Disney Cracks Down on Resort Hopping: What You Need to Know

Resort hopping in Disney World remains possible, but some changes have been implemented to make it more difficult. The main change affects transportation from Disney Springs, where guests without a current hotel stay, an Advance Dining Reservation, or a special experience booking will be politely turned away by Cast Members when trying to board resort buses or water taxis.

However, other routes to the resorts remain unchanged. Guests can still use monorails, Skyliner, boats, and buses from theme parks without needing to show proof of a reservation. Off-site guests who want to visit a Disney resort will need to park at a theme park and then use Disney transportation.

Additionally, walking paths connecting select resorts to theme parks are open to anyone all day, every day. These include the loop around Crescent Lake, which connects EPCOT's International Gateway to Disney's BoardWalk, Disney's Beach Club, and Disney's Yacht Club, as well as walkways linking Magic Kingdom to Disney's Contemporary Resort, Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, and Disney's Polynesian Village Resort.

Guests planning a holiday decorations tour around the holidays should build it into their park days rather than relying on transportation from Disney Springs.