disney springs sign at animal kingdom lodge

5 Ways from Animal Kingdom Lodge to Typhoon Lagoon!

Disney World » Animal Kingdom Lodge » 5 Ways from Animal Kingdom Lodge to Typhoon Lagoon!

If you plan to go to Typhoon Lagoon while you’re staying at Animal Kingdom Lodge, you need to know the best ways to get there. It’s a little more complicated than getting to the theme parks!

This guide will explain all the transportation options and help you get comfortable with them before your trip. Pay attention to which options are FREE and which ones cost extra.

Animal Kingdom Lodge to Typhoon Lagoon:


Option #1: Take the FREE Disney bus to Typhoon Lagoon!

take a disney bus from animal kingdom lodge to typhoon lagoon

If you want to get to Typhoon Lagoon for FREE, then you should use the bus transportation that Disney World provides.

Where is the bus stop at Animal Kingdom Lodge?

There are bus stops right outside the entrance at both Jambo House and Kidani Village. Just walk outside and follow the walkway to the bus stop.

Please know NO DIRECT bus goes from Animal Kingdom Lodge to Typhoon Lagoon.

To get to Typhoon Lagoon, you must FIRST take the bus from Animal Kingdom Lodge to Disney Springs.

Once you arrive at Disney Springs, you will get off the bus at the resort dropoff area.

From here, you need to find the bus going to Typhoon Lagoon and board it once it arrives.

Luckily, the second bus ride only takes about 5 minutes because Disney Springs and Typhoon Lagoon are right next to each other.

Bus service to Typhoon Lagoon from Disney Springs 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.

You will find a screen at the bus stop showing when the next bus will arrive. You can even see where it says you need to go to Disney Springs first and then transfer to another bus to get to Typhoon Lagoon.

How long do the buses take from Animal Kingdom Lodge to Typhoon Lagoon?

This can be hard to estimate because you never know how long you’ll have to wait for a bus. Unfortunately, it’s common to walk up to the bus stop and see your bus pulling away!

If I were you, I’d 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 resort, which can take up to 20 minutes.
  • Once your bus leaves Animal Kingdom Lodge, it takes about 20 minutes to arrive at Disney Springs.
  • Then, you must get off and find the bus that goes to Typhoon Lagoon and wait for the new bus to arrive.
  • Finally, the bus ride from Disney Springs to Typhoon Lagoon takes about 5 minutes.

As you can see, it can take a LONG time to get from Animal Kingdom Lodge to Typhoon Lagoon when you factor in the bus transfer.

And remember, you need to repeat this process in reverse when you’re ready to go back 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! 🙂


Option #2: Take a rideshare from Animal Kingdom Lodge to Typhoon Lagoon

animal kingdom lodge to typhoon lagoon via rideshare

As we just discussed, the problem with taking the Disney bus to Typhoon Lagoon is how long it takes!

That’s why I LOVE using Uber or Lyft to get from Animal Kingdom Lodge to Typhoon Lagoon. 

It saves so much time! Especially if you walk up to the bus stop and realize you missed the next bus to Disney Springs.

The driving distance from Animal Kingdom Lodge to Typhoon Lagoon is 6.4 miles (10.3 km), and the drive should take about 15 minutes! I estimate that you can save roughly an HOUR by using a rideshare service 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.

Make sure you mark your location CORRECTLY in the app to avoid any delays.

Uber and Lyft drivers can pick you up at the front of Kidani Village or Jambo House, near the front entrance.

How much does an Uber cost from Animal Kingdom Lodge to Typhoon Lagoon?

uber from animal kingdom lodge to typhoon lagoon

It’s estimated to cost under $15 one-way. Of course, the exact price depends on what kind of vehicle you need and whether there is “surge pricing” when you book your ride. 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 Typhoon Lagoon

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!

minnie van from animal kingdom lodge to typhoon lagoon

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 Typhoon Lagoon as your destination. Then, order the Minnie Van to come and pick you up.

animal kingdom lodge to typhoon lagoon by lyft

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 Typhoon Lagoon

take a taxi - animal kingdom lodge to typhoon lagoon

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 Animal Kingdom Lodge to Typhoon Lagoon, 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 Typhoon Lagoon!

Getting in your car and driving yourself is an often overlooked way from Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge to Typhoon Lagoon. 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 6.4 miles (10.3 km). The drive takes about 15 minutes, depending on traffic.

driving yourself from animal kingdom lodge to typhoon lagoon

And here is the BEST news about driving yourself to Typhoon Lagoon:

As long as you are staying at Animal Kingdom Lodge, the parking at the water park 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 Animal Kingdom Lodge, as parking costs a minimum of $25 per day at each park.


Frequently Asked Questions

Does the Skyliner go from Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge to Typhoon Lagoon?

No, there is no Skyliner stop at Typhoon Lagoon. Additionally, the Skyliner only goes to the following resorts: Caribbean Beach, Riviera, Pop Century, and Art of Animation.

Is there boat transportation from Animal Kingdom Lodge to Typhoon Lagoon?

Animal Kingdom Lodge has no boat service, and the boats do not travel to Typhoon Lagoon. You will need to use one of the options above.

Will the Disney Monorail get me from Animal Kingdom Lodge to Typhoon Lagoon?

No, the monorail does NOT go to Typhoon Lagoon or have a boarding station at Animal Kingdom Lodge. You must take a Disney bus, drive yourself, or take a rideshare to Typhoon Lagoon from this resort.

Can I walk from Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge to Typhoon Lagoon?

The short answer to this question is NO. First, the distance between the resort and Typhoon Lagoon is around 6.4 miles (10.3 km). And second, there are no walking paths that connect them. You must either take the bus, rideshare, taxi, or drive yourself!


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What’s the best way from Animal Kingdom Lodge to Typhoon Lagoon?

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Lindsey Dahle
Lindsey Dahle

Lindsey has been writing at Resort Rat since 2023. She loves sharing her enthusiasm for travel, especially to Disney destinations. She is passionate about helping others make the most of their travel. Lindsey's home base is a quiet neighborhood with a pond and woods, but her home is wherever her husband and two kids are.

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