Everyone’s idea of a vacation is different. Some look at it as a way to get away and relax, others may look at it as a way to explore something new and some people are just happy that they’re not at work. We are a mix of all those things. This is why Resort Hopping at Walt Disney World is something we love to do. Because we get a little bit of all those things. A little relaxation, some exploring, and a feeling that we had “more” vacation on our time off work. It’s one of the best ways we’ve found to balance the chaos of the parks, while still maintaining that magic Disney feeling. And all without spending any money. Whether you’re excited to explore more of Disney World, or just want something to fill your Disney non-park day, here’s all our best tips for resort hopping at Disney World.
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Contents
- 1 Disney Resort Hopping
- 2 The Monorail Resorts | Resort Hop From Magic Kingdom
- 3 Wilderness Lodge Resort | Resort Hop From Magic Kingdom
- 4 Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground | Resort Hop from Magic Kingdom
- 5 The Disney Boardwalk Resorts | Resort Hop From EPCOT
- 6 The Skyliner Resorts| Resort Hop From Hollywood Studios
- 7 Disney Port Orleans Resorts | Resort Hop From Disney Springs
- 8 Animal Kingdom Lodge | Resort Hop From Animal Kingdom
- 9 Disney Resort Hopping Tips
- 10 Disney Resort Hopping Split Stay
Disney Resort Hopping
Want to see more than one Disney Resort on your next Disney World vacation? Why not? They all have different themes, restaurants, gift shops, and experiences! And by visiting more of them, you can get to experience it all. You can always visit a Disney Resort for free and take advantage of certain things open to visiting guests. Strolling the gift shops, lounging in the lobby, and eating at the restaurants and lounges, are all options. Plus, many of the Disney Resorts have trails to roam, surrey bikes to rent, and beaches for dipping your toes in the sand.
What is Resort Hopping at Disney World?
Resort hopping at Walt Disney World is just visiting Disney Resorts, without staying there. And is actually a lot easier than most people think. To start, there are only two ways to resort hop at Disney World. The first is simply to visit the resorts at your leisure. The second is to actually book a Split Stay at Walt Disney World. A Split Stay means that you simply split your vacation between two or more Disney Resorts. We like both! Here’s what you need to know about resort hopping at Walt Disney World.
Can you visit a Disney Resort without Staying There?
YES! You can visit Disney Resorts without staying there. In fact, they encourage it! The more people coming through the doors means the more chances they have to show off their fancy lobbies, amenities, and spaces, and even earn your stay later. You can even use complimentary Disney transportation to get there. In fact, you can catch any Disney Resort Bus from Disney Springs or any Disney Park, to start your resort hopping day.
Can you Resort Hop from One Disney Resort to Another?
Yes! The easiest way to do this is to plan to resort hop resorts connected by the same transportation. For instance, Disney Skyliner Resorts are all along the Disney Skyliner line. As such you can simply hop on and hop off the Skyliner at each resort as you go. Same goes for the Monorail Resorts, and the Disney Ferry Resorts. The Disney Boardwalk Resorts are simply all in the same area and can be easily accessed by just walking to them. While you can easily drive to any resort throughout your stay at Walt Disney World, using the internal transportation to get you to and from keeps things simple, and free.
The Monorail Resorts | Resort Hop From Magic Kingdom
The Disney Monorail Resorts are Disney Deluxe Resorts and all have great restaurants, gift shops, beaches, and lounge spaces. You can include a resort restaurant reservation in your vacation and then take some time before or after your meal to explore. If you’re not dining at one of these resorts, however, even just getting a glimpse of these gorgeous grounds is worth the trip. And a great way to get a break from the busy parks. If you’re looking for a break, the Enchanted Rose Lounge at Disney’s Grand Floridian is always a treat, or grab a Dole Whip at Pineapple Lanai at the Polynesian Resort. And the Contemporary Resort has a couple of great gift shops, California Grill, and one of our favorite places at Disney World to each lunch, Contempo Cafe.
How to Get To The Monorail Resorts
Adjacent to Magic Kingdom, the Monorail Resorts can be visited by walking path, or monorail. The Contemporary, The Polynesian, and The Grand Floridian are just a quick monorail ride to and from the Magic Kingdom and can be accessed by looking by following the “Resort Monorail” sign at the Magic Kingdom entrance. You don’t need a ticket, or reservation to use the monorail. And don’t worry, the monorail resorts are on a loop, so you will simply come back from where you started.
If you are a military family, the Shades of Green Resort is also accessible from the Magic Kingdom to Polynesian Walking Path. And The Contemporary is only about a 10-minute (or less) walk from Magic Kingdom.
