New Details for Disney World Bus & Boat Restrictions, On-Site Guest Resort Hopping Rules & Parking Policies
Walt Disney World has provided new details about the expanded rules restricting the use of free transportation between Disney Springs and the WDW hotels, plus policies for on-site guest resort hopping, third party properties, parking & more. Here’s everything you need to know, including our advice for off-site guests who are finding themselves in a Mickey Beignet Bind.
As reported earlier this week, Walt Disney World is bringing back transportation restrictions that were tested over New Year’s and Spring Break ahead of the Independence Day holiday. But this time, on a permanent basis. Not only that, but they’re going to be expanded beyond just the buses to also encompass the Sassagoula River Cruise.
We now have new details that should answer a lot of reader questions in response to the previous post, which has garnered 200+ comments. Since the new restrictions were first announced, there have been a lot of questions, speculation, rumors, and misinformation.
Guests have sent emails to Guest Relations, asked questions via the chat feature in the My Disney Experience app, and posed inquiries to planDisney panelists, or even approached frontline Cast Members at Disney Springs. As longtime fans no doubt know, sometimes even these official resources are wrong. (An illustrative example being ‘confirmation’ that the Kiss Goodnight still plays. It does not.)
To get the most accurate and up-to-date information possible, the details below have been confirmed directly by us with actual Walt Disney World representatives. That doesn’t mean anything is set in stone. As is often the case with announcements or developing changes, policies are a work-in-progress that ‘evolve’ over time. But at the very least, what’s here is correct and the official policy at the time of publication.
We’d strongly encourage you to read the new rules before responding or asking questions. This includes who the restrictions do and do not impact, what is not changing, and what we still don’t know. (As always, feel free to ask questions, but if there’s something that we proactively mention as an unknown, we’ve already put in the inquiry to WDW and are awaiting response.)
Permanent Bus Restrictions
Starting June 28, 2026, Walt Disney World will be restricting transportation from Disney Springs with an expanded guest verification system.
With this new rule, Walt Disney World is limiting use of transportation from Disney Springs to the resort hotels to guests who have business to be there. Meaning they have an active reservation at a resort of some sort: hotel stay, Advance Dining Reservation, Enchanting Extras booking.
Guest Relations Cast Members act as gatekeepers outside of the bus loops, scanning MagicBands, Key to the World Cards, or reviewing My Disney Experience bookings to ensure eligibility. Guests who do not have a valid reservation for using the transportation will be politely informed that buses to resort hotels are currently only available for resort guests, and turned away.
Reservation checkpoints are before the various sets of bus loops, and not at the specific stops. (That would be a tremendous staffing burden!) Once you’ve proven you’re an on-site guest or have an eligible reservation of some sort, you’re free to access whichever bus stop you’d like. Any on-site Disney resort guest can go to any other on-site Disney resort by bus. This is both as a matter of practicality and official policy.
That’s good news for impatient people like me, who would board the first bus bound for any Crescent Lake resort when staying at Yacht & Beach Club or BoardWalk, Art of Animation and Pop Century, etc. You’ll still be able to pick whichever bus you want. Likewise, if you’re staying at All Star Sports but want to head over to Coronado Springs for a delicious meal at Three Bridges or 40% off at Toledo for VIPASSHOLDER Summer Days, you’ll be able to do so.
Sassagoula River Cruise Restriction
The big difference now versus the previous test is that Walt Disney World has confirmed that it’s not just bus transportation that will have the restriction starting June 28, 2026.
Walt Disney World will also implement the same guest verification to board the Sassagoula River Cruise, which transports guests by boat to Old Key West, Saratoga Springs Resort, Treehouse Villas, Port Orleans Riverside and Port Orleans French Quarter.
The same policies apply to the Sassagoula River Cruise as the bus transportation. Any on-site Disney resort guest can board the Sassagoula River Cruise, even if their resort is not serviced by the boats. This means that if you’re staying at All Star Sports, you can still board a boat bound for Port Orleans, stopping off at French Quarter for those beautiful beignets.
What we still don’t know is the logistics or where the checkpoint for boat access will be located. This won’t really matter for most practical purposes, but we have received reader questions about it.
