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Discover My Secrets to Resort-Hopping at Disney World Like a Pro

Jessica Merritt's image
Jessica Merritt
Updated: 
Edited by: Michael Y. Park
& Ben Neighbors-Giles
Discover My Secrets to Resort-Hopping at Disney World Like a Pro
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Whether you’re taking a rest between park days or want to get a taste of Walt Disney World resort life, resort-hopping is a great way to experience Disney World without a park ticket. Doing it well requires some strategy.

Parking is limited at Disney World resorts, and understanding Disney’s transportation system can make for a smoother day visiting multiple resorts. Think buses from Disney Springs, boats between resorts, and scenic rides on the Skyliner.

Whether you’re seeking a low-key day on the savanna of Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, a monorail crawl of Magic Kingdom area resorts, or a relaxing evening around the EPCOT-area Crescent Lake resorts, you can turn Disney World’s resorts into destinations. Here’s how I make the most of them.

What To Do at Disney World Resorts

There’s so much to do at Disney World resorts, from dining to unique experiences:

  • Dining: Every resort features a restaurant, ranging from a Value resort food court to fine dining at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. You can make a reservation for table-service restaurants or pop into quick-service restaurants and lounges.
  • Resort activities: Resorts offer a variety of activities throughout the day, including scavenger hunts at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort and Disney’s Riviera Resort, memory beads at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, and lobbies filled with art displays and cultural exhibits.
  • Seasonal highlights: During the holidays, you can find holiday trees at the resorts, and some have gingerbread displays.
  • Simple magic: Playgrounds and open green spaces, boat rides that feel like attractions, and themed environments without lines can go a long way to entertaining kids with Disney World magic beyond the parks.
  • Unique extras: Tri-Circle-D Ranch, resort marinas with fishing excursions, bike trails, and waterfront walking paths and beaches may show you parts of Disney World you’ve never seen before.
Pony rides at Disney's Tri Circle D Ranch
Visit Tri-Circle-D Ranch for pony rides, trail rides, and more.
Hot Tip:

Pay for table-service dining with the Disney® Premier Visa® card or Disney® Visa® Card to get 10% off.

Resort-Hop Parking and Transportation

The first thing to know about resort-hopping is how to get around. There are 2 key transportation rules to understand when moving between Disney World resorts:

  • Parking at resorts is typically limited to resort guests and guests with dining reservations.
  • There are no buses between resorts, so your options for traveling from one resort to another are limited but still doable, especially if you use the monorail, Skyliner, and boats to get around.

Let’s explore the details of these rules.

Disney World Resort Parking

Disney World resorts usually don’t allow parking unless you have a room reservation, but there are exceptions for guests who have a dining reservation. There aren’t reservations available for quick-service restaurants, but you can make reservations for table-service dining. Some resorts limit parking for table-service guests to a few hours.

Disneys Yacht Club Resort amenities parking
Disney resort parking is typically limited to resort and dining guests.

Enforcement of resort parking policies varies, and you may find that you can park at a resort (for free) by mentioning you’re there to shop or eat. Still, planning to park at resorts is not a reliable approach, and it can break the momentum of your day if you try to park, get denied, and then have to turn around and figure out not only where to park but also an alternative transportation route.

Disney World Resort Transportation

Generally, Disney World transportation runs from resorts to parks and Disney Springs. No buses run between resorts, so you couldn’t, for example, take a bus from Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge to Disney’s Beach Club Resort. But you could take a bus from Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge to Disney’s Hollywood Studios, then ride the Skyliner to the EPCOT International Gateway, which is a short walk from Disney’s Beach Club Resort.

Although buses don’t run between resorts, other Disney transportation options are available, including the monorail, Skyliner, and boats. You can reach a resort via one of the transportation lines, then use the same mode of transportation to visit the others.

Theme parks can be effective transfer hubs. For example, Disney’s Hollywood Studios can easily connect you to FriendShip boat and Skyliner resorts or any bus resort, and the Magic Kingdom is a gateway to water taxi and monorail resorts.

Hot Tip:

Read our guide to Disney World transportation to get details on making your way around the parks, resorts, and Disney Springs.

Where To Start a Resort-Only Day

Starting your resort-hopping day depends on where you’re staying. Let’s cover stays at Disney World resorts, parks, and Disney Springs.

If you’re staying at a Disney World resort, you’ll probably start your day by using Disney World transportation from your resort to reach a park, then use more Disney World transportation to reach another resort from there.

Staying off-site and parking? Disney Springs is likely to be your most flexible starting point, as parking is free and buses run from Disney Springs to all Disney World resorts. However, Disney Springs doesn’t open until 10 a.m., so you shouldn’t count on it if you want a resort breakfast. You could make a breakfast dining reservation at a resort, park there, and hope you’re not limited on how long you’re allowed to park at the resort.

Disney Springs bus
You can pick up a bus to any Disney World resort at Disney Springs.

You can park at Disney World parks, but you should expect to pay for parking unless you’re a resort guest or have an annual pass. Parking at the Transportation & Ticket Center, near the Magic Kingdom, provides flexibility to reach monorail and water taxi resorts. Parking at EPCOT offers monorail and bus access, and Disney’s Hollywood Studios is the most flexible with FriendShip boat, Skyliner, and bus access. Disney’s Animal Kingdom offers bus transportation only.

Another option is to use a ride-sharing service to reach a resort, and then utilize Disney World transportation to visit additional resorts afterward.

Hot Tip:

Some credit cards offer statement credits for Uber and Lyft rides that can help you save money if you use ride-sharing services at Disney World.

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A great resort-hopping day works with transportation lines to minimize backtracking and maximize what you can see and do. I recommend grouping your resort-hopping days by area and mainly sticking to a single transportation method.

