(photo by Bayley Clark/magicalguides.com)
Before heading down to Disney for your magical vacation, understanding how Disney Transportation Services works is an important part of your planning. Disney offers many types of transportation to their Theme Parks and Resorts, such as walking, boats, buses, The Monorail, and the Skyliner. Each Disney Theme Park and Resorts has Disney Transportation Services available, but not each location has the same transportation.
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Going from Disney Theme Park to Theme Park offers fewer options than from Disney Resort to Theme Park. Most Resorts provide multiple types of transportation to the Disney Parks. If you plan to travel between Hollywood Studios and EPCOT during your trip, here are all the different transportation options available to you!
Can you walk from Hollywood Studios to EPCOT?
(photo by Bayley Clark/magicalguides.com)
Walking is one of the fastest ways to get from Hollywood Studios to EPCOT. There is a scenic walking path between EPCOT and Hollywood Studios, but many guests do not realize it’s there or that it’s even an option. Many guests choose not to walk during the summer months because of the heat, but from October to May, this walking path is a beautiful and fun option.
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The walking path between Hollywood Studios and EPCOT can be challenging for guests to find if they are not aware of its location. When you exit Hollywood Studios, walk towards the bus stop location to the left, and the walking path will be found next to the boat dock. You will walk in front of Disney’s Boardwalk Inn and Villas, then through Disney’s Boardwalk area, and find the International Gateway entrance of EPCOT. This will take you about 30 minutes to walk from Hollywood Studios to EPCOT. Our kids love when we do this walk because we often make a stop at BoardWalk Ice Cream for a sweet treat.
What Resorts are considered EPCOT Resorts?
Crescent Lake is located just outside EPCOT and connected to the World Showcase Lagoon. Crescent Lake is home to the five EPCOT Area Resorts. Each of these resorts is within walking distance of EPCOT and Hollywood Studios. They all have great locations to view EPCOT’s Harmonious Fireworks and offer unique Disney Theming.
Walt Disney World considers “EPCOT Resorts” to be:
- Disney’s Beach Club Resort
- Disney’s Yacht Club Resort
- Disney’s Boardwalk Inn
- Walt Disney World’s Dolphin Resort
- Walt Disney World’s Swan Resort
- Walt Disney World’s Swan Reserve Resort
While Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club Resorts are different Resorts, they do share the same amenities, such as their pool and recreation activities. The same is true for The Swan and Dolphin. The pool area at Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club is arguably the best on property, having a large lazy-river-type pool with a sandy bottom.
Is there a boat between EPCOT and Hollywood Studios?
(Photo by Bayley Clark for MagicalGuides.com)
Disney does have a boat available to take you from EPCOT to Hollywood Studios if you are looking for a leisurely way to travel between parks. The boat, The Friendship Boat, goes along the same route as the walking trail and offers beautiful views of Disney’s Boardwalk and the surrounding areas. The Friendship Boats provide a shady place to sit and indoor air conditioning, perfect on a hot summer Disney day. The Friendship Boats also make stops at the EPCOT area Resorts the Boardwalk, the Yacht and Beach Club, and the Swan and Dolphin Hotel Resorts.
Where can I find The Friendship Boat?
The Friendship Boat dock is found next to the walking path. At EPCOT, the boat dock is outside the International Gateway exit and across from the Skyliner. At Hollywood Studios, if you exit the park, the boat dock is located just outside the park on the left.
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The Friendship Boats typically run on 15 to 30-minute schedules. When the parks are busier, they will have more boats helping to carry guests. The boats take about 30 minutes to get from Hollywood Studios to EPCOT. With the stops The Friendship Boats makes at the EPCOT Resorts, walking may be faster if you are looking for a quicker route. The Friendship Boats usually start running about an hour before the parks open and close for the day an hour after the Parks close.
Can you take the Skyliner from Hollywood Studios to EPCOT?
(Photo by Bayley Clark for MagicalGuides.com)
If you are looking for a fun way to travel between EPCOT and Hollywood Studios, check out the Skyliner. Opened in 2019, the Skyliner takes you on an individual gondola that will hold up to ten passengers up in the air to your destination. Guests get a bird’s eye view of the Disney Property, and each gondola is fun themed!
