For many Walt Disney World Resort Guests, resort hopping is one of the highlights of any Disney vacation.
With over 25 resorts, ranging from Deluxe Resort options like Disney’s Contemporary Resort and Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, to Value properties, such as the All-Star Music Resort and All-Star Movies Resort, there’s something for every family onsite at the Disney World complex.
Although Disney’s new health and safety policies because of the pandemic have made resort hopping much more challenging than it used to be (no more monorail bar crawl right now, folks), it can still be done!
Here, we take a look at how you can still enjoy Disney World resort hopping during the pandemic.
What exactly is resort hopping?
The beginning is always a very good place to start, so we’ll begin with a look at what resort hopping actually is. This activity involves walking around Walt Disney World Resort hotels you aren’t actually staying at. There are a number of reasons people do this.
Many Guests enjoy seeing the insides of resorts they haven’t stayed at before to help them plan future trips. Other Disney World visitors have fun visiting the shops and restaurants that are located around Disney’s Lake Buena Vista property.
Some of the best restaurants onsite at Disney World can be found in resort hotels and certain merchandise collections that bear different hotels’ names and logos are exclusive to their gift shops.
How can you resort hop at Disney World right now?
Walt Disney Company officials have determined that Guests who do not have a room reservation will not be allowed to enter Disney World resort hotels in most cases. This is encourage social distancing and prevent the spread of the virus.
There are, however, a couple of things you can do to gain access to a resort property you aren’t currently staying at.
Have a dining reservation.
The very best way to resort hop at this time is to have a sit-down dining reservation or a scheduled mobile order pick-up at the Walt Disney World hotel you wish to visit.
At Disney’s Riviera Resort, for example, Guests can still reserve a modified character dining experience at Topolino’s Terrace with Minnie Mouse, Mickey Mouse, and Friends.
For those unfamiliar with mobile ordering at Disney World quick service locations, simply use the My Disney Experience app to choose and customize the food you’d like to purchase. Contactless pick-up is currently available.
It is worth noting that since resort hopping technically isn’t encouraged right now, you shouldn’t show-up for your scheduling Disney dining reservation or mobile order pickup time too early. This way, Cast Members won’t assume you are trying to skirt the rules. Instead, only go to a Disney Resort hotel where you are planning to eat.
Stay outside.
Another great way to enjoy resort hopping currently is to stay outside. The exterior areas of almost all Walt Disney World Resort hotels are stunning and walking around them can be a fun way to enjoy a non-theme park day even if you don’t go inside.
Numerous Guests have been sharing exterior resort hopping photos on social media. Instagrammer @ropedropaly showcased the Grand Floridian’s Wedding Pavilion during her resort hop stroll.
@disneybymeg also shared an outdoor resort hopping picture on Instagram. She visited the gorgeous Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge.
How do you travel between resorts?
“But, wait,” you might be thinking, “even if I wanted to resort hop right now, howdo I get from place to place?” Fortunately, there are number of Disney World transportation options currently available to Guests.
Disney’s bus service between resort hotels, theme p arks, and Disney Springs is operational. More details and route information can be found on the official Walt Disney World Resort bus transportation webpage.
Disney World is also offering water transportation by way of its ferry boats. The website reads:
Take in the scenery and relax with welcome breezes as you sail around Seven Seas Lagoon and Bay Lake. Feel the wind in your hair and the magic in the air as you cruise Crescent Lake and Lake Hollywood. Water taxis and ferries sail to and from Magic Kingdom park, Epcot, Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Disney Springs. Most routes run on 15- to 30-minute intervals.
Magic Kingdom Park
Accessible by water launch (also known as water taxi) from:
- Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
- The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
- Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
- Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground
- Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
- Boulder Ridge Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
Ferryboats connect Magic Kingdom park to the Transportation and Ticket Center.
Socially distanced monorail transportation is also an option for WDW Guests at this time. The website reads:
The Walt Disney World Monorail System has 3 separate beams that travel throughout Walt Disney World Resort and make the following stops:
- Magic Kingdom park
- Disney’s Contemporary Resort
- Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
- Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
- Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows
- Transportation and Ticket Center
Additionally, there are express round-trip services from the Transportation and Ticket Center to 2 theme parks: Epcot and Magic Kingdom park.
What do you think about current Disney World resort hopping options? Tell us if you’ve resort hopped lately!
Let the experts at Academy Travel help you plan your next vacation. They can help you navigate the theme parks without a ticket option, schedule reservations for your preferred onsite hotel, and even get the dining reservations you need to to your heart’s content! Whether you want to stay along , get a room at near , or stay elsewhere, their team is here for you.