A disk apparatus of the present invention, in which a cartridge accommodating a disk-like recording medium and having an opening opened or closed by a shutter member is loaded to the disk apparatus, includes a loading chassis; a cartridge transporting member provided on the loading chassis for transporting the cartridge from a removal position to a play position; a traverse unit for carrying a pickup for recording or reproducing a signal onto or from the disk-like recording medium; a traverse transporting member provided on the loading chassis for transporting the traverse unit from a standby position to the play position; and a driving section provided on the loading chassis for driving the cartridge transporting member and the traverse transporting member. The cartridge transporting member and the traverse transporting member can slide in a direction of transporting the cartridge. One of the cartridge transporting member and the traverse transporting member is disposed on the other. In loading the cartridge, the driving section starts to drive only the cartridge transporting member before the cartridge transporting member drives the traverse transporting member; and the cartridge reaches the play position before the driving section drives only the traverse transporting member.