In case you missed it, there has been a big Disney World transportation update recently.

Disney Springs bus stop

If you’re trying to resort hop or get around the hotels without a reservation, things might be a bit tough for you now. As new transportation rules kick in, they’ve left a lot of Disney guests asking for clarity. That’s what we’re here to provide!

If you’re a tried-and-true Disney pro or you’re heading to the resort for the first time, it’s extra important that you know Disney Springs transportation rules have changed. The rule, which started on June 28th, now states that you can no longer take a bus or boat from Disney Springs to a hotel without a hotel or dining reservation. 

The new transportation rules

This means transportation has gotten a lot stricter. In the past, lots of Disney World guests would park at Disney Springs, where parking is free, and head to the Disney World hotels, where parking is limited to hotel guests only. This was an easy way for guests to hit up the hotels so they could try the amazing dining spots, lounges without reservations, and other entertainment options. In the past, you could take buses or boats to every Disney hotel, but that is no longer the case.

Sign over at the boat depot

Now, you can only take a bus or boat to a hotel if you have a Disney World hotel reservation or a dining reservation at the hotel you’re trying to get to. That means you can still check out the hotels; you aren’t completely blocked out, but it isn’t as easy as it once was. In the past, we’ve seen this rule in effect during busy seasons like the holidays, but Disney has made it clear this is now a permanent rule.

The Boat Dock at Disney Springs

Disney has confirmed that to board the buses, guests must provide a room key, dining reservation, or experience reservation. Guests with a dining reservation must be within two hours of their reservation window to be granted access. So you can’t go at 10 AM for a 5 PM reservation.

Disney Springs

So why has Disney really put this policy in? While we don’t know exactly what they’re thinking we have two good educated guesses. The first is that they are trying to cut down on people skipping out on paying parking fees at the theme parks. Parking at Disney Springs is free, and parking at the theme parks is $35 per day for a standard car. Some guests were parking at Disney Springs, taking a bus to a resort, and then heading to a theme park from the resort since Disney Springs doesn’t offer buses straight to the theme parks.

Disney Bus

The second reason is that Disney is trying to cut down on resort hopping. Resort hopping has been a Disney tradition for decades, but it has grown in popularity over the last few years. The hotels could get pretty crowded, especially during the Christmas season, so this could be Disney’s attempt to make each hotel more relaxed for the guests who are staying there. Another way Disney seems to be attempting this is the removal of the beloved Grand Floridian Gingerbread House.

Boat Transportation to the Grand Floridian

Currently, guests can still walk from Saratoga Springs to Disney Springs, but Disney could change that in the future. We’re waiting to see if Disney begins cracking down on other transportation options to get to the resorts, but for now, only Disney Springs is seeing this big crackdown. You can still easily get around, but make sure you have that breakfast, lunch, dinner, or hotel reservation handy. Be sure to keep following AllEars for more Disney news and updates.

Does This Mean Disney World Is Completely Banning Resort Hopping? Well, It’s Complicated.

 

What do you think about the change? Tell us in the comments!

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