Getting to Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park from Port Orleans Riverside Resort is slightly more challenging than getting to the theme parks.
But don’t worry; after reading below, you will be very comfortable with all the transportation options. Please consider whether each method is FREE or something you must pay EXTRA for.
Riverside Resort to Blizzard Beach:
Option #1: Take the FREE Disney bus to Blizzard Beach!
If you want to get to Blizzard Beach for FREE, then you should use the bus transportation that Disney World provides.
Where are the bus stops at Port Orleans Riverside?
There are four bus stops at Port Orleans Riverside, so no matter where you stay at the resort, one will be nearby. Just leave your resort building and follow the signs to the nearest one.
Please know there is NO DIRECT bus from the Riverside Resort to Blizzard Beach.
To get to Blizzard Beach, you must FIRST take the bus from Port Orleans Riverside to Animal Kingdom.
Once you have arrived at the theme park, you will get off the bus at the dropoff area from all the other resorts in front of Animal Kingdom.
From here, you must find the bus going to Blizzard Beach. Once this bus arrives, you will be on your way to Blizzard Beach!
Luckily, Animal Kingdom is the closest theme park to Blizzard Beach. This second bus ride only takes about 5 minutes.
Bus service to Blizzard Beach from Animal Kingdom typically begins 30 minutes before the water 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 15 to 20 minutes.
A screen at Port Orleans Riverside shows when the next bus will arrive. You can even see that it says you need to go to Animal Kingdom first and then transfer to another bus to get to Blizzard Beach.
How long is the bus ride from Port Orleans Riverside to Blizzard Beach?
It’s hard to know for sure because you never know how long you will be waiting for a bus. You can get lucky, walk up to the stop, and find a bus has just arrived. Or you can see one pulling away as you arrive, and now you must wait for the next one!
I estimate it would take roughly 60 minutes to make the journey from the resort to the water park.
- First, you must wait for a bus to arrive at the Riverside Resort, which can take up to 20 minutes.
- Once your bus leaves, arriving at Animal Kingdom can take another 25 minutes.
- Then, you must get off and find the bus that goes to Blizzard Beach. You also have to wait for the new bus to arrive.
- Finally, the bus ride from Animal Kingdom to Blizzard Beach takes about 5 minutes.
As you can see, since you must transfer to another bus, it can take a LONG time to get from Port Orleans Riverside to Blizzard Beach.
And remember, you need to repeat this process in reverse order when you are ready to return to the resort!
When our family is in Disney, we like to save as much time as possible. That’s why I’m a big fan of some of the other transportation options below! 🙂
- Make sure Blizzard Beach is open when you are visiting Disney World. It typically closes for a few months each year for refurbishments.
Option #2: Take a rideshare from Riverside to Blizzard Beach
As we just discussed, the BIGGEST negative to taking the Disney bus transportation to Blizzard Beach is the time it takes!
That’s why I LOVE using Uber or Lyft to get from Riverside Resort to Blizzard Beach.
It saves so much time! Especially if you walk up to the bus stop and realize you just missed the next bus to Animal Kingdom.
The driving distance from Port Orleans Riverside to Blizzard Beach is 4.1 miles (6.6 km), and the drive should take under 15 minutes! Between going to and from Blizzard Beach, I estimate that you can save roughly an HOUR by using a rideshare instead of taking the Disney buses.
Between Uber and Lyft, there are a lot of drivers cruising around Disney World. Almost every time I’ve used one to go to the parks, I’ve had to wait less than five minutes to get picked up.
The easiest place to meet your driver is outside the main lobby entrance at Port Orleans Riverside.
However, since the Riverside resort is so large, it might be quite a walk from your room to the main lobby. Luckily, each resort section has a large parking lot with plenty of space for your rideshare driver to pick you up.
How much does an Uber cost from Port Orleans Riverside to Blizzard Beach?
It’s estimated to cost under $15 one-way. Of course, the exact price depends on how large of a vehicle you need and any “surge pricing” that could happen that day. I think it’s money well spent for the time that you save!
The ONLY negative to using a rideshare is that you must pay for the ride, whereas the Disney buses are free.
Option #3: Ride in a MINNIE VAN to Blizzard Beach
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 Disney employees, which provides additional peace of mind.
While using the Lyft app inside the resort, choose Blizzard Beach 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 much more expensive than a regular Lyft vehicle. 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 Blizzard Beach
I know some people don’t like using Uber or Lyft because they don’t trust 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 Disney’s Port Orleans Riverside Resort to Blizzard Beach, 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 Blizzard Beach!
Getting in your car and driving yourself is an often overlooked way from Disney’s Port Orleans Riverside Resort to Blizzard Beach. 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 4.1 miles (6.6 km). The drive takes under 10 minutes, depending on traffic.
And here is the BEST news about driving yourself to Blizzard Beach…
As long as you are staying at Port Orleans Riverside, the parking at Blizzard Beach 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 Riverside Resort, as parking costs a minimum of $25 per day at each park.
Related Posts:
Can the Disney Skyliner take me from Disney’s Port Orleans Riverside Resort to Blizzard Beach?
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 Skyliner at Port Orleans Riverside.
Can I take the Disney boat transportation from the Riverside Resort to Blizzard Beach?
While there is boat transportation at Port Orleans Riverside, the boats do not travel to Blizzard Beach. You can only take boat transportation from Riverside to Disney Springs.
Can I take the Disney Monorail from Port Orleans Riverside Resort to Blizzard Beach?
The monorail does NOT go to Blizzard Beach or Riverside. You must take a Disney bus, drive yourself, or take a rideshare to Blizzard Beach from this resort.
Can I walk from Disney’s Riverside Resort to Blizzard Beach?
The short answer to this question is NO. First, the distance between the resort and Blizzard Beach is long, at around 4.1 miles (6.6 km). And second, there are no walking paths that connect them. You must take the bus, rideshare, taxi, or drive yourself!
What is your favorite way to travel from Port Orleans Riverside to Blizzard Beach?
Leave a COMMENT below!