My own assumption is that the checkpoint will be just beyond Disney’s Wonderful World of Memories, before the walkway leading to the bridge and boat docks. If so, this will have minor implications beyond just the boats. Again, this is speculative on my part and unconfirmed by Walt Disney World representatives.
Two Hour Reservation Rule
Guests who are accessing resort transportation via an Advance Dining Reservation or other reservation (that’s not a hotel stay) will be able to access the buses and boats up to 2 hours in advance of their eligible reservation.
Note that this is identical to the official policy for parking at resorts where you have an Advance Dining Reservation. And contrary to some guest misconceptions, all-day parking is not permitted at the resorts after an ADR. (Not really relevant here, but we’ve seen that come up several times in the comments.)
Mobile Order and Table Service To-Go are not eligible for access. This is an important point because there are a few fan-favorite locations, such as Scat Cat’s Club Cafe or Lounge, River Roost Lounge, and Gurgling Suitcase, that do not offer reservations. However, Olivia’s Cafe, Turf Club Bar & Grill, and Boatwright’s Dining Hall all do offer ADRs.
Day Guest Parking at Resort Hotels
This seems like a good time to reiterate the official and unofficial policies concerning day guest parking at the Disney-owned resort hotels. Here’s the official policy according to Walt Disney World: “Standard self-parking is complimentary for day Guests while they enjoy select dining, shopping, entertainment and recreation experiences at Disney Resort hotels.”
This is not a new policy. It’s also not the actual policy in practice. In reality, parking for day guests of resorts has become strict over the last several years. If you do not have confirmed ADRs or other reservations, you will not be allowed past the security checkpoint for the vast majority of resort hotels that offer non-bus transportation to the parks.
This usually means no Walk-Up Waitlist or Mobile Order, and no “I’m just here to shop and look around.” It can also mean no Uber or Lyft drop-offs for non-registered guests. Contemporary is the most locked-down since it’s the closest hotel to Magic Kingdom, but other monorail, Skyliner, boat, and walking distance resorts have similarly stringent policies.
With that said, this is subject to the discretion of the security Cast Members at each resort entrance. Some do not care, and will wave you through with ease. Others could get jobs guarding Fort Knox. Those are the two extremes, with a lot in between. It is very whim-driven and inconsistent. I don’t think Sarah has ever been turned away, whereas my experience has been very different. Funny how that works.
This is precisely why we want predictable parking policies at BoardWalk once Hurly-Burly nightclub opens, even if that means paid parking with validation. That beats being turned away and wasting time!
Rules for Third Party On-Site Hotels
It is worth noting that guests staying at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin, Swan Reserve, Shades of Green, and other on-site but third party Good Neighbor Resorts get dropped off at Disney Springs at the West Side Bus and Rideshare Loop.
This is located between the Strawberry and Watermelon Surface Parking Lots, on the far end of the West Side just beyond Cirque du Soleil and Level99. This is as opposed to the Disney Resorts Town Center Bus Depot, which is by the Orange Garage, AMC, Wolfgang Puck, Coca Cola Store and Planet Hollywood.
Despite this, guests staying at Walt Disney World Swan & Dolphin Hotels, Swan Reserve, and Shades of Green get the same transportation privileges as any other on-site guest of Disney-owned resort hotels.
This means they can take the bus to Three Bridges at Coronado, boats to beignets at French Quarter, and everywhere else in between. Just be mindful that the West Side stop is on the exact opposite end of Disney Springs as the Sassagoula River Cruise, so that’s quite the hike!
We have inquired about the policies for all other on-site resort hotels, including but not limited to the Disney Springs Resort Area Hotels, Bonnet Creek Resorts, and more. We will report back once the official policies concerning these properties are communicated.
I would not necessarily expect Disney to extend the same privileges to these Good Neighbor properties as the Swolphin or Shades of Green, which have historically been considered Deluxe Resorts by most measures. We shall see, though!
Resort Hopping NOT Banned
Contrary to some click-baity headlines and social media claims, this rule does not end resort hopping for on-site Walt Disney World guests. For that matter, it does not end resort hopping for off-site guests, only from Disney Springs as a starting point.
When it comes to visiting the resorts, Walt Disney World encourages off-site guests to park at the theme parks and then use the transportation network. Meaning that off-site guests will need to pay for parking prior to resort hopping.
