Ranking Disney World Hotels by Walkability to the Parks

Do you know how many Disney World hotels are walkable to the Disney theme parks? If you guessed nine, you're absolutely correct. Of the over 30 hotels at Walt Disney World, that means just about one-third of its hotels allow you to walk to the theme parks! However, just because it's walkable doesn't mean it's your best option when getting to the theme parks.

That's why we at MickeyVisit do our research and test each walking path first-hand to show you which Disney World hotels are the most walkable to the theme parks.

Read on for our ranking of Disney World hotels that are the most walkable to the Disney theme parks.

Hotels Closest to Magic Kingdom

The three Disney World resorts within walking distance of Magic Kingdom are Disney's Polynesian Village, Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, and Disney's Contemporary Resort. Let's go over these five resorts in descending order, starting with one furthest from Magic Kingdom.

3. Disney's Polynesian Village

Affectionately referred to as “The Poly” by many loyal fans, Disney's Polynesian Village Resort is one of the original Disney World hotels that opened alongside Magic Kingdom. This resort pays homage to the South Seas region with its lush greenery and crystal-clear blue waters. However, while The Poly is walking distance from Magic Kingdom, the path to Magic Kingdom is about 1.4 miles – or about 20 – 30 minutes. If this is too long of a walk, consider taking the Disney World Monorail to Magic Kingdom.

2. Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa

With its classic all-white style and sweeping lobby space, the Grand Floridian is the icon and flagship hotel of Disney World. The second closest hotel to Magic Kingdom, the path is about 0.8 miles – or under 20 minutes. Again, if this is too long of a walk, consider taking the Monorail since it is just one stop away from Magic Kingdom.

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1. Disney's Contemporary Resort

The closest Disney World hotel to Magic Kingdom is Disney's Contemporary Resort. At about 0.6 miles or under 15 minutes, you can take a hop and skip over to Magic Kingdom. You'll even have your own separate security kiosk which can be a plus on busier park days. When staying here, walking is likely your quickest option since the Monorail has to go through 2 other stops before arriving at Magic Kingdom. We do, however, recommend staying in the Main Tower of Bay Lake Tower and avoiding the Garden Wing. That way, you're guaranteed a closer room to Magic Kingdom.

Hotels Closest to EPCOT and Disney's Hollywood Studios

Over at EPCOT, there are a total of five resorts within walking distance of this iconic park. Let's go over these five resorts in descending order, starting with one furthest from EPCOT.

3. Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin, Walt Disney World Swan Reserve

The Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin and Walt Disney World Swan Reserve are three hotels that are part of the same resort. Although not owned and operated by Disney, you still do get high-quality accommodations with some Disney perks.

Additionally, these hotels are the farthest away from EPCOT at about 0.7 miles away – or about 15 minutes. They are also some of the furthest hotels from Hollywood Studios, between 0.8 miles (20 minutes) or 1.1 miles (24 minutes).

2. Disney's Yacht & Beach Club

The closest hotel to EPCOT is actually a pair that are often grouped together. Disney's Yacht and Beach Club Resorts sit right across from the BoardWalk. With one resort themed after a a New England yacht club and the other resort themed after a turn-of-the-century beach resort along the New England coast, you can see why these two resorts are often paired together.

And with the Yacht Club about 0.3 miles or 7 minutes away from EPCOT and Beach Club about 0.2 miles or 5 minutes away, you're on prime property. However, your walk to Hollywood Studios goes up significantly to 1.2 miles or about 25 minutes. This makes both Yacht Club and Beach Club a very short option for walking to EPCOT, but a much longer option when walking to Hollywood Studios.

1. Disney's BoardWalk Inn

One of my personal favorites at Disney World, Disney's BoardWalk Inn is themed after the popular seaside amusement parks of the 1920s and 1930s. It also features a number of popular shopping, dining, and entertainment venues that give the BoardWalk its nickname of a “mini-Disney Springs.”

