Disney’s Old Key West Transportation Options (These Tips Will Benefit Your Stay)

Disney’s Old Key West is a sprawling resort that some might find challenging regarding transportation. On our first visit to the resort many years ago, I remember thinking I would never be able to figure it out. 

Was Old Key West so large that it required five bus stops? My first impression made me feel like this wasn’t the resort for me.

But I was wrong. While Old Key West is so spread out that it requires an internal bus system, it isn’t that difficult to figure out. It’s also a beautiful resort with spacious rooms and picturesque views everywhere you look. 

Considering our experiences, I designed a guide to help you conquer transportation at Disney’s Old Key West. If you have an upcoming vacation, you’ll want to review this guide beforehand. 

If you want, you can save it to your favorites for quick access during your visit. But if you’re already on vacation, here are a few quick links to some of the main destinations at Walt Disney World. 

• How to Get from Disney’s Old Key West to Magic Kingdom
• How to Get from Disney’s Old Key West to Epcot
• How to Get from Disney’s Old Key West to Disney’s Hollywood Studios
• How to Get from Disney’s Old Key West to Disney’s Animal Kingdom
• How to Get from Disney’s Old Key West to Disney Springs

When we finish, you’ll have a good overview of how to get around the resort during your stay. Additionally, you’ll feel confident about getting from the resort to the theme parks and other popular destinations at Walt Disney World. 

So grab a slice of Key Lime pie from your fridge, relax in your backyard lounger, and join me as we tackle transportation options at Disney’s Old Key West Resort.

Disney’s Old Key West Transportation Options

The following forms of transportation are available at Disney’s Old Key West.  

• Disney Bus Service
• Disney Water Taxis
• Walking

You can walk between Old Key West, Disney Springs, and Saratoga Springs. We’ll discuss these options below, but they are lengthy.

Disney’s Old Key West to Magic Kingdom

You’ll need to take a bus from Disney’s Old Key West Resort to the Magic Kingdom. Buses pick up in the following order at Old Key West: 

• Peninsular Road
• South Point
• Old Turtle Pond Road
• Miller’s Road
• Hospitality House

Wait times for the next bus are posted at each bus stop. We have found that wait times are pretty accurate. They are transmitted to the sign via a signal from the bus’s location. So, if you notice a fluctuation, it’s probably because the bus stopped at a light or ran into traffic. 

You’ll return to Old Key West from the bus stop at Magic Kingdom. Buses will drop off in the same order when they arrive at Old Key West. 

*If you need to visit the resort’s main lobby on the way back, you’ll want to exit the bus at Hospitality House. Hospitality House is the bus’s last stop before returning to Magic Kingdom. 

Or you can exit at Peninsular Road (the first stop) and walk to Hospitality House. It’s approximately 0.25 miles, but it will be quicker than going through all the bus stops.

Disney’s Old Key West to Epcot

You’ll take a bus from Disney’s Old Key West to Epcot. Buses continue to pick up in the same order for Epcot: 

• Peninsular Road
• South Point
• Old Turtle Pond Road
• Miller’s Road
• Hospitality House

You’ll return from Epcot the same way. Remember to exit at Hospitality House if you want to pick up something from the gift shop or restaurant before returning to the room. 

Or you can exit at Peninsular Road (the first stop) and walk to Hospitality House. You’ll have to cross an internal road, but you can see Hospitality House from the bus stop. 

Disney’s Old Key West to Hollywood Studios 

You’ll take a bus from Old Key West to Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Buses continue to pick up in the same order as the other parks. 

• Peninsular Road
• South Point
• Old Turtle Pond Road
• Miller’s Road
• Hospitality House

You’ll return from Hollywood Studios to Old Key West the same way. Remember to exit at Hospitality House if you want to pick up something from the gift shop or restaurant before returning to the room. Or you can exit at Peninsular Road (the first stop) and walk to Hospitality House. 

