There is a very strong rumor floating around right now that you need to be aware of, especially if you drive while at Walt Disney World. The rumor states that a major parking and transportation change is coming to Disney Springs. Guests who board buses at Disney Springs will need to have a hotel, dining, or extras reservation to board a bus.
This system has been implemented in the past during busy times of the year. But once things calmed down, the buses were once again open to all.
The reason for the change is mostly because some people will park at Disney Springs and then take a bus to a resort to avoid paying the theme park parking fee. Disney stopped the routes from Disney Springs to the theme parks years ago for this reason. Parking at Disney Springs is free, and is expected to stay that way.
I’ve been reading a lot of comments about the rumor. Many guests who stay on property seem to like the idea, because they think it will cut down on wait times to their resorts. Others have concerns about resort hopping, since exploring the resorts is a fun way to spend a day off. Who doesn’t like to take a day during the holiday season to visit the resorts and check out the decorations? This change will make that harder for many.
Again, this is all just rumor until Disney makes it official. This is one of those things that will most likely be changed quietly on the Walt Disney World website. I’ve heard that the new policy may go into effect as early as June 28. Even if there isn’t a permanent change, transportation will be limited from Disney Springs over the Fourth of July weekend.