Magic Kingdom Monorail and Water Taxi Resorts

You could easily spend a couple of days visiting all of the resorts near the Magic Kingdom, including some of Disney World’s most sought-after Deluxe resorts. A Magic Kingdom-area resort hop is great if you’re a first-time park hopper, focused on dining, or want to maximize viewing Christmas trees and gingerbread displays during the holidays.

You can visit Disney’s Contemporary Resort, Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, and Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa via the monorail, which has stops at the Transportation & Ticket Center, EPCOT, and all of the resorts on the line. The monorail runs through Disney’s Contemporary Resort building. It’s great for families with strollers or anyone in a wheelchair, as you can roll right in.

Want to add a bit more? Hop on a water taxi from the Magic Kingdom to reach Disney’s Wilderness Lodge and Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground. The boat ride is a fun experience.

Water taxi at Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground
It’s a scenic ride on Seven Seas Lagoon from Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground to the Magic Kingdom.

Activities on this route include checking out the lobby at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, dining at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, and shopping at Disney’s Contemporary Resort. You can see the Electrical Water Pageant from Seven Seas Lagoon and visit Cinderella’s ponies at Tri-Circle-D Ranch at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground.

EPCOT Crescent Lake Resorts

Resorts along Crescent Lake near EPCOT’s International Gateway are a draw for dining and strolling. Disney’s BoardWalk Inn, Disney’s Yacht Club Resort, Disney’s Beach Club Resort, and Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin are all connected by FriendShip boats, but the resorts are walkable, too. There’s a busy and fun atmosphere along the BoardWalk, especially on weekends and evenings.

Dining is the main attraction in this area, with numerous eateries to choose from. You can hit restaurants within the resorts or along the BoardWalk area. Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin offer additional dining and entertainment, along with an arcade, spa, and kids club (featuring drop-off babysitting). There’s a dance hall along the BoardWalk, and you can take in Crescent Lake views at sunset.

Walt Disney World Dolphin amenities boat transportation boardwalk shortcut
Dining and entertainment at Disney’s BoardWalk Inn and the surrounding resorts.

You can extend your resort-hopping from Crescent Lake by taking a FriendShip boat or Skyliner ride to Disney’s Hollywood Studios, or get on the Skyliner to reach additional resorts.

Skyliner Resorts

Skyliner resorts are great for efficient resort-hopping, families, and daytime exploring. You can visit Disney’s Pop Century Resort, Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, and Disney’s Riviera Resort directly from the Skyliner.

All of the resorts are connected by the Skyliner, so you don’t need to rely on bus or boat transportation once you’re on the line. Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort is the Skyliner hub, so it’s easy to change directions there.

Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort Skyliner hub
Hit the Skyliner to visit multiple resorts efficiently.

Fun things to do at Skyliner resorts include walking Disney’s Art of Animation themed courtyards, dining at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort’s Old Port Royale, or stopping by Disney’s Riviera Resort for a sunset view of the water, outdoor games, and scavenger hunts.

Animal Kingdom Lodge and More

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge is worthy of a resort day on its own, especially if you’re looking for a relaxed day with fun and educational activities and want to see animals on the resort’s savanna. This resort is best paired with just one more resort rather than doing a full resort-hopping loop.

You can watch animals from the savanna overlooks, find cultural activity guides, explore art and artifacts in the lobby, and dine at Boma or Sanaa.

Disneys Animal Kingdom Lodge amenities activities string of memories learning station
Complete the String of Memories activities at the resort, and you can take home souvenir beads.

Buses are the only Disney World transportation option at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, so you’ll hop on a bus for your next resort destination. You could take a bus to Disney’s Hollywood Studios and then ride the Skyliner to Crescent Lake resorts. Another option is to take a bus to the Magic Kingdom and then ride a water taxi or the monorail to another resort.

Hot Tip:

I recommend visiting a maximum of 5 resorts per day unless you’re planning to simply run through without doing much. Anchor your resort visits with a plan, such as visiting an arcade, eating a meal, or doing an activity. Sticking to a single transportation line, such as the monorail or Skyliner, can help you minimize transportation time.

Final Thoughts

Resort-hopping is a great way to experience Disney World beyond the parks, especially on rest days or trips when park tickets aren’t in your budget for every day. With some planning and an understanding of Disney World transportation, you can turn resorts into destinations. Group resorts by area, stick to a single transportation line when possible, and anchor your resort visits with meals and activities to give each stop a purpose.

Featured Image Credit: Jessica Merritt. All images by Jessica Merritt unless otherwise noted.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you visit Disney World resorts without staying there?

Yes, Disney World resorts are open to visitors. You don’t have to be a park guest to explore resort lobbies, dine at restaurants, and participate in activities like horseback riding and fishing. However, parking is limited, so plan on using Disney World transportation to visit multiple resorts.

Do you need a park ticket to resort hop?

Park tickets aren’t required for resort-hopping. Disney transportation, including buses, boats, the monorail, and the Skyliner are accessible without entering a theme park.

Can you park at Disney resorts if you're not a guest?

Parking at Disney resorts is typically limited to overnight guests or guests with dining reservations, though enforcement varies. Disney Springs parking is a more reliable option, and it’s free.

What's the best way to get between Disney World resorts?

No direct buses run between Disney World resorts, so your best options are to use the theme parks as transportation hubs, ride the monorail, take the Skyliner, or ride boats when available. Resort-hopping is easier if you group resorts by transportation line.

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About Jessica Merritt

A long-time points and miles student, Jessica is the former Personal Finance Managing Editor at U.S. News and World Report and is passionate about helping consumers fund their travels for as little cash as possible.

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