Details for Disney World Bus & Boat Restrictions, Resort Hopping Rules & Parking Policies (Now in Effect!)
Walt Disney World has provided details about the expanded restrictions on 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 about these rules that are now in effect, plus on-the-ground reader reports in the comments.
As previously reported, Walt Disney World has brought 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 nearly 250 comments. Since the new restrictions were first announced, there have been a lot of questions, speculation, rumors, and misinformation. We reached to Walt Disney World for answers to the most pressing reader concerns, and this covers the official policies.
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.)
All of the changes are effective as of today, June 28, 2026 and will continue indefinitely. If you visit Disney Springs, we would greatly appreciate it if you’d leave a comment sharing your experience, as the official policy and what’s unofficially enforced (or not) often differs. With that said, here’s everything we know about the new rules…
Permanent Bus Restrictions
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, or 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!) The only bus stop that’s not behind the checkpoint is Typhoon Lagoon.
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
It’s not just bus transportation that has restrictions. Walt Disney World has also implemented 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.
Saratoga Springs Walking Path
The above checkpoint is at the boat dock itself, leaving the bridge that connects Disney Springs to Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa open to unrestricted pedestrian access.
This is surprising to us, as many SSR guests and DVC Members had already complained about crowds at the Congress Park bus stop and pools around Saratoga Springs. This is presumably being caused by people parking at and walking over from Disney Springs. Leaving this open will only presumably exacerbate that problem.
Our expectation is that this checkpoint will quickly move to just beyond Disney’s Wonderful World of Memories, before the walkway leading to the bridge and boat docks. All of these gates are temporary and could be moved in a matter of minutes, so it’s not as if the current location is set in stone. It’s disappointing that Disney didn’t put the checkpoint by Wonderful World of Memories in the first place.
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 Swolphin & Shades of Green
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!
Rules for Other On-Site Third Party Hotels
We have inquired with Walt Disney World 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.
The official policies concerning these properties were not communicated to us by Walt Disney World, leading us to believe the answer is “no.” Accordingly, we would greatly appreciate it if readers staying at these hotels could share their actual, on-the-ground experiences.
Fair warning: I would not expect Walt Disney World 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 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 while perfectly following the new rules. The first of these is the one we’d recommend, which is making an Advance Dining Reservation at Boatwright’s Dining Hall and enjoying an early dinner. (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 Riverside. These rides fit up to 4 adults (or 2 adults and 3 small children). Each horse-drawn carriage ride costs $65.
Alternatively, you might be able 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, the added friction of 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’ll be a bit of a hassle for Annual Passholders and off-site guests with a valid ADR or other reservation at a resort, but still presents minimal overall impact.
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!
Jason
I’m uttetly devastated and shall retire to my chambers wherein I shall spend the rest of the day weeping!
We stayed at SSR this weekend and they had a Disney cast member on the pathway checking magic bands before letting people walk over to SSR from Disney Springs to ensure you had a Disney resort reservation so it appears they’ve closed that loophole also. There was a couple in front of us that got turned away.
Jillian-was any disney resort ok or just SSR? Just wondering if it’s consistent with bus rules
Kind of wondering the same for the person who noted ppl being turned away at poly walkway
Liz, I’m not sure since we were staying at SSR and I didn’t ask. I assume it’s the same as the bus rules but didn’t confirm, sorry!
Was this on the Marketplace Path or on the West Side Path?
Jason, I’m only aware of one pathway to SSR from Disney Springs. The checkpoint was right after you cross the bridge that has the boat dock so I believe that’s the marketplace side.
Thanks Jillian. The one walking past the boat dock is the marketplace path. The other path is on the West Side, it is in the back of the strawberry parking lot and gets you into Saratoga Springs by the Carriage House. It is useful especially to people using the lynx buses.
aww ok good to know, I’ll have to try it sometime. Thanks for the info!
in my opinion Disney does not have the infrastructure, especially in transportation, to support the additional amount of guests this resort addition can accommodate. Not that they care. Once you’re there, they have your money, and lately that’s all they seem to care about.
Jack, How might we contact each other outside this venue?
