Resort Hopping is a great way to spend an off day when visiting Walt Disney World. It is also fun on the day that you arrive if you aren’t headed to a park. As a local, Resort Hopping is a must, especially during the holidays. I love seeing the different ideas and themes at the various resorts.
One common misconception is that you need to be staying at a resort in order to visit it. That is not the case at all. The lobbies and the grounds are open to anyone, so feel free to stop by and check everything out.
If you are driving, you will need to go through a Security station in order to park. Have your license out. This will save time. Tell the Security Guard why you’re there. (There is no need to lie.) Most of the time you will be allowed to park, but if a lot is full you might be told to park elsewhere. This happens most often at the resorts that are near theme parks. People used to lie and then walk to a park to avoid paying for parking.
The other choice if you are driving (or if you are staying on property) is to take a bus from Disney Springs. You can get a bus to and from any resort on property, and the buses run late. If you try to park at the resort and can’t, chances are that you’ll be directed to park at Disney Springs anyway. While you’re parked at Disney Springs, you can easily check out Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort and both Port Orleans Resorts.
There are a couple of resort loops that you can easily hit without having to move your car. The first is the Monorail Loop. For this one, park at the Transportation & Ticket Center, then catch the Resort Monorail. You’ll be able to visit Disney’s Polynesian Village, Contemporary, and Grand Floridian Resorts on the same line. You will need to go through bag check each time you get on the monorail, but that is for your safety.
The Epcot Resort Area is also a great place to see resorts. You can visit Disney’s BoardWalk, Beach Club, and Yacht Club, and enjoy a stroll around Crescent Lake at the same time. You can also see both the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Hotels. If you don’t feel like walking, you can take a Friendship. The boats make several stops.
The Disney Skyliner isn’t really part of a resort loop, but the new transportation system can help you to visit more of them. The main hub is located at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort. One line goes to and from Disney’s Hollywood Studios, so you are not going to add any resorts that way. The second line will take you to Disney’s Pop Century and Art of Animation Resorts. The station is located in the middle of the two. The third line heads to and from Epcot, but it also stops at Disney’s Riviera Resort. If you get off at Epcot, you’ll be at the World Gateway Entrance, which makes it easy to hit the Epcot Resort Area Loop.
I love to visit the various resorts at Walt Disney World, and I hope that you decide to do the same at some point when you’re in Central Florida. You can browse in the shops, dine in the restaurants, and even take advantage of special activities that are only offered at the resort. There are some amenities (such as the pools) that are only for guests who are staying there, but many things are open to all. Resort Hopping is a great way to spend a couple of extra hours or an entire day.