Walking vs. Bus at Disney World: When Your Feet Are Faster
Updated regularly based on current transportation patterns
Nobody goes to Disney World planning to walk between resorts and parks. But sometimes the walk is genuinely faster than waiting for the bus — and most guests never consider it.
The math is simple: if the bus takes 5 minutes to arrive and 15 minutes to drive, that's 20 minutes. If the walk takes 15 minutes, you arrive sooner and you're moving the entire time instead of standing in the heat wondering when a bus will appear.
The problem is you can never be sure when the bus will arrive. You might wait 3 minutes or 25 minutes. Walking is the one option where the time is predictable.
Here's where walking wins, where the bus wins, and how to decide.
The Quick Answer
Walking wins when: You're at a resort within 15-20 minutes of a park entrance, and the bus wait is unpredictable. Key examples: BoardWalk/Yacht Club/Beach Club to EPCOT or Hollywood Studios, Contemporary to Magic Kingdom, Grand Floridian to Magic Kingdom.
The bus wins when: The distance is more than 20 minutes on foot, the weather is brutal, or you're traveling with young children or anyone with mobility concerns.
It's a toss-up when: The walk is 15-20 minutes and conditions are moderate. In these cases, check the bus line first — if a bus is boarding, take it. If not, start walking.
Where Walking Beats the Bus
These are routes where walking is consistently competitive with — or faster than — the bus. All walk times are approximate and assume a moderate pace.
BoardWalk / Yacht Club / Beach Club to EPCOT (International Gateway)
Walk time: 5-15 minutes (depending on which resort)
This is the clearest walking win at Disney World. These resorts sit directly behind EPCOT's World Showcase, connected by a paved path around Crescent Lake. Beach Club guests can be at EPCOT's International Gateway in about 5 minutes. BoardWalk guests take about 10-12 minutes.
The bus, meanwhile, takes you to EPCOT's main entrance on the other side of the park. Even if the bus arrives immediately, the ride takes 10-15 minutes — and you're at the wrong entrance if your goal is World Showcase.
The verdict: Walk. It's not even close.
BoardWalk / Yacht Club / Beach Club to Hollywood Studios
Walk time: 15-20 minutes
A paved path connects these resorts to Hollywood Studios via the back of the park. The walk is flat, mostly shaded in the morning, and straightforward.
The bus might be faster if one is boarding when you arrive at the stop. But if you'd be waiting 10+ minutes, the walk gets you there sooner — and you're in control of the timing.
The verdict: Walk unless a bus is right there or the weather is miserable.
Contemporary to Magic Kingdom
Walk time: 10-15 minutes
The Contemporary sits close enough to Magic Kingdom that many guests don't realize they can walk. The path runs along the edge of Seven Seas Lagoon and enters near the park's main entrance.
The bus from the Contemporary goes to TTC, not directly to Magic Kingdom — meaning you'd bus to TTC and then take the monorail or ferry. That's two legs of transportation. The walk is one straight shot.
The verdict: Walk, especially during rope drop and after fireworks when the monorail lines are longest. This is one of the best-kept "secrets" at Disney — the walk takes about the same time as waiting for and riding the monorail, and you skip all the lines.
Grand Floridian to Magic Kingdom
Walk time: 10-15 minutes
A walking path connects the Grand Floridian to Magic Kingdom. It's longer than the Contemporary walk but still very manageable. The path is paved and pleasant.
The verdict: Walk when the monorail line is 15+ minutes. Take the monorail when lines are short or the weather is extreme.
Polynesian to TTC
Walk time: 10-15 minutes
If you need to get to TTC from the Polynesian — to catch the EPCOT monorail, for example — the walk is straightforward and avoids waiting for the Resort monorail to loop around.
The verdict: Walk if you're connecting to the EPCOT monorail. Take the Resort monorail if you're heading to Magic Kingdom (since the monorail goes there directly).
Where the Bus Wins
Any resort to Animal Kingdom
Walk time: Not feasible (miles away)
No resort is within practical walking distance of Animal Kingdom. The bus is the standard option.
Value resorts to any park
Pop Century, Art of Animation, All-Star Movies, All-Star Music, All-Star Sports — none of these are walking distance to a park. The bus (or Skyliner for Pop Century and Art of Animation) is necessary.
