Getting to Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park from the Grand Floridian is slightly more challenging than getting to the theme parks.
But don’t worry; after reading below, you will be comfortable with all the transportation options. Please consider whether each method is FREE or something you must pay EXTRA for.
Disney’s Grand Floridian 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.
Luckily, the bus stop is just a short walk outside the main entrance. When you exit out the front, turn right and follow the walkway until you arrive at the bus stop. The covered bus stop is between the Grand Floridian Convention Center and the resort’s lobby, where you check in.
Please know NO DIRECT bus goes from the Grand Floridian to Blizzard Beach.
To get to Blizzard Beach, you must FIRST take the bus from the Grand Floridian to Animal Kingdom.
Once you have arrived at the theme park, you will get off the bus. You will be at the bus 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 go 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.
You will find a screen at the Grand Floridian bus stop showing when the next bus will arrive. It even says you need to go to Animal Kingdom first and then transfer to another bus to get to Blizzard Beach.
How long do the buses take from the Grand Floridian to Blizzard Beach?
It’s hard to know because you never know how long you will wait 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!
If I were you, I’d estimate it would take roughly 45 minutes to make the journey from the resort to the water park.
- First, you must wait for a bus to arrive at the Grand Floridian, which can take up to 20 minutes.
- Once your bus leaves the resort, arriving at Animal Kingdom takes about 15 minutes.
- Then, you must get off and find the bus that goes to Blizzard Beach. You must also 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 the Grand Floridian 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 the Grand Floridian 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 the Grand Floridian to Blizzard Beach.
It saves so much time! Especially if you walk up to the bus stop and realize you missed the next Animal Kingdom bus.
The driving distance from the resort to Blizzard Beach is 4.6 miles (7.4 km), and the drive should take about 10 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.
Where can an Uber pick me up at the Grand Floridian?
There is plenty of space for your rideshare driver to stop and pick you up outside the main lobby.
How much does an Uber cost from the Grand Floridian 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: Drive yourself to Blizzard Beach!
Getting in your car and driving yourself is an often overlooked way from Disney’s Grand Floridian 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 4.3 miles (6.9 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 stay at the Grand Floridian, 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 Grand Floridian Resort, as parking costs a minimum of $25 per day at each park.
Option #5: 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 Grand Floridian 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.
Related Posts:
Can I take the Disney boat transportation from the Grand Floridian to Blizzard Beach?
While there is boat transportation at the Grand Floridian, the boats do not travel to Blizzard Beach. You can only take boat transportation from the Grand Floridian to the Contemporary and Magic Kingdom.
Can the Disney Skyliner take me from Disney’s Grand Floridian 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 the Grand Floridian.
Can I walk from Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort to Blizzard Beach?
The short answer to this question is NO. First, the distance between the resort and Blizzard Beach is around 4.3 miles (6.9 km). And second, there are no walking paths that connect them. You must take the bus, rideshare, taxi, or drive yourself!
Can I take the Disney Monorail from the Grand Floridian to Blizzard Beach?
No, the monorail does NOT go to Blizzard Beach. Although there is a Monorail boarding station at the Grand Floridian, you can only use it to get to the Magic Kingdom and Epcot.
What is your favorite way to travel from the Grand Floridian to Blizzard Beach?
Leave a COMMENT below!
