How do you get from Animal Kingdom Lodge to Disney Springs?
If you are staying at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge or planning a future visit, you probably want to know the best ways to get to Disney Springs from the resort. Below I will detail THREE specific ways you can make this journey. 🙂
Just so you know, Animal Kingdom Lodge is divided into two areas – Jambo House and Kidani Village. This article covers transportation options for both locations.*
Option #1: Take the bus!
This picture is of the bus stop at Jambo House.
Did you know that Disney World provides FREE bus transportation from Animal Kingdom Lodge to Disney Springs? And the best part is that the bus stop is right outside the entrance at both Jambo House and Kidani Village. Just take a left when you walk outside and follow the walkway to the bus stop. Once you are on the bus, the ride usually takes around 20 minutes, depending on traffic.
Bus service to Disney Springs operates when they are open and ends 1 hour after closing. 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 also find a screen that shows when the next bus is expected to arrive!
As you can imagine, since this does not cost anything extra, it’s the most popular way to travel. However, at certain times of the day, such as around dinner, 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 Disney Springs for a reservation or show. Our family usually leaves our room about an hour before we want to arrive, just to be safe.
Option #2: Take an Uber, Lyft, or MINNIE Van
If you don’t want to take the bus, it’s very easy to take a taxi from Animal Kingdom Lodge to Disney Springs. The easiest place to meet your driver is outside near the front lobby, as there are plenty of spots to park and jump in the car. Make sure you set the location correctly in the app so your driver knows whether you are staying at Jambo House or Kidani Village.
The above picture shows outside the main lobby, which has plenty of space to get picked up!
Once you are in the car, the drive is fairly short. The total distance from Animal Kingdom Lodge to Disney Springs is 6.7 miles (10.8 km) and should take about 20 minutes, depending on the amount of traffic.
TWO rideshare companies operate in Disney World – Uber and Lyft. Between them both, there are a lot of drivers cruising around. Almost every time I’ve used a taxi to go to the parks, I’ve had to wait less than ten minutes to get picked up.
One neat thing about using Lyft is that they have partnered with Disney World to provide MINNIE VANS, which are Minnie Mouse-themed mini-vans!
While using the Lyft app inside the resort, choose Disney Springs as your destination. Then order the Minnie Van to come and pick you up! While using this option is fun, it is more expensive, as you can see below!
Option #3: Drive yourself!
Getting in your car and driving yourself is an often overlooked way to go from Animal Kingdom Lodge to Disney Springs. It’s probably the fastest way to travel since you don’t have to wait for someone else to pick you up. 🙂
The distance between these two locations is 6.7 miles (10.8 km). The drive takes about 15 minutes, depending on traffic.
One nice thing about Disney Springs is that parking is FREE! Seriously, it’s rare for anything to be free at Disney World. 🙂
There are multiple parking lots and garages when you arrive at Disney Springs. Make sure you pay attention to where you park, as some of these lots are HUGE, and it can be hard to find your car again.
- Click HERE to view a printable map of Disney Springs. This map can help you determine the best place to park, depending on the shops or restaurants you want to visit.
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Can I walk from Animal Kingdom Lodge to Disney Springs?
The short answer to this question is NO. First, the distance between the resort and Disney Springs is fairly long, at around 6.7 miles (10.8 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 Animal Kingdom Lodge to Disney Springs?
No, there are no boarding stations for the Disney Skyliner at Animal Kingdom Lodge or Disney Springs. If you want access to the Skyliner, you must stay at Pop Century, Art of Animation, Caribbean Beach Resort, or Riviera Resort.
Can I take the Disney Monorail from Animal Kingdom Lodge to Disney Springs?
No, the monorail does not have a boarding station at Animal Kingdom Lodge, nor does the monorail travel to Disney Springs. 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.
Is there boat transportation from Animal Kingdom Lodge to Disney Springs?
No, Animal Kingdom Lodge does not provide boat transportation anywhere. If you want to get to Disney Springs on a boat, you must stay at the Saratoga Springs, Old Key West Resort, Riverside Resort, or French Quarter Resort.
