Disney Springs is Walt Disney World Resort’s main shopping, eating and entertainment district. It is free to visit and one of the most popular places to buy souvenirs. As fun as Disney Springs is, though, it is not easy to get from Disney Springs to Epcot.
A unique and annoying aspect of complimentary Walt Disney World Resort transportation is that there is no bus service from Disney Springs to any of the theme parks.
However, every Disney-owned hotel has bus service to each of the four theme parks and the water parks, as well as Disney Springs. There is also bus service between the theme parks.
Which means that to get from Disney Springs to any Disney theme park, you need to get to a Disney hotel and then transfer at a hotel.
The process to get from Epcot to Disney Springs or vice versa can take up to an hour of your day. While it is not difficult, it is time-consuming.
This is just one of the important things that first timers to Disney World should know.
Disney buses leave approximately every 15-20 minutes from all stations, whether it is at theme parks, hotels or Disney Springs. So you will need to wait for the next vehicle. And there could be a long line to get on the bus.
Water taxis and monorails also operate on the 15-20 minute patterns.
The only continuously running method of transportation is the Disney Skyliner and ride sharing programs listed below.
Learn more about all of Disney’s transportation options, including how to get from Disney Springs to Animal Kingdom, how to get from Disney’s Hollywood Studios to Disney Springs and how to get between Disney Springs and Magic Kingdom.
The following are every option guests have to get between Disney Springs and Epcot. All transportation methods, except for ride sharing, are free and available to all WDW guests.
Shuttle Bus to Boardwalk Resort
Grab a bus and go to Disney’s Boardwalk Resort.
From the Boardwalk Resort, you have two options:
- Boat transportation to Epcot
- Walk the large, wide path around Crescent Lake. This walkway will be less than a mile long and is a very easy walk with very limited inclines.
Entry into Epcot from the Boardwalk will bring you to International Gateway. This is not the main entrance of Epcot with the large Spaceship Earth in front of you. Instead, this is Epcot’s second entrance and is located between the United Kingdom and France pavilions in World Showcase.
Related Post: 8 Epcot Facts That are Surprising!
Shuttle Bus to Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Hotels
Get on a bus and go to Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Hotels. These two hotels are located side by side. While they are on Disney property and have all of the Disney hotel perks, these two properties are actually operated by Marriott.
From the Swan and Dolphin hotels, you have two options:
- Boat transportation to Epcot
- Walk the large, wide path around Crescent Lake. This walkway will be less than a mile long and is a very easy walk with very limited inclines.
Entry into Epcot from this walkway will bring you to International Gateway. This is not the main entrance of Epcot with the large Spaceship Earth in front of you. Instead, this is Epcot’s second entrance and is located between the United Kingdom and France pavilions in World Showcase.
See our room tour at the Walt Disney World Dolphin hotel in our YouTube video below:
Shuttle Bus to Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club Resorts
Hop a bus and go to either Disney’s Yacht or Beach Club Resorts. These two hotels are located side by side. They both share a bus, so you can decide on your way which one you want to get off at.
See our Disney’s Yacht Club room tour on YouTube.
From the Yacht and Beach Club hotels, you have two options:
- Boat transportation to Epcot
- Walk the large, wide path around Crescent Lake. This walkway will be less than a mile long and is a very easy walk with very limited inclines.
Entry into Epcot from this walkway will bring you to International Gateway. This is not the main entrance of Epcot with the large Spaceship Earth in front of you. Instead, this is Epcot’s second entrance and is located between the United Kingdom and France pavilions in World Showcase.
Water Taxi to Port Orleans Resort (Riverside and French Quarter)
Use the complimentary water taxi from Disney Springs to go to Disney’s Port Orleans Resort. This resort complex has two different hotels side by side, Riverside and French Quarter.
From Port Orleans, get on a Disney bus to go to Epcot.
Resort buses arrive near the main entrance of Epcot. You will still need to walk a little bit, but you will enter through the main ticket gate with Spaceship Earth in front of you.
Related Post: How to Enjoy Disney’s Mardi Gras Golf Cart Parade at Port Orleans Resort
Water Taxi to Saratoga Springs Resort
Hop on the boat at Disney Springs to go across the lake to Saratoga Springs Resort. From there, catch a bus to Epcot.
Resort buses arrive near the main entrance of Epcot. You will still need to walk a little bit, but you will enter through the main ticket gate with Spaceship Earth in front of you.
Water Taxi to Old Key West Resort
Enjoy a leisurely boat ride to Disney’s Old Key West Resort. Then, from the resort, get on a bus to Epcot.
Resort buses arrive near the main entrance of Epcot. You will still need to walk a little bit, but you will enter through the main ticket gate with Spaceship Earth in front of you.
Disney Skyliner and Bus
If you want to arrive at Epcot after soaring high through the sky above, then transfer at a Disney hotel with a Skyliner station.
First, get a bus from Disney Springs to one of the following resorts:
- Disney’s Pop Century Resort
- Disney’s Art of Animation Resort
- Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
- Disney’s Riviera Resort (see our Riviera room tour video)
Then, transfer at the hotel and go to the Disney Skyliner platform to ride in the sky towards Epcot.
Entry into Epcot from this walkway will bring you to International Gateway. This is not the main entrance of Epcot with the large Spaceship Earth in front of you. Instead, this is Epcot’s second entrance and is located between the United Kingdom and France pavilions in World Showcase.
Uber or Lyft
Using a ride share service such as Uber or Lyft is perfect if you want the most direct route to Epcot and do not mind paying for the service.
Ride sharing is also ideal if you don’t like to share transportation with dozens of other people.
There are two locations to meet your Uber or Lyft driver at Disney Springs:
- Old Marketplace Bus Loop (where buses used to pick up passengers before the parking garages were built beside World of Disney)
- Surface parking at the Westside (located near Cirque du Soleil and House of Blues)
Uber or Lyft are great alternatives when you are running late for a restaurant reservation, a Genie + reservation or want to see a show at Epcot.
Minnie Van Service is an option through Lyft and provides a cute transportation method, though at a higher cost.
Drive
If you have a car with you, one of the easiest and least time-consuming ways to get from Disney Springs to Epcot is to drive yourself.
You will leave the free parking at Disney Springs and drive to Epcot.
To enter Epcot parking, you will need to have a valid parking pass from a Disney resort hotel or pay the parking admission fee.
From the parking lot, you can either walk quite a long ways to get to the theme park or take the complimentary trams that bring you close to the main entrance.
Free Disney World Countdown and Bucket List Planners!
Instantly download a fun Disney countdown along with bucket lists, to-do lists and Disney-themed checklists.
Get your free Disney printables pack now!
Monorail
There is no easy or quick way to get from Disney Springs to Epcot via the monorail. We do not recommend this method.
If your heart is set on riding the monorail to Epcot, follow these steps:
- Take a Disney bus to Disney’s Contemporary Resort, Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort or Disney’s Polynesian Resort.
- Get on the monorail and get out at the Transportation and Ticket Center (TTC)
- Transfer at the TTC to the Epcot monorail
We miss the Highway in the Sky Dine Around that used to be on the monorail. Maybe it will come back soon!