Obviously your mileage may vary, but our experience has been that the best ‘home base’ for resort hopping is Disney’s Hollywood Studios. It’s the easiest parking lot (IMO) with quick and immediate access to the Skyliner and bus loops, as well as walking to Crescent Lake and EPCOT. Whenever we park and hop, it’s usually starting at DHS.
Rules for Annual Passholders
The above also means the Disney Springs restriction does not prevent off-site Annual Passholders from resort hopping. We’ve heard from a lot of locals who are worried about this restriction, but you will still be able to park at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and take the Skyliner to Riviera Resort or walk to Crescent Lake, park at the TTC and take the monorail to Grand Floridian, etc.
However, Annual Passholders without the aforementioned reservations will NOT be eligible to board buses or boats at Disney Springs. Rather, they will be directed to park at one of the theme parks and resort hop from there.
As a reminder, all Walt Disney World APs (including the Pixie Dust, Pirate, Sorcerer, and Incredi-Pass tiers) include complimentary standard theme park parking. Annual Passholders are also eligible for free park to resort transportation.
This AP restriction also underscores that the new restrictions are not exclusively about closing the free parking loophole at Disney Springs that has been exploited “thanks” to social media, nor are they just about preserving bus and boat bandwidth for on-site guests. They’re also about ensuring plenty of parking at Disney Springs for locals and other guests who actually want to visit Disney Springs.
Another note we’d offer here is that Walt Disney World has not offered (or even implied) an official justification for the changes. We have speculated at length about the rationale, and some of this has been informed by talking with frontline Cast Members and on-the-ground leadership at Disney Springs and a couple of resort hotels, but all of that is just off-the-cuff, casual conversation.
Based on what we’ve heard and experienced firsthand (extensively using Disney transportation and parking at Disney Springs), it’s our belief that there are multiple underlying explanations for the changes.
Beignet Bind
Far and away the biggest complaint we’ve heard from off-site guests is that this will prevent them from purchasing the delicious beignets at Scat Cat’s Club Cafe in Port Orleans French Quarter. On its face, this is true, as Scat Cat’s doesn’t offer ADRs.
However, there are still ways to visit French Quarter pursuant to the new rules. The first of these is the one we’d recommend, which is making an early dinner reservation at Boatwright’s Dining Hall. (See our new Boatwright’s review for menu recommendations–our top picks are the Taste of the Bayou Platter and the Prime Rib.)
After dining at Boatwright’s, enjoy a stroll around Riverside and over to French Quarter, which can be reached by foot. These sister resorts are two of the nicest on property from an atmospheric perspective, and are overlooked by most guests since they’re not Deluxes. (See Peaceful Promenade at Port Orleans.)
Another option is booking the Horse-Drawn Carriage Rides at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside. You’ll board your carriage for a 25-minute ride at the Riverside Levee Marina at Riverside. Carriages fit up to 4 adults (or 2 adults and 3 small children). Each horse-drawn carriage ride costs $65.
Alternatively, our unofficial advice is to take an Uber or Lyft to Port Orleans French Quarter. We do want to offer the same caveat as above, which is that your entrance is at the discretion of security Cast Members, but we’ve found in the past that POFQ is less restrictive than, say, Contemporary or Beach Club. Of course, this too could change if it becomes a problem and even today there’s the risk of being turned away.
That’s precisely why making an ADR at Boatwright’s is our top pick. The Port Orleans resorts are lovely, and if you’re already going to the effort of making the trek to French Quarter, why not make an evening out of it? Frankly, this would’ve been my recommendation even before the transportation crackdown.
If you don’t want to do a horse-drawn carriage, dinner at Boatwright’s or rideshare, paid parking at one of the theme parks and resort hopping via Disney transportation to French Quarter remains an option.
Ultimately, Walt Disney World restricting bus and boat access to guests with reservations at a resort should be a net positive. It’s good for on-site guests. It has minimal impact on Annual Passholders or even off-site guests with a valid ADR or other reservation at a resort.
The majority of people it’s adversely impacting are those trying to exploit a free parking loophole. This isn’t to say there’s not ‘collateral damage’ with other guests being impacted, but such use cases are few and far between and most can be mitigated by paying for parking at one of the theme parks or making a reservation at one of the resorts.
