One issue that can be intimidating for many guests staying at Disney’s Art of Animation is figuring out how to travel from the resort to the theme parks, shopping areas, and other Orlando area activities.
I know when our family travels to Disney, knowing our transportation options BEFORE arriving is incredibly comforting.
In this post, you will learn about all the modes of transportation available at Art of Animation Resort so you know EXACTLY how to get where you need to go.
5 Transportation Options at Art of Animation:
Option #1: Hop on the Disney Skyliner!
One of the best things about staying at Art of Animation is that you can walk to a boarding station for the Disney Skyliner! Only a few Disney resorts have direct access to the Skyliner, so this is a great benefit.
In case you don’t know, the Disney Skyliner is a transportation system consisting of suspended cabins that move through the air. It gives some incredible views of Walt Disney World, along with being fun, convenient, and relaxing. My kids love riding in the Skyliner as opposed to the Disney buses!
The Disney Skyliner can take you to Epcot or Hollywood Studios from Art of Animation.
To find the boarding station, look for Hourglass Lake, which is located along the back of Art of Animation. The entrance to the boarding station is found on the bridge that crosses the lake!
Check out the map below to see exactly where the Disney Skyliner is located in relation to Art of Animation. No matter where you stay at the resort, you have less than a 5-minute walk to the boarding area!
Once you have boarded the cabin, prepare for a wonderful view as you rise over Hourglass Lake and ride to a connecting station at the Caribbean Beach Resort. Don’t get too comfortable because this journey only takes a few minutes. 🙂
At the Caribbean Beach Resort connecting station, you will get off and take a short walk around the corner to board another cabin. You need to pay attention to the signs because there are separate lines, depending if you want to go to Epcot or Hollywood Studios.
In case you get confused, multiple Cast Members are available to point you in the right direction.
How long does the Disney Skyliner take from Art of Animation?
The assumptions below assume there are no lines to wait in at the Caribbean Beach connecting station.
- Hollywood Studios:
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- Once you have boarded the cabin at Art of Animation, it takes about ten minutes to get to Hollywood Studios.
- Epcot:
- Once you have boarded the cabin at Art of Animation, it takes about twenty minutes to get to Epcot. It takes longer to get to Epcot than Hollywood Studios because the ride from the Caribbean Beach to Epcot is farther away. You must also slow down and go through another connecting station at the Riveria Resort (but you don’t have to leave your cabin).
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- Just so you know, when you arrive at Epcot on the Skyliner, you will be at the International Gateway entrance, which is at the BACK of the park.
On a typical day, the Skyliner runs from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. This schedule will be posted, and it changes slightly depending on the park hours. In general, the Skyliner will be running one hour before Epcot and Hollywood Studios open and stop running two hours after they close.
And please don’t worry if you have a wheelchair or scooter, as the Skyliner can easily accommodate you! Just look for the separate boarding area when you arrive at the entrance. A Cast Member will be available to help you load.
It’s worth saying again that the Disney Skyliner can ONLY take you to two theme parks from Art of Animation – Epcot and Hollywood Studios. It can also take you to two Disney hotels – Caribbean Beach Resort and Riviera Resort. If you want to head somewhere else, keep reading for other transportation options!
Option #2: Use the FREE Bus Service!
One of the BEST parts about staying at Art of Animation (or any Disney resort) is the FREE bus transportation directly to Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, and Disney Springs. In addition, you can use the bus service to get to the two Disney waterparks (Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon) and any of the other Disney hotels!
Where is the bus stop at Art of Animation?
If you want to ride on the Disney buses, your first step is finding the Art of Animation bus stop. Luckily, it’s super easy to locate and can be found directly outside Animation Hall, the main building where the lobby is. Just walk out of the main entrance and turn right. Trust me; you can’t miss it!
Where do the buses at Art of Animation go?
Once you arrive at the bus stop in front of Animation Hall, you must pay attention to the signs to ensure you get on the correct bus! Luckily, everything is clearly marked, so this should not be a problem.
Art of Animation provides bus services directly to the following locations below. I have also included the distance away and the approximate time the bus ride will take. Of course, the drive time varies depending on traffic.
- Magic Kingdom: The bus ride is approximately 15-20 minutes. It is 6.2 miles (10 km) away.
- Animal Kingdom: The bus ride is typically between 10-15 minutes. It is 4.2 miles (6.8 km) away.
- Disney Springs: The bus ride is approximately 10 minutes. It is 3.1 miles (4.9 km) away.
Disney only provides bus transportation to Epcot and Hollywood Studios if the Skyliner is NOT working.
In addition, you can get to these locations from Art of Animation with ONE bus transfer.
- Blizzard Beach: Take the bus from Art of Animation to Animal Kingdom. Then get off the bus and find the shuttle going directly to Blizzard Beach.
- Typhoon Lagoon: Take the bus from Art of Animation to Disney Springs. Then get off the bus and find the bus going directly to Typhoon Lagoon.
