A new wave of Disney World resort restrictions is changing how guests without a resort stay or table-service dining reservation can access the resort hotels. These updates are reducing flexibility and may have future impacts on the popular trend of resort hopping, especially to view the resort lobbies and enjoy quick service dining locations.
Since the crackdown on bus transportation access at Disney Springs, more restrictions are being implemented, and more rules are being strictly enforced, which hint at a larger resort-wide change coming in the future. Mickey Visit brings you the latest Disney news and planning resources, including a new permanent restaurant finally opening after years in limbo and a Disney World limited menu item.
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1. Disney Springs Boat and Bus Transportation Access
After an initial test run earlier this year, 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 began on June 28 and is now part of daily operations at Disney Springs, with no end date.
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The bus system provides transportation to all resort hotels, while the Sassagoula River Cruise impacts guests attempting to travel between Disney Springs and Port Orleans Resort (Riverside and French Quarter), Old Key West Resort, and Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa.
2. Popular Holiday Tradition Discontinued Will Discourage Resort Viewing
Disney has also announced that the popular gingerbread display at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa will not be returning this holiday season. This gingerbread display was the most popular and drew large crowds to the resort lobby to view it and purchase items from the stand set up inside it. Discontinuing this tradition removes that demand for the lobby of the Grand Floridian, which was often packed during the holiday season.
With more restrictions during peak times of the year likely coming soon, this would prevent guests from seeing this impressive display without a resort or dining reservation. It appears the solution was instead to just remove it and reduce the holiday crowds at this resort, which have been massive in recent years.
3. Disney Hints at Further Resort Viewing Limitations
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.”
The specific mention of resort guests and those with dining reservations hints at further restrictions coming in the future, especially with how popular it is for guests to tour the different Resort hotels during the holiday season. Now that the most popular gingerbread display is discontinued, this removes that issue if they plan on limiting all resort access during the busy holiday season.
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5. Geofence Tracking on Mobile Ordering
It now appears that “geofencing” on the My Experience App is being used to restrict mobile ordering at several Disney World deluxe resorts. According to WDWNT, a user shared their experience trying to mobile order on the app and was given an error message reading, “You’re Too Far Away,” with the app telling the user to move closer and try again. Geofencing is a technology that restricts access to certain mobile features so only guests who are physically nearby can use them.
It works by checking the location of a guest’s device to confirm they are within a designated area before allowing access. Disney has long used geofencing for merchandise mobile checkout and restaurant walk-up waitlists, but it is now expanding the technology to mobile food ordering. The new geofencing restrictions have been implemented at Gasparilla Island Grill at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, Contempo Cafe, and Steakhouse 71 To Go at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, Capt. Cook’s and Kona Cafe To Go at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, and Roaring Fork and Geyser Point Bar & Grill To Go at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge. This new limitation essentially closed the loophole of being able to park at these resort hotels if you have a mobile order reservation.
6. Potential Future Monorail Restrictions
Now we’re getting into rumor territory, but there have been multiple reports over the weekend. Rumors have been circulating on social media that limitations are coming soon to the Disney Resort Monorail system, and it will be reserved primarily for guests with a resort or dining reservation. Feedback from Cast Members on the My Experience App has been mixed on this potential new rule.
One Cast Member said it will be limited to only those with a resort or dining reservation, and the screenshot of this conversation was distributed in several online Facebook groups. But when we asked this morning to verify, we were told by the Cast Member on the app that the Disney Resort Monorail is available to all guests. However, this would be the next likely step if we are going to start seeing restrictions on the Disney Monorail.
7. Some Guests Reporting Limited Access to Magic Kingdom Walking Paths
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Another rumor has been circulating with multiple reports on Reddit, shared above, that limitations are being put on who can access the walkway that runs between the Ticket and Transportation Center, Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, Disney’s Polynesian Resort, and Magic Kingdom Park.
While this YouTuber was turned away early in the morning, it could have been a one-off incident, especially since access rules tend to be enforced more strictly during the morning hours. However, if Cast Members are consistently using the same language we’ve been hearing, that resort properties are reserved for hotel guests and those with dining reservations, it could be an early sign of broader enforcement. Another Reddit user in the same thread also reported a similar experience, so it will be worth watching to see whether this becomes a consistent pattern.
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While rumors can be false, we saw a wave of consistent rumors and reports of Cast Members all using similar language over the weekend, which signals there is some truth to these reports.
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