Planning a Walt Disney World trip? Learn about hotels on our Walt Disney World Hotels Reviews page. For where to eat, read our Walt Disney World Restaurant Reviews. To save money on tickets or determine which type to buy, read our Tips for Saving Money on Walt Disney World Tickets post. Our What to Pack for Disney Trips post takes a unique look at clever items to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Ride Guides will help. For comprehensive advice, the best place to start is our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide for everything you need to know!
YOUR THOUGHTS
Thoughts on this Disney Springs boat and bus rule? Do the new details make the restrictions better or worse for you? Do you agree or disagree with our assessment? Any questions? Hearing your feedback about your experiences is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts or questions below in the comments!
Just by reading all these comments from people upset this is happening makes it apparent it’s clearly something a lot of people do. And why Disney is addressing it. I just got back from a split Poly/WL CL stay and the bus going from DS to the Poly was ridiculously crowded. Packed like sardines and I overheard people talking and saying they were not staying at the Poly but were going there to see the MK fireworks from the beach. I was paying over $900 a night to stay and couldn’t even get a seat on the bus, and parents with young kids staying there were also standing and trying to balance while non guests were in seats. Never mind how packed the beach area was. The chairs on the beach should be reserved for Poly guests, I’m fine if non guests want to watch from the beach, but maybe find a way to reserve the beach chairs for Poly guests (I have ideas, but that’s another post). Hopefully this change will help with the crazy crowds there. I’m back in September so it will be interesting to see if there’s a difference.
Laura.
Why are you surprised? It’s FREE and regardless of the hassle or time sink, Locals, and I’m assuming they make up the bulk of this problem, can wear the thirty-five bucks that they saved on parking as a badge of honor and tell everyone how they found a back door to enjoy the fireworks and other open shows, beat the system and were even able to take little Robespiere to see the nifty animals at AKL for nothing but maybe the price of a drink. Maybe even saw a character or two to boot. Cheap day’s entertainment.
Frankly, I’d like to see a $35 parking charge at Springs for all non resort or non AP guests. That’d solve most of the problem. People need to understand that the resorts are primarily for the enjoyment of those paying to stay there or eat at a table-service restaurant in the venue. They aren’t a neighborhood shopping mall. You wanna shop? That’s what Springs is for.
I know there are people who are more willing to spend time than money. Especially a local who may not be spending precious vacation time. But it is also people who could park elsewhere for free. The only thing I can see that really changes for them is that they can’t take the *boat* to PO just for beignets. They could still take a bus — just not from Disney Springs. If you really want a boat ride, there are other places to catch those. Or you could probably do a round trip from PO and back as long as you didn’t leave the dock at DS.
Most locals who are spending time at Disney properties are probably APs (who can park for free at the parks). So they are really not the issue in most cases.
Jack, I’m just saying don’t vilify the locals. Orlando had 76.7 million visitors last year. Only about 27-30 million of those people stayed onsite at a Disney Resort. And if any of those other 45-49 million people wanted to visit Disney how do you think they would get there? By car. So to assume that the only people filling up parking garages are locals is absurd. If locals are parking at Disney Springs it is because they are going shopping or out to dinner. They aren’t going to waste their time with stupid parking hacks. And do a few locals enjoy being able to take a boat ride to get dinner or a snack? Yes. That is one of the joys of having Disney in your backyard. So it is sad for those few and I mean few people to lose that ability.
Others have already said this and I agree it seems like it could be part of the comprehensive long-term solution to incorporate charging people who park at the hotels with a valid reason to be there like an ADR, but who are not staying at the hotel, a fee to park, especially at the hotels close to the parks–similar to what Disney does at all the Disneyland hotels (only similar because Disneyland also charges overnight guests a parking fee). At the Disneyland Resort, guests visiting a hotel with an ADR generally get 3 hours of free parking with validation. However, if Disneyland hotel restaurant guests attempt to abuse the complimentary parking and over stay the 3 hour window to visit the parks, then it is $45 for the first hour (i.e., the person’s fourth hour overall in the lot) plus an additional $10 per hour thereafter up to a maximum of $85 for the day. Standard theme park parking at Disneyland is $40 per day. So, a full day in the Grand Californian’s lot for someone who is not an overnight guest is $85 for the parking plus either the cost of the meal of the fee for canceling the ADR within the 2 hour window. Therefore, if a person misuses the parking lots at Disneyland Resort hotels, there is a cost. If WDW put a similar policy in place for the resorts, then it would likely solve at least part of the issue of people who are not overnight guests visiting the parks and using pools or watching fireworks in places they don’t belong. In that way, WDW security could actually be less aggressive about the parking because there would no longer be a way to “hack” free theme park parking.
