How do you get from Disney’s Old Key West Resort to Disney Springs?
If you are staying at Old Key West or planning a future visit, you probably want to know how to get to Disney Springs from the resort.
Below, I will detail SEVEN specific ways you can make this journey.
Old Key West to Disney Springs:
Option #1. Take a ferry boat to Disney Springs! (FREE)
A unique way to get to Disney Springs from Old Key West Resort is to take a ferry!
The boat dock is easy to find and located directly behind Hospitality House, the resort’s main lobby.
While in the lobby, walk out the back and head towards the water. I promise you won’t miss it!
When you arrive at the boat dock, get comfortable and wait until the next ferry gets there. The worst part about taking the boats to Disney Springs is WAITING for one to arrive. This can be especially frustrating if you walk out to the pier and see a boat just pulling away.
I know our family has made mad dashes to the dock, attempting to board a ferry preparing to leave. 🙂 You can typically expect a new boat to arrive every 15-20 minutes.
And don’t worry if you have a stroller, as they are allowed on the boats, but you must fold them. The boats are also accessible for wheelchairs and motorized scooters.
Once the ferry leaves Old Key West, it’s roughly a 15-minute ride to Disney Springs.
It’s a relaxing ride, and you get some unique views as you travel through narrow channels, eventually passing Saratoga Springs Resort.
The ride ends at a boat dock near the Marketplace at Disney Springs. As you approach, you will see Disney Springs and all the shops and restaurants on your right.
Once you disembark, Disney Springs is just a short walk to your right!
- Click HERE to view a printable map of Disney Springs. This map will show you where you enter Disney Springs when you take the boat transportation.
Lastly, the ferries are typically scheduled to operate from Old Key West to Disney Springs from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. The last boat that leaves Disney Springs to return to Old Key West leaves at 11:30 p.m. But make sure you check these times when you arrive, as they are subject to change.
Option #2: Take the FREE Disney bus to Disney Springs!
Did you know Disney World provides FREE bus transportation from Old Key West to Disney Springs? Being able to jump on and off these buses is one of the best benefits of staying at a Disney World Resort.
To use the buses to get to Disney Springs, you must first find the bus stops at Old Key West. Because Old Key West is such a big resort, there are five different locations where you can board the buses. The good news is that no matter where you stay within the resort, you shouldn’t have a very far walk to a bus stop.
Here are the FIVE different bus stops, listed in the order* they PICK UP guests at Old Key West:
- #1. Peninsular Road
- #2. Old Turtle Pond Road
- #3. South Point
- #4. Miller’s Road
- #5. Hospitality House / North Cove
*The order above is subject to change based on the bus driver. Many people have said that when the bus is going to Disney Springs, it first stops at Hospitality House and then proceeds to Peninsular Road and so on.*
Here is a map of where you can find each bus stop at Old Key West.
Bus service to Disney Springs operates when they are open 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.
A screen at all the bus stops shows when the next bus to Disney Springs is expected to arrive.
Don’t worry that this sign says “Use Watercraft” to go to Disney Springs. If you watch long enough, it will also show the time for the next bus. I should have gotten a better picture. 🙂
Since the Disney buses are free to ride, it’s a popular way to travel to Disney Springs from Old Key West. You can expect a bit of a line to board the bus at certain times of the day, such as around dinner. So, give yourself plenty of time to get to Disney Springs for a reservation or show. Our family usually leaves our room about an hour before we want to arrive, just to be safe.
Once your bus leaves Old Key West, Disney Springs is only 2.5 miles away (4 km). The drive should take about 10 minutes.
But please be aware that you will probably be on the bus longer than 10 minutes, depending on which stop you board the bus.
That’s because you must wait as the bus drops off and picks up guests at the other stops before finally leaving for the theme park. For example, if you get on the bus at Peninsular Road (Stop #1), it’s estimated that it will take around 15 minutes just to get through the rest of the bus stops within Old Key West before finally leaving for Disney Springs.
Some guests use a strategy to walk directly to one of the last bus stops: Miller’s Road (#4) or Hospitality House (#5). They do this to avoid spending additional time on the bus.
The Hospitality House bus stop is outside the main lobby entrance. You can expect the biggest lines for the bus here.
But I want to warn you this plan could backfire.
During busy times, such as in the evening, the bus may already be full of guests by the time it reaches these last stops. If that happens, the bus will drive by, and you must hope the next one has room for you.
Option #3: Walk from Old Key West to Disney Springs
It’s also possible to walk directly to Disney Springs from the resort.
To find the walking path, you first need to walk to the southern end of Old Key West and find the “Conch Flats Trail.”
Essentially, you will be walking along the water canal the entire time. This is the same waterway that the boats use to go back and forth from Disney Springs.
Check out the map below. The RED line is the walking path to Disney Springs.
The trail is estimated to be 1.3 miles (2.1 km) long, but that doesn’t include the distance you walked to get to the trail from your room.
The only tricky part is towards the end. Look at the picture below.
If you take a left onto the bridge, you will head to Saratoga Springs. You need to veer right to get to Disney Springs. And yes, you may pass some golfers at this point. 🙂
You will enter Disney Springs on the western end, near Cirque du Soleil and House of Blues.
It’s a peaceful and relaxing walk, but it can get very hot, depending on the weather. And make sure you stay on the designated trail and don’t accidentally walk through the golf course. 🙂
Option #4: Take an Uber/Lyft from Old Key West to Disney Springs
If you don’t want to wait for the bus or boat, using a rideshare service (Uber or Lyft) from Old Key West Resort is easy. Just open the app and select Disney Springs as your destination, and you should be matched with a driver within seconds.
Because Old Key West is such a big resort, it’s important that you mark your location CORRECTLY in the app to avoid any delays. No matter which building you are staying in, a parking lot will be nearby, offering plenty of room for your driver to pick you up.
The driving distance from Disney’s Old Key West Resort to Disney Springs is only 2.5 miles (4 km), and the drive should take under 10 minutes, depending on the traffic and where you park. Another benefit of Uber or Lyft is that they can drop you off on the west or east end of Disney Springs, depending on the shops or restaurants you want to visit.
I have found the one-way fare from Old Key West averages under $15.
If you have limited time to travel to Disney Springs, I think it is money well spent!
Between Uber and Lyft, 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. 🙂
Option #5: Take a TAXI to Disney Springs
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.
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 Old Key West Resort, 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 #6: Ride in a MINNIE VAN to Disney Springs
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 employees of Disney, which provides additional peace of mind.
While using the Lyft app inside the resort, choose Disney Springs 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 more expensive than a regular Lyft vehicle. But 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 #7: Drive yourself to Disney Springs!
Getting in your car (if you have one) and driving yourself is an often overlooked way to go from Disney’s Old Key West to Disney Springs. 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 where you park.
One nice thing about Disney Springs is that parking is FREE! Seriously, it’s rare for anything to be free at Disney World. 🙂
There are multiple parking lots and garages when you arrive at Disney Springs. Pay attention to where you park, as some of these lots are HUGE, and it can be hard to find your car again.
- Click HERE to view a printable map of Disney Springs. This map can help you determine the best place to park, depending on the shops or restaurants you want to visit.
Related Posts:
Can the Disney Skyliner take me from Old Key West to Disney Springs?
The short answer to this question is NO. The Skyliner does not travel to Disney Springs. Additionally, there is no boarding station for the Skyliner at Old Key West Resort.
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 take the Disney Monorail from Old Key West to Disney Springs?
No, the monorail has no boarding station at Old Key West. In addition, the monorail does not travel to Disney Springs.
What is your favorite way to travel from Disney’s Old Key West Resort to Disney Springs?
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