How do you get from the Art of Animation to Animal Kingdom?
If you are staying at Art of Animation or planning a future visit, you probably want to know the best ways to get to Animal Kingdom from the resort. Below I will detail THREE specific ways you can make this journey. 🙂
Option #1: Take the bus!
Did you know that Disney World provides FREE bus transportation from the Art of Animation to Animal Kingdom? And the best part is that the bus stop is right outside the Art of Animation entrance. Just turn right when you walk out of Animation Hall. You can’t miss it!
When you walk to the bus stop, make sure you find the correct line for the bus that is going to Animal Kingdom. Don’t worry; there are signs clearly marking where you need to stand.
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.
At the bus stop, you will find a screen that shows when the next bus to Animal Kingdom 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 the park opening, 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 Animal Kingdom for a reservation or show.
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 the Art of Animation to Animal Kingdom. 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.
Once you are in the car, the drive is fairly short. The total distance from the Art of Animation to Animal Kingdom is 4.2 miles (6.8 km) and should take about 15 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 Animal Kingdom as your destination. Then order the Minnie Van to come and pick you up!
While using this option is fun, as you can see above, it is more expensive than a normal Lyft vehicle.
Option #3: Drive yourself!
Getting in your car and driving yourself is an often overlooked way to go from the Art of Animation 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 4.2 miles (6.8 km). The drive is about 15 minutes long, depending on traffic.
And here is the BEST news about driving yourself…
Assuming you are staying at the Art of Animation, 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.
Related Posts – Art of Animation:
Can I take the Disney Skyliner between the Art of Animation and Animal Kingdom?
The short answer to this question is NO.
A huge benefit of staying at the Art of Animation is that you can walk to the Disney Skyliner. But there is no way to go to Animal Kingdom this way. The Skyliner only goes to two parks, Hollywood Studios and Epcot.
Is there boat transportation from Art of Animation to Animal Kingdom?
No, Art of Animation does not provide boat transportation anywhere. In addition, there is no way to get to Animal Kingdom via a boat.
Can I take the Disney Monorail from Art of Animation to Animal Kingdom?
No, the monorail does not have a boarding station at Art of Animation, 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.
Can I walk from Art of Animation to Animal Kingdom?
The short answer to this question is NO. First, the distance between the resort and Animal Kingdom is fairly long. Second, there are no walking paths that connect them. You must either take the bus, a rideshare/taxi, or drive yourself!
