Disney World Transportation Guide: How to Get from Magic Kingdom to Disney Springs

In what may come as a surprise to some younger Walt Disney World guests, the area currently known as Disney Springs dates back to the earliest days of Walt Disney World.

Disney transportation

The complex opened in 1975 as the Lake Buena Vista Shopping Village, meaning that guests have been traveling from the Magic Kingdom to Disney Springs for nearly 50 years. So what are the best ways to make that trip? Let’s find out:

Disney Bus Service from Magic Kingdom to Disney Springs

Believe it or not, there is no consistent direct bus service from Magic Kingdom to Disney Springs. However, there are Disney buses pretty close by. Buses to Disney Springs run from all three resorts on the Seven Seas Lagoon: The Contemporary Resort (the closest), the Polynesian Village Resort, and the Grand Floridan Resort and Spa.

You can take a monorail from the Magic Kingdom to a hotel, then hop a bus to Disney Springs.

Each of these resorts is accessible via a walking path around the lagoon. If you’re not feeling the walk, each of the resorts are on the Walt Disney World Monorail line, which can be boarded just outside the Magic Kingdom. In previous years, a bus from Disney Springs ran from the Transportation and Ticket Center; however, this route is not currently in use.

Occasionally, you may find bus service from Magic Kingdom to Disney Springs after 4pm, so you can check for that, but offerings aren’t always consistent. So, in case those busses aren’t available, or if you’re looking for a more leisurely approach, we’ll dive into other ways you can get to Disney Springs from Magic Kingdom.

Bus to Boat Service from Magic Kingdom to Disney Springs

If you’re looking for a slightly more aesthetically pleasing way to travel from Magic Kingdom to Disney Springs, there is a way you can arrive by watercraft. First, you’ll need to hop on a bus from the Magic Kingdom to one of the following resorts: Saratoga Springs Resort, Old Key West Resort, Port Orleans Resort – Riverside, and Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter.

You can take a boat to Disney Springs from certain Disney World resorts.

From any of them, you can hop on one of the Sassagoula Boats for a ride to the Disney Springs Marketplace.

Or you can hop on a water taxi over to the Grand Floridian Resort & Spa or the Polynesian Village Resort and, upon arriving at one of those resorts, then transfer to a bus to Disney Springs. Perfect for that travel by land and water hybrid option.

The BEST Transportation Options in Disney World

Driving from Magic Kingdom to Disney Springs

If you’re planning on driving from Magic Kingdom to Disney Springs, you’ll need to take get to the Disney Transportation and Ticket Center, location of the Magic Kingdom’s Parking lot. You can use the Disney World Monorail, a watercraft, or you can walk the full walkway from Magic Kingdom past the Grand Floridian and the Polynesian to the Transportation and Ticket Center (about a 30-minute walk). Once you’re in your vehicle, you can then drive the 6.5 miles to Disney Springs.

Ride Share or Taxi from the Magic Kingdom to Disney Springs

Uber, Lyft, and traditional taxis are available to travel from Magic Kingdom to Disney Springs. As with the aforementioned driving option, ride share involves getting to the Transportation and Ticket Center, by taking the Disney World Monorail, the walkway, or a watercraft from the Magic Kingdom to the Transportation and Ticket Center. Once there, head to the designated Uber and Lyft pickup area to call a car. From there, it’s a 6.5 mile, approximately 25 minute ride to Disney Springs.

Rideshare pick-up sign

Why You Might Want to Take Uber Instead of Lyft to Magic Kingdom

Minnie Van Options from Magic Kingdom to Disney Springs

Walt Disney World’s in-house ride share service – Minnie Van – is available for travel from Magic King to Disney Springs. In fact, it’s arguably the more convenient ride share option since – unlike the aforementioned Uber and Lyft – Minnie Vans have a dedicated pickup area outside the Magic Kingdom park itself, so no ride to the Transportation and Ticket Center is required. The drop point at Disney Springs is located at the property’s Marketplace Bus Loop.