How do you get from Disney’s Port Orleans Riverside to Magic Kingdom?
If you are staying at Riverside, you probably want to know how to get to Magic Kingdom from the resort.
Below, I will detail FIVE specific ways you can make this journey.
Port Orleans Riverside to Magic Kingdom:
Option #1: Take the FREE Disney bus to Magic Kingdom!
Did you know Disney World provides FREE bus transportation from Port Orleans Riverside to Magic Kingdom? Being able to jump on and off these buses is one of the best benefits of staying at a Disney World Resort.
But to use the buses to get to Magic Kingdom, you must first find the bus stops! Because Riverside 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 at least one of the stops.
Here are the FOUR different bus stops, listed in the order they PICK UP* guests at Port Orleans Riverside:
Here is a map of where you can find each bus stop at Port Orleans Riverside.
- Pick up #1: West Depot
- West Depot (pictured below), North Depot, and East Depot are much smaller than the South Depot bus stop.
- Pick up #2: North Depot
- Pick up #3: East Depot
- Pick up #4: South Depot – this is the stop outside the main lobby. It is considered the MAIN bus stop. It is the largest and busiest.
When you arrive at the bus stop, you will find a screen showing when the next bus to Magic Kingdom is expected to arrive.
Bus service to Magic 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.
Since the Disney buses are free to ride, it’s the most popular way to travel to Magic Kingdom from Port Orleans Riverside. 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 Magic Kingdom for a reservation. Our family usually leaves our room about an hour before we want to arrive, just to be safe.
Once your bus leaves Riverside, it takes between 10 and 15 minutes to get to Magic Kingdom, depending on traffic.
But please be aware that you will probably be on the bus longer, 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 within Port Orleans Riverside before finally leaving for the theme park. For example, suppose you get on the bus at the West Depot (Pick up #1). In that case, it’s estimated that it will take 10 minutes to get through the other three bus stops within Riverside before finally leaving for Magic 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 (South Depot). They do this to avoid spending additional time on the bus. Also, getting a snack or drink at the Riverside Mill Food Court before leaving for Magic Kingdom is nice.
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 (South Depot). If that happens, the bus will drive by, and you must hope the next one has room for you.
Lastly, the Disney buses will drop you off DIRECTLY in front of Magic Kingdom instead of Disney’s Transportation and Ticket Center. As you will see next, this is a HUGE advantage of taking the bus. 🙂
Option #2: Take an Uber/Lyft from Riverside to Magic Kingdom
If you don’t want to ride on or wait for the bus, using a rideshare service (Uber or Lyft) from Port Orleans Riverside Resort is easy. Just open the app and select Magic Kingdom as your destination, and you will be matched with a driver within seconds.
Because Riverside is such a big resort, you must mark your location CORRECTLY in the app to avoid any delays. There is plenty of space outside the main lobby for your driver to stop and pick you up.
But the Riverside Lobby is a far walk from parts of the resort. The great news about using Uber or Lyft is the driver 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.
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. 🙂 But this option is not free—the one-way fare from Riverside averages under $15.
It takes about 10 minutes to travel from Disney’s Port Orleans Riverside Resort to Magic Kingdom. Another benefit of taking an Uber or Lyft is that they typically drive to Magic Kingdom faster than the slower Disney buses.
But there is one big disadvantage of using a rideshare service when you go to Magic Kingdom…
Your driver is NOT allowed to drop you off directly in front of the Magic Kingdom. Instead, they must take you to Disney’s Transportation and Ticket Center.
Once you are here, there are TWO ways to complete the journey to the Magic Kingdom.
#1: Take the monorail
The first way to get to Magic Kingdom from the Transportation and Ticket Center is by taking the famous Disney monorail.
The monorail runs continuously throughout the day. Service begins 30 minutes before the park opens and ends an hour after the park closes.
#2: Take the ferry
Another way to finish traveling to the Magic Kingdom is to board the ferry. These boats have two seating levels and can fit many people.
The ferryboats leave approximately every 10-20 minutes. Once you depart, the boat ride is only 10 minutes long!
If you want to avoid the Transporation and Ticket Center and get dropped off directly in front of the Magic Kingdom, take the bus from Riverside or ride in a Minnie Van (Option #3)!
Option #3: Ride in a MINNIE VAN to Magic Kingdom
If you want to use a rideshare service to Magic Kingdom but avoid the Transportation and Ticket Center, you should consider taking a Minnie Van.
Disney World has partnered with Lyft to provide MINNIE VANS, which are Minnie Mouse-themed mini-vans!
This option will be more expensive than a regular Lyft vehicle, but Minnie Vans have a really big benefit.
You will get dropped off directly in front of the Magic Kingdom instead of the Transportation and Ticket Center!
Minnie Vans are the ONLY rideshare/taxi authorized to do this and bypass the Transportation and Ticket Center.
While using the Lyft app inside Riverside, choose the Magic Kingdom as your destination to see the price. 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 getting dropped off directly in front of Magic Kingdom, here are a few additional benefits of a Minnie Van.
- 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.
- 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 Magic 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 to Magic Kingdom 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 Port Orleans Riverside 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.
One negative to taking a taxi is that you get dropped off at Disney’s Transportation and Ticket Center instead of the front of Magic Kingdom, similar to a rideshare service.
Option #5: Drive yourself to Magic Kingdom!
Getting in your car and driving yourself is an often overlooked way from Port Orleans Riverside to Magic Kingdom.
The distance between these two locations is only 3.9 miles (6.3 km). The drive takes about 10 minutes, depending on traffic.
And here is the BEST news about driving yourself to Magic Kingdom…
As long as you stay at Riverside, the parking at Magic 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 Port Orleans Riverside Resort, as parking costs a minimum of $25 per day at each park.
But just like taking an Uber/Lyft, you MUST park at the Transportation and Ticket Center to get to Magic Kingdom.
Once parked here, you can take the monorail or the ferry to complete your journey to the Magic Kingdom. If you want to get dropped off directly in front of the Magic Kingdom entrance, take the Disney bus or a Minnie Van.
Related Posts:
Can the Disney Skyliner take me from Port Orleans Riverside to Magic Kingdom?
The short answer to this question is NO. There is no boarding station for the Skyliner at Riverside, nor does the Skyliner travel to Magic Kingdom. The Skyliner only travels to two theme parks – Epcot and Hollywood Studios.
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 walk from Disney’s Port Orleans Riverside to Magic Kingdom?
The short answer to this question is NO. First, the distance between the resort and Magic Kingdom is fairly long. Second, there are no walking paths that connect them. You must take one of the other options listed above!
Can I take the Disney boats from Port Orleans Riverside to Magic Kingdom?
There is boat transportation at Port Orleans Riverside, but the boat does not travel to Magic Kingdom. You can only take the Sassagoula Boats from Riverside to Disney Springs or Disney’s Port Orleans French Quarter Resort.
What is your favorite way to travel from Port Orleans Riverside to Magic Kingdom?
Leave a COMMENT below!