WDW would have to add the infrastructure to all the parking to do an hourly charge like that. Right now you just drive out without any way for anyone to know how long you’ve parked there. And the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District is responsible for the Disney Springs parking.
Brit
Yeah. Except that they apparently don’t want to park at the parks. That has been suggested as a solution in this thread and seems to have been pretty much ignored. My wife and I and two sets of our kids and their families live no closer than 800 miles and as far as 1400 miles from Wally World. We all have annual passes and stay on property so this doesn’t really affect us, but of late we’ve noticed that the parking garages at Springs have been really crowded. Begniets alone can’t be the reason. I still maintain that some people consider the hotel lobbies and grounds as free Disney entertainment. Pools. Christmas Lights. Gingerbread Houses. Fireworks. The occasional character. And who actually checks I.D.? As for those who claim they like drinking and dining at the resorts, Springs has a myriad of bars and restaurants so I don’t buy that reason alone.
Automated technology exists to charge for parking at Springs and even rebate or credit the fee to resort guests. It lives at almost every US airport. Gated card access for parking at Springs with possible rebate cards issued for dining and shopping, then install a begniet venue in Springs and we’ll see who is trying to B.S.whom. I still think that combo is the real answer.
Laura – I have no idea what the DeSantistan Board has to do with my comment, which does not suggest charging for parking at Disney Springs–as Tom noted, I’m sure paid parking is something the third-party tenants would be against. And, adding infrastructure to charge for parking at the resorts is something even the company who brought us the years long Giant Dirt Pit should be able to handle relatively easily.
Jack,
This rule change has the minimal cost of a few cast members at the bus/boat checks. It’s better for the tenants paying high rent at DS, better for the people who actually want to visit DS, and better for resort guests trying to get back to their rooms. WDW is already set up to charge off-site guests $35 for parking in the theme park lots. I think adding a fee for parking at DS would cause more trouble than it would be worth even with validation and/or exceptions for resort guests.
There should be some level of annual pass that offers full resort park hopping access, including Disney Springs boats and buses.
The incredipass is quite expensive to have this benefit removed. Maybe an optional surcharge on all passes would make it worthwhile for Disney.
I hate to say this, but Disney is Absolutely targeting annual passholders SPECIFICALLY with this Disney Springs bus rule. Passholders that use the busses are likely Not parking for the day at Disney Springs. So Disney is not being forthcoming. It is not just about parking to avoid parking fees at Disney Springs.
I also think this is just the beginning. The next step will be a big up charge to entitle us to use resort transportation at all. Or there will be specific tier levels that have access. Or they discontinue annual passes altogether. I just don’t believe they are being honest. And look how hard they are making it…we have to jump through all kinds of hoops to ride a boat, or return to our cars.
People who are parking at Disney Springs to go elsewhere are the ones affected here. Passholders can park at any theme park. Personally I would rather not deal with those garages and security screening when I don’t have to.
To me it rather seems like the opposite? APs can park at any theme park and then travel to the resorts, so I don’t see how it’s really targeting them. It’s hitting at the people staying off-property and then parking at Springs for free so they can take the bus to Contemporary (to go to MK), Beach Club (to go to Epcot), etc.
Isn’t the parking hack one of the biggest reasons most people even go to the overpriced shopping mall known as Disney Springs?
I don’t see the appeal otherwise. Haven’t been to DS in years since they made me pick up a Passholder magnet there. While doing so, I watched them turn away an elderly woman in front of me because she didn’t understand their silly magnet reservation process they had during that silly time.
I’m actually surprised how many people seem to be using it as the default parking lot for the whole property even when it is easier and quicker to park elsewhere. No wonder it is so difficult to find a space.