Disney’s Old Key West to Animal Kingdom

You’ll take a bus from Disney’s Old Key West to Animal Kingdom. Buses continue to pick up in the same order: 

• Peninsular Road
• South Point
• Old Turtle Pond Road
• Miller’s Road
• Hospitality House

You’ll return from Animal Kingdom the same way. Remember to exit at Hospitality House if you want to pick up something from the gift shop or restaurant before going back to the room. Or exit at Peninsular Road (the first stop) and walk to Hospitality House. 

Disney’s Old Key West to Disney Springs

You’ll have two options for traveling from Disney’s Old Key West to Disney Springs. You can take a bus or a boat from the resort to Disney Springs. 

Buses pick up in a different order for the Disney Springs route:

• Hospitality House
• Peninsular Road
• South Point
• Old Turtle Pond Road
• Miller’s Road
• Hospitality House

The Disney Springs bus is the resort’s internal bus that guests can take from Hospitality House to the bus stop nearest their accommodations. However, all buses will stop at Hospitality House before leaving the resort. So you can take any bus from your resort area to Hospitality House. (Only the Disney Springs bus makes the additional second stop at Hospitality House before leaving the resort.)

Technically, you can walk from Old Key West to Disney Springs. But it’s a reasonably remote path that crosses part of the golf course. We have only done the path on bicycles, but I would say it’s a long walk from Old Key West to Disney Springs. So, I wouldn’t recommend walking as a viable option for getting to Disney Springs.

#1 Take a Bus from Old Key West to Disney Springs

You can take a bus from Old Key West to Disney Springs. Buses run regularly to and from Old Key West to Disney Springs. 

Note: Often, when you get to the bus stop at Old Key West, the sign will indicate to take a water taxi to Disney Springs. It isn’t very clear. But if you wait, the bus to Disney Springs will come. Unfortunately, it doesn’t usually have the estimated time listed. 

Related: Disney Springs Transportation Guide

#2 Take the Disney Vacation Ferry (Water Taxi) to Disney Springs

Most will want to take the water taxi from Old Key West to Disney Springs. It is a pleasant boat ride back and forth between the two destinations. 

A green flag identifies Old Key West water taxis. They dock at the Marketplace at Disney Springs. 

Walking Between Disney’s Old Key West and Saratoga Springs

Similar to walking to Disney Springs, you can walk from Old Key West to the Treehouse Villas, Saratoga Springs, or Disney Springs. Again, this is an exceptionally remote path. We enjoy renting bikes at either resort and using the trail.

But other than that, you will not likely see anyone except for an occasional boat passing. Here is a photo of the walkway from the afternoon we rented bicycles at Saratoga Springs.

Accessibility at Disney’s Old Key West Resort

Most transportation options at Disney’s Old Key West accommodate guests with accessibility needs. Disney provides an overview of each form of transportation on their website.

All bus stops have a separate spot for guests in wheelchairs and ECVs to wait. Additionally, the water taxis accommodate most wheelchairs and ECVs. 

Disney has an excellent resource on their site if you want to learn more: Transportation and Mobility Disabilities at Disney World.

Disney’s Old Key West to Disney’s Water Parks 

Occasionally, Disney offers direct bus service to and from the resort to Blizzard Beach or Typhoon Lagoon. However, that is rare. When you reach the bus stop, the electronic sign will indicate which bus to take to which water park.

Usually, guests must take the bus to Disney Springs when traveling to Typhoon Lagoon. When you reach Disney Springs, you’ll exit that bus and board a transfer bus to Disney Springs. Someone will be in the area to direct you to the correct bus stop. It’s not far.

However, when you leave Typhoon Lagoon, you’ll have to walk further to find the resort bus stop at Disney Springs. So you’ll want to make sure to have a change of clothes for the return trip.

For Blizzard Beach, you’ll take a bus to Disney’s Animal Kingdom and then board a nearby transfer bus to Blizzard Beach. You’ll then return in the same manner.

*Important Note–You do not want to take the boat from Old Key West to Disney Springs to visit Typhoon Lagoon. The water taxi service drops off at The Marketplace.

From there, you must walk to the Marketplace entrance at Disney Springs. Then, you would walk across most of the venue to reach the transfer bus to Typhoon Lagoon. I haven’t timed it precisely, but I estimate that route would take close to an hour and involve a good deal of walking.

