The monorail careening through the Contemporary Resort – ferryboats sailing across the Seven Seas Lagoon – water taxis docking on World Showcase Lagoon – – –
These images of the Walt Disney World Resort are just as iconic as the spires of Cinderella Castle or the geometric pattern of Spaceship Earth. They also differentiate Disney World from Disneyland by emphasizing the scope of the Walt Disney World property. As Walt Disney once said, “Here in Florida, we have something special we never enjoyed at Disneyland…the blessing of size. There’s enough land here to hold all the ideas and plans we can possibly imagine.”
Navigating those 47 square miles of Disney property, however, can be a daunting task for guests, or it can be—in the words of early Disney World publicity materials—half the fun.
Monorail madness
Nothing conjures images of the sheer vastness of Walt Disney World better than the elaborate and forward-thinking monorail system. First introduced at Disneyland in 1959, the monorail idea was expanded for the Florida Project with great success. For most guests visiting Disneyland, the monorail is simply another attraction (although to be fair, it does transport guests to and from the Disneyland Hotel). At Walt Disney World, the monorail is not just another ride; it is an integral part of an elaborate infrastructure designed to move thousands of guests to and from their resort hotels or their automobiles.
Walt and his Imagineers were greatly disappointed by the unwieldy urban sprawl that exploded around the Anaheim property. The approach to Disneyland, irrevocably marred by unchecked development, offended the artistic sensibilities of Walt Disney. When designing Florida’s Magic Kingdom, a conscious effort was made to eliminate the potential for incongruous sight lines. The approach to the Magic Kingdom, by monorail or by ferryboat, is meant by design to heighten the excitement of arrival as well as provide a literal break from the real world, thus enabling guests to “leave today behind and enter the world of yesterday, tomorrow, and fantasy.”
The Imagineers succeeded. As the monorail veers towards the Magic Kingdom from the Grand Floridian, it still offers breathtaking views of Cinderella Castle floating above the trees and sparkling rooftops of Main Street U.S.A..
With the addition of EPCOT Center in 1982, the monorail system was expanded. Riding from the Ticket and Transportation Center to EPCOT, the sheer vastness of the Disney property, the miles of roads, and the acres of green pines cannot help but impress even frequent visitors. Gliding around, over, and through Future World, particularly at night, is exhilarating. It is here more than anywhere else on property that Walt’s original EPCOT vision is most readily apparent—forward thinking urban planning combined with imagination and a sense of adventure.
Two if by sea…
In addition to the Magic Kingdom ferryboats that transport guests from the Ticket and Transportation Center to the park, the waterways of Walt Disney World have always been populated by an amazing array of watercraft. For example, the vast Epcot area utilizes water-based transportation in a variety of efficient and aesthetically pleasing ways. Friendship boats ply the waters of World Showcase Lagoon, adding a sense of movement and color to the international area. The watercraft from the Yacht and Beach Clubs to Disney’s Hollywood Studios; the lovely boats between Port Orleans Riverside and the French Quarter; the shuttles between Sarasota Springs, Old Key West, and the Disney Village Marketplace: all these transportation options offer calm, tranquil respites from the noisy, crowded buses.
In addition to the mass transportation forms of watercraft, there are various vessels available for rental at many Disney resorts and at Downtown Disney. These sailboats, Sea Raycers, pedal boats, canoes, kayaks, and pontoon boats add a kinetic sense of action to the waterways of the world. They also provide guests with unparalleled views of resorts and theme parks and a heightened sense of being an active part of the Disney World community.
Planes, buses, and automobiles
Not content with merely moving people around within the Walt Disney World Resort, the Disney planners extended the vacation experience to include, to varying degrees, the need to get to the resort. Some of these ideas are quite innovative. For guests arriving by plane, the concept of Disney's Magical Express (despised by some, but greatly appreciated by this author) makes that often stressful transition from the airport to one’s Disney resort much more pleasant and convenient.
For those arriving by car, the transition is not quite as smooth but still satisfying in its own way. Sadly, the original Visitor Center in Ocala and the WDW Radio Station (that once proudly played that little “We’re going to Disney World” ditty) no longer exist. There are, however, ample enhancements to the motoring experience that help drivers get into the “Disney zone.” The colorful archways and smiling Disney characters that great drivers entering the property as well as the clever use of color on directional signs help heighten the growing feeling of anticipation and set an appropriately whimsical tone as guests allow that “magical” Disney feeling to take hold.
While riding a city bus rarely qualifies as “magical,” Disney has gone to great lengths in recent years to enhance the experience of riding those ubiquitous Disney buses. The bright exterior logos, the helpful cast members stationed at bus depots, the air-conditioning, and the addition of themed music and narration help dull the aggravation of a crowded bus after a long day of park adventures.
Walk this way
Last, but not least, the simplest mode of transportation is a very pleasant experience at Walt Disney World. Many of the resorts—particularly the Wilderness Lodge, Port Orleans Riverside, and the Caribbean Resort—have wonderfully designed pathways. After hours of walking through crowded parks or standing in long lines, the openness of these walkways is surprising welcome and quite pleasing. The winding paths along the Sassagoula River at Port Orleans Riverside are especially lovely, especially on cool mornings or warm summer nights.
A world of motion
Trite as it may sound, getting around Walt Disney World really is half the fun. Whisking guests to magical theme parks, “home” to their resorts, or back to the reality of their parked cars, the many modes of Disney transportation efficiently and artistically prove that it is “fun to be free, to be on the move, to go anywhere…to do all there is to be done.” The world of motion, Disney-style, is as unique and inspired as any other aspect of the Walt Disney World Resort.