Wilderness Lodge Resort | Resort Hop From Magic Kingdom
One of our favorite places to Resort Hop at Walt Disney World is the Wilderness Lodge. At Wilderness Lodge, you can explore the grounds, and resort lobby, browse the gift shop and stop by the Roaring Fork Cafe for a coffee, snack, or meal. They even have a Hidden Mickey Scavenger Hunt Game that challenges you to find the hidden mickey’s at the resort. You can also grab downtime on the terrace with a s’mores coffee, or head to the Territory Lounge for a drink. We most love resort hopping this resort at night. Because if we can time it right, we can settle in near the waterfront to see the Electrical Water Pageant Parade. Always such fun, just make sure you leave enough travel time to get back to Magic Kingdom and catch your own resort bus, or back to Disney Springs before everything closes.
How to Get To Wilderness Lodge
To get to Wilderness Lodge just take the boat from Magic Kingdom at the boat launch. You can also get here from Disney Springs, and from any Disney park by bus. We love using a non-park day trip to get away from the crowds and head into nature! Alternatively, if you happen to be at Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground, there is a bus that goes directly between the resorts.
Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground | Resort Hop from Magic Kingdom
Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground has become one of our favorite places to stay at Walt Disney World. Whether you stay in the cabins, rent or bring an RV, or choose to camp, this resort feels like a completely different world. It’s a very different way to experience Disney! Staying here can be a little tricky at times due to its massive size. But we think it’s a great place to visit too! Enjoy nature, visit the horses, and see the cute rustic shops. At Halloween and Christmas, the camper’s displays are well worth the trip over! This is well worth the visit and a great way to escape the crowds. While here we highly recommend the Chip and Dale Campfire Sing Along at the outdoor Movie Theater and walking the trails to see the campsites.
How to get to Fort Wilderness Resort and Campgrounds
To get to Fort Wilderness Campgrounds you can take the resort ferry from Magic Kingdom, or a Disney Bus from any park or Disney Springs. And as mentioned previously, you can take a direct bus from Wilderness Lodge. It’s easy to combine these two for a mid-afternoon resort hopping break!
The Disney Boardwalk Resorts | Resort Hop From EPCOT
The Disney Boardwalk Resorts include The Yacht Club, Beach Club, Disney’s Boardwalk Inn, and the Swan and Dolphin Hotels. Each hotel brings something different to the experience. The Beach and Yacht Club resorts offer up a calming atmosphere and include great gift shops, both with food-to-go options and seasonal coffees. The Ale and Compass Restaurant is right off the Yacht Club lobby and is wonderful for a sit-down breakfast. Plus, you can snag a gourmet milkshake at Beaches and Cream if that strikes your fancy. We also love the Belle Vue Lounge at the Boardwalk Inn, Trattoria al Forno and so many other things on the Boardwalk.
On your resort hopping day be sure to take some time to pop into each resort. You can even catch the movie on the beach at The Beach Club, or watch the jugglers and magicians outside the Boardwalk Inn if you visit during the evenings.
How to Get To The Disney Boardwalk Resorts
These Resorts are all within walking distance of Epcot and Hollywood Studios. And also accessible by boat which also makes them easy to include in your resort hopping venture. You can also grab a Disney Bus from any park, or Disney Springs to any of these resorts so you can start your day. Check out everything to know about Disney Boardwalk Resorts.
The Skyliner Resorts| Resort Hop From Hollywood Studios
If you’re at Hollywood Studios and looking to add a little more fun to your day, or even just looking for your next meal, you can hop on the skyliner. Disney Skyliner Resorts include Pop Century, Art of Animation, Caribbean Beach, and Disney’s Riviera Resort. You can check out our post on visiting the Disney Skyliner Resorts for tips on the restaurants and activities at each resort. We love that each includes amazing things you can still enjoy, even if you’re not staying there! From the Le Petit Cafe coffee shop at Disney’s Rivera Resort to the gift shop and Disney snacks at Pop Century and the avocado toast at Caribbean Beach there is alot to explore.
We most love the beach time at these resorts. But, you can also rent surrey bikes at Art of Animation, cook s’mores, watch the outdoor movie, relax on the beach, or even head to Banana Cabana for a drink. There are so many unique things to do at each resort, that you’re sure to find something to fill the day.
How to Get To The Skyliner Resorts
The Disney’s Skyliner can be accessed at both EPCOT’s International Gateway and Hollywood Studios and travels to all the Skyliner Resorts mentioned. However, you can also just head to Caribbean Beach Resort, which is where the Skyliner Hub Station is located, which means you will have access to both Skyliner lines, and can simply make your way to each resort from there.
Disney Port Orleans Resorts | Resort Hop From Disney Springs
Craving world-famous Beignets, straight out of The Princess and the Frog? Head to the Port Orleans Resorts. Disney French Quarter and Port Orleans Riverside are both great resorts to add to a midday break. Home to, not only beignets, but unique gift shops, trails and walkways, and more, you can even rent surrey bikes during your resort hop. We love these resorts for the laid-back feeling and beautiful scenery. Walk the path nearby the river, or head to the Scat Cat’s Lounge for drinks before heading off on your next adventure.