- ANY of the other Disney World Resorts: Do you have dinner reservations at the Contemporary Resort? Or do you want to check out Beach Club Resort for your next vacation? Luckily, it’s EASY to get to any of the other 20+ Disney hotels from Art of Animation using the free Disney bus transportation. All you need to do is take the bus to any of the four theme parks or Disney Springs. Then get off the shuttle and find the bus that goes directly to the resort you want to visit! I believe Hollywood Studios is the BEST place for easy transfers since it is the closest theme park to Art of Animation. But please check to make sure Hollywood Studios is still open, or no buses will be operating there. 🙂
- ESPN Wide World of Sports: Check with the front desk regarding bus transportation here. The schedule and operating hours change depending on what events are being held. If there are no direct buses, you must take a bus to one of the parks and transfer to ESPN Wide World of Sports.
What is the bus schedule at Art of Animation?
Bus service to the theme parks typically begins 45 minutes before the park opens and ends 1 hour after closing.
Bus service to Disney Springs begins when it opens 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.
In addition, you will find screens that show the approximate times the next shuttle is expected to arrive at the bus stop!
Option #3: Take a taxi (Uber or Lyft)
Taking a taxi from Art of Animation to the theme parks, Disney Springs, or other Disney resorts is an easy and convenient way to travel.
Using this transportation option can save a lot of time. For example, you may walk up to the bus stop and see a LONG line to get on the bus, and there is a possibility you won’t fit on the next one that arrives. And it’s not uncommon for the Skyliner to be down for maintenance.
I know our family has used taxis when we see the bus we needed to get on just left, and it will be 20 minutes before the next one arrives! I would also advise taking a taxi if you have an early breakfast at another resort since taking a bus from Art of Animation to another resort involves a bus transfer, which adds a considerable amount of time!
The easiest place to meet your taxi driver is outside near the front lobby of Animation Hall, as there are plenty of spots for them to stop and provide you with a safe place to get in the car.
Taking a taxi is also a great way to visit places OUTSIDE Walt Disney World Resort.
We have often stayed at a Disney resort but wanted to visit somewhere else for a day or evening. To help save money, we rarely rent a car, so we have to find alternate transportation.
Luckily, taxis and rideshares can easily take you from Art of Animation to the following locations:
- Sea World <– One of my favorite places. 🙂
- Universal Theme Parks
- Downtown Orlando
- Restaurants, parks, etc. Honestly, you can go anywhere you want!
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 rideshare from the resorts, I’ve had to wait less than ten minutes to get picked up.
You can also request a taxi from Mears, a company that operates all over Orlando.
I have found the one-way fare around Walt Disney World averages about $15. In my opinion, if you have limited time to travel somewhere, it is money well spent!
Option #4: Take a MINNIE Van
Another transportation option at Art of Animation is to take a Minnie Van!
Disney World has partnered with Lyft to provide MINNIE VANS, which are Minnie Mouse-themed mini-vans! Please be aware that this option will be more expensive than a regular Lyft vehicle.
Here are the advantages of using a Minnie Van:
- A complimentary car seat.
- Your driver will be a Disney Cast Member.
- Accessible vans are available and provide two spaces for mobility devices.
- Minnie Vans can access areas that regular rideshares cannot. One example is that you can get dropped off directly in front of Magic Kingdom instead of at the Transportation and Ticket Center!
If you want to use a Minnie Van, open up the Lyft app while inside Art of Animation, and choose your destination. You should see the option to ride in a Minnie Van and the price. If you’re satisfied, order the Minnie Van to come and pick you up!
As you can see below, Minnie Vans are much more expensive than a typical Lyft vehicle and driver.
And lastly, YOU CAN ONLY USE A MINNIE VAN TO GO SOMEWHERE WITHIN WALT DISNEY WORLD RESORT! If you are trying to visit Universal or go somewhere else around Orlando, you must review option #3 above.
Option #5: Drive yourself!
Getting in your car and driving yourself is an overlooked transportation option at Art of Animation. It’s probably the fastest way to travel since you don’t have to wait for someone else to pick you up.
And one incredible benefit of staying at Art of Animation (or any of the Disney Resort hotels) is that parking at any of the theme parks is FREE! Seriously, it’s rare for anything to be free at Disney World. 🙂
Getting FREE parking at the theme parks is an incredible benefit of staying at Disney’s Art of Animation, as parking costs a minimum of $25 per day at each park.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Can I walk from Art of Animation to any of the theme parks?
Unfortunately, the short answer to this question is NO.
First, the distance between Art of Animation Resort and any of the parks is fairly long. Second, there are no walking paths that connect them.
If you feel like walking somewhere, there is a great walking path around Hourglass Lake that takes you through Pop Century Resort.
Can I take the Disney Monorail from Art of Animation?
No, the monorail does not have a boarding station at Art of Animation. 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.
What is your favorite transportation option at Art of Animation?
Please let me know in the comments below. Or please feel free to ask any other questions I did not answer above! 🙂
Great info! For the Minnie Van transportation service from Art of Animation, I see it gives the options for pickup by building (Little Mermaid, Nemo, Cars, Lion King, Main Lobby). Where are the pickup locations for each of these buildings?
Hello Sarah! Honestly, I have never been picked up in front of the different buildings. I always just head to the Main Lobby. To the best of my knowledge, there are no specific pickups for any of the buildings. Just pay attention to the map in the app and set your pickup correctly and the driver should have no problems finding you. 🙂