My Honest Thoughts on Disney Transportation: Boats, Monorails & Everything in Between
by Jenna Caron
Let’s talk about something we ALL experience at Disney, whether we love it, tolerate it, or silently whisper prayers while waiting for a bus: transportation.
I make zero apologies for this: I LOVE Disney transportation. I think it’s an attraction in itself. I will absolutely sit on a monorail like I’m a kid again, grinning at the reflections in the windows, pretending to narrate an imaginary documentary about its history. Normal behavior.
But because I am also a realistic girlie, let’s break down the good, the chaotic, and the “Vibes Only” energy each mode brings.
Monorail:
The ✨icon✨. The moment you step on and hear the whoosh of the doors, the smell of a barnyard (iykyk) you KNOW you’re home. It’s smooth, it’s classic, it’s nostalgic… but also, if the words “monorail delay” flash on the screen, it’s time to mentally prepare for an unplanned bonding moment with strangers.
Boats:
Underrated. Peaceful. Therapeutic. Slightly chaotic if it’s windy. I love a good Friendship Boat along Crescent Lake — it’s like a tiny sightseeing cruise you didn’t have to book. And the Magic Kingdom ferries? A whole moment. Standing on the top deck, castle in the distance, breeze in your hair… chef’s kiss.
Disney Skyliner:
My beloved flying bathtub. I adore her. I respect her. I also fear her just a little when she stops mid-air and sways like she’s in a dramatic music video. BUT — it is genuinely the quickest, breeziest, most fun way to hop between resorts and EPCOT/Hollywood Studios. And yes, the views? Unreal.
Buses:
The backbone of the entire operation. The unsung hero. The thing we rely on but pretend we don’t. I have had some of my BEST Disney conversations on a bus at 11:47 p.m. with people I will never see again. I’ve also stood in line for a bus so long that I started rethinking all my life goals. It's about balance!
Transportation at Disney is such a unique part of the experience — it’s communal, it’s unpredictable, and it forces you to slow down (whether you want to or not). Sometimes it’s magical, sometimes it’s mildly chaotic, but it always reminds me that Disney isn’t just a theme park… it’s a whole world you get to move through.
And honestly? I kind of love that.
