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How to Use Minnie Vans at Disney World

HomeHow to Use Minnie Vans at Disney World
How to Use Minnie Vans at Disney World

What do you get when you cross Disney-level service with a popular ride-sharing company like Lyft?

An innovative transportation option for Disney resort guests cleverly named Minnie Vans.

This new transportation service can be a great option for some families in some situations, so check out the information below to see if it might make sense for you on your next trip.

What are Disney Minnie Vans?

Building on the popularity of ride-sharing services like Uber or Lyft, Minnie Vans provide guests with point-to-point transfer in the comfort of a well-appointed (and polka-dotted!) 6 passenger Chevy Traverse and Chevy Suburbans.

But, unlike Uber or Lyft (which are both also available on the Walt Disney World Resort property), Disney’s Minnie Vans are driven by Disney Cast Members.

Minnie Vans Sign

Ideally, this means that you can expect the same high-level of customer service from your driver as you’d have from any other Cast Member interaction at Walt Disney World.

For many families unfamiliar with using a ride-sharing service, knowing that the driver is a Disney-trained Cast Member can help to ease any worries they might have when using one to travel to a Disney park or resort.

Accessible Minnie Vans

Similarly decked out vehicles are also available for guests using wheelchairs or ECVs at Disney World.

Here’s how you access those:

  1. Open the Lyft app within Walt Disney World Resort.
  2. Confirm your pickup location and tap “Select Accessible Minnie Van”. If accessible Minnie Van service doesn’t immediately display, scroll through vehicle type options until it appears.
  3. Track your vehicle’s progress on a map provided by the app. You’ll see the vehicle number to help you spot your car.
accessible minnie van lyft app

How much do they cost?

The cost of Minnie Van service varies depending on your destination, but all trips will start with a flat rate of $22.00 with an additional cost per mile (which is somewhere around $3.75).

Minnie Van Pricing

This is similar to how taxis and Uber/Lyft pricing works where you pay based upon the distance, but, Minnie Vans are now significantly more expensive than those other options with most trips costing at least around $30-$50 (or even more) one way.

minnie van in lyft app

With Minnie Vans, you are paying for the convenience.

You can see an estimate of your trip cost before requesting the Minnie Van by using the Lyft app.

Just put in a trip and follow the directions in the section below (just don’t hit the “Request Lyft” button at the bottom of the app).

Of course, if you need to get somewhere fast and you use car seats, the price of a Minnie Van may definitely be worth it vs. the hassle of taking a bus.

But, for most situations, Minnie Vans definitely aren’t the most budget-friendly option available.

How do they work?

If you have used Lyft or Uber at Disney World before, the experience for requesting a ride with a Minnie Van is extremely similar.

Minnie Vans at Disney World

Step 1: Download the app

While Disney runs the Minnie Vans service, they utilize the Lyft app for deployment, so you’ll need to download that app to access the service.

Step 2: Open up the app and enter your pick-up location and destination

Once downloaded, you’ll use the app to request a van. To do that, you’ll start by entering in your pick-up point and destination.

Minnie Vans screenshot lyft

After you’ve done that, you’ll see a couple of different options, usually “Lyft” and “Lyft XL”. If the Minnie Van service doesn’t immediately display, scroll through vehicle type options until it appears.

Each option will show you the estimated time to be picked up and an estimated cost.

Minnie Van Screenshot lyft

Step 3: Select “Minnie Van Service”

Once you select Minnie Van Service, you’ll be shown a map with all the available vans and the estimated time for the arrival of yours.

Minnie Van screenshot lyft app

Since Minnie Vans look alike, Disney distinguishes them with a number system, which makes it easy to pick out yours if several pull up at the same time.

Step 4: Climb in and enjoy the ride

When your van arrives, climb in and enjoy the ride to your destination. You’ll find charging cords inside and animated shorts playing to keep everyone entertained.

Step 5: Pay

Payment for the ride is all done inside the app, so there is no reason to worry about having cash. Your credit card (or Apple Pay if you prefer) information will be used.

minnie vans sign animal kingdom

Who can use Minnie Vans?

Minnie Vans are available to all guests visiting Walt Disney World (not just those staying at a Walt Disney World Resort hotel).

Where can Minnie Vans go?

Minnie Vans can be used throughout the Disney World Resort area including:

  • all Disney resort hotels
  • Magic Kingdom
  • Epcot
  • Animal Kingdom
  • Hollywood Studios
  • Disney Springs
  • Blizzard Beach
  • Typhoon Lagoon
  • Walt Disney World Swan, Walt Disney World Dolphin, Walt Disney World Swan Reserve, Shades of Green, and Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World Resort

There are several other locations where Minnie Vans have historically gone, however, at this time they do not. We do, however, expect this spots to be included at some point in the future:

  • NOT CURRENTLY AVAILABLE Bonnet Creek Resorts including Wyndham Grand Orlando Resort Bonnet Creek, Wyndham Bonnet Creek Resort, and Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek
  • NOT CURRENTLY AVAILABLE Port Canaveral
  • LIMITED AVAILABILITY Orlando International Airport

Service to Orlando International Airport (Club Level Guests Only)

Minnie Van service to and from Orlando International Airport (MCO) is now available, however, it is limited to ONLY guests staying Club Level at a Walt Disney World Resort.

Currently, the service can be used from 6 a.m. until midnight.

The cost for this airport service is definitely one of the most expensive ways to get to and from MCO with a price tag of $199 one-way (or $398 for round-trip).

Space for luggage is limited, and the vehicles can only accommodate about 6 medium-sized bags.

Bookings can be made 60 days before your check-in date by contacting Disney Signature Services, which is open 7 days a week from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST. You can call (407) 939-7777 or email Disney Signature Services but note that you must have a Club Level Reservation to book.