How to Get To The Disney Port Orleans Resorts
Enjoy a leisurely boat ride from Disney Springs over to Port Orleans French Quarter and Port Orleans Riverside. You can even take the boat between the two resorts. And then grab the bus from the resort back to the parks, or head back to Disney Springs when you’re finished. And once you get there, you can go back and forth between the resorts by using the Walking Path between Port Orleans and Riverside.
Animal Kingdom Lodge | Resort Hop From Animal Kingdom
Animal Kingdom Lodge is one of our favorite places and includes two buildings; Kidani Village and Jambo House. Each has its own set of amenities and there is a walking path at Animal Kingdom Lodge that connects the two. Want to relax in a giant rocking chair while watching giraffes and zebras graze in your backyard? Head to Jambo House for savannah views, Boma, The Mara, and the larger gift shop. Interested in visiting Sanaa for their famous bread service instead? Head over to Kidani Village to see the animals from the restaurant.
How to Get To Animal Kingdom Lodge
Take the bus to the Animal Kingdom Lodge. You can even check out all the fun and free Animal Kingdom Lodge activities you can do, even if you’re not staying there. When finished just hop on board the bus to any Disney Park of choice to transfer and make your way home.
Disney Resort Hopping Tips
Truthfully, we love so many of the resorts at Walt Disney World how could you not add a resort hopping day to your vacation? While the options really are endless, there are several important things to remember. First, unless you’re staying there, you will almost never have access to another resort’s pool. Second, always make sure you know what your transportation is back to where you’re going. Not all forms of transportation within Walt Disney World run continuously. And resort buses bring you back to the parks, not to other resorts, so you will always have to return to the parks to catch your resort bus. It’s for this reason that the Monorail, Boardwalk, and Skyliner resorts are easier for daytime resort hopping. Be sure to find out beforehand what you need to do to get back to your home resort. While Disney will always make sure you get home, it’s tough to find out you missed the last bus.
Disney Resort Hopping Split Stay
We’ve done a Split Stay at Disney World a couple of times so far and absolutely love it! The second way to Resort Hop at Disney is to actually STAY at your other resort of choice. This is actually a lot more common than you might think. And a lot of people will do it as a way of staying within budget while getting to see more than one resort. It was the strategy we used to stay at the Grand Floridian Resort.
When Does a Split Stay at Walt Disney World Make Sense?
While we think resort hopping is a great way to experience other resorts and their amenities staying at more than one Disney resort only really works for a vacation that is 6 Days or more. Preferably you would choose 2 resorts, over 10 days. The biggest part of planning a split stay at Disney is making sure everything is linked up in the My Disney Experience or Disney website. From your Disney park tickets to your dining plan to know your arrival and departure resorts. Why is this such a big deal? Because if you do this right, the rest of your vacation, you just show up! No more heavy lifting is required.
Does Disney Transfer your Luggage on a Split Stay Between Two Resorts?
Yes, IF you set it up right! The advantage of resort hopping is that all you have to do is drop your luggage off and head to the parks, right? Nope! If your tickets for the entire trip aren’t linked to the first resort you checked into, you will have to check into your second (or third) resort before the remaining tickets are activated. The same holds true for your dining plan which can cause problems with using your meal credits or entering the park on days between resorts. And once everything is linked on your end, give Disney a call to confirm that everything will go as planned.
How to Stay at Multiple Disney Resorts in One Vacation?
Once your plans and reservations are set up, it’s really just a matter of checking in and out at your resorts when you’re supposed to. On days when you’re going from one resort to another, you just “check out” like usual, and drop off your luggage with your current resort’s concierge or at the luggage kiosk.
Let them know your next resort, and they will have it sent over for you. Just note that they will not deliver your luggage until after 1 PM and that your luggage will not be delivered to your room until you have checked in to your new resort. So be sure to check in online or in the My Disney Experience app as soon as you are able to keep everything running smoothly. So if you have plans of staying at the Parks until the clock strikes midnight on the day that you will be checking into your new resort, be aware that your luggage may not be magically waiting for you in your room if you have not officially checked in. Be sure to check out all our Split Stay at Disney World Resort Tips.
Disney Resort Hopping Packing Tips
To keep the packing and unpacking simple, we recommend using packing cubes. They are a huge time saver when you are trying to make the most of your time at Walt Disney World. Also, be sure to have everything you need in your Disney Day bag in case you come to your resort only to find your new luggage hasn’t yet been delivered.
Disney Resort Day
There you have it! Everything to know about visiting the resorts, or using a Split Stay to stay at a few of them. Whichever method you choose, you’ll be amazed at how seeing the resorts during your trip can add a whole new level of fun!. New foods, activities, views and experiences await. Have you ever resort-hopped before? Where is your favorite resort to visit while at Walt Disney World? Feel free to share tips you may have in the comments!
Melanie Renee is a photographer, writer, designer and mom. Visiting Disney destinations since 2010, she is also an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner. When she's not creating her next coffee recipe, or designing apparel at Polka Dot Pixie Shop, she's seeking beautiful sunsets and planning her next trip .
