Planning a trip from Disney Springs to Magic Kingdom? Or looking to get directly to the parks from Disney Springs? Navigating the Walt Disney World Resort transportation system can be a bit confusing- let’s explore your options!
The Best Ways to get from Disney Springs to Magic Kingdom
This guide will explore the best ways to get to the Magic Kingdom from Disney Springs, covering everything from Disney buses to Minnie Vans. We’ll decipher Disney transportation, discuss parking options, and share essential Walt Disney World tips to help you get to the Magic Kingdom as quickly and efficiently as possible!
What is Disney Springs
Disney Springs is a fun, themed shopping, dining, and entertainment district at Walt Disney World Resort. Once known as Downtown Disney, this area has grown a lot over the last few years!
It’s a free-to-enter destination that doesn’t require a park ticket, making it a popular spot for visitors and locals alike. With over 150 shops, restaurants, and attractions, Disney Springs offers a little Disney magic without the theme park craziness. It’s worth noting that while parking is free, you can’t hop on a bus directly to Magic Kingdom from here – we will dive into what you CAN do in the following sections.
How Disney Transportation Works
Disney’s transportation system is a well-oiled machine, designed to get guests around the Walt Disney World Resort. From buses to boats, monorails to Minnie Vans, there’s no shortage of options.
Disney Springs is on Disney World property, and there are several Disney Good Neighborhood Hotels within walking distance of Disney Springs as well as one Disney Resort Hotel (more on this below). If you stay at an actual Disney Resort Hotel (meaning on Disney World property), you will have access to the free Disney transportation noted above.
There are hotels such as Disney’s Carribean Beach Resort, Art of Animation, Riviera, and Pop Century all along the Skyliner path, a gondola-like transportation system that picks guests up at these hotels and takes them to EPCOT and Hollywood Studios. To get to the Magic Kingdom via the Skyliner you would have to take it to EPCOT and then take a monorail to the Magic Kingdom.
The Disney boats accessible to Disney Springs go back and forth between Disney’s Port Orleans French Quarter or Riverside hotels, and Disney’s Old Keywest Resort. They also have a resort hotel within walking distance from Disney Springs called Saratoga Springs.
There are free Disney buses to Disney Resort hotels that take guests between their hotel and all four of the Walt Disney World parks, water parks, and Disney Springs.
Disney Springs offers free parking, a nice perk for those driving in. Just remember, if you’re staying at a Disney resort, you’ve got complimentary transportation at your fingertips – no need to worry about parking or navigating unfamiliar roads.
Can You Take a Bus to the Theme Parks from Disney Springs?
Here’s the scoop: you can’t hop on a direct bus from Disney Springs to any of the Disney parks. Bummer, right? But don’t worry!
You can catch a bus to one of the Magic Kingdom area hotels, and then transfer to park transportation. It’s a bit of a scenic route and takes longer, but it is a workaround (more on this below)!
Remember, Disney Springs offers free parking, awesome shopping and a great variety of dining options, so it should be on your list to visit on your Disney World vacation.
Can You Take a Bus from Disney Springs to the Magic Kingdom Area Hotels?
Yes! Though you can’t catch a direct bus to Magic Kingdom from Disney Springs, as noted above you can hop on a bus to the Magic Kingdom resort hotels. These include fan favorites like Disney’s Contemporary Resort, the Grand Floridian, and the Polynesian Village Resort.
From there, it’s a quick monorail or bus ride to the park. Just remember, this route might take a bit longer than other options. But hey, more time to soak in the Disney magic, right?
Pro tip: If you’re in a hurry to get to the Magic Kingdom from Disney Springs, consider splurging on a Minnie Van. It’s pricier, but it’ll get you there much faster- and you can bypass the TTC (more on this below)!
Can You Take a Bus from Good Neighbor Hotels at Disney Springs to the Magic Kingdom?
Alright, Disney vacation planners, here’s the scoop on getting from Good Neighbor Hotels to the Magic Kingdom. Many of these Disney World Good Neighbor hotels offer their own small buses/transport to Disney theme parks, but not directly to Magic Kingdom.
Disney Good Neighbor hotels that offer free transportation to the Disney Parks include:
- DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Orlando
- Drury Plaza Hotel Orlando Lake Buena Vista
- Hilton Orlando Buena Vista Palace
- Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista
- Holiday Inn Orlando Disney Springs
- Wyndham Garden Lake Buena Vista
- Renaissance Hotel Orlando – Lake Buena Vista
However, policies and perks can change, so always ask your Disney Good Neighbor hotel choice before booking if free transportation is a deal breaker for you! These buses usually drop you off at TTC, something to keep in mind when factoring in your travel time.
Ok, let’s dive into some much-enjoyed perks of staying onsite at a Disney Resort, including Disney transportation and early entry and extended evening hours options!
