If Your Day Is Going To Be Ruined at Disney World, It's Gonna Happen at the Transportation and Ticket Center

On top of planning for all the fun things you want to do at Disney World, you should probably account for obstacles that could get in the way of having a great time.

TTC

One of those obstacles could wind up being something that is meant to help, like the Transportation and Ticket Center (TTC). Serving as the main transportation hub of Disney World, the goal of the TTC is supposed to get you from A to B without too much of a hassle. However, avoiding problems at the TTC won’t always be easy.

The TTC serves as the hub for the three Monorail loops/beams as well as a center to board buses and ferryboats. It’s worth noting that anyone staying at or using the Disney World transportation options, such as Skyliner, Monorail stations, or buses can bypass the TTC. The TTC is incredibly useful and serves a purpose at Disney World, but that doesn’t mean it can’t get on our nerves to the point of breaking down. We’ll explain…

The TTC is far from the Magic Kingdom

If you show up to the TTC thinking you’re nearly done on your journey to the Magic Kingdom, you’re in for a big surprise.

TTC Parking Lot

Unlike the other parks that have a parking lot right next to their entrances, Magic Kingdom collects its guests from a set of parking lots that are over a mile away from the park gates. Once you park in either the Heroes or Villains section of the lot, you then take a tram ride or walk to the TTC. From there, you’ll go through a security checkpoint before deciding to take the monorail or ferryboat. FINALLY, you’ll reach the park gates. Then you have to do it in reverse by the end of the night. Whew.

Hop on the tram!

Of course, life gets a lot easier if you can take your hotel’s park transportation and avoid the TTC altogether!

TTC crowds can get ugly

Disney World is one of the most visited places on Earth — it’s fair to expect crowds.

Good grief!

While not all Disney World guests deal with the TTC, plenty still park or take a ride share, meaning at some point they’ll need to return to the TTC. The crowds can especially fill up after the Magic Kingdom fireworks.

Happily Ever After

The best way to bypass the end-of-night crowds is one of two ways — take off before the fireworks, or wait for the park to empty or close after the show. Once you hit closing time, Magic Kingdom’s Main Street, U.S.A. shops will remain open for at least another half hour or longer so you can shop or chill out and watch the park empty under the glow of Cinderella Castle. Once Main Street looks like a street and not a sea of people, that’s your cue to finally leave the park.

Rideshares will still drop you off at the TTC

Rideshares like Uber and Lyft are still required to drop you off at the TTC if you’re headed to Magic Kingdom, so even if you avoid parking, this is something to keep in mind.

TTC rideshare loop

A fantastic alternative is Disney’s Minnie Van service! This service will pick you up and drop you off in front of Magic Kingdom, making it the only rideshare service that is allowed to pick up guests in front of the park.

Minnie Van

You can book a Minnie Van for an additional fee through the Lyft App once you’re on Disney property.

Monorail breakdowns

Sometimes our TTC breakdowns are caused by actual breakdowns!

Monorail

Occasionally, the monorail will be unavailable due to technical difficulties, and, sometimes, a new train will even have to be towed out. When that happens, there’s not much more you can do. Fortunately, you should be able to catch a ride on a ferryboat or transfer over to a bus if you’re headed to EPCOT. When in doubt, always ask for help from nearby staff and Cast Members.

Magic Kingdom Ferryboat

There you have it! Ultimately, navigating the TTC can be a pain but it doesn’t have to be the end of the world. When in doubt, check out our Disney World transportation guide below and continue to follow us here at the Disney Food Blog for all the latest Disney World tips, news, reviews, and more!