It comes as no surprise to have the desire to visit Walt Disney World’s Animal Kingdom in Florida.
Whether you come from Disney Springs, Disney’s EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, or even your humble abode, visiting Walt Disney World’s Animal Kingdom is a surefire way to discover a whole new and vast world of wonder for any Disney lover.
In this article, we will discuss methods of transportation between Disney Springs and Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Any Disney fanatic will inevitably ask, “How do we get from Disney Springs to Animal Kingdom?” Don’t worry- we have all of the answers you’re looking for.
Getting from Disney Springs to Disney’s Animal Kingdom
Our journey begins in Disney Springs. To get to Disney’s Animal Kingdom, there are four main modes of transportation, two of which are designated Disney transports meant to provide the most efficient travel possible.
By Walt Disney World Bus Service
While it may be a complementary service, the bus route is by far the most complicated. Since there is no direct bus transportation between Disney Springs and Animal Kingdom, a loophole exists where one may board a waterpark bus route from Disney Springs to Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge.
Once you arrive at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, you can hop on a separate bus that will take you to Walt Disney World’s Animal Kingdom.
From Disney Springs to Disney’s Animal Kingdom, you will cover a five-mile route. There are two stops made along the way, but this is a pretty direct route nonetheless. There is a two-mile distance between Disney’s Animal Kingdom and the Animal Kingdom Lodge, so keep that in mind when creating your itinerary. Make sure you leave plenty of time to spare before your next activity, such as a dinner reservation.
Although the added travel time may be an inconvenience, it is complementary for the entire family.
By Walt Disney World’s “Minnie Van” Lyft Service or Rideshare
Paid transportation through Uber or Lyft is the quickest method of transportation within Walt Disney World, especially between Disney Springs and Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
Through the Lyft rideshare app, you will be able to specify the type of car when seeking a pickup. Choose Disney World’s “Minnie Van”, and a car will be there for you shortly to deliver you to any destination within Disney World.
The “Minnie Van” Lyft service acts as a designated taxi in Walt Disney World. Because of this, it is far quicker and more reliable than any other complementary service of its stand-by delivery within the park.
The main drawback is the taxi fee; since it is not as carbon-friendly as a bus service, Disney’s “Minnie Van” is a pay-by-ride through Lyft and is, essentially, a taxi. In other words, there will be a price to pay for the distance traveled. Nevertheless, it is by far the quickest transportation between Disney Springs and Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
By Uber
If you’re not a fan of Lyft, there is still Uber. The main difference between using Disney’s “Minnie Van” and Lyft or Uber is the distance between your driver and yourself. Remember, Walt Disney World’s “Minnie Van” will remain within the park yet an Uber driver may not. There could be an additional wait time and, possibly, a higher fee. Uber charges per drive while Disney’s “Minnie Van” charges by the distance traveled.
Nevertheless, this is up to the individual. Use whatever is most convenient and thorough for yourself and the family.
By Your Personal Car
Our final option, while not provided by the park, is provided by the pass holder. This method is less tedious than the bus route and cheaper than the “Minnie Van” Lyft service. Although, the travel time may vary significantly given the time of day; parking, routes, and the walk into Animal Kingdom from Disney Springs may push your schedule farther out due to these time-dependent circumstances.
There is a five-mile path between Disney Springs and Animal Kingdom. With your car, this may be a twelve-minute drive if traffic is well. Parking within Animal Kingdom and the walk to and from the parks’ garages will have their additions to the time, though, regardless of these drawbacks, it’s still a convenient method.
If the pass holder did not arrive in Orlando, Florida with their vehicle, then there must be a discussion about hiring a vehicle. This method is almost always very pricey, and if a majority of your stay is within Walt Disney World and its adherent parks and lodges, then you may have to reconsider renting a car.
This may surmount the compared pricing of Disney’s “Minnie Van” Lyft service and Uber; furthermore, the complementary bus services provided by Walt Disney World will undoubtedly save money from your pockets, allowing families to splurge with the saved could-be rental money on knick-knacks from either Disney Springs and Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
The Trip from Disney Springs to Animal Kingdom
Walt Disney World’s Bus Service, ridesharing, and driving are one’s best options for traveling to and from Disney Springs and Animal Kingdoms. Unfortunately, there is no walking path, monorail, Skyliner, or ferry boat paths between the two, thus making travel from both parks tedious and slightly difficult.
Regardless of these drawbacks, the transportations discussed above are most definitely your best bets for arriving to and from Walt Disney World’s Disney Springs and Walt Disney World’s Animal Kingdom.
Remind yourself of the joy and wondrous adventure you will embark on within these parks: the fiery performances from the Festival of the Lion King leaving you tantalized and on the edge of your seat from this looking glass into the Sahara; the living beasts from regions throughout the world right before your eyes; and the insurmountable planet of Pandora around your soul, filling you with glee and imagination.
Do not let the travel between Disney Springs and Disney’s Animal Kingdom slow down your adventures – allow it to speed them up by using those dreams of yours as the creative fuel for your days within Walt Disney World Parks.
More about our TFVG Author
A seasoned traveller, Dad, and avid sports tourist, James foundered The Family Vacation Guide to share his expert vacation experiences- especially when it comes to being a travelling family man.
Featured in Travel articles such as Travel + Leisure, TripSavvy and SFGate, you know you're reading some of the best vacation tips online.
- James Brockbankhttps://www.thefamilyvacationguide.com/author/james/
- James Brockbankhttps://www.thefamilyvacationguide.com/author/james/
- James Brockbankhttps://www.thefamilyvacationguide.com/author/james/
- James Brockbankhttps://www.thefamilyvacationguide.com/author/james/
