Walt Disney World may be the most magical place on Earth, but it is certainly not the easiest place to navigate–especially with kids. Trust me. As a former cast member, I know all about how difficult traveling from park to park can be. When your family wants to spend the day at Hollywood Studios, make a reservation at one of the hotel restaurants, and then book it to Magic Kingdom to watch the Happily Ever After fireworks show, waiting in a huge crowd of tourists to get on the monorail or one of the buses isn’t the most efficient way to get around.
That’s why Walt Disney World’s newest collab with Lyft is a game changer for all visiting guests, but especially families. It’s everything you love about Lyft’s ride service app, with a bit of Disney magic and family-friendly features sprinkled on top.
The first thing you’ll notice is that you’re not being picked up by your usual-looking Lyft car. The Chevrolet vans are red and white, with white polka dots and a white roof and the adorable Minnie Van logo on the top, complete with a big red bow, just like Minnie Mouse. The vans seat up to six guests and these Instagrammable vans can be hailed right from your smartphone on the Lyft app.
In addition to roomy seating and a magical exterior, Minnie Vans can come with up to two versatile car seats for families with smaller children. This is a great feature for families who don’t want to bring their car seat with them on vacation, especially if they aren’t renting a car. The service is also a flat rate of $20 per ride, with no surge rates or increased pricing, making this a way cheaper option than taking any other ride share service. You can hail a Minnie Van anytime from 6:30am-12:30am and they can take guests anywhere they want to go on Disney property, so you can enjoy your Extra Magic Hours without having to worry about rushing to one of the last buses or cabs. All drivers are Disney cast members, so you know that you are riding with someone who has been intensely vetted by Walt Disney World.
Right now, there are 27 Minnie Vans available at the park, two of which are handicap accessible, and only guests staying at Disney’s BoardWalk Resort and the Yacht & Beach Club resorts can use this new feature, but if all goes well, this will surely expand the service. This collab with Lyft is budget-friendly and perfect for families of all types and sizes who want to zip around Walt Disney World Resort without losing the level of customer service and all around magic that Disney is known for.
Brooke Schuldt is the Associate Editor at New York Family and a former cast member at Walt Disney World. For more stories from Brooke, visit her blog, Babbling Brooke.
