How do you get from Disney’s Riviera Resort to Magic Kingdom?
If you are staying at the Riviera Resort or planning a future visit, you probably want to know how to get to Magic Kingdom from the resort.
Below, I will detail FIVE specific ways you can make this journey.
Disney’s Riviera Resort to Magic Kingdom:
Option #1: Take the FREE Disney bus to Magic Kingdom!
Did you know Disney World provides FREE bus transportation from the Riviera Resort to Magic Kingdom?
And the best part is that the bus stop is just a short walk outside the main entrance.
When you exit the front lobby, turn right and follow the covered walkway until you arrive at the bus stop.
When you arrive at the bus stop, make sure you find the correct line for the bus going to Magic Kingdom. Don’t worry; signs clearly mark where you need to stand.
Bus service to Magic Kingdom typically begins 45 minutes before the 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 20 minutes.
You will find a screen at the bus stop showing when the next bus to Magic Kingdom is expected to arrive.
Once you board the bus and leave, I estimate that your ride should take a little under 15 minutes, but this depends on traffic.
Since the Disney buses are free to ride, it’s the most popular way to travel to Magic Kingdom from the Riviera. You can expect a bit of a line to board the bus at certain times, such as in the morning around the park opening. So make sure to give yourself plenty of time to arrive at Magic Kingdom for a reservation or show. Our family usually leaves our room about an hour before we want to arrive, just to be safe.
Lastly, the Disney buses will drop you off DIRECTLY in front of Magic Kingdom instead of Disney’s Transportation and Ticket Center. As you will see next, this is a HUGE advantage of taking the bus. 🙂
Option #2: Take an Uber from the Riviera Resort to Magic Kingdom
If you don’t want to ride on or wait for the bus, using a rideshare service (Uber or Lyft) from the Riviera Resort is easy.
The easiest place to meet your driver is outside near the Riviera front lobby, as there are plenty of spots for you to get in the car. You could also walk down to the bus stop or one of the large parking lots at the resort, as there are many open areas for the driver to park quickly. Regardless, make sure you mark the location you want to be picked up CORRECTLY in the app to avoid any delays.
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. 🙂 But this option is not free. I’ve found the one-way fare from the Riviera averages under $15.
The driving distance from Disney’s Riviera Resort to Magic Kingdom is only 5 miles (8 km), and takes 10 – 15 minutes. Another benefit of using a rideshare is that they typically drive to Magic Kingdom faster than the slower Disney buses.
But there is one big disadvantage of using a rideshare service when you go to Magic Kingdom…
Your driver is NOT allowed to drop you off directly in front of the Magic Kingdom. Instead, they must take you to Disney’s Transportation and Ticket Center.
Once you are here, there are TWO ways to complete the journey to the Magic Kingdom.
#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.
#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 only 10 minutes long!
If you want to avoid the Transporation and Ticket Center and get dropped off directly in front of the Magic Kingdom, take the bus from the Riviera Resort or ride in a Minnie Van (Option #4)!
Option #3: Take a TAXI to Magic Kingdom
I know some people don’t like using Uber or Lyft because they don’t know 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 having to wait for a bus. But of course, you must pay for the taxi ride, whereas the Disney bus is free.
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 a rideshare service.
Option #4: Take a MINNIE Van from the Riviera to Magic Kingdom
If you want to avoid the Transportation and Ticket Center, you should 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 Riviera, 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 employees of Disney, 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 #5: Drive yourself to Magic Kingdom!
Getting in your car and driving yourself is an often overlooked way to go to Magic Kingdom.
The distance between these two locations is only 5 miles (8 km). The drive takes about 10 minutes, depending on traffic.
And here is the BEST news about driving yourself to Magic Kingdom…
Assuming you are staying at the Riviera, the parking at Magic Kingdom 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.
But just like taking an Uber/Lyft, 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 Magic Kingdom, take the Disney bus or a Minnie Van.
Related Posts:
Can I walk from Disney’s Riviera Resort to Magic Kingdom?
The short answer to this question is NO. First, the distance between the resort and the theme park is fairly long, around 5 miles (8 km). And second, there are no walking paths that connect them. You must take the bus, a taxi/rideshare, or drive yourself to get there!
Can the Disney Skyliner take me from the Riviera Resort to Magic Kingdom?
The short answer to this question is NO.
A huge benefit of staying at the Riviera Resort is its boarding station for the Disney Skyliner. But there is no way to go to Magic Kingdom this way. The Skyliner only goes to two parks, Hollywood Studios and Epcot.
What is your favorite way to travel from Disney’s Riviera Resort to Magic Kingdom?
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