How do you get from Disney’s Wilderness Lodge to Animal Kingdom?
If you are staying at the magnificent Wilderness Lodge or planning a future visit, you probably want to know the different ways to get to Animal Kingdom from the resort.
Below, I will detail FIVE specific ways you can make this journey.
Wilderness Lodge to Animal Kingdom:
Option #1: Take the Disney bus to Animal Kingdom! (free)
Did you know that Disney World provides FREE bus transportation from the Wilderness Lodge to Animal Kingdom? And the best part is that the bus stop is just a short walk outside the main lobby entrance. When you exit the front lobby, turn left and follow the walkway until you arrive at the bus stop.
When you arrive at the bus stop, make sure you find the correct line for the bus that is going to Animal Kingdom. Don’t worry; there are signs clearly marking where you need to stand.
Bus service to Animal Kingdom typically begins 45 minutes before the park opens and ends 1 hour after it closes. Once they start, the buses run continuously throughout the day. I have found that you can typically expect a bus to arrive around every 20 minutes.
At the bus stop, you will find a screen that shows when the next bus to Animal Kingdom is expected to arrive.
Once your bus leaves the Wilderness Lodge, it should take about 15 -20 minutes to arrive at the theme park.
As you can imagine, since the buses do not cost anything extra, it’s the most popular way to travel. However, at certain times of the day, such as the park opening, you might experience a bit of a line to board the bus. So make sure to give yourself plenty of time if you need to arrive at Animal Kingdom for a reservation or show.
Option #2: Take an Uber from the Wilderness Lodge to Animal Kingdom
If you want to get to Animal Kingdom fast, using a rideshare service, such as Uber or Lyft, from the Wilderness Lodge is easy. This option can save a lot of time, especially if you just missed the bus.
The easiest place to meet your driver is outside near the Wilderness Lodge front lobby, as there are plenty of spots for them to stop and for you to get in the car. You could also walk down to the bus stop, as there are open areas there for the driver to make a quick stop to pick you up. Regardless, make sure you mark the location you want to be picked up CORRECTLY in the app to avoid any delays.
The driving distance from Disney’s Wilderness Lodge to Animal Kingdom is 7.2 miles (11.6 km), and the drive should take about 15 minutes, depending on the amount of traffic. Another benefit of taking an Uber or Lyft is that they can typically drive to Animal Kingdom faster than the slower Disney buses.
I have found the one-way fare from the Wilderness Lodge averages under $15.
If you have limited time to travel to Animal Kingdom, I think it is money well spent!
Between Uber and Lyft, there are a lot of drivers cruising around. Almost every time I’ve used a rideshare to the parks, I’ve had to wait less than 10 minutes to get picked up. 🙂
Option #3: Take a TAXI to Animal Kingdom
I know some people don’t like using Uber or Lyft because they don’t know about the person driving or don’t want to use the app. If this describes you, then it’s easy to call a traditional taxi company for a ride.
Taking a taxi has many of the same benefits as rideshares, such as not having to wait for a bus or cramming yourself onto a bus with lots of other people. But of course, you must pay for the taxi ride, where the Disney buses are free.
If you want to take a taxi, I recommend calling Mears Taxi, a well-known and trusted company in the Orlando area. You can even schedule and book your ride online.
Option #4: Ride in a MINNIE VAN to Animal Kingdom
One fun thing about using the rideshare service Lyft is that they have partnered with Disney World to provide MINNIE VANS, which are Minnie Mouse-themed mini-vans!
A big benefit of using a Minnie Van is they are driven by DISNEY CAST MEMBERS. I know many people like this fact because the drivers are employees of Disney, which provides additional peace of mind.
While using the Lyft app inside the resort, choose Animal Kingdom as your destination. Then, order the Minnie Van to come and pick you up.
While this option is fun, as you can see above, it is more expensive than a regular Lyft vehicle. But in addition to a Disney Cast Member driving, here are a few additional benefits of a Minnie Van.
- They can fit up to SIX people.
- Includes two car seats, which your driver will install for you.
- These vans can fit scooters and wheelchairs, but please pre-arrange your ride if you need this service.
Option #5: Drive yourself to Animal Kingdom!
Getting in your car and driving yourself is an often overlooked way to go from Disney’s Wilderness Lodge to Animal Kingdom. It’s probably the fastest way to travel since you don’t have to wait for someone to pick you up. 🙂
The distance between these two locations is only 7.2 miles (11.6 km). The drive takes about 15 minutes, depending on traffic.
And here is the BEST news about driving yourself to Animal Kingdom…
As long as you are staying at the Wilderness Lodge, the parking at Animal Kingdom is FREE! Unfortunately, many guests don’t realize (or forget) that if you stay at a Disney World Resort, parking at any of the parks does not cost anything.
Getting FREE parking at the theme parks is an incredible benefit of staying at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, as parking costs a minimum of $25 per day at each park.
Related Posts:
Can I take the Disney Monorail from the Wilderness Lodge to Animal Kingdom?
No, the monorail does not have a boarding station at the Wilderness Lodge, nor does the monorail travel to Animal Kingdom. If you want access to this transportation option from your hotel, you must stay at the Contemporary Resort, Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, or Polynesian Village Resort.
Can I walk from Disney’s Wilderness Lodge to Animal Kingdom?
The short answer to this question is NO. First, the distance between the resort and Animal Kingdom is fairly long, at around 7.2 miles (11.6 km). And second, there are no walking paths that connect them. You must either take the bus, a taxi or drive yourself!
Can the Disney Skyliner take me from the Wilderness Lodge to Animal Kingdom?
The short answer to this question is NO. The Skyliner only goes to two parks, Hollywood Studios and Epcot. There is also no boarding station for the Disney Skyliner at the Wilderness Lodge.
If you want a Skyliner boarding station at your hotel, stay at the Riviera Resort, Caribbean Beach Resort, Art of Animation, or Pop Century.
Can I take the Disney boats from the Wilderness Lodge to Animal Kingdom?
There is boat transportation at the Wilderness Lodge, but the boat does not travel to Animal Kingdom. You can only take the boats from the Wilderness Lodge to one theme park – Magic Kingdom.
What is your favorite way to travel from Disney’s Wilderness Lodge to Animal Kingdom?
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