How do you get from Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort to Animal Kingdom?
If you are staying at Coronado Springs, including the Gran Destino Tower, 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.
Coronado Springs to Animal Kingdom:
Option #1: Take the FREE Disney bus to Animal Kingdom!
Did you know Disney World provides FREE bus transportation from Coronado 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.
It’s important to note that the buses are the only form of transportation that Disney provides at Coronado Springs. You won’t find the monorail, Disney Skyliner, or boat transportation here.
To use the buses to get to Animal Kingdom, you must first find the bus stops! Because Coronado Springs is such a big resort, there are four 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 one of the bus stops.
Here are the FOUR different bus stops, listed in the order they PICK UP guests at Coronado Springs:
- Pick up #1. Casitas
- Pick up #2. Ranchos
- Pick up #3. Cabanas
- Pick up #4. Gran Destino Tower and El Centro
- This stop is the main bus stop and the largest. It’s located outside the Gran Destino Tower, which is where you check in.
Here is a map of where you can find each bus stop at Coronado Springs.
When you arrive at the bus stop, you will notice a sign that says Bus Stop #1, #2, #3, or #4. These numbers have no meaning in the ORDER that the bus driver picks up guests at the resort.
For example, the Cabanas bus stop is the third stop at Coronado Springs, but it’s called “Bus Stop #4” within the resort. As you can see below, the Cabanas bus stop, along with Ranchos and Casistas, is much smaller than the large bus stop in front of the Gran Destino Tower.
I hope that’s not too confusing. I find it easier to know the order that the Disney buses travel, which is in a big circle around the resort, starting on the east end and ending at the Gran Destino Tower at the front of the resort.
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.
A screen at the bus stop shows 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 Coronado 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, give yourself ample time to get to 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.
Once your bus leaves Coronado Springs, Animal Kingdom is 3.1 miles away (5 km). The bus ride should take under 15 minutes, depending on traffic.
But please be aware that you will probably be on the bus longer than 15 minutes, depending on which stop you board the bus.
That’s because you must wait as the bus drops off and picks up guests at the other stops in Coronado Springs before finally leaving for the theme park. For example, suppose you get on the bus at Casitas (Pick up #1). In that case, it’s estimated that it will take around 10 minutes to get through the other bus stops within Coronado Springs before finally leaving for Animal Kingdom.
This time can vary greatly, depending on how many guests get on or off the bus. Also, it will take longer if anyone boards with a mobility issue (scooter or wheelchair).
Some guests use a strategy to walk directly to the last bus stop outside the Gran Destino Tower. They do this to avoid spending additional time on the bus. It’s also nice to pick up food at Cafe Rix or El Mercado inside the main lobby before heading to the parks.
But I want to warn you this plan could backfire.
During busy times, such as in the morning, the bus may already be full of guests by the time it reaches the last stop (Gran Destino Tower/El Centro). If that happens, the bus will drive by, and you must hope the next one has room for you.
If using the free bus transportation to get to Animal Kingdom sounds frustrating, keep reading to learn about other options. 🙂
Option #2: Drive yourself to Animal Kingdom!
Getting in your car and driving yourself is an often overlooked way from Disney’s Coronado 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 3.1 miles (5 km). The drive only takes about 10 minutes, depending on traffic.
And here is the BEST news about driving yourself to Animal Kingdom…
As long as you are staying at Coronado 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 Coronado Springs Resort, as parking costs a minimum of $25 per day at each park.
Option #3: Take an Uber from Coronado 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 Coronado 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 Coronado Springs is such a big resort, it’s important that you mark your location CORRECTLY in the app to avoid any delays. There is plenty of space outside the Gran Destino Tower or El Centro for your driver to stop and pick you up.
But the Gran Destino Tower is a far walk from parts of Coronado Springs, especially if you are staying in the Ranchos section. The great news about using a rideshare is it can pick you up anywhere you want. No matter which building you are staying in, a parking lot will be nearby, offering plenty of room for your driver to stop quickly for you to jump in.
Below is a picture of the large parking lot outside the Cabanas buildings.
The driving distance from Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort to Animal Kingdom is 3.1 miles (5 km), and the drive should take about 10 minutes, depending on the amount of traffic. Another benefit of a rideshare service is that they typically drive to Animal Kingdom faster than the slower Disney buses.
I have found the one-way fare from Coronado 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 Coronado 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 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 #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: 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 Coronado 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.
Related Posts:
Can I walk from Disney’s Coronado 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 3.1 miles (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 I take the Disney Monorail from Coronado Springs to Animal Kingdom?
No, the monorail does not have a boarding station at Coronado Springs. In addition, the monorail does not travel to Animal Kingdom. The monorail only travels to two theme parks – Magic Kingdom and Epcot. If you want to use the monorail from your hotel, you must stay at the Contemporary Resort, Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, or Polynesian Village Resort.
Can the Disney Skyliner take me from Coronado 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 Coronado 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 Coronado Springs to Animal Kingdom?
No, there is no boat transportation available at Coronado Springs.
What is your favorite way to travel from Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort to Animal Kingdom?
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