Jambo and Fairytale Greetings, Stephanie! Your plans to start your day at
Animal Kingdom Theme Park and then head to
Magic Kingdom tell me you know how to maximize your time at the
Most Magical Place on Earth. Rope-drop-to-close is my style, too!
While this level of commitment to get every sprinkle of Pixie Dust out of your day is magical, it also requires a bit of transportation planning. Luckily, we have time to talk about options and help you map out practically perfect plans.
I always start with the
Hours & Events Calendar for the date and theme parks I plan to visit. It looks like the wild times will begin at Animal Kingdom at 8:00 a.m. on September 13. Magic Kingdom opens an hour later. If you were getting a late start, you could park at Magic Kingdom so your car is near you when you say "good night" to Cinderella Castle. Complimentary
bus transportation between theme parks starts at 10 a.m.
Since you want to rise and shine early and be at Animal Kingdom when it opens, you will want to park there. You have a few options for parking and transportation.
When you are ready to park hop, you could drive from Animal Kingdom to the Magic Kingdom. Be sure to keep your parking receipt and show it to the Cast Member at the Magic Kingdom since your parking fee covers all of the theme parks for the day. The parking lot is near the Transportation and Ticket Center (affectionately called the "TTC"), where you can board the
Disney Monorail to the Magic Kingdom.
If you decide to take
Disney Resort transportation between the parks and want to get back to your car after Animal Kingdom has closed, you can use a private car service, such as Lyft or Uber. These car services can pick you up at the TTC. You can also arrange a
Minnie Van Service, which can pick you up near the Magic Kingdom entrance, avoiding the extra step of taking the Monorail to the TTC.
While I have travel logistics on my mind, did you know you can get directions between Walt Disney World destinations on the
My Disney Experience app? You can click on the magnifying glass icon at the bottom of the screen, search for your destination, such as "Cinderella Castle," and select "Get Directions." The app will map your path, including Disney Resort Transportation options.
Stephanie, I hope this information helps you plan your adventure in the great, wide somewhere. If you have any other questions, drive back by
planDisney. We're all aboard to help you chart your course.
Magic Awaits!
Jana