Driving from Disney Springs to the Magic Kingdom
Driving from Disney Springs to Magic Kingdom typically takes about 10 to 20 minutes, but it can take a lot longer during high traffic times. The most direct route is approximately 6.3 miles.
Quickest Route:
- Exit Disney Springs: Head west on East Buena Vista Drive.
- Merge onto World Drive: Use the ramp to merge onto World Drive North, following signs for Magic Kingdom.
- Continue on World Drive: Stay on World Drive, which leads directly to the Magic Kingdom parking toll plaza.
- Follow Signs to Parking: After the toll plaza, follow signs to the Magic Kingdom parking lot.
Definitely consider these points when budgeting for your time:
- Transportation and Ticket Center (TTC): After parking, you’ll arrive at the TTC. From there, you can take the monorail or ferry to reach the Magic Kingdom entrance.
- Parking Fees: Standard parking fees apply unless you have a valid annual pass or are staying at a Disney Resort hotel that includes complimentary parking.
- Traffic Conditions: Travel times can vary based on time of day, special events, and traffic. It’s advisable to check real-time traffic updates before departing.
Perks of staying at Disney Hotel
As we mentioned earlier, there is a Disney Resort Hotel within walking distance called Saratoga Springs. This, along with Old Key West that offers boat service to Disney Springs, is a Deluxe Resort. An incredible perk of staying at a Deluxe Disney Hotel is that you get access to Extended Evening hours. This gets you two hours one day a week each at Magic Kingdom and EPCOT, from 10 pm to Midnight, where you have the park all to yourself- well, yourself and all of the other Disney Deluxe Resort Hotel guests. But this is a huge bonus perk that you definitely should take advantage of!
Other perks, of course, include the free transportation we keep mentioning and the Early Entry option, where you get into ANY of the four Walt Disney World parks 30 minutes before Rope Drop/park opening. Doesn’t sound like a lot of time? Trust me, you can get so much done if you plan well (and for my time-tested Early Entry and Rope Drop strategies for every Disney park, check out my PIxie Park Plans).
That Early Entry perk doesn’t just apply to Disney Deluxe Resorts it applies to all Disney Resort Hotels AND official Disney Good Neighbor hotels.
Rope Drop and Getting from Disney Springs to Magic Kingdom
If you aren’t eligible for Early Entry you might consider getting up for Rope Drop (getting to the park early before it opens). Rope Drop is a game-changer if you want to get all your favorite attractions done and have time to spare at Magic Kingdom! However, getting from Disney Springs to Magic Kingdom for that crack-of-dawn adventure requires some strategy.
But if taking a bus from Disney Springs to Magic Kingdom is part of your rope drop strategy, then you will have to rethink this! This is because the bus from Disney Springs to the surrounding Magic Kingdom resort hotels doesn’t start until Disney Springs opens at 10 a.m. Considering Rope Drop starts before 9 a.m., this won’t work. You can still take the bus to a Magic Kingdom adjacent Disney resort hotel, but you will be arriving when it is more crowded.
Check out my Pixie Park Plans for the BEST Early Entry and Rope Drop strategy for all of the Walt Disney World parks. These strategies will save you HOURS in line- and the plans will give you pro tips for dining, packing, planning, and so much more!
How Much Time Does It Take to Get to the Magic Kingdom from Disney Springs
Buckle up, Disney vacation planners! The journey from Disney Springs to the Magic Kingdom isn’t a straight shot. You’re looking at about 30-45 minutes, give or take. Here’s the breakdown:
- Bus ride to a Magic Kingdom area resort: 15-20 minutes
- Transfer time: 5-10 minutes
- Monorail or resort bus to the Magic Kingdom: 10-15 minutes
- Drive: 10-20 minutes or more, but then you have to travel from the TTC, see above
The Wrap Up
Navigating from Disney Springs to Magic Kingdom requires some Walt Disney World savvy. Remember, there’s no direct bus, but you can hop to a Magic Kingdom resort hotel first. While Disney Springs offers free parking, factor in time- it takes about 30-45 minutes when using this workaround.
Whether you choose Disney buses, splurge on a Minnie Van, or drive yourself, each option has its pros/cons. So, plan ahead, know your options when it comes to traveling from Disney Springs to Magic Kingdom, and let the magic begin before you even reach the castle!
Ready to start your Disney adventure? Pack your pixie dust and let’s go! And consider checking out these other Disney World blogs:
Ultimate Guide: What to Wear to Disney World in November
Fort Wilderness Transportation Guide: Magic Kingdom & Beyond
Complete List: What to Pack for Disney World in June!
Shelley has been going on Walt Disney World trips since she was a toddler growing up in South Florida. Since then, she has expanded her interests and passion to include Disneyland and runDisney trips. She is a Disney College of Knowledge-certified Travel Planner, runner, Physician, mom of three, and all-around Disney fan. She believes the magic is in the details of any Disney or runDisney trip!
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.