Barbara
JACK
The comments often go to other posters on this site. If you want to find me on Facebook I am Barbara Kahn Tepper. Thank you. B
@Barbara & @Jack, you guys keep clicking on the ‘REPLY’ button below the comment you are trying to reply to, which adds your reply to the *next* comment thread. You have to scroll *UP* to the reply button to add a comment to an existing thread. It is not the website’s fault.
Its about time Disney cracked down on none Disney guest using Disney transport we’ve been going since 97 to Disney and seen it get worse every year when paying
To stay at Disney we expect to be treated as a guest & not waiting on boats & buses
As none paying people useing facilities we have experienced this over the years Wright
Barbara
Facebook?
If I’m a resort guest at the swan, will I be able to use the walkway to contemporary, grand Floridian and poly? We like to take a break midday and use the walkways. We don’t even necessarily go into the resorts. Just more of a pretty stroll.
The announcement for transportation from Disney springs did not include walkways from MK.
No change for the walkways from the MK. And the new DS restrictions don’t apply to Swan guests.
Cindy and Laura, are you saying they are checking the West side Pathway but not the Marketplace pathway? I would think most people walking to Saratgoa Springs would go with the Marketplace pathway.
MK = Magic Kingdom
everytime I visit my family in Fl I like to pick up some beignets, I usually take them to go. so now let me get this straight, I have to pay for parking just to do this? I guess I will figure out how to make them myself .
The recipe for those exzct begniets is available on line.
You’ll need to park somewhere other the DS going forward.
Someone wrote in a Disney Facebook chat today that they were turned away when trying to use the walkway.
Pay for parking and make a day of resort hopping with the beignet run at the end. Or, as suggested above, make a reservation and park right at PO. Either way skip the hassle of Disney Springs.
Barbara
That’s also why we like AK: One BR Sunset Savanah View has two bathrooms.
I think Bay Lake does too but we stay at OKW or SS when in Disney. In HH we usually cannot even get a 1 BR at 7 months so we take a 2 BR and live in the lap of luxury. Haha
Or just stay home.
One item to note is that when Disney posted about WDW holiday offerings on the Disney Parks Blog, they said the following:
“For guests staying at the resorts or for those with valid dining reservations, the Disney Resorts Collection offers a wide array of bright and merry holiday decor.”
This set off a lot of speculation about whether resort hopping restrictions will be put in place for the holidays, or even whether there is a more permanent ban coming.
Yep, we covered that here: https://www.disneytouristblog.com/disney-world-retires-flagship-resort-christmas-gingerbread-house-adds-hotel-hopping-rules/
Barbara
We’ve done that a few times. We like the space. I also like a full kitchen to play in (I love to cook!) and one resort in particular has nice, quiet three BRs with a spa tub for my wife and a great kitchen too.
There’s such a thing as too much bubble. . . .
Barbara.
We like OKW, stay there lots and have essentially the same Disney background as you. We either eat at Olivia’s or use our kitchen for snacks and fast meals. Unless we’re going to a table-service at another resort a quick service has no pull for us.
Thanks Jack! What we’ve done the last couple of years is skip WDW and go to DHHIR Hilton Head for a much less complicated stay. We do use the kitchen facilities and never stay in a studio anymore but I did cook in the studio too. I was able to do pretty good with a toaster and microwave. I even make microwave egg breakfasts at home now too sometimes.
Barbara,
One befroom FTW!
🙂
Jack
Jack – we sometimes take a 2 Br so we can each have our own bathroom. We’ve got the points for it.
Jack, I’m laughing as I write. We have so much in common, being long time DVC owners. OKW wasn’t even finished when we first stayed there. We are older folks now and our first set of grandkids grew up with Disney. Now we have little ones going there but next time withput us. Traveling and the parks are nearing the end for us. We still hope to go back to DHHIR resort next year, flying into Savannah. Have you been to Disney Hilton Head?
I just used the chat feature on the Disney website to talk to a CM. They told me two things:
1) From Disney Spring you may only board a bus to your own resort, not other resorts. Note – i did not ask about the boat and whether you have to be a guest of one of the resorts the boat stops at.
