How do you get from the Walt Disney World Dolphin Resort to the Magic Kingdom?
If you are staying at the Dolphin or planning a future visit, you probably want to know the different ways to get to Magic Kingdom from the resort.
Below, I will detail FIVE specific ways you can make this journey.
WDW Dolphin to Magic Kingdom:
Option #1: Take the FREE bus to Magic Kingdom!
Did you know that the Dolphin provides FREE bus transportation to Magic Kingdom? And the best part is that the bus stop is just a short walk outside the main lobby entrance. When you exit the front lobby, turn left and follow the covered walkway until you arrive at the bus stop.
Bus service to and from Magic Kingdom typically begins 45 minutes before the park opens and ends 45 minutes 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 or so.
You will find a screen at the bus stop showing when the next bus to Magic Kingdom is expected to arrive.
Once your bus leaves the Dolphin, it should take less than 10 minutes to arrive at Magic Kingdom.
As you can imagine, since the buses do not cost anything extra, they’re 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 to arrive at Magic Kingdom for a reservation.
But there is one disadvantage of taking the buses from the Dolphin when you go to Magic Kingdom…
Your driver is NOT allowed to drop you off directly in front of the Magic Kingdom. Instead, they take you to Disney’s Transportation and Ticket Center (TTC). If you want your bus to bypass the TTC, you must stay at an official Disney World resort.
Once you are here, there are TWO ways to complete the journey to the Magic Kingdom. Don’t worry; both of these options do not take long.
#1: Take the monorail
The first way to get to Magic Kingdom from the Transportation and Ticket Center is by taking the famous Disney monorail.
The monorail runs continuously throughout the day. Service begins 30 minutes before the park opens and ends an hour after the park closes. Make sure you board the Express Monorail, which goes directly to Magic Kingdom. The ride lasts about 5 minutes or less.
#2: Take the ferry
Another way to finish traveling to the Magic Kingdom is to board the ferry. These boats have two seating levels and can fit many people.
The ferryboats leave approximately every 10-20 minutes. Once you depart, the boat ride is under 10 minutes long!
If you want to avoid the Transporation and Ticket Center and get dropped off directly in front of the Magic Kingdom, you must ride in a Minnie Van (Option #3)!
Option #2: Take an Uber from the Dolphin to Magic Kingdom
If you want to get to Magic Kingdom fast, using a rideshare service (Uber or Lyft) from the Dolphin is easy. This option can save a lot of time, especially if you just missed the bus.
The easiest place to meet your driver is outside near the Dolphin Resort’s front lobby, as there are plenty of spots for them to stop and for you to get in the car.
The driving distance from the Walt Disney World Dolphin to Magic Kingdom is short, and the drive takes under 10 minutes, depending on the amount of traffic. Another benefit of Uber or Lyft is that they typically drive to Magic Kingdom faster than the slower bus transportation.
The one-way fare from the Dolphin averages under $15.
If you have limited time to travel to Magic Kingdom, I think it is money well spent!
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 to the parks, I’ve had to wait less than 10 minutes to get picked up.
One negative to using a rideshare service is that you get dropped off at Disney’s Transportation and Ticket Center instead of the front of Magic Kingdom, similar to taking the bus.
Option #3: Ride in a MINNIE VAN to Magic Kingdom
If you want to avoid the Transportation and Ticket Center, consider taking a Minnie Van.
Disney World has partnered with Lyft to provide MINNIE VANS, which are Minnie Mouse-themed mini-vans!
This option will be more expensive than a regular Lyft vehicle, but Minnie Vans have a really big benefit.
You will get dropped off directly in front of the Magic Kingdom instead of the Transportation and Ticket Center!
Minnie Vans are the ONLY rideshare/taxi authorized to do this and bypass the Transportation and Ticket Center.
While using the Lyft app inside the Dolphin, choose the Magic Kingdom as your destination to see the price. Then order the Minnie Van to come and pick you up!
While this option is fun, as you can see above, it is more expensive than a regular Lyft vehicle. But in addition to getting dropped off directly in front of Magic Kingdom, here are a few additional benefits of a Minnie Van.
- 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.
- 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 Magic Kingdom
I know some people don’t like using Uber or Lyft because they don’t know about 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.
If you want to take a taxi from the Dolphin, I recommend calling Mears Taxi, a well-known and trusted company in the Orlando area. You can even schedule and book your ride online.
One negative to taking a taxi is that you get dropped off at Disney’s Transportation and Ticket Center instead of the front of Magic Kingdom, similar to taking the bus from the Dolphin.
Option #5: Drive yourself to Magic Kingdom!
Getting in your car and driving yourself is an often overlooked way from the Dolphin Resort to Magic 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 under 4 miles (6.4 km). The drive takes under 10 minutes, depending on traffic.
And here is the BEST news about driving yourself to Magic Kingdom…
As long as you stay at the Dolphin, the parking at Magic Kingdom is FREE! Unfortunately, many guests don’t realize (or forget) that if you stay here, parking at any of the parks does not cost anything.
Getting FREE parking at the theme parks is an incredible benefit of staying at the Walt Disney World Dolphin Resort, as parking costs a minimum of $25 per day at each park.
But just like taking the bus, you MUST park at the Transportation and Ticket Center to get to Magic Kingdom.
Once parked here, you can take the monorail or the ferry to complete your journey to the Magic Kingdom. If you want to get dropped off directly in front of the Magic Kingdom entrance, take a Minnie Van (Option #3).
Related Posts:
Can I take the Disney boats from the Dolphin to Magic Kingdom?
No. There is boat transportation at the Dolphin, but the boats do not travel to Magic Kingdom. You can take the Friendship Boats from the Dolphin to Epcot, Hollywood Studios, the Boardwalk, or the Yacht and Beach Clubs.
Can the Disney Skyliner take me from the Dolphin Resort to Magic Kingdom?
No, the monorail has no boarding station at the Dolphin. In addition, the monorail does not travel to Magic Kingdom.
If you want a Skyliner boarding station at your hotel, stay at the Riviera Resort, Caribbean Beach Resort, Art of Animation, or Pop Century.
Can I walk from the WDW Dolphin Resort to Magic Kingdom?
The short answer to this question is NO. First, the distance between the resort and Magic Kingdom is fairly long, at around 4 miles (6.4 km). And second, there are no walking paths that connect them. You must take the bus or a rideshare/taxi or drive yourself!
What is your favorite way to travel from the Walt Disney World Dolphin Resort to Magic Kingdom?
Leave a COMMENT below!
