There are many factors that come into play when choosing which hotel a guest will stay at during a Walt Disney World stay: amenities, proximity to a favorite park, theming, and room occupancy. But no matter what is most appealing about a resort, price is likely to be one of the ultimate factors in making the choice. Sometimes the budget gets in the way of us staying where we really wish to be. But luckily, that doesn’t mean that we can’t at least soak up some of the atmosphere of a particular resort. Resort hopping, not to be confused with pool hopping. Disney really wants you to explore other resorts through resort hopping, so you can add more experiences to your Disney Bucket List!
Walt Disney World Resort Hotels no longer allow pool hopping. However, non-resort guests can view the pool areas while visiting other resort hotels. The only exception to the pool hopping rule is select sister resorts. Guests at the All-Stars can visit any of the All-Star resorts’ pools, and guests at Port Orleans can visit pools at both Riverside and French Quarter.
But pools aside, there is still plenty to do when visiting another resort. Check out some of the shopping locations at each resort. There is usually themed merchandise in each store. For example, the Polynesian Village Resort features many unique Polynesian-themed items. The Grand Floridian offers shops not found in other resorts such as Basin, which sells beauty and bath products. Another great shopping location at Walt Disney World is The Screen Door General Store at Disney’s Boardwalk Inn, which is located right on Disney’s Boardwalk.
When you plan on visiting another resort, you can also make an Advance Dining Reservation (ADR) at one of the restaurants. This is probably most guests’ single best reason for visiting another resort. Places like ‘Ohana, Chef Mickey’s, 1900 Park Fare, Whispering Canyon, and Boma are all found in resort hotels. Anyone can make an ADR for these locations. In fact some of the restaurants in hotels are some of the best on Walt Disney World property. If you can make an ADR, try to visit at least one of the restaurants in a resort. They are well worth the trip.
One consideration when planning your visit to another resort is transportation. Of course if you are driving, you can drive on over to the resort of your choice. Just let security know the nature of your visit. However, if you are relying on Disney transportation, allow a little more time. There are no resort to resort buses, so you will have to transfer at a park. For example, if you are staying at Caribbean Beach, hop on the Disney Skyliner to visit The Boardwalk Area, Riveria Resort, Pop Century, and Art of Animation Resort. Guests can take the Minnie Van Ride Sharing, Uber, Lyft or traditional taxis. Check with the valet stand for your best option.
Just be aware of your timing on the way back to your home resort when resort hopping. If parks are closed when you are