Most moderate resorts to parks
Coronado Springs, Port Orleans Riverside, Port Orleans French Quarter — these are too far from any park to walk. Bus only.
Any resort to Disney Springs (with one exception)
Disney Springs is walkable from Saratoga Springs (about 10-15 minutes). From every other resort, take the bus.
The Decision Framework
When you're standing at your resort trying to decide:
Step 1: Is the walk under 20 minutes?
If no → take the bus. The distances above are the main walkable routes. Most resort-to-park connections are too far.
If yes → proceed to step 2.
Step 2: Is a bus loading right now?
If yes → take the bus. A bus that's right there beats a 15-minute walk every time.
If no → proceed to step 3.
Step 3: Check the conditions
Consider:
- Temperature: Above 90°F with high humidity? The air-conditioned bus might be worth a 10-minute wait.
- Rain: Light rain? Walking is fine. Downpour? Wait for the bus.
- Time of day: Morning and evening walks are pleasant. Midday Florida heat is punishing.
- Who's walking: Adults in good shape handle 15 minutes easily. Families with toddlers or anyone with mobility concerns should factor in their realistic pace.
Step 4: Start walking
If conditions are reasonable and no bus is imminent, walk. You can always check the bus situation at the next stop you pass — some routes have intermediate stops along the way.
The biggest mistake guests make isn't choosing the wrong option — it's standing at the bus stop for 15 minutes before realizing they could have walked there by now. Once you've been waiting 10 minutes, the sunk cost fallacy kicks in: "The bus must be coming any minute." Sometimes it is. Sometimes it isn't.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Factor | Walking | Bus |
|---|---|---|
| Time control | Complete — you know exactly how long it takes | None — could be 15 or 40 minutes total |
| Physical effort | Moderate to high (Florida heat) | Low |
| Weather impact | High — heat, rain, humidity | Low — AC and shelter |
| Available routes | Limited to nearby connections | Every resort to every park |
| Cost | Free | Free |
| Exercise | Yes | No |
| Enjoyment | Scenic paths, lagoon views | Air conditioning |
The Weather Reality
Florida weather is the biggest factor in this comparison, and it deserves direct discussion.
From November through March, walking at Disney is pleasant. Temperatures are mild, humidity is manageable, and the paths are beautiful.
From June through September, midday walking is brutal. Temperatures regularly exceed 90°F with 80%+ humidity. A 15-minute walk can leave you drenched in sweat before you even enter the park.
The shoulder months — April, May, October — are unpredictable. Some days are perfect for walking; others feel like August.
Morning walks (before 10 AM) are almost always fine, any time of year. Evening walks (after 7 PM) are also usually comfortable. Midday walks (11 AM - 4 PM) in summer are where the bus earns its keep.
This is why the "best" option changes throughout the day. You might walk to the park in the morning, bus back in the afternoon heat, and walk back to your resort after fireworks. Flexibility beats a rigid plan.
Hidden Walking Perks
Walking offers benefits beyond just saving time:
You avoid lines entirely. No bus queue, no monorail queue, no waiting. You're always moving.
You see parts of Disney most guests miss. The lagoon paths, the resort gardens, the quiet stretches between properties — these are genuinely beautiful and most guests never experience them.
You arrive relaxed instead of stressed. There's something about a 15-minute walk that resets your mood. Waiting 20 minutes at a bus stop with a hundred other people has the opposite effect.
You stay flexible. Walking is the one transportation mode you can start and stop at any time. Change your mind halfway? Turn around. See a restaurant that looks interesting? Stop in.
The Verdict
Walking is underrated at Disney World. For guests at the EPCOT-area resorts (BoardWalk, Yacht Club, Beach Club) and the monorail resorts (Contemporary, Grand Floridian, Polynesian), it's often the fastest option — and it's always the most predictable.
The bus wins for longer distances, extreme heat, and anyone who can't comfortably walk 15-20 minutes.
The smartest approach is to know your walkable routes and evaluate conditions in the moment. A walk that sounds awful at 2 PM in August sounds perfect at 8 AM in January. The route doesn't change — your willingness to walk it does.
For help figuring out whether walking or riding makes more sense for your specific route and situation, see how the app factors in walking options.