Service to Port Canaveral (Not currently available)

In the past, guests taking a Disney Cruise had the option to use a Minnie Van for transfer services to and from Port Canaveral.

The cost was a $249 each way (plus tip) and could be set up by calling Disney Cruise Line Embarkation Services at 1-800-395-9374.

No word on when (or if) this service will return.

What hours do they operate?

Service is available between 6:30 a.m. and 12:30 a.m (subject to change).

Can I schedule a Minnie Van in advance?

Unfortunately, unlike regular Lyft you can’t schedule a Minnie Van in advance.

How many people can fit in a Minnie Van?

Minnie Vans seat up to 6 and can be either a Chevy Traverses OR Chevy Suburban.

Can I take a Minnie Van to Universal Studios (or anywhere else off property)?

No. Unlike Lyft or taxis (both of which can travel throughout the entire Orlando area) Minnie Vans can only operate on Disney property which includes the 4 main theme parks, all Disney-owned resorts, Disney’s 2 water parks, and Disney Springs. Plus, when scheduled ahead,& available, Minnie Vans can go to Orlando International Airport and Port Canaveral – but that is all.

So, if your plans take you offsite, you’ll need to check into different options for that.

Do Minnie Vans have car seats?

YES! They do. And this is one of the things that make Minnie Vans stand out.

All Minnie Vans are equipped with 2 versatile car seats.

minnie van with a car seat

These convertible seats can operate as both forward facing or rear facing traditional seats, or they can also be used as a booster seat (both with and without the back), meaning, as Disney says “even the tiniest of passengers can travel in style.”

Because it can be tricky for even experienced parents to properly install a car seat, Cast Members that drive them are extensively trained in the proper installation of all the different configurations of the seats.

By comparison, you can request a car seat with UberX, but there is a $10 surcharge, and they can only be forward facing.

Minnie Van Car Seat

Should I use a Minnie Van?

That depends on your situation. Check out the chart below to see how the different transportation options stack up against one another to help you decide if a Minnie Van is worth the extra expense.

comparing transportation options

Where do Minnie Vans drop-off and pick-up?

Resorts

If you are going to any Disney resort, Minnie Vans can drop you off at the front, or, if you are headed to a resort that has separate buildings and parking lots (like a lot of the Value, Moderate, and Deluxe Villa resorts) they can drop you off at one of those. You can select your exact building for drop off and pick up inside the app.

Disney Springs

There are 2 designated pick-up locations at Disney Springs: at the Taxi Station on the far west end past the AMC Movie Theater and at the far east end.

Drivers usually ask where you are going at Disney Springs and then will do their best to drop you off as close as they can.

Disney springs transportation map

Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon

The parking/bus/taxi area for the water parks are relatively small compared to the main theme parks, so your drop-off and pick-up points are nice and close to the front of the parks.

Magic Kingdom

One of the best perks when using Minnie Vans for transportation to and from Magic Kingdom is that the drop-off and pick-up location is actually located at the same area where the resort buses drop-off and pick-up.

This is different from Uber/Lyft, taxis, and driving your own car.

All of those options require you to start your journey to Magic Kingdom at the Transportation and Ticket Center, and then to transfer onto either the monorail or ferry to get to the park.

magic kingdom transportation map

Epcot

Minnie Vans drop-off and pick-up near where the buses are located out in front of the park.

epcot transportation map

If you are leaving from the back of the park, though, it usually makes sense to walk through the International Gateway and over to the Beach Club Resort to pick up a Minnie Van there instead of walking all the way back around to the front of Epcot.

Animal Kingdom

Like Magic Kingdom, Minnie Van drop-off and pick-up is located at the bus loop, where the resort buses drop off and pick up.

animal kingdom transportation map

Hollywood Studios

Minnie Vans used to drop off right outside the front gates at Hollywood Studios, but now they drop off and pick up in the bus loop.

hollywood studios transportation map

Hoop-Dee-Doo Revue & Trails End

Hoop-Dee-Doo has long been a family-favorite, but before Minnie Vans, your only options for getting there usually involved transferring between regular Disney buses onto the internal buses for Ft. Wilderness or arriving by bus/monorail to boat.

This process was not only cumbersome, but also extremely time-consuming. And, after a long day, the multistep process to get back to your resort was especially exhausting.

Minnie Vans, however, are allowed to drop off and pick up just a short walk away from where these two popular restaurants are, saving you a lot of transportation time.

Hoop Dee Doo transportation location

VIDEO: 5 Things You Should Know About Minnie Vans

Have you tried out the new Minnie Vans yet? Thinking about using one to get to a Disney park? Let us know how it went in the comments.

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Felicia Goodwin

Larry G

Saturday 8th of February 2020

stupid question here never really used a ride share service is lyft and uber the same thing do they use the same app or do I have to download both? can a group of six ride together in a lyft or urber

Val

Friday 17th of January 2020

Do they pick up at Shades of Green?

Stephen Huff

Saturday 4th of January 2020

This article fails to mention that if you want to take a Minnie Van to the airport you HAVE to book it at least 24 hours in advance. I found that out the hard way.

Mercedes Hayes

Wednesday 10th of April 2019

I have a "quick tip of the day" If after fireworks in magic kingdom the transportation area is packed and you just want an Uber or lyft and all the Minnie Vans are occupied or you don't want to pay the price, you can Walk over to the contemporary and grab a lyft or Uber from there. We also have UBER or Lyft drop us off at the contemporary on busy mornings and walk over to save us from the busy transportation area.

Sara P

Friday 1st of March 2019

When we were at WDW back in June 2018 a Minnie Van driver mentioned that transportation going to and from Wyndham Bonnet Creek would soon be an option. Has this happened or is it planned to happen since it's technically on Disney property? Thanks!

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