How do you get from Disney’s Riverside – Port Orleans Resort to Disney Springs?
If you are staying at Riverside or planning a future visit, you probably want to know how to get to Disney Springs from the resort.
Below, I will detail SIX specific ways you can make this journey.
Riverside to Disney Springs:
Option #1. Take a boat to Disney Springs! (FREE)
The most fun way to get to Disney Springs from Port Orleans Riverside is to ride on a boat!
To find the boat dock, walk out the back of the main building, where you check-in. Keep walking until you reach the Sassagoula River. You should be able to see the boat dock. There should also be signs pointing you in the correct direction.
When you arrive at the dock, get comfortable and wait until the next boat 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 that is 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 Port Orleans Riverside, it’s about a 20-minute journey to Disney Springs.
Please be aware that your boat will also stop at Port Orleans French Quarter to pick up additional guests. On the way home from Disney Springs, you will also stop at the French Quarter before returning to Riverside.
The boat ride is relaxing, and you get some unique views as you travel along the Sassagoula River and across the lake. 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.
Here is where you are dropped off at Disney Springs from the boat. Please pay attention to where it’s located so you can find it again to return to Riverside.
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 boats are typically scheduled to operate from Port Orleans Riverside to Disney Springs from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. The last boat that leaves Disney Springs to return leaves at 11:30 p.m. But check these times when you arrive, as they are subject to change.
Option #2: Take the FREE Disney bus to Disney Springs!
If you don’t want to take the boat transportation to Disney Springs, you can also hop on a bus.
But to use the buses to get to Disney Springs, you must first find the bus stops! Because Riverside is such a big resort, there are FOUR 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 at least one of the stops.
You may be aware of this, but Port Orleans Riverside Resort has a sister resort, Port Orleans French Quarter, which is located just to the south. In fact, they are so close you can walk between the two of them.
Anyway, I’m bringing this up because the bus that goes to Disney Springs also stops at Port Orleans French Quarter to pick up and drop off guests.
To help you understand the bus route, here is the order of bus stops from Disney Springs.
- The bus leaves from Disney Springs.
- Stop #1: French Quarter lobby
- Stop #2: South Depot at Riverside – this is the stop outside the main lobby. It is considered the MAIN bus stop. It is the largest and busiest.
- Stop #3: West Depot at Riverside
- Stop #4: North Depot at Riverside
- Stop #5: East Depot at Riverside
- Stop #6: French Quarter lobby (Yes, it stops here twice on the loop to and from Disney Springs)
- Stop #7: Disney Springs
As you can see, this bus route also serves as an internal bus service between Port Orleans Riverside and Port Orleans French Quarter.
Here is a map of where you can find each bus stop at Port Orleans Riverside. Look at a full PDF map of Port Orleans Riverside HERE. You can also see where Bus Stop #1 and #6 at the French Quarter are located.
If you take the bus back to your room from Disney Springs, pay attention to where you need to get off! If you are staying at Riverside, it’s easy to get off the bus at the French Quarter since it’s the first stop. 🙂
When you arrive at the bus stop, you will find a screen showing when the next bus is expected to arrive. In the picture below, there is no time showing for the Disney Springs bus because Disney Springs wasn’t open when I took the picture. 🙂
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.
Since the Disney buses are free to ride, it’s the most popular way to travel to Disney Springs from Port Orleans Riverside. You can expect a bit of a line to board the bus at certain times, such as in the evening. So, give yourself ample time to get to Disney Springs for a reservation. Our family usually leaves our room about an hour before we want to arrive, just to be safe.
Option #3: Take an Uber/Lyft from Riverside to Disney Springs
If you don’t want to wait for the bus or boat, using a rideshare service (Uber or Lyft) from Port Orleans Riverside Resort is easy. Just open the app and select Disney Springs as your destination, and you will be matched with a driver within seconds.
It’s important that you mark your location CORRECTLY in the app to avoid any delays. No matter which building you are staying in, there will be a parking lot nearby, offering plenty of room for your driver to pick you up. There is also plenty of space outside the front lobby for your driver to pick you up.
The driving distance from Disney’s Port Orleans Riverside to Disney Springs is only a few miles, and the drive should take under 10 minutes. 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.
The one-way fare from Riverside 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 #4: 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 the Riverside 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 #5: 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 #6: Drive yourself to Disney Springs!
Getting in your car (if you have one) and driving yourself is an often overlooked way to go from Port Orleans Riverside 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 very short. 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 Port Orleans Riverside 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 Riverside.
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 Port Orleans Riverside to Disney Springs?
No, the monorail has no boarding station at Riverside. In addition, the monorail does not travel to Disney Springs.
What is your favorite way to travel from Port Orleans Riverside to Disney Springs?
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