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The Expert Guide to Disney's Animal Kingdom Transportation

by Leap on July 6, 2022

Disney's Animal Kingdom has a variety of really fun transportation vehicles ... a time rover, a safari truck and everything in between as you explore through jungle landscapes, river rapids and tropical trails. We just can't get enough! Luckily for our frog legs, Disney's Animal Kingdom complimentary transportation makes getting to the park easy and simple for everyone. You won't be stranded in the wilderness after a long day!

Driving your own car is always an option as well for any of Disney World's destinations. And we're hoppy to say the parking trams have returned to Animal Kingdom, so you can save your walking for inside the park!

Whether you're hopping back to your Disney Resort hotel or to another park, Animal Kingdom complimentary transportation will get you where you need to go. Though limited in options, you can always count on the bus system. Here is our overview of Disney's Animal Kingdom complimentary transportation.

Our Guide to Disney's Animal Kingdom Transportation

You can connect almost any two points within Walt Disney World with free transportation, especially if you're staying on-site at a Disney Resort hotel. Even if you're staying off-site, you can utilize the complimentary buses, monorails and more to make the leap from park to park. Animal Kingdom does have the most limited transportation options directly to and from the park itself. But don't worry: It's still just as easy to get there and back!

The perks don't stop at free transportation for Walt Disney World Resort guests ... there are tons of other benefits too! Check out our favorite reasons to stay on-site at Disney World.

Animal Kingdom Transportation – Bus Directory

From Disney's Animal Kingdom to Other Disney Theme Parks

To Magic Kingdom: Bus service

To EPCOT: Bus service

To Disney's Hollywood Studios: Bus service

Some bus routes may require transfer from one bus to another. If you are looking to head straight to Disney Springs from Animal Kingdom, there is no direct route, so you'll need to go to a resort and then transfer from there.

From Disney's Animal Kingdom to Disney Resort Hotels

To all Disney Resort Hotels: Disney Resort hotels are all accessible by bus from Disney's Animal Kingdom.

On the way to the parks from Disney Resort hotels, live bus wait times are now on display.

To Disney's Animal Kingdom from Other Resort Destinations

From Magic Kingdom: Bus service

From EPCOT: Bus service

From Disney's Hollywood Studios: Bus service

From all Disney Resort hotels: Bus service

Disney's Animal Kingdom is wild, but getting there is a breeze! Animal Kingdom complimentary transportation helps you adventure around Walt Disney World quickly and easily. Have any questions? Hop to the comments below!

Keep hopping!

Tags: Disney's Animal Kingdom, Disney World, Disney Transportation

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Sep 30, 2023 at 12:16 p.m.

Jules Says...

Sorry, forgot to mention that parking at water parks is free. Is that an option?

Oct 2, 2023 at 9:07 a.m.

FrogBlog Says...

Hi Jules!

Similar to Disney Springs, bus service for the water parks wouldn't start in time for rope drop at Animal Kingdom.

Keep hopping!

Leap

Sep 30, 2023 at 12:15 p.m.

Jules Says...

Staying off resort. Want to get to animal Kingdom when Gates open. Don't want to pay $25. Uber is an option, about 20 minutes. I've heard free parking is available at Disney springs and then I would take a shuttle to the hotel on property at animal kingdom. What do you suggest?

Oct 2, 2023 at 9:05 a.m.

FrogBlog Says...

Hi Jules!

If you're planning to rope drop Animal Kingdom and want to be there right when the gates open, Uber or Lyft would be your best option besides parking at the theme park. The Disney Springs bus service would not be running that early (starts once it opens, generally at 10 a.m.), plus it would involve bus transfers that could take an hour (or more, depending on the season) since there aren't any direct routes to the theme parks, as this is generally frowned upon.

Keep hopping!

Leap

Jan 24, 2023 at 1:05 p.m.

Lynn Says...

I need a mobility scooter. Considering animal kingdom by day and Disney springs by night. Is that a good combination or am I going to have difficulty getting a rented scooter back and forth?

Jan 24, 2023 at 1:36 p.m.

FrogBlog Says...

Hi Lynn!

