The best way to get from Animal Kingdom to Hollywood Studios is usually the direct Disney bus. It’s free, doesn’t require a transfer, and takes you directly from the transportation area outside Animal Kingdom to Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
If I’m in a hurry, I would use Uber or Lyft instead. And if I already have my own car at Animal Kingdom, driving is also easy since Disney lets you use the other theme park parking lots on the same day without paying a second parking fee.
There is no Skyliner or monorail between Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios, and the parks aren’t connected by a practical walking route.
You can compare this route with my complete guide to getting around Walt Disney World.
Animal Kingdom to Hollywood Studios Transportation at a Glance
| Option | Cost | How I’d use it |
|---|---|---|
| Disney bus | Free | Best option for most people |
| Uber or Lyft | Varies | Usually best when I’m in a hurry |
| Drive yourself | No second theme park parking charge if you’ve already paid that day | Easy if I already have a car |
| Skyliner | Not available from Animal Kingdom | Not an option |
| Monorail | Not available | Not an option |
The Disney Bus Is the Best Way From Animal Kingdom to Hollywood Studios
For most visits, I wouldn’t overthink this route. I walk out of Animal Kingdom, follow the signs for Disney bus transportation and take the bus directly to Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Disney specifically connects Animal Kingdom with the other Walt Disney World theme parks by bus, so you don’t need to travel to a hotel or Disney Springs and transfer.
The bus drops you in the transportation area near the Hollywood Studios entrance.
I like this option because once I’ve left Animal Kingdom, I don’t have to think about directions, parking or another transportation connection. I can sit down in air conditioning for a few minutes and arrive at the next park.
Disney transportation is complimentary for guests, including guests who aren’t staying at a Disney Resort hotel.
You can check Disney’s current bus transportation information before your visit.
How Long Is the Bus Ride From Animal Kingdom to Hollywood Studios?
I would budget about 30 to 45 minutes for the complete transfer from Animal Kingdom to Hollywood Studios.
The actual ride once I’m sitting on the bus is much shorter, usually around 15 to 20 minutes in normal conditions. The unpredictable part is waiting for the bus, loading and walking between the park entrance and transportation area.
I wouldn’t plan something important at Hollywood Studios assuming I’ll step out of Animal Kingdom and be inside the second park 15 minutes later.
If I have a dining reservation or another time-sensitive plan, I leave more buffer rather than relying on an exact bus schedule. Disney doesn’t publish a guaranteed every-20-minutes schedule for this route.
The Fastest Way Is Usually Uber or Lyft
If I’m running late, the convenience of the free Disney bus becomes less important than controlling when I leave.
In that situation, I would request an Uber or Lyft from Animal Kingdom and ride directly to Hollywood Studios.
The actual driving distance between the parks is short. What usually makes rideshare faster is avoiding the unknown wait for the next Disney bus.
The tradeoff is price. Rideshare fares change with demand, so I wouldn’t publish a fixed price and expect it to remain accurate. I would simply check the app when I’m ready to leave.
For one person with plenty of time, I’d normally take the free bus. For several people splitting the fare or anyone trying to make an important reservation, rideshare becomes much more attractive.
Driving From Animal Kingdom to Hollywood Studios
If I’ve already driven to Animal Kingdom, I’m also perfectly happy to drive myself to Hollywood Studios.
Disney’s road signs make the route straightforward, and moving my car can be especially useful if Hollywood Studios is the final park of my day. Then my vehicle is already waiting for me when I leave at night.
You don’t pay Disney theme park parking twice in the same day. Disney currently says that once you’ve paid for theme park parking for the day, you can park at another Disney theme park without paying another standard parking charge.
If you’re staying at a Disney Resort hotel, standard theme park parking is currently complimentary during your stay.
Can You Take the Skyliner From Animal Kingdom to Hollywood Studios?
No. The Disney Skyliner does not serve Animal Kingdom.
The Skyliner connects Hollywood Studios with EPCOT and several Disney Resort hotels, but there isn’t a Skyliner station anywhere at Animal Kingdom.
So I wouldn’t take a bus from Animal Kingdom to a Skyliner resort just so I could transfer onto the gondola. That turns a simple direct bus ride into a much more complicated trip.
Is There a Monorail Between Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios?
No. Neither Animal Kingdom nor Hollywood Studios has a monorail station.
Walt Disney World’s monorail serves Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, the Transportation and Ticket Center and several Magic Kingdom-area resorts.
For this particular park-to-park trip, the Disney transportation option you want is the bus.
Can You Park Hop From Animal Kingdom to Hollywood Studios?
Yes, as long as your ticket includes Park Hopper benefits.
The old Walt Disney World rule that generally made guests wait until 2:00 PM to park hop is no longer the current system.
Disney currently allows guests with Park Hopper benefits to visit another theme park at any time during that park’s operating hours after entering their first park, subject to capacity restrictions.
That makes Animal Kingdom to Hollywood Studios a particularly useful park hop for me. Animal Kingdom frequently opens earlier and closes earlier than Hollywood Studios, so I can start with the Animal Kingdom attractions I care about and then move to Hollywood Studios without waiting for an arbitrary 2 PM hopping window.
Once I arrive, I use my Hollywood Studios rides list to decide what I want to prioritize with the remaining park time.
What About Hollywood Studios to Animal Kingdom?
The reverse trip works essentially the same way.
If you’re going from Hollywood Studios to Animal Kingdom, the simplest free transportation option is also a direct Disney bus. Animal Kingdom is connected with Disney’s other theme parks by bus, so you don’t need to transfer through a resort.
I would use rideshare instead if time matters more than saving money, or drive if I already have my own car.
The one thing I pay closer attention to in this direction is Animal Kingdom’s closing time. It often closes earlier than Hollywood Studios, so I would check the operating hours before hopping there late in the day.
Bus or Rideshare: Which Would I Choose?
Most of the time, I take the Disney bus. It’s direct, free and easy enough that paying for another ride usually isn’t necessary.
I switch to Uber or Lyft when I have a dining reservation, Lightning Lane time or another reason that makes an unpredictable bus wait more stressful than the rideshare cost.
If I’m driving, I usually just move the car. Not having to return to Animal Kingdom’s parking lot at the end of the night makes that worthwhile.
For most people, though, the answer is simple: walk out of Animal Kingdom and take the direct Disney bus to Hollywood Studios. Budget roughly 30 to 45 minutes for the whole transfer, and use rideshare when saving time matters more than saving money.