Disney’s Old Key West to the Monorail Resorts 

Additionally, most guests will want to visit the monorail resorts for dining or touring. To do this, you can take a bus from Disney’s Old Key West to Magic Kingdom.

From there, you will have to walk through security at Magic Kingdom. Then you can walk, boat, or monorail to the following resorts:

• Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa (walk, boat, monorail)
• Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort (boat, monorail, technically can walk via the Grand Floridian walkway to Magic Kingdom)
• Disney’s Contemporary Resort (walk or monorail)

Alternatively, you could take a bus from Old Key West to Hollywood Studios. Then, take a bus from Hollywood Studios to any of the monorail resorts. 

Disney’s Old Key West to Disney’s Boardwalk 

If you want to travel to Disney’s Boardwalk Inn or other Epcot Resorts, take a bus from Old Key West to Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Epcot Resorts include Disney’s Boardwalk Inn, Disney’s Yacht Club Resort, Disney’s Beach Club Resort, and Disney’s Swan and Dolphin. 

From Hollywood Studios, you can walk to the Boardwalk or take a Friendship Boat. You’ll want to return to Old Key West in the same manner. However, if you’re staying out past theme park hours, you might have to order a car service (i.e., Lyft, Uber, Taxi, or Minnie Van) if the buses are no longer running.

Those would be pretty late hours to keep. But the Boardwalk does have a few places geared toward adults that are open relatively late.

Disney’s Old Key West to Disney’s Wilderness Lodge or Fort Wilderness

Additionally, you can take a bus to Magic Kingdom for Wilderness Lodge or Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground. Once you arrive at Magic Kingdom, take a bus or the red flag boat to either resort.

*During inclement weather, you must take a bus from Magic Kingdom to Wilderness Lodge or Fort Wilderness. Hopefully, you’ll get to take the boat, though. It’s a pleasant ride and part of the fun.

Disney’s Old Key West to the Skyliner Resorts

If you want to take a ride (for leisure) on the Disney Skyliner, take a bus from Old Key West to Disney’s Hollywood Studios and board the Skyliner. We have a separate guide that details Disney’s Skyliner’s route. Stops include Caribbean Beach Resort, Art of Animation, Pop Century, Riviera Resort, and Epcot’s International Gateway.

*Remember these tips are subject to Disney’s transportation hours of operation.

Disney’s Old Key West to Animal Kingdom Lodge

To visit Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, we usually take a bus to Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Then, we’ll take a bus from the Animal Kingdom to the Animal Kingdom Lodge.

Note that the bus makes two stops at the Lodge. The first is Kidani Village, and the second is Jambo House. You’ll want to know which location is your intended destination.

Disney’s Old Key West to Disney Springs Area Resorts

If you want to visit one of the resorts near Disney Springs, you can boat from Old Key West to Disney Springs. You’ll have the following options:

• Walk or take a water taxi from the Disney Springs Marketplace to Disney’s Saratoga Springs.
• Take a water taxi from the Disney Springs Marketplace to Disney’s Port Orleans French Quarter or Port Orleans Riverside Resorts.

Airport to Disney’s Old Key West

Lastly, when traveling from the Orlando International Airport (MCO), you’ll need to arrange transportation to the resort. Disney no longer offers transportation between the airport and the Walt Disney World Resort. 

Tip: If you find yourself in need of travel outside of complimentary transportation hours, you can order a car service (i.e., Lyft, Uber, Taxi, or Minnie Van). We try to avoid the extra expense as much as possible. But if we had late dining reservations or comparable, we would take a car service back to our hotel.

Final Thoughts on Transportation at Disney’s Old Key West 

Hopefully, you received a few essential tips for getting to and from Disney’s Old Key West. Transportation can be challenging at first. But if you have a good base knowledge of how things work, you’ll get the hang of it pretty quickly.

For more articles related to Disney’s Old Key West Resort, you might enjoy the following:

• Disney’s Old Key West Review
• All Four Pools (with Recreation) at Disney’s Old Key West
• Old Key West Deluxe Studio Room Tour
• Olivia’s Cafe at Old Key West Review

In the Comments

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