Nowadays, there are plenty of ways to get around the Walt Disney World Resort. From buses and monorails to boats and the Skyliner, Disney offers all kinds of free transportation.

But sometimes, Disney transportation can be a bit…unpredictable, or certain circumstances may leave you considering actually paying for a ride instead. Rideshare services might be the perfect option for you, but figuring out how to use them in the parks and resorts can be confusing. So, we’ve put together 10 pro tips for using Lyft in Disney World!

Using rideshare services around Disney World isn’t super intuitive, so before we get into our tips, let’s go over how to use Lyft in the parks! It essentially works about the same as it does anywhere else — download the app to your phone and set up an account. Then, you’ll enter a destination and pickup location and the app will search for drivers.

From there, you’ll be assigned a driver and be able to track their whereabouts so you know exactly when they’ll arrive. Once you meet them at the pickup location and verify the make, model, and license plate number of their car — you can hop in and be on your way! But, if you want to be a real pro, check out our 10 tips for using Lyft in Disney World below.

1. Download the app before you leave

This one may sound like a no-brainer, but if you don’t already have the Lyft app and plan on using it during your trip, go ahead and download it before you leave and set up your account. You can also explore the app and familiarize yourself with how it works.

That way, when it comes to actually booking a ride — you don’t have to worry about wasting time entering your payment information or setting up an account. If everything is good to go beforehand, you should be able to quickly find a ride.

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2. Check your email before your trip

With all of the free transportation options available around Disney World, it can be a little painful shelling out for a private ride even when you need it — but we’ve often seen emails come across our desks with discount codes from Lyft!

If you haven’t used the service in a while or are a new user, keep an eye out for an email from Lyft ahead of your trip and you might be able to save some money on your rides.

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3. Know where the pickup locations are before you book

Depending on where you’re at in Disney World, the Lyft pickup locations can vary — and you might be pretty far away from one. You’ll often find them located beyond the bus stops at the entrance of each park.

At Disney’s Animal Kingdom, you can catch Lyft at the front of the park off to the right side of the parking lot, Disney’s Hollywood Studios has a rideshare pick-up spot in the last row of the bus station, EPCOT’s drop-off and pick-up location is right as you get into the parking lot on your left, and for Magic Kingdom, you’ll have to catch your ride near the bus terminal at the Transportation and Ticket Center.

Plus, at Disney Springs guests can take rideshare services at the Marketplace Bus Loop on the east side. And, make sure you’re leaving yourself enough time to get to that pickup location — you don’t want to rack up charges by making your driver wait!

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4. Compare prices with Uber

We know, we know — this is an article about using Lyft, but if you’re trying to save money in Disney World it might be worth it to compare prices with Uber. Depending on when you’re trying to catch a ride the prices can vary, and having another option is always nice.

Luckily, Lyft, Uber, and taxis all pick up from the same locations, so if one ends up being cheaper than the other you don’t have to travel far (or at all) to use the different service.

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5. Consider a Lyft Pink Membership

How many Lyft rides do you plan on taking in Disney World? Just one? Several? It might be worth it to consider getting a Lyft Pink Membership. For $9.99 per month or $99 annually, members can get faster pickups at no extra cost with upgrades to Priority Pickup.

Plus, members can also save on Lyft Lux, XL, and Preferred rides. Depending on how many times you plan on using Lyft during your trip (and beyond) this might end up saving you money.

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6. Plan for downtime

You might have to wait several minutes for your Lyft driver to show up depending on how busy the service is at the time. Because of this, it’s important to plan ahead and give yourself enough time to get to where you’re going. Those Disney World dining reservations can be unforgiving, and you don’t want to miss an epic meal because your ride took too long.

Make sure you’re leaving yourself enough time to get to the pickup spot before you book your ride, too! We know we’ve mentioned it before, but it can really make a difference. Those pickup spots can be FAR.

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7. Travel at off-peak times when possible

If you can avoid it, try to plan your ride times at off-peak hours. Park open and close are typically going to be the busiest times where you’ll find yourself having to wait a long time for a ride. Not to mention, the pickup areas aren’t huge, and there can be crowds gathered if others are taking rideshare services too.

Riding at off-peak times can often mean shorter waits, cheaper fares, and an overall easier experience.

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8. Look into your credit card benefits

Credit cards can be a great way to earn points or cash back on Lyft rides. Not only that, but Lyft will occasionally partner with major credit card carriers to offer additional discounts on rides.

Chase, American Express, Citi, Apple, and more all offer some sort of discount, points, or cash back on Lyft or other rideshare services.

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9. Use “Priority Mode” if you need to get somewhere fast

Lyft offers a “Priority Pickup” mode if you don’t have the ability to wait too long for a ride. This can come in handy if you’re unexpectedly running late for a reservation and don’t have the time to rely on Disney transportation.

But fair warning — Priority Pickup does come at an added cost. What the cost might be will depend on where you’re going and when you’re riding, but it’s something to keep in mind if you’re really in a pinch.

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10. Schedule your ride ahead of time

If you know you need to be picked up or get somewhere at a certain time, you can always schedule a ride in advance! Lyft offers the option to schedule a trip so you don’t have to worry about it when the time comes. The price you pay will be locked in once the trip time rolls around, so keep that in mind.

But, if you want to leave Magic Kingdom at 7PM to get to a dinner reservation later that night, you can go ahead and book a 7PM pickup time so it’s already taken care of when you need to go!

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Rideshare services can be really beneficial when it comes to getting around Disney World efficiently, but they do come at a cost. Only you can decide what’s best for you and your travel group, so keep these tips in mind next time you’re looking for a ride.

And, be sure to stay tuned to DFB for the latest Disney planning tips and more!

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Have you used Lyft in Disney World before? Let us know in the comments!

The post 10 Pro Tips For Using Lyft in Disney World first appeared on the disney food blog.