Packed with hotel and restaurant choices and conveniently located near the convention center, the International Drive (I-Drive) area in Orlando is a popular choice of places to stay while in town on vacation. But…how to do you get from there to the Disney theme parks? Thankfully there are lots of choices!
Drive
If you happen to have a car, you can certainly drive to Disney. Parking will cost a minimum of $25 a day with higher rates for larger vehicles (RVs, etc.) or preferred parking. You can find out more about parking at Disney World here.
Hotel Shuttle
Some hotels offer shuttles to the Disney parks. Unfortunately, these often operate on a set schedule which means you don’t have any flexibility about when you travel. Some also require advance reservations to save your seat on the transport. If you’re interested in utilizing a hotel shuttle during your vacation, be sure to inquire about details prior to booking so that you can decide if it the right choice for you.
Ride Share
Both Uber and Lyft operate in Orlando and you rarely need to wait very long for a ride. Drop off and pick up points vary depending on what Disney park you’re heading to/from, but thankfully the apps know this and will help direct you to the appropriate location. In general, though, Magic Kingdom’s location will be at the Ticket and Transportation Hub and the other parks (Animal Kingdom, Epcot, and Hollywood Studios) will be somewhere near the entrance. Be aware that during peak times charges can greatly increase.
City Bus
If you’re on a particularly tight budget, public transportation can offer an inexpensive option for getting to and from the parks. Unfortunately, there’s no direct route from the I-Drive area to the Disney parks–you’ll need to transfer buses on your way to Disney Springs. The cost is $2 per person and this includes one transfer (have exact change and inform your driver you’ll need a transfer when you purchase your ticket). Once at Disney Springs, you can utilize free Disney transportation to get you to your specific park. You can use the Lynx trip planner or Google Maps to help you plan a route.