It depends — if you're renting directly from Disney, you would need to leave the ECV rental at Garden Gate Gifts (which is just inside the Animal Kingdom entrance on the right) before you leave the park and then pick up a new ECV at Sundries, which is close to the bus station at Disney Springs. The rental fee would apply for the day at both places, so you'd just need to hold onto the receipt from Animal Kingdom and present it at Disney Springs. The walk from Animal Kingdom's entrance to the Animal Kingdom bus station could prove to be difficult if you rely heavily on a mobility device. To see this distance on a map, you can find the ECV rental location here (near the bottom of the page) on Disney's website.

If you're unable to walk that distance, you may want to look into a third-party rental company so that you can use an ECV outside of the park. There are many different options, but the Disney Featured Provider is ScooterBug. The buses are able to accommodate ECVs so transporting it from one place to another would not be too difficult.

Keep hopping!

Leap

Aug 24, 2022 at 2:25 p.m.

Jessica Says...

Do the busses at Animal Kingdom Lodge run early enough to be at the parks a half hour before the early entry for resort guests? Like if Hollywood Studios opens to the public at 9, and the resort guests at 8:30, does AKL have transport to get you there and in line by 8:00?

Aug 24, 2022 at 12:28 p.m.

FrogBlog Says...

Hi Jessica!

Officially, bus service begins 45 minutes before park open, though it can start even earlier during busy times. In order to arrive for Early Entry on time, we'd recommend driving or using a ride-sharing service or Minnie Van (otherwise, commit to arriving extra early at the bus stop so you can get on the first available bus).

Keep hopping!

Leap

Jul 30, 2022 at 8:38 p.m.

mary Says...

We are considering Boma or Sanaa for breakfast or lunch for our Animal Kingdom day. Does bud go direct to Ak or does it stop at TTC first? About how long is the journey using the Disney bus? Wondering if its worth the time or if we should just eat inside the park.

Aug 1, 2022 at 8:32 a.m.

FrogBlog Says...

Hi Mary!

If you're going from Animal Kingdom Lodge to Animal Kingdom Theme Park, then you'll go directly to the theme park from the hotel. The bus journey is short (about 5 minutes)!

In regards to the TTC, even if you go to Magic Kingdom from your resort, you won't stop at the TTC unless you drive yourself or get dropped off by a ride share. Disney bus transportation (or a Minnie Van) would drop you off at the bus loop near Magic Kingdom's entrance.

Keep hopping!

Leap

Mar 22, 2022 at 11:04 p.m.

Lais Says...

Hello! Can I take the bus from DAK to TTC if I don't have a park hopper ticket? (staying off property)

Mar 23, 2022 at 6:03 p.m.

FrogBlog Says...

Hi Lais!

Yes, Disney transportation is toadally free to all guests.

Keep hopping!

Leap

Jan 6, 2022 at 2:20 a.m.

Marie Guerrie Says...

Do you have information on each Disney Resort regarding how you get to each theme park from that specific resort? Thanks!

Jan 6, 2022 at 8:44 a.m.

FrogBlog Says...

Hi Marie!

We have other guides to transportation for Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios and EPCOT (in addition to this Animal Kingdom guide). These guides follow a similar format and also include the resort hotels. Animal Kingdom is unique because the only mode of transportation available is by bus, but the others will list all of the different forms of transportation, such as Skyliner, monorail, bus or boat.

Keep hopping!

Leap

Sep 7, 2019 at 7:31 p.m.

TTC? Says...

I've never heard of a bus from DAK to TTC or vice versa. Buses from MK to other parks depart from the bus depot at the parks, no?

Sep 10, 2019 at 2:03 p.m.

FrogBlog Says...

Hi there!

You are correct - this was the old way of operating, and buses coming from another park to Magic Kingdom will go to the bus depot rather than the TTC. We've adjusted our post accordingly. Thanks for bringing it to our attention! :)

Keep hopping!

Leap

Dec 30, 2013 at 9:42 p.m.

Sit Back & Enjoy the Ride…Complimentary Transportation for Magic Kingdom Says...

[...] Click the links below for transportation to and from the other theme parks: Epcot Disney’s Hollywood Studios Disney’s Animal Kingdom [...]