But most of all, your walk to EPCOT is shortened significantly to about 0.3 miles – or about 7 minutes. On top of that, your walk to Hollywood Studios is about 0.8 miles – or under 20 minutes. This makes the BoardWalk your best all-around option when walking to either EPCOT or Hollywood Studios.

Which Other Disney World Hotels are Most Conveniently Located to the Parks?

While the following hotels aren't walkable to any Disney World theme park, they do offer really convenient transportation options.

Disney's Art of Animation Resort and Disney's Pop Century Resort

Closest to: Disney's Hollywood Studios, EPCOT

Both Pop Century Resort and Art of Animation Resort are similar in layout but have very different themes. While Pop Century pays tribute to various decades from the '50s through the '90s, Art of Animation is inspired by some of Disney and Pixar's most famous movies, including The Little Mermaid, Finding Nemo, Cars, and The Lion King.

What makes these resorts extra special is that they share the same Skyliner station at Hourglass Lake, making them a convenient resort to stay at when visiting Hollywood Studios or EPCOT.

Disney's Riviera Resort and Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort

Closest to: Disney's Hollywood Studios, EPCOT

Unlike the Value resorts Pop Century and Art of Animation, Riviera Resort is a Deluxe resort while Caribbean Beach Resort is a Moderate resort. Caribbean Beach Resort is a beautiful island-themed resort with buildings inspired by Barbados, Jamaica, Martinique, Trinidad, and Aruba. The Riviera Resort is themed after an apartment building along the french-Italian Riviera.

Similar to Pop Century Resort and Art of Animation Resort, the Riviera Resort and Caribbean Beach Resort have their own Skyliner station, making them convenient options when visiting Hollywood Studios or EPCOT.

Disney's Wilderness Lodge

Closest to: Magic Kingdom

There's nothing quite like that special feeling when you enter the lobby at Wilderness Lodge and take in the beauty of the turn-of-the-century American Northwest architecture. But more than just being a beautiful resort (one of my favorites, in fact), Wilderness Lodge offers two convenient transportation options: bus and boat.

Because of its proximity to Magic Kingdom, the bus ride is much shorter than that of almost any other Disney World resort. Additionally, the boat ride across Bay Lake and Seven Seas Lagoon offers you another convenient and beautiful adventure on your way to Magic Kingdom.

Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort

Closest to: Magic Kingdom

Like Wilderness Lodge, Fort Wilderness is situated along Bay Lake, making it another convenient resort close to Magic Kingdom. With both campsites and cabins, Fort Wilderness is an experience unlike any other at Disney World. It feels isolated from the rest of the Disney World resort, yet it offers a short bus ride to Magic Kingdom and a scenic boat ride across Bay Lake and Seven Seas to Magic Kingdom.

Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge

Closest to: Disney's Animal Kingdom

Animal Kingdom Lodge is notorious for being one of the resorts that is furthest from most of the Disney World theme parks. However, in following its name, it's the closest resort to Disney's Animal Kingdom theme park. In fact, the bus ride to and from this resort to Animal Kingdom is less than 7 minutes, making it extremely convenient. And besides, how could you deny yourself of this beautiful African inspired hotel?

Which ‘Walkable' Disney World Hotel is My Favorite?

This simple question actually has quite a complicated answer.

Straight away, the Disney World hotel that has the most convenient walkable options to the Disney World theme parks is far and away Disney's BoardWalk Inn. At about 7 minutes to EPCOT and under 20 minutes to Hollywood Studios, the BoardWalk gives you the best walking options to two Disney World theme parks.

However, if Magic Kingdom is more your style, Disney's Contemporary Resort gives you the shortest walk. In under 15 minutes, you can be through security and heading into Magic Kingdom.

However, with my running bias and my love for both EPCOT and Hollywood Studios, my favorite ‘walkable' Disney World resort is the BoardWalk. Not only is it conveniently located near two theme parks, but it also features one of my favorite running trails at Disney World. On top of that, it features one of my favorite themes of any Disney World resort.

Which ‘walkable' Disney World resort will you stay at next?

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