Disney’s Skyliner is available at:
- Hollywood Studios
- EPCOT
- Disney’s Riviera Resort
- Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
- Disney’s Art of Animation
- Disney’s Pop Century
The Skyliner starts running about 90 minutes before the Disney Theme Parks open and runs about 90 minutes after closing. Disney’s Art of Animation and Pop Century Resorts have one stop that is used for both locations. The Skyliner is wheelchair accessible, and strollers are also allowed.
Do you have to transfer on the Skyliner to travel from Hollywood Studios to EPCOT?
(Photo by Bayley Clark for MagicalGuides.com)
To travel from Hollywood Studios to EPCOT, you must get off Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort and get on another Skyliner to EPCOT. If you opt to ride the Skyliner, it will take about 20 minutes to get from Hollywood Studios to EPCOT. The Hollywood Studios Skyliner can be found outside the main entrance to the park. To catch the Skyliner from EPCOT, you will hop on outside the International Gateway entrance, across from the Friendship Boats. The Skyliner is a unique way to travel around Disney Property and experience a new way to see Walt Disney World.
How to UBER or LYFT between Hollywood Studios and EPCOT?
Ride-sharing can be a great option if you are looking for a quick way to get from Park to Park. This option will cost you money, unlike using Disney Transportation. Many guests choose not to bring a car or rent a car while staying on Disney Property, but ride-sharing may be a good option if you are in a time crunch.
Where do you get picked up and dropped off when ride-sharing?
(Photo by Bayley Clark for MagicalGuides.com)
Each Disney Theme Park has designated areas specific for ride-sharing. Many cars are waiting for people to come out of the parks, so you typically do not have to wait for one to be available. Uber operates on a First-in, First-out zone, so when you request a ride, you will go to the UBER at the front of the line.
EPCOT
The ride-sharing parking lot is just past the bus stops to be picked up and dropped off from EPCOT. If you walk to the bus area, turn right, and you will walk to the ride-sharing parking lot.
Hollywood Studios
At Hollywood Studios, you will find the ride-sharing parking lot just past the last row at the bus area.
Both locations will have designated signs stating it is the ridesharing area. You will want to ensure you are already in the area before requesting a ride on the app.
Can you take a Minnie Van from Hollywood Studios to EPCOT?
Disney’s Minnie Van is a taxi-type service connected by Lyft to help bring you around Disney Property in style. The Minnie Van service works through the Lyft app. Once you enter your destination, you can make your reservations and payments through the app. Each Minnie Van is decorated after Minnie Mouse on the outside and spacious on the inside. Each vehicle accommodates up to 6 guests, and you can request a Minnie Van that is wheelchair accessible or that holds a car seat.
The Minnie Vans operates from 6:30 am to 12:30 am daily. This is an excellent option if you are looking for a quick way from EPCOT to Hollywood Studios.
Does the Monorail run between Hollywood Studios and EPCOT?
(Photo by Bayley Clark for MagicalGuides.com)
Probably the most well-known form of Disney Transportation, the Monorail, is a fun option to travel around Disney Property. While the Monorail does take you from Disney’s Magic Kingdom to EPCOT, it does not go to any other Disney Theme Parks. If you are traveling from EPCOT to Hollywood Studios, your options are walking, boat, Skyliner, Minnie Van, and UBER.
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If you are looking for an easy way to travel between Hollywood Studios and EPCOT, try walking! You get to not only experience the two Disney Parks but Disney’s famous Boardwalk along the way. Many times, they have street performers and activities the kids will love! If you are in a hurry and want to relax, try the Skyliner. This way, you can experience some Disney magic, and you may even get your gondola decorated with your favorite Disney Character!
Disney does a fantastic job of helping guests get across Disney Property easily and affordably. While most forms of transportation Disney offers are free, there are many options available for guests to choose from. One of the best tips when traveling around Walt Disney World is to get a map and plan ahead on how you will be traveling between parks. If you have any trouble finding where you are going, Disney Cast Members are friendly and knowledgeable and always available to help you find your way! Have you had a chance to travel between Hollywood Studios and EPCOT? Let us know what your favorite way to travel around Disney Property is!