Walt Disney World has begun cracking down on who can access the free transportation for the Disney World resort hotels after an initial test run earlier this year. When these changes were first implemented, there had not been any official confirmation from Disney outside of the posted signage on the property.
Now Disney has updated their website with official guidance on who is now eligible to access free Disney World resort transportation, and this update helps clear up one major misconception about resort hopping. Mickey Visit brings you the latest Disney news and planning resources, including the new Disney World Hallmark movie trailer and the July ride closures for Disney World and Disneyland.
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Disney World Confirms New Resort Transportation Eligibility
Effective June 28, guests boarding Disney Resort hotel buses and the Sassagoula River Cruise from Disney Springs are now required to show a valid Disney Resort hotel room key, dining reservation, or experience reservation for the Resort they are visiting. If guests cannot verify, they will be denied boarding. This policy change is now part of daily operations at Disney Springs. Signage around Disney Springs now displays the new rules, with access to the transportation now funneled to a cast member to verify your eligibility.
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Many guests have been worried about the impact these new restrictions will have on Disney World Resort hotel hopping, which is a popular practice, especially in the holiday months. In fact, in the recent Disney Parks Blog post announcing the new dates for the holiday parties, Disney included a statement about the Resort hotels that hinted at further restrictions coming soon. The announcement noted, “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 announcement, along with the new Disney Resort transportation rules at Disney Springs, has had many guests worried about the future of resort hopping, especially during the holiday season. Much of the recent speculation has focused on whether guests will be limited to using Disney Resort transportation only to reach their own hotel or if they can still visit and view other resorts while staying elsewhere.
Now the Disney Springs website has been updated with details on this guidance, which helps clear up what qualifies guests to access the transportation and, with it, the other Disney Resort hotels. The statement on bus service from the website reads:
“Bus service from Disney Springs to Disney Resort hotels is available for Guests staying at a Disney Resort hotel or visiting one with a valid dining or experience reservation. Guests may be asked to show a valid Resort hotel room key or dining or experience reservation. ”
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According to this language, guests just need to be staying at “a Disney Resort hotel” to access the transportation. Meaning, you could be staying at Disney's Pop Century Resort and ride the transportation to Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. So while this still restricts transportation to guests with a resort reservation, it doesn't have to be for the specific resort you are traveling to. And as a reminder, guests can also access the bus and boat transportation with a dining reservation or experience reservation.
So far, this impact has mainly been focused on Disney Springs, but rumors have been swirling that the Disney Resort Monorail from the Transportation and Ticket Center could be next. You can read more about all the reported restrictions, including those to resort mobile ordering, to catch up on the recent wave of Disney World resort access restrictions here.
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