So, here’s a problem I foresee in my future… Christmas we are staying at Campground in a DVC cabin. My brother and his family live in Orlando and would want to come visit with us, ride the golf cart in the evening and look at the lights with us. They won’t let him in at the gate, and he can’t park at Disney Springs and take the bus over… so what the heck is he supposed to do? Now we can’t even have visitors at our resort room? I think my Mom’s plan was to have them come over on Christmas Day too
They should be able to give the security guard the name on the reservation and say they are visiting and be able to park at the Outpost.
You could also meet them at Disney Springs and take them with you on the bus back to Fort Wilderness. Or at least one of you could go in their car to let them into the Outpost parking lot.
Darlene, instead of taking a free parking spot at Disney Springs meant for shoppers, your brother can pay $35 to park at a theme park parking lot, and take the bus to your resort. No problem at all unless visiting you and your golf cart tour of Christmas lights isn’t worth the cost.
The comments on what he should do are valid…. But just a hassle. I mean, you pay to park in the Magic Kingdom lot, get on the monorail or the ferry to get to the Magic Kingdom, then turn around and take either a boat or a bus to campground. He’s got 4 kids and this would easily take over an hour / hour and a half each way to do this.
To address another: They typically don’t let you in at the gate to visit someone at Fort Wilderness – especially at Christmas time.
To address another: So now I have to go on a bus to DS to meet them so they can come to my resort… that’s now a hassle for me while I’m on vacation just so they can get to my resort. A good two hours to get there, meet up with them, wait for the next bus, and then bus back with them to my resort. ♀️ Just a lot of running around.
Darlene
If your brother is a local to Orlando why doesn’t he host you by taking you to one of the many Christmas light displays around Orlando? To most visitors surprise there is more to Orlando than theme parks.
I will be staying at AKL Jambo in July. How do I get to 3 Bridges? It is a no parks trip. I was going to go to Wilderness Lodge to eat at Geyser Point, But thought I would try 3 Bridges because Tom mentions it so often.
Anyone know the best way to get there with fewest transfers? Doesn’t need to be fastest, but I don’t want to take bus to Disney Springs, to take another bus to 3 Bridges.
Thanks for your help.
Honestly I would just take whatever Park bus comes first to wherever it is going, and then walk directly to that park’s Coronado Springs bus stop from there. Iirc, the stop you will want at Coronado is the last one, at the tower.
He can still park at the main campground parking lot.
To get from AKL to 3 Bridges, take the bus from AKL to Animal Kingdom or Hollywood Studios, and then take the Coronado Springs bus from there.
Darlene,
Show me where it says your room reservation entitles you to have six off-site guests, or any guests for that matter, over to your room to see your or any resort Christmas decorations and use free Disney transportation to do so, and I’ll sympathize with all of the hassle and running around you have to do to accomplish this.
Passholder here. We park at a theme park, but enjoy using resort transportation to Disney Springs for an ADR. Can we ride the buses back to our car with a receipt or screenshot?
With this new policy, passholders will be using up parking spots at Disney Springs that we wouldn’t otherwise use.
Mostly the issue has been the other way. People using spots and going elsewhere.
Given that there is no resort transportation between the theme parks and Disney Springs, you must be ending up at a resort that your don’t have a reservation at to get from said theme park parking lot to the resort transportation you enjoy using? Why not just drive from the theme park to DS for your ADR and then you can drive right home?
Jack –
I’d actually prefer they just let them park in our own designated parking space right at our cabin. But they often don’t let them through the gate. They aren’t going there to use Disney’s transportation or Disney’s pool or anything like that. I pay for that golf cart. The Christmas decorations are from people camping there… not from Disney. So, why not have the opportunity to see them?
We have Beach Club reservations next week. I was told specifically by a Cast Member on the phone that the opportunity to go from a day at EPCOT to enjoy late night music at Scat Cat’s would be essentially impossible because the lounge is more for THOSE resort guests only, especially after the parks close and transportation ends. I agree with a previous post in that I feel punished that I invested in DVC and want to come and stay in the resort, yet I cannot enjoy what I used to be able to do….resort hopping…very sad, but thank you for allowing me to save some money – money I’d LOVE to give, but I guess I will ask someone how it went at POR.
