Ultimate Guide to Hollywood Studios Transportation in Disney World

No matter how many Genie+ reservations, Individual Lightning Lanes, and Advanced Dining Reservations you make, one misstep can derail your whole perfect plan…

…Disney transportation. Yep, if you haven’t mastered the exact science, neigh, dare we say art, to navigating Disney transportation, then you might be standing at a Disney bus stop watching the minutes tick by in your Disney vacation and months of planning slowly unravel. But not to worry, we’re here to help with our Ultimate Guide to Disney Transportation… the Hollywood Studios edition.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios is near the southern point of Disney World property, but is still fairly centrally located as far as proximity in terms of EPCOT and Disney’s Animal Kingdom, and a good click north of EPSN Wide World World of Sports, which literally sits on the southern border of Disney property line. Its central location means there are a variety of transportation options available for guests to use who wish to spend the day at this park, but choosing the right one may take a bit of finesse.

So, what are our options? Let’s look at ALL of the ways guests can get to and from Hollywood Studios, after all, it wouldn’t be an “ultimate” if we didn’t cover it all.

• The Free Ones:
  • Disney Bus
  • Disney’s Skyliner
  • Disney Boat Transportation
  • Resort Walkways
• For an Additional Cost:
  • Guest Vehicle/Parking
  • Taxi & Rideshare
  • Minnie Vans

So, let’s analyze the “free” transportation options first. Yes, yes, we put free in quotation marks because we know that it is not really free, just that the price of these options are included in what you pay to stay at a Disney Resort or visit the Disney Parks. But ultimately, if you utilize one of these options, you won’t have to pay anything additional or account for any tipping expectations.

Disney Busses

The Resort Buses are the most ubiquitous free mode of transportation to navigate around Disney World. The bus system connects Disney resorts to all the parks, water parks, and even Disney Springs.

Guests staying at Disney Resorts have access to the busses, which run about every 20 minutes. The bus service begins about 45 minutes prior to park opening and runs continuously throughout the day until about one hour after park closing. Use of the bus system is not limited to just resort guests, non-resort guests can also utilize the bus (and other transportation options, for that matter) to traverse Disney property and destinations.

Likewise, many Good Neighbor Hotels and other non-Disney hotels also provide theme park shuttles that drop guests off at the theme parks, but those shuttles tend to run at lower frequencies.

Since bus schedules can be unpredictable and are subject to the traffic on the roads, the wait times can vary. And during those peak times (when parks first open and right after the nighttime show/fireworks), the lines for the busses can get daunting. The capacity of a Disney Bus is about 112 people, but electronic conveyance vehicles (ECVs) and strollers may take up some of that space as well. So, you may find yourself waiting through several bus loads before getting your chance to board and depart.

Busses are a tried and true option, and really, did you even visit Disney World if you didn’t ride a Disney Bus at least once? But, luckily, it’s not the only transportation option at Hollywood Studios.

Disney’s Skyliner

Disney’s newest method of transportation has quickly become a favorite among Disney visitors.  Not subject to road traffic, this continually moving option has become an iconic visual on the Disney landscape and connects four Disney resorts and two Disney theme parks along its route.

The Hollywood Studios Skyliner station is just next to the Bus Stop terminal, at the entrance of the park. This is both good and bad news as it means that during those peak times around park opening and park closing, most guests are heading in the same direction, which can create bottlenecks as the universal path becomes connected with guests, strollers, and ECVs.

The Skyliner connects Hollywood Studios and EPCOT along with stops at four Disney resorts, Caribbean Beach Resort, Riviera Resort, Pop Century, and Art of Animation.

Unless there is inclement weather, the Skyliner is typically a quick and easy way of getting to or from Hollywood Studios and any of these destinations.  But it’s not completely worry-free. Those who have a fear of heights may want to keep their feet on the ground. There have been a few little hiccups with Skyliner jams and delays that have impacted guests, though few and far between, it’s not completely unheard of. And finally, even though it is a continual loading process, there are bottlenecks when parks close and at the transfer juncture at Caribbean Beach when those Skyliner lines get LONG.

Each Skyliner Gondola can hold up to 10 guests, or up to 6 if there is a wheelchair or stroller. So the Skyliner holds few folks than a Disney Bus, but loads and unloads much quicker.

Disney Boat Transportation

Hollywood Studios sits next to a waterway that is an offshoot of Crescent Lake and actually connects it to EPCOT along with the five EPCOT area resorts, Disney Swan and Dolphin, Disney Swan Reserve, BoardWalk Inn, Yacht Club, and Beach Club.

The Disney Boat system is a relaxing and leisurely way to get from one place to another on Disney property. It’s not necessarily the fastest option, but it’s efficient and if you can get a seat, it’s downright blissful.

The boats make four stops on their route: EPCOT, Yacht & Beach Club, BoardWalk, Swan & Dolphin pier, and Hollywood Studios. The whole route can take about 30 minutes, depending on the number of passengers and loading and unloading time. Typically Disney will have 2-3 boats on the route at a time, so if you miss the boat, you can expect to wait anywhere from 15 to 30 minutes.