2) Dolphin, Swan and Shades guests may NOT board buses at Disney Springs. Despite repeated questions, I did not get an answer to the question “Are these resorts Disney Resorts for the purposes of future transportation restrictions?”
My take away is that even though these hotels are marketed as “on property”, I would be prepared for in the future being unable to use any Disney transportation, drive yourself or use Lyft / Uber to go to any lounges, bars or dining that does not require an ADR. Book the hotel where you like to eat / drink. It’s somewhat disappointing to be staying in the Disney bubble at properties that are on Disney land (i..e they lease the land) but be sorta trapped there unless you drive outside the bubble.
Sounds like you got a particularly misinformed CM!
1) Guests are being checked before entering the bus loop area; from there, nobody is keeping track of who gets onto which bus.
2) Swolphin and Shades guests are granted access to transportation leaving DS.
Any frontline cast member who is working the phones/chats is going to be less knowledgeable about these specifics than an article like this (which has been vetted with the RIGHT people at Disney), and they certainly won’t have a clue about “future transportation restrictions.”
You spoke to a poorly informed cast member.
As a Dolphin guest, I was easily able to board a bus from Disney Springs to the Yacht & Beach Club during the Spring Break trial run of these rules. My Magic Band was scanned at the entrance to the Disney bus stops and I was waved in, absolutely no issues.
I am staying at the Swan Reserve in a few weeks and called to confirm this is still the case.
Barbara,
Wife and I did some equestrian competitions there when we were lots younger. Never really stayed. Nothing pulls us now. We have places in OCM, Cape May and the keys. Family vacationed in Cape May when I was a kid. Parents met there. It’s nothing like what it was. It’s been “discovered”, IMO, much to its detriment. Sis andbher hubby live there. Not my cuppa. Keys are nice but mostly for food, huge Iguanas and fishing. OCM is overhyped. We’re in West OC on the bay. Quieter. Coffee and dolphins in the morning, and there’s a Ruth’s Chris within 5 miles so I can clog my arteries. Fishing boat and skis. Nice fishing tournament once a year, White Marlin Open, with lots if celebs like Michael Jordan to show off their multimillion dollar yachts. As I said, HH dosn’t pull.
As for being old, no you’re not! I refuse to be. I’m just one-and done on the Disney coasters any more. Back ain’t what it used to be. Space Mountain almost took out my vertebrae last trip. Looking forward to great grandchildren someday.
Went to WDW on our honey moon took a bit of a gap and been regulars last 9 yrs we DO stay off site in winter and have enjoyed the hotel counter service often .We used to just drive to a hotel and get lunch and coffee .3ys ago were turned away and told needed to go to Disney Spring to access hotels . So ok we were forced to avail ourselves of the Disney transportation to see hotel and grab food . When boarding in the morning 80% of time no more than 6-8 people on bus .So except on a rare evening transport we never waited in line for a bus .Way to get another $35
This is such an interesting conversation I’d like to continue it in an easier format.
We live in Long Beach, NY which is an island off the coast of Long Island. Have to cross bridges to get here. I felt an affinity to HHI right away.
We met in college at Michigan State. I am from Ohio and husband is from NY. OC is Ocean City MD? I no longer care about the ocean but we’re around the corner from it. The other side of the island is the bay and one of my son’s lives over that way.
I find our parallels so interesting. BTW I don’t do coasters but I used to love some rides. I have life long motion sickness so I am careful what I do. No Mission Space or Teacups and stuff like that.
I am also looking forward to great grandchildren some day. The grandkids range in age from 24 to 6.
As for horseback riding – if my younger son would ever bring the kids to HH we’d go to Lawton. I have a grandson who started riding at 2 as equine therapy in a program called Horseability. He has Down Syndrome and is the delight of my life. His mom is now a registered nurse but she is still involved with the program and is camp nurse in the summers.
I totally get that people have tried to avoid the parking fees and that is wrong. .but I’m simply not paying for parking to get some beignets; Disney is gouging money and that too is ridiculous and unfair.
