How To Use Disney’s Minnie Van Service

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Minnie Van At Walt Disney WorldWhen the Minnie Van service was first announced, I was pretty excited.  Having another option to renting a car or taking the bus was something I had been hoping for.  I love that Disney has so many transportation options, but it isn’t always the most comfortable at the end of a long night when I just want to get back to my room.

I had the opportunity to try the Minnie Van service when it first launched and I could not have been happier.  I didn’t just try the service once, I loved it so much I used it 8 times in 4 days!  My poor rental car stayed in the parking lot for 4 days untouched!

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Once you download the Lyft app and have the Minnie Vans activated, you will see all of the options for cars – and one clearly marked “Minnie Van” (with ears of course!)

Minnie Van Lyft Options

You select the Minnie Van as the car you want – and then ‘Request Minnie Van Service’.  It will show you if any vans are in your area.  Mine was so close because it was literally parked outside while I was requesting it!

Minnie Van Request Service

You’l be able to see on your app the car number, the licence plate as well as the estimated time of arrival.  You can watch the car on the map as it’s coming and will get a text message (if enabled) when the car arrives.

Minnie Van Pick Up

The app itself takes care of the payment using the credit card you entered when you set up the app.  It’s a flat rate plus mile pricing structure to take you anywhere on Disney property.  After your ride you do have the option to tip the cast member if you choose.

Minnie Van Car 40

The vans are large and comfortable vehicles that can seat up to 6 passengers.  Each Minnie Van has 2 car seats in the trunk if you need them for the little ones!  There are vans that also service guests with special needs such as wheelchairs or ECV’s, those can be arranged by calling 407-828-3500.

Minnie Van Car Seats

Minnie Van Car Seats

Minnie Vans are available at all Walt Disney World resorts and anywhere on property.

There are many reasons to use the Minnie Van service, you can read about my top 5 here.

Is this something you would use at Walt Disney World?

How Much Does A Minnie Van Cost?

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Minnie Van PriceHow much does a Minnie Van cost?  Well, it all depends where you’re going!

When Disney launched this service as a pilot in 2017 it was $20 USD for a trip anywhere on Disney property.  I was a big fan of the Minnie Vans and have used them on multiple trips.  The service is so easy to use and has become a permanent fixture on property.  As the program has evolved over time, so has the pricing.  What started out as a flat fee has now become based on distance.

The price for a Minnie Van is now $15 USD flat rate PLUS $3.15 per mile.

Minnie Van Pricing

Price details found in the Lyft app when requesting a Minnie Van

While Uber and Lyft generally have a price surge model (fares go up when demand is greater), the two companies are very similar on pricing.  Both Uber and Lyft charge around $1.00 to start a ride and $1.50 per mile, and .25 cents per minute. When we average that out, it equals about $2.00 per mile.  These are just general estimates and vary by city – but it gives you an idea of the pricing comparison.

Minnie Van Marketing

There are many reasons that I would prefer a Minnie Van vs an Uber or Lyft, but the biggest one is peace of mind.  I know that the person driving me is a cast member and not a random stranger.  I know that effectively a cast member is a stranger – but I think I trust Disney’s ‘screening process’ a little more than those other companies.

Minnie Van Grand Floridian

Price of a Minnie Van from the Grand Floridian to Epcot

The biggest challenge in my mind now is the price.  It is more expensive than ever to take a Minnie Van on property, unless you’re going a short distance.  $29 USD is quite a bit in my opinion for a lift from the Grand Floridian to Epcot – but I can tell you that at the end of a long day… I will gladly pay $30 to take me back to my resort if I don’t have to wait for a bus or monorail and get to travel in style!

What do you think?  Would you use the Minnie Van service to avoid the bus?

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