How odd. These new rules have absolutely no bearing on someone staying at the Beach Club.
That cast member was flat-out wrong. Anyone is free to take the bus from Epcot to Port Orleans, and since you’re staying in a Disney hotel, you’d be free to take the bus or boat from Dis Springs to Port Orleans.
Read this article again! Nothing here has any bearing on “resort hopping”. It’s purely about access to transportation LEAVING FROM Dis Springs, and someone staying at Beach Club is unaffected by the new policy.
Uber
I really like go for a walk along Sassagoula River in Port Orleans Riverside and French Quater. I get on boat from Springs and boat passes through golf course and Sratoga Treehouse Villa. The view is so amazing. I really like this boat crusing too. Disney experience chat told me I can go to Port Orleans from park by bus. Iooks I still can do go for a walk. But maybe bus is running every 20-30 min ? Total time of round trip between Epcot and Port Orleans takes for long time. Round trip between my house and Disney World is 4 hours. Round trip between Epcot and Port Orleans by bus is wasting time for me. I won’t be able to have this boat crusing any more. I’m really disappointed. We don’t have so much time. so I go to Springs for last crusing on 6/22.
I’m pass holder and I don’t have to pay parking fee for park. So I really didn’t realized some pepole park a car at Springs and take bus to go to park for saving money for park parking. $35 for parking is not cheap. I understand. But I am really dissapointed that I am deprived of one of my pleasures because of like these people.
Some other boat cruising ideas: Park at HS and boat to and from Crescent Lake resorts. Park at TTC, ferry to MK or walk to Poly and take launch, boat to WL and back. Park at DS walk west to Saratoga Springs or Old Key West and cruise from there.
Unfortunately the boats were getting overly crowded, so you may have been in a position where it took longer to go from Springs to Port Orleans than it would to go from a park by bus. I stayed at POFQ a few months ago and had to wait almost 45 minutes one night to get on a boat because the line was so long.
And yeah, it really stinks that people looking for a loophole kinda ruined it for people like you.
I’ve read a lot of comments about people wanting to park at DS then go to a hotel to have a cocktail or a snack and check out the gift shops or the animals.
The thing is, getting an ADR doesn’t mean you have to buy a full course meal or drop $175 or even $10. Make an ADR and share a dessert or start those cocktails. Not everyone in the party has to buy something to eat or drink. There’s no table minimum……..yet.
This sucks. My family are AP holders. We often start at the springs and use bus system to visit other hotels. My son loves the toy store in the Contemporary. We love to shop and stay for coffees, have an ice cream, visit the animals, all while eating primarily at the springs after. Sometimes we pop into a place to dine without a reservation. This really just complicates it for us. We feel that disney will be missing out on our money as we often hotel hop just to relax on a day off. I love taking visitors for coctails and to see the animals for an hour or two at the animal kingdom lodge. we have never abused the system or snuck into a pool. I feel we are being unjustly punished. I do not understand the people who love to make it more restrictive and exclusive. How disappointing. Disnsy doesn’t need to punish us all for few bad eggs. I guess I will visit less, but it breaks my heart. Why not just charge to park at the springs? and then get validtion if you have a purchase?
If you’re AP holders, easy peasy to resort hop from a theme park. Then drive to DS after.
Haven’t seen this explicitly addressed: if you have a water park ticket/add-on, can you use the bus from Disney Springs to Typhoon Lagoon?
Second question is like Rob’s earlier — do you have to worry about stranding yourself at Disney Springs? I can see my AP holding, FL resident parents-in-law parking at a theme park (or somewhere they had a reservation) and later unthinkingly taking a boat/bus to Disney Springs instead of moving their car.
The new policy only affects transportation from DS to the hotels. There are no restrictions on the buses to Typhoon Lagoon.
Andy,
The restriction is on access to the entire bus loop. Someone on the previous post was asking about coming in on the Lynx bus at the west side drop off and being able to get to the Typhoon Lagoon bus. I would think the answer would be yes if you had a pass for that, but the only things specifically mentioned were resort reservations.
How does the new policy keep a family with a breakfast at the Poly from parking there until close? As an on-site stay guest, we see this happening everyday during our stays. It’s so irritating to have difficulty finding parking to see families loading their cars back up after a day at the parks. Why does Disney not enforce their rule?