Barbara,
Yeah. Continuing the conversation elsewhere would be fun. We live out in the woods in Northwest PA. Love it. One of our black bear neighbors brought around her new twin cubs to show us the other night. Brought ’em right up on the side porch. They never bother anything except if we leave a bird feeder out. Bear love bird seed! We’ve occasionally run into one in back of the barn or by the generator shed. They just look at us and leave. My wife’s crazy dressage horse used to chase them out of the pasture at times. We kinda have our own AK out here.
One of our retired jumping horses went into an equine therapy program. Have a nephew with Downs and a highly functioning autistic grandson so we know how that is. Both are great kids.
We hit Disney several times a year. We’ve got points in 5 different resorts so we have a pretty good choice of venues. Two of our kids are also DVC with points in several places as well. 8 Grandchildren, ages 24 to 10, all love Disney. One group is deep into the marathons. They do pretty well. Seems like part of the family is always there.
I’m trying to understand the fascination with resort-hoppng /shopping, especially for locals. Except around Christmas not much changes and even then, year over year, each one is pretty much the same. Maybe we’ve traveled too much. When we get to Disney we just like to hang out on the balcony at our (usually) AK room with a coffee and just watch the animals. We do a couple of rides a day. Rope drop is way in the past. My “recreation” is hitting area pawn shops. Do it all the time when on business trips. Never can tell what you might find.
What about people staying off-site, taking a shuttle to parks. Are they able to go to a resort from the park?
Yes. The change is only for buses and boats from Disney Springs.
Jack – my reply now goes to Shelley. If you want to continue the conversation we can use Messenger or email. I see we are both “collectors”. LMK https://www.facebook.com/barbara.k.tepper
Any discussion on how Yee Ha Bob shows will be affected? Is it the same, pay for parking and bus over to POR?
Yes, park at a theme park and bus. No boat or bus from DS unless you have a res at PO.
What about non resort guests on the monorail loop??
No restrictions there yet.
I have been a DVC member since 1993 with my home resort of OKW. Ever since they finished the transformation of Disney Springs and put in the large parking garages with the free parking, there has been the issue you described above. People parking there and either going over to Saratoga Springs or OKW. We have stayed at both resorts often and notice this issue. When staying at OKW and coming back from the parks about a 1/3 of the bus gets off at the first stop to take the Disney Springs bus. We noticed that same issue with Saratoga Springs to but at the stop closest to Disney Springs. Shutting down the walkway to onsite guests would solve a lot of the issues there to. I get everybody is trying to save some money on parking, but it has gotten out of hand over the years.
We’ve been members the same length of time as you. We bought in 1993 when OKW was the only DVC. Since then we have driven to other resorts to eat at quick service locations since OKW basically has no counter service except Goods to Go which is outside seating only.
We love Artist’s Palette at Saratoga.
My question to @TomBricker is will we still be able to drive to other resorts nearby to use quick service locations? These new rules are making it sound like the answer is No.
@Barbara Officially, you cannot drive into a Disney resort just to access its quick service restaurant(s). You can always pull up to Saratoga and tell the guard that you want to go to Artist’s Palette, but there’s a very strong chance that you get turned away. The only way to guarantee that your car is admitted to a Disney hotel parking lot is to be staying at that hotel, or to have a dining or experience reservation there.
However, it’s been that way for years. Nothing I said above is impacted by the policy changes discussed in this article, which only pertain to Disney transportation *leaving from* Disney Springs.
Looking at the capacity of Lakeshore Lodge, I am trying to imagine water taxing everyone to the Magic Kingdom and back without this in place. It’s going to be a mob scene otherwise.
I imagine the bigger issue there will be people going to Lakeshore Lodge, not from there to the MK. And there will also be buses.
Thank you so much Andy. Where does the boat stop from OKW? Does it go to SS? I haven’t taken it. I don’t usually go on boats because I have life long motion sickness. We have always been allowed to go to SS for Artist’s Palette with only our OKW parking pass in the window but we skipped the last couple of years and went to DHHIR Hilton Head instead. It’s so uncomplicated there.
Barbara,
You could take bus or boat from OKW to DS and then bus or boat to Saratoga Springs.
Barbara,
Or as a resort guest, you could park at Disney Springs and bus, boat, or walk to Saratoga Springs.