Hi, Elizabeth! Thanks for stopping by the Disney Parks Moms Panel.
Any visit to the
Walt Disney World Resort is special, but a visit to celebrate Walt Disney World Resort's 50th anniversary sounds practically perfect in every way! I don't blame you for wanting to arrive at the
theme parks as early as possible to begin celebrating.
One of the best
benefits of staying at a
Walt Disney World Resort Hotel is all of the convenient
transportation options. You are correct that
bus transportation from the Walt Disney World Resort Hotels to the theme parks begins running 45 minutes prior to the park's opening time. If you are looking for an option that will get you on your way to the magic even earlier, I would recommend the
Minnie Van Service.
You can request and pay for a Minnie Van using the Lyft app on your phone. A Cast Member will quickly arrive to drive you anywhere on Walt Disney World Resort property in Minnie Mouse-approved style. Those red and white polka dot cars are adorable! The Minnie Van Service begins operating daily at 6:30 a.m., so it's the perfect solution to get you to an early morning
breakfast reservation or to the theme parks before rope drop. If you're headed to
Magic Kingdom Park, unlike other ride-share services, the Minnie Van Service can drop you off right outside of the park gates. There's no need to ride the
monorail or
ferry boat over from the Transportation and Ticketing Center. My family recently used the Minnie Van Service to take us back to our resort hotel after my daughter's dance studio performed at
Disney Springs. It was so convenient, and my daughter felt like a real V.I.P.
Although we do not yet know many details about the Walt Disney World Resort's 50th anniversary festivities, be sure to keep an eye (or your EARS) on the
Disney Parks Blog for all of the details as they become available. If we can help you with any other planning questions, please visit us again.
Have a magical day!
Samantha