Getting to Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park from Riviera Resort 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.
Riviera 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 at Riviera is easy to find. Just walk out the front of the resort and turn right.
Please know NO DIRECT bus goes from Riviera to Blizzard Beach.
To get to Blizzard Beach, you must FIRST take the bus from Riviera 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 Riviera showing when the next bus will arrive. It says you must go to Animal Kingdom first and then transfer to another bus to Blizzard Beach.
How long do the buses take from Riviera 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 Riviera, 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 Riviera Resort 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 Riviera 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 from the resort to Blizzard Beach.
It saves so much time! Especially if you walk to the bus stop and realize you missed the next Animal Kingdom bus.
The driving distance from Disney’s Riviera to Blizzard Beach is 2.5 miles (4 km), and the drive should take under 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.
The best place to be picked up is right outside the lobby of the Riviera.
There’s plenty of space for your rideshare driver to pick you up and even a covered loading area in case of rain (like in my photo below!)
How much does an Uber cost from Riviera 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: 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 Riviera 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.
Option #4: 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 #5: Drive yourself to Blizzard Beach!
Getting in your car and driving yourself is an often overlooked way from Disney’s Riviera 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 2.5 miles (4 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 Riviera, 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 Riviera Resort, as parking costs a minimum of $25 per day at each park.
Related Posts:
Can I walk from Disney’s Riviera to Blizzard Beach?
The short answer to this question is NO. First, the distance between the resort and Blizzard Beach is around 2.5 miles (4 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 boat transportation from Riviera to Blizzard Beach?
No. There is no boat transportation at Riviera or Blizzard Beach. You will need to use one of the options listed above.
Can the Disney Skyliner take me from Disney’s Riviera Resort to Blizzard Beach?
The short answer to this question is NO. While there is a Skyliner station at Riviera, it only goes to two parks, Hollywood Studios and Epcot.
Can I take the Disney Monorail from Riviera Resort to Blizzard Beach?
No, the monorail does NOT go to Blizzard Beach. In addition, there is no monorail stop at Riviera Resort.
What is your favorite way to travel from Riviera Resort to Blizzard Beach?
Leave a COMMENT below!
