There has been a lot of talk about the upcoming change to transportation from Disney Springs. Since there are questions and half-truths floating around, I decided to visit Disney Springs myself to see what I could learn.
Starting on June 28, you will need to have a hotel reservation, dining reservation, or experience reservation to use transportation from Disney Springs. This includes buses and boats. You will scan in once, and you don’t have to take the bus to the resort where you’re staying. Resort Hopping is still allowed and encouraged. If you’re staying on property, the change will not affect you. This is not really a new rule, it’s just one that Disney will start to enforce.
Since the rule will not affect those who are staying at Walt Disney World, who will it affect? Locals and those staying off property. Annual Passholders already receive free parking at the theme parks, so for the most part they should survive. (That’s a joke, this isn’t that big of a deal.) Park at a theme park and then take the bus to the resort that you want to explore. If you’re staying off property and using the transportation from your resort, it will be a little more complicated. Be prepared to take a rideshare if you’re stuck at Disney Springs.
What about resorts that have activities in the evening, such as Yehaa Bob Jackson at Disney’s Port Orleans, or Atlantic Dance Hall at Disney’s BoardWalk? Will you now be allowed to park at the resort, since you can no longer take transportation from Disney Springs? Don’t count on it. Some people will tell you that they park at these resorts all the time without issue. Ultimately, though, it’s up to the discretion of the Security Guard. Officially, you are still not allowed to park at any resort unless you are staying there or have a dining reservation.
Thinking of making a dinner reservation and then canceling it so that you can park at Disney Springs? Think again. (I know that Disney Over 50 readers wouldn’t do that but there are people who would.) If you have a dining or experience reservation, you will not be allowed on Disney Springs transportation until two hours before your reservation time. You can’t cancel a dining reservation after two hours without a penalty.
Also, please don’t make a dining reservation and then order only a drink or an appetizer. The servers rely on tips from full meals to feed their families. Stiffing them so that you don’t have to pay for parking is just plain cruel.
One final thought. The Cast Members at the bus stops and the boat ramps are just doing their jobs. Don’t take your frustrations out on them, this is not their decision. Please, always, be kind.
With the rule being enforced, there will be some adjustments for a few of us. Ultimately, though, it won’t affect most Disney Springs guests. I’ve lived in the Orlando area for 16 years, and I don’t think I’ve ever taken a bus from Disney Springs. Don’t listen to the fears and the rumors. Disney is not getting rid of Resort Hopping. Disney is not going to start charging to park at Disney Springs. All that’s happening is that a rule is going to be enforced, and a loophole closed. That’s it.