These Friendship Boats are not as big as the Magic Kingdom Ferry. They’re about 65 feet long, and hold up to 100 passengers. Since the boats are infrequent, there are fewer available, and make several stops, you might find yourself waiting a while for one at the end of the day.

Resort Walkways

If your destination is along the waterway, but you’re not one to wait for a boat, then the walking path might suit your needs. Ok, strictly speaking, this isn’t “transportation” but it is still an option for getting to and from Hollywood Studios, so we’re including it.

The walkway to the EPCOT area resorts takes guests past the Skyliner and Bus Stop to a path along the waterway that borders the BoardWalk. The BoardWalk Inn is the closest at about 3/4 mile from the entrance of Hollywood Studios.  Swan, Swan Reserve, and Dolphin are about a mile away by foot. The Yacht and Beach Club Resorts are on the far side of Crescent Lake from Hollywood Studios. You’ll have to walk just over a mile to get from there to the Park entrance.

If it sounds fun to walk from one Park to another, this is your only east coast opportunity. Hollywood Studios’ front gate and EPCOT’s back gate are connected via all those EPCOT-Area Resort paths, and this will be the longest walk in this area. It’ll add 1.25 miles or so to your pedometer, and depending on your pace, can take about 25-35 minutes.

Guest Vehicle/Parking

If you have your own car in Disney World, then you’ll probably want to use it to get from where you’re staying to Hollywood Studios. If you’re staying at a Disney Resort, the cost of parking is included in your stay, so you’re covered.

If you’re not staying at a Disney resort, then you’ll need to plan to pay for parking each day.

• Preferred parking: car or motorcycle – $45 to $50 per day
• Standard parking: car or motorcycle – $25 per day
• Oversized Vehicle Parking: Shuttle, Limo, Camper Trailer, RV, Bus or Tractor Trailer – $30 per day

The Hollywood Studios parking lot is situated at the front of the park and has sections named after characters you’ll meet in the parks to help you remember where you parked: Mickey, Minnie, Jessie, Buzz, Olaf, and BB-8. Remember, you can also use the “Car Locator” function in My Disney Experience to help you remember where you parked!

If Hollywood Studios isn’t your only park for the day, keep that parking receipt! At Disney, you only have to pay for parking per day, not per theme park, so present that receipt at your next theme park to avoid paying twice!

Taxi & Rideshare

If Disney transportation is too slow for you, and you have the option to drive yourself, you can definitely take advantage of the local Taxi and Rideshare options. Prices can vary based on the time of day and distance, but you can expect to pay anywhere from $15 to $35 each way (and don’t forget to tip your driver!).

If you’re staying at a resort, the Cast Members or Bell Services Attendants can help you arrange a taxi pick-up, or you can use the Uber or Lyft apps on your mobile to select your own ride.

Each park has designated taxi and rideshare drop-off and pick-up locations, which may not be as conveniently placed as a Disney transportation stop but far more convenient than schlepping it in from the far outskirts of a parking lot.

If you’re looking to grab one of these options at the end of your park day, you’ll usually find some taxis waiting in the parking lot that you can flag over for a lift back to your resort or to your next destination. If you’re planning to use a rideshare, you may want to start that request about 15 minutes early that way, you’re not just standing in the parking lot waiting for your ride, but can time it so that they show up without you having to wait too long.

Minnie Vans

Convenience with that touch of Disney service! You’ll have to shell out some extra cash, but Disney’s Minnie Van service will get you anywhere on Disney property you need to go (and even all the way to the airport). These cute SUVs are driven by Cast Members but can be requested through the Lyft app.

The price is significantly more than a standard Lyft ride and part of the justification for that the vehicles are cleaned to Disney’s expectations, there are up to 2 car seats available for younger passengers, the Minnie Vans have access to exclusive drop-off locations, and the fun, wit, and knowledge of your Cast Member driver.

Minnie Vans have their own pick-up and drop-off location at the Hollywood Studios Bus station, but they’ll get there much quicker and with less of that up-close-and-personal bonding time with your fellow bus travelers. And the added bonus is that you’ll lose some weight, specifically in the wallet area (well, that might not be a bonus after all…).

Final Thoughts

No matter what method of transportation you use, make sure to do your research and plan accordingly. Until teleportation is invented, getting where you need to be will take some time and inevitably, something outside of your control may affect your travel time, so give yourself an extra 30 minutes to get to where you need to be — no matter how you get there.

Be sure to use the Transportation on My Disney Experience. On there, you’ll be able to look up the schedule for all Disney transportation options, the Car Locator function, and even getting directions if you need help figuring it all out.

Also remember that Disney World Cast Members are there to help — if you ever find yourself unsure of how to get from one place to another in the parks, they will always be more than happy to help you! And if transportation woes do occur, be sure to talk to the Cast Members about your options.

What tips and tricks would you recommend for navigating around Disney World? Let us know in the comments below!

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