One of the BEST things about staying at the Grand Floridian is that you are incredibly close to Magic Kingdom! Because of the short distance, getting from the resort to the park doesn’t take long.
But how exactly do you get from Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort to Magic Kingdom?
Below I will detail THREE specific ways you can make this journey. And the best part is they are all FREE.
Disney’s Grand Floridian to Magic Kingdom:
Option #1. Take the Monorail to Magic Kingdom!
One of the best benefits of staying at the Grand Floridian is the convenient access to the monorail. And using the monorail to get to Magic Kingdom only takes a few minutes!
Incredibly, there is a boarding station for the monorail right inside the resort’s lobby. To find the monorail platform, head to the SECOND floor inside the main entrance.
Before getting on the monorail to Magic Kingdom, you will go through security at the Grand Floridian. This is a great benefit because it means you DON’T have to go through security once you arrive at Magic Kingdom. As you can imagine, the Grand Floridian security line will be much shorter than the one at Magic Kingdom.
Once you board the monorail, you will go straight to Magic Kingdom without making any other stops. The ride only takes a minute or two until you arrive at Magic Kingdom. 🙂
The monorail that stops at the lobby of the Grand Floridian is called the “Resort Monorail.”
The Resort Monorail operates in a clockwise circle. In addition to stopping at the Grand Floridian and Magic Kingdom, the Resort Monorail also stops at the Polynesian Resort, Contemporary Resort, and Disney’s Transportation and Ticket Center.
It’s important to know this distinction when you LEAVE the Magic Kingdom. If you want to take the monorail back to the Grand Floridian, make sure you board the Resort Monorail, not the Express Monorail. Getting on the Express Monorail will drop you off directly at the Transportation and Ticket Center.
I want to warn you that taking the monorail BACK to the Grand Floridian after leaving Magic Kingdom will be a MUCH longer ride than getting there. That’s because once the Resort Monorail leaves Magic Kingdom, it stops at the Contemporary Resort, then the Transportation and Ticket Center, and then the Polynesian Resort before FINALLY getting back to the Grand Floridian.
The map below shows where the Resort Monorail stops as it travels in a clockwise circle.
So, to summarize, the ride on the monorail to Magic Kingdom will only take a few minutes because there are no stops in between. But if you take the monorail to return to the Grand Floridian, you can expect the ride to take between 15-20 minutes because it’s the last stop!
Option #2. Walk from the Grand Floridian to Magic Kingdom!
It’s also possible to walk to Magic Kingdom from the Grand Floridian. This option is super simple and reliably gets you to Magic Kingdom quickly.
A paved pathway goes around the western side of the lake, Seven Seas Lagoon. While at the resort, keep walking north until you find the path. You will also find plenty of signs around the Grand Floridian pointing you in the correct direction.
If you get confused while walking, your best bet is to follow the monorail track. The walkway tends to stay underneath the track or very close to it.
Just make sure that the lake is always on your right-hand side. The walk is peaceful, with stunning views of the various resorts around Seven Seas Lagoon. And your excitement should continue to build as you see Cinderella’s Castle get closer and closer!
The walking distance between the lobby of the Grand Floridian to Magic Kingdom is only .8 miles (1.3 km).
Walking at an average pace of 3 mph should take you about 15 minutes.
My favorite time to use the walking path is on the way BACK to the Grand Floridian because you don’t have to WAIT for the monorail or boat (Option #3 below).
If you have ever left the Magic Kingdom after the fireworks, you know how busy every transportation option becomes. There are long lines for the monorail, boats, and buses.
But walking along the pathway back to the Grand Floridian is peaceful, relaxing, and only takes about 15 minutes. And if you are walking at night, it’s usually nice and cool. You also don’t have to worry about fitting or folding your stroller into incredibly cramped spaces!
Option #3. Take a boat to Magic Kingdom!
A unique way to get to Magic Kingdom from Disney’s Grand Floridian is to take a boat across the lake, Seven Seas Lagoon.
To find the boat dock, you must walk to the northern end of the resort. For reference, Magic Kingdom is north of the Grand Floridian. You should see signs that help point in the correct direction.
Once you get to the boat dock, wait until the next boat arrives. And don’t worry if you have a stroller, as they are allowed on the boats, but you must fold them. The boats are also accessible for wheelchairs and motorized scooters.
Unfortunately, once you board the boat and leave the Grand Floridian, you will NOT go directly to Magic Kingdom.
First, the boat will head to the Polynesian Resort to pick up guests. Once you leave the Polynesian, the boat will then go to Magic Kingdom across the lake.
Because of this extra stop, using the boat transportation to Magic Kingdom takes longer than riding on the monorail or walking. I estimate it will take around 20 minutes to get to Magic Kingdom once your boat leaves, and that doesn’t include WAITING for the boat.
In my opinion, the worst part about taking the boats to Magic Kingdom is that you have to WAIT for a boat to arrive. This can be especially frustrating if you walk out to the pier and see a boat just pulling away. I know our family has made multiple mad dashes to the dock, attempting to board a boat preparing to leave. 🙂 You can typically expect a new boat to arrive every 15-20 minutes.
If you want to use the boats, I recommend taking them BACK from Magic Kingdom.
That’s because, on the way back, the Grand Floridian will be the FIRST stop, which makes the ride much faster. Regardless, riding on the boats is fun and relaxing, especially when the weather is pleasant.
Related Posts:
Can the Disney Skyliner take me from the Grand Floridian Resort to Magic Kingdom?
The short answer to this question is NO. There is no boarding station for the Skyliner at the Grand Floridian, nor does the Skyliner travel to Magic Kingdom. If you want a Skyliner boarding station at your hotel, stay at the Riviera Resort, Caribbean Beach Resort, Art of Animation, or Pop Century.
Can I take the Disney buses from the Grand Floridian to Magic Kingdom?
No, Disney does not provide bus transportation to Magic Kingdom from the Grand Floridian Resort. You must use one of the other methods described above!
It’s possible that you may find someone at the bus stop, waiting patiently for a bus to Magic Kingdom. If you see this happening, please gently inform them of their transportation options now that you have read this post. 🙂
What is your favorite way to travel from Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort to Magic Kingdom?
Leave a COMMENT below!