Without additional infastructure or at least staffing, how would they actually enforce it?
If I remember correctly back when they were charging for resort parking, you got a slip for your dash as an overnight guest. For an ADR, you got a temp parking pass with a 3 hour window. But I wonder if that was really on the honor system. We certainly never tested it!
The new policy does not keep a family from doing that, nor is it intended to.
OK, reservation made for Boatrights. parked own car. Had meal, took boat to Springs for a few hours. In that time, reservation drops from My Disney Experience as it has been completed. What do I show to board boat back to hotel? Same potential issues for any return to hotel after meal and Springs transport. Did I miss reading something?
Why would you not drive your car from POR to Disney Springs after dinner instead of taking a boat?
There’s no check on transportation from the resorts; only from Disney Springs.
Regardless, I don’t think there’s going to be an official policy for every possible scenario. In a situation like that (assuming they start checking both directions, which is unlikely), I’d take a screenshot of the ADR or save my receipt. CMs will have discretion, as always.
Hi Rob and Ken,
First to Ken’s question, It’s a great boat ride. The Sassagoula River ride is probably my wife’s favorite.
Also, why hassle with traffic and parking at DS when you can use the Sassagoula Steamboat Company? Then after shopping take the relaxing ride to the French Quarter for those mouth watering incredibly fattening, artery hardening, lifespan shortening beignets.
Rob, Tom’s suggestion of your dinner receipt is a great one. But if you have a reservation at another Disney hotel I believe you can use the boat. Also if you have a handicap parking sticker you can use the valet parking for free and that receipt will show the “boat dock master” that your car is at PO. Thought the valet parking is free, ALWAYS be sure to give a nice tip to the CM’s parking your shiny Rolls Royce or like in my case a 2003 Toyota Corolla. Don’t laugh. When the valets bring me my car, they give me money.
“When the valets bring me my car, they give me money.”
Mickey, you are a riot! also, accurate with regard to what matters in life,..
(as usual, ignore my comment)
To avoid getting stranded, park at DS, take boat *to* your ADR, and then back to DS after.
Thanks for the updates. I am in agreement with the policy and hope it eventually applies to the resort monorail and resort boats at the Magic Kingdom. Also hoping that the Disney Springs neighbor resorts are restricted from the Disney Springs busses and boats too. There are thousands of rooms in that district that can clog things up. It’s fascinating the number of people who feel they are entitled to free transportation to resorts that they do not hold a reservation at (room or dining). There are plenty of great dessert and drink options at Disney Springs to choose from in place of the beignet or Dole Whip. I’m not sure if it’s to a lesser degree or not but I hear of many people who make their way to the Polynesian just for a Dole Whip.
“I’m not sure if it’s to a lesser degree or not but I hear of many people who make their way to the Polynesian just for a Dole Whip.”
Nowhere is to a lesser degree than the totality of the Poly’s problems. A big part of that is Disney’s on doing in building a new tower there and further stressing the already overburdened infrastructure, but they really need to do more to crack down on visitors at that resort. I’d argue the same about the Grand Floridian, but it’s not as bad.
Thank you for taking the time to get a very quick update regarding eligibility for guests of the Swan, Dolphin, and Shades of Green.
Here ya go folks! The “Official” recipe for Scst Cat Club Beignets! Now you can roll your own any time you want without a parking charge or a reservation or even a tip to Disney! Just think of the money you’ll save and tlack of hassle. (I actually prefer the beignets at Cafe duMonde in the Quarter in NOLA and that recipe can be had on line too.) Unfortunately, if it’s the boat ride and the atmosphere you prefer, you’re probably gonna have to pay for it in the future.
https://cdn1.parksmedia.wdprapps.disney.com/media/blog/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/MickeyBeignetsRecipe.pdf
Well we always stay on site and do not drive so nothing to see here. I do hope that ultimately they crackdown on more – namely pool access.
What if I want to go to boardwalk to watch the fireworks and shop around I have an AP but my family doesn’t. Where should I park? Because it closes at 10 and I want to stay until close to the end.
Hailey,
Hollywood Studios and walk, boat, or skyliner.