When Disney announced the arrival of Minnie Vans at the Walt Disney World Resort, fans of ride sharing programs were thrilled! Finally an on-site option to get from place to place without relying on Resort transportation — and to make it easier to make those far-away Advance Dining Reservations!

Here we’ve gathered everything you want to know about the Minnie Van service, including how to hail one of these charming rides!

What is a Minnie Van?

A Minnie Van is a vehicle (at present, the program is using the Chevy Traverse SUV for parties up to six or other Chevy-brand vans for parties with wheelchairs or ECVs) designed to resemble Minnie Mouse that provides a direct and private ride from one location to another at Walt Disney World Resort and from Walt Disney World to Orlando International Airport (MCO) (and soon to and from Port Canaveral for the Disney Cruise Line Terminal!).

Who’s driving the Minnie Vans?

Minnie Vans are “powered by” the popular ride share program Lyft, but drivers are long-time, experienced cast members of Walt Disney World (and they’re awesome!).

How much do these cute rides cost?

The original cost of a ride on Disney property in a Minnie Van was $20. In February 2018, the price increased to $25. As of September 2018, a Minnie Van ride runs $15 plus $2.75 per mile. That cost includes a one-way trip from the starting location to any other location on property. It also includes perks like car seats (expertly installed!) and phone chargers in the vehicle.

The cost of taking a Minnie Van to or from Walt Disney World to Orlando International Airport is $150. And we anticipate Minnie Vans will soon provide guests with service to and from Walt Disney property and Port Canaveral to the Disney Cruise Line Terminal for a one-way price of $240.

Where can I grab a Minnie Van?

Minnies are currently available to guests staying at ALL Disney World resorts, the Swan and Dolphin, and Four Seasons Orlando. Disney Springs offers four pick up locations. These are located at the Marketplace, by the Cirque du Soleil building, at the Lime Garage valet parking area, and at the Orange Garage valet parking area. As of September 2018, guests staying at Bonnet Creek, Flamingo Crossings, and Hotel Plaza Boulevard resorts can also use the Minnie Van Service.

How do I request a Minnie Van?

You’ll need the Lyft App on your phone, and then you’ll need to activate the Minnie Vans option by visiting either the front desk at your resort or trhough the My Disney Experience app.

Once you’ve activated Minnie Vans in the app, you use the app to request a vehicle. Vehicles will appear on a map in the app, and you’ll be able to see estimates for pick-up times. Select the ride you want to hail, and meet them at the designated pick-up location (also specified in the app).

To use the Minnie Van service for the Orlando International Airport you must call 407-WDW-PLAY to book your Minnie Van.

To use the Minnie Van service to or from Port Canaveral for the Disney Cruise Line Terminal, you’ll need to book directly with Embarkation Services!

To tip or not to tip?

That is the question! Unfortunately, there’s no single answer or official rule. We’ve talked to several drivers who say they do directly receive the tips they are given; tips aren’t pooled and shared. So if you want to thank your exceptional driver with a tip, you can and rest assured that she or he will be able to keep it! Tipping can be done in the Lyft app, in person, or not at all; it’s all at your discretion!

What are the advantages of using a Minnie Van?

If you’re staying at a participating Walt Disney World Resort, Minnie Vans are a convenient way to ensure you’ll have an efficient ride to wherever you need to go. For example, if you’re staying at Animal Kingdom Lodge and need to get to the Grand Floridian for dinner at Narcoossee’s, you won’t need to hop on a bus to Magic Kingdom, then grab a Monorail to the Grand. Rather, you can avoid those steps and head directly to your destination. (This is incredibly helpful for those who are chronically late!)

And Minnie Vans, with their flat fees of $25, are often cheaper than traditional taxis. As of September 2018, pricing is moving to a distance-based model versus the flat fee model. We will update this as soon as we know details on the distance-based pricing.

Minnie Vans also offer car seats for no extra charge — giving the Minnie Vans an advantage over typical Lyfts and Übers which charge extra for these. Plus, Minnie Vans can haul up to six guests for a flat fee, whereas Lyft’s and Über’s lowest tier fees are only up to four passengers.

Finally, while drivers for other ride share programs are a bit hit-or-miss, Minnie Van drivers are cast members of Walt Disney World and are held to the same high standards as other cast members. They can even give informed dining recommendations and give you the details about surrounding construction. 😉