How do you get from Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort to Animal Kingdom?
If you are staying at Saratoga Springs or planning a future visit, you probably want to know how to get to Animal Kingdom from the resort.
Below, I will detail FIVE specific ways you can make this journey.
Saratoga Springs Resort to Animal Kingdom:
Option #1: Take the FREE Disney bus to Animal Kingdom!
Did you know Disney World provides FREE bus transportation from Saratoga Springs to Animal Kingdom? Being able to jump on and off these buses is one of the best benefits of staying at a Disney World Resort.
To use the buses to get to Animal Kingdom, you must first find the bus stops at Saratoga Springs. Because Saratoga Springs is such a big resort, there are five different locations where you can board the buses. The good news is that no matter where you stay within the resort, you shouldn’t have a very far walk to a bus stop.
Here are the FIVE different bus stops, listed in the order they PICK UP guests at Saratoga Springs:
- #1. The Grandstand
- #2. The Carousel
- #3. The Paddock
- #4. Congress Park
- #5. The Springs
Below is a map of where you can find each bus stop at Saratoga Springs.
Once your bus leaves Saratoga Springs, Animal Kingdom is 8.4 miles away (13.5 km). The drive should take about 20 minutes. Please be aware that you will be on the bus longer if you board at the first stop, which is the Grandstand. You will have to wait as you drop off and pick up guests at each of the other bus stops before finally leaving for the theme parks.
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.
You will find a screen at all the bus stops showing when the next bus to Animal Kingdom is expected to arrive.
Since the Disney buses are free to ride, it’s the most popular way to travel to Animal Kingdom from Saratoga Springs. You can expect a bit of a line to board the bus at certain times, such as in the morning around the park opening. So make sure to give yourself plenty of time to arrive at Animal Kingdom for a reservation or show. Our family usually leaves our room about an hour before we want to arrive, just to be safe.
Also, I want to warn you about something if you board the bus at Congress Park or The Springs, the two last bus stops within Saratoga Springs.
During busy times, such as in the morning, the bus may already be full of guests by the time it reaches you. If that happens, the bus will drive by, and you will need to hope the next one has room for you. 🙂
If you are having problems getting on a bus, you should walk to one of the first bus stops. Or you can use one of the other transportation options listed below to get to Animal Kingdom!
Option #2: Take an Uber from Saratoga Springs to Animal Kingdom
If you don’t want to ride on or wait for the bus, using a rideshare service (Uber or Lyft) from Saratoga Springs Resort is easy. Just open the app and select Animal Kingdom as your destination, and you should be matched with a driver within seconds.
Because Saratoga Springs is such a big resort, it’s important that you mark your location CORRECTLY in the app to avoid any delays. No matter which building you are staying in, a large parking lot will be nearby, offering plenty of room for your driver to pick you up.
The driving distance from Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort to Animal Kingdom is 8.4 miles (13.5 km), and the drive should take about 15-20 minutes, depending on the amount of traffic. Another benefit of taking an Uber or Lyft is that they typically drive to Animal Kingdom faster than the slower Disney buses.
I have found the one-way fare from Saratoga Springs averages under $15.
If you have limited time to travel to Animal Kingdom, I think it is money well spent! The best part about using a rideshare service while staying at Saratoga Springs is that you don’t have to deal with your bus stopping at multiple places within the resort before finally leaving for the park. You also don’t risk the bus being completely full when it arrives at your bus stop.
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: 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 #4: 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 feel comfortable using the app. If this describes you, calling a traditional taxi company for a ride is easy.
Taking a taxi has many of the same benefits as rideshares, such as not waiting for a bus. But of course, you must pay for the taxi ride, where the Disney buses are free.
If you want to take a taxi from Saratoga Springs Resort, 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 #5: Drive yourself to Animal Kingdom!
Getting in your car and driving yourself is an often overlooked way from Disney’s Saratoga Springs 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 8.4 miles (13.5 km). The drive usually takes under 15-20 minutes, depending on traffic.
And here is the BEST news about driving yourself to Animal Kingdom…
As long as you are staying at Saratoga Springs, 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 Saratoga Springs Resort, as parking costs a minimum of $25 per day at each park.
Related Posts:
Can I walk from Disney’s Saratoga Springs to Animal Kingdom?
The short answer to this question is NO. First, the distance between the resort and the theme park is long, around 8.4 miles (13.5 km). And second, there are no walking paths that connect them. You must take the bus, a taxi/rideshare, or drive yourself to get there!
Can the Disney Skyliner take me from Saratoga Springs 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 Saratoga Springs.
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 Saratoga Springs to Animal Kingdom?
No. While there is boat transportation at Saratoga Springs, the boat does not travel to Animal Kingdom. You can only take the boats from Saratoga Springs to Disney Springs.
Can I take the Disney Monorail from Saratoga Springs to Animal Kingdom?
No, the monorail does not have a boarding station at Saratoga Springs, 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. And so you know, the monorail only travels to two theme parks – Magic Kingdom and Epcot.
What is your favorite way to travel from Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort to Animal Kingdom?
Leave a COMMENT below!
