’s much shorter to walk to or take the boats to Hollywood Studios, but the Skyliner is a lot of fun to take at least once!
- Art of Animation and Pop Century Resorts: If you’re considering staying at either of these sister resorts on another Disney vacation, a great way to check them out is on the Skyliner. It stops in the middle of the two resorts, so you can pick which one to look at first! The Skyliner trip from Yacht Club Resort to Art of Animation and Pop Century takes about 25 minutes.
- Riviera Resort: Whether you’re having a character breakfast at Toppolino’s Terrace or checking out the resort for a future visit, the Skyliner is a great way to get to Riviera. It takes about 20 minutes to get to Riviera Resort from Beach Club by Skyliner.
Option #5: Take an Uber or Lyft from the Yacht Club
If you want to reach your destination quickly, using a rideshare service (Uber or Lyft) from the Yacht Club Resort is easy. This option can save a lot of time, especially if you just missed the bus.
The easiest place to meet your driver is outside, near Yacht Club Resort’s front lobby, as there are plenty of spots for them to stop and for you to get in the car.
You can also visit places OUTSIDE Walt Disney World Resort with a rideshare service.
We have often stayed at a Disney resort but wanted to visit somewhere else for a day or evening. To help save money, we rarely rent a car, so we have to find alternate transportation.
Luckily, rideshares like Uber can easily take you from Yacht Club to the following locations:
- Sea World
- Universal Theme Parks
- Downtown Orlando
- Restaurants, parks, etc. Honestly, you can go anywhere you want!
TWO rideshare companies operate in Disney World – Uber and Lyft. Between them both, there are a lot of drivers cruising around. Almost every time I’ve used a rideshare from the resorts, I’ve had to wait less than 10 minutes to get picked up.
The one-way fare around Walt Disney World averages about $15. In my opinion, if you have limited time to travel somewhere, it is money well spent!
Option #6: Take a TAXI
I know some people don’t like using Uber or Lyft because they don’t know about the person driving or don’t feel comfortable using the app. If this describes you, calling a traditional taxi company for a ride is easy.
If you want to take a taxi from the Yacht Club, I recommend calling Mears Taxi, a well-known and trusted company in the Orlando area. You can even schedule and book your ride online.
Option #7: Ride in a MINNIE VAN
Another transportation option at the Yacht Club is to take a Minnie Van!
Disney World has partnered with Lyft to provide MINNIE VANS, Minnie Mouse-themed mini-vans! Please be aware that this option will be more expensive than a regular Lyft vehicle.
Here are the advantages of using a Minnie Van:
- A complimentary car seat.
- A big benefit of using a Minnie Van from the Yacht Club Resort is they are driven by DISNEY CAST MEMBERS. I know many people like this fact because the drivers are Disney employees, which provides additional peace of mind.
- Accessible vans are available and provide two spaces for mobility devices.
- Minnie Vans can access areas that regular rideshares cannot. One example is that you can get dropped off directly in front of Magic Kingdom instead of at the Transportation and Ticket Center!
If you want to use a Minnie Van, open up the Lyft app while inside Yacht Club and choose your destination. You should see the price and option to ride in a Minnie Van. If you’re satisfied, order the Minnie Van to come and pick you up!
As you can see below, Minnie Vans are much more expensive than a typical Lyft vehicle and driver. While it’s not a cost-effective strategy for everyday travel, it’s a great option if you’re short on time or want a special ride!
Option #8: Drive yourself!
Getting in your car and driving yourself is an often overlooked way from Disney’s Yacht Club Resort to the parks or Disney Springs. It’s probably the fastest way to travel since you don’t have to wait for someone to pick you up. 🙂
The driving distance around Disney World is reasonable, and you can get to most locations from the Yacht Club within 20 minutes, depending on traffic.
And here is the BEST news about driving yourself around Walt Disney World:
As long as you stay at the Yacht Club Resort, the parking at the theme parks is FREE! Unfortunately, many guests don’t realize (or forget) that parking at any of the parks costs nothing if you stay here.
Getting FREE parking at the theme parks is an incredible benefit of staying at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort, as parking costs a minimum of $25 per day at each park.
Related Posts:
Frequently Asked Questions:
Can I take the Disney Monorail from Yacht Club Resort?
No, the monorail has no boarding station at Disney’s Yacht Club. If you want access to this transportation option from your hotel, you must stay at the Contemporary Resort, Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, or Polynesian Village Resort.
What is your favorite form of transportation at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort?
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