If you fly to vacation at Walt Disney World, you know the drill. Upon arriving at MCO (Orlando International Airport), you pick up your bags and then grab your transportation to your resort. It’s one of those situations where you want to skip that part of the process and just get to the resort to start your vacation. Back when Disney’s Magical Express was an option, you felt like the magic started right there at the airport. Now you have to pick up a rental car, hail a taxi, schedule transportation with Mears Connect, or arrange for a ride-share option. However, if you are staying Club Level or at a Deluxe Disney Resorts Collection Hotel, there is another transportation option for you!
Minnie Vans™ are a fleet of SUVs and accessible vans that look like they could have been decorated by Minnie Mouse herself. They are red with white polka dots, and you simply can’t miss them. You will know a Minnie Van™ when you see it.
Minnie Vans™ are generally available to users of the Lyft app that are on Disney World property. You can use the Lyft app to get from resort to resort, theme park to Disney Springs, or anywhere else on Disney World property. They comfortably hold six passengers, and even carry multiple car seats for guests with small children. There are even small TVs inside which play Disney cartoons. For me, the biggest selling point is that Minnie Vans™ are driven by Disney Cast Members! However, the limitation is that Minnie Vans™ can only pick you up and take you to places on Walt Disney World property. There is one exception to this rule.
As mentioned above, guests staying at Deluxe Disney Resorts or Club Level at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort have another option to and from Orlando International Airport. That other option is the Minnie Van™! Disney allows these guests to be transported between MCO and their Disney resort roughly between 7 AM – 10 PM. However, there is a bit of a different process to reserve a Minnie Van™ for this airport transportation.
Instead of using the Lyft app, you will need to reserve your airport Minnie Van™ transportation ahead of time. Simply call 407-939-7777. You can make this call starting at 60 days prior to your Disney World arrival. The cost is on the pricey side at $199 one way. For comparison, I usually find that a rideshare between Walt Disney World resorts and MCO costs between $45 – $55 for the cheapest option, although surge pricing can affect this cost. The $199 pricing is in line with my experience of Minnie Vans™ typically costing 3 – 4 times more than a typical Lyft.
If you are staying at a deluxe Disney resort and want to jump right into the magic after deplaning, this might be an option for you! It is certainly not free like the Magical Express, but the magic is definitely there (and you get direct-to-your-resort service). If you also use the free Disney Transportation once you arrive at the resort, you will experience Disney magic from the time you leave baggage claim to the time you return to the airport. This is exactly what some people are seeking.
Hopefully this service will appeal to you and make your trip more enjoyable. MouseHouseNews.net will continue to provide information for your next Disney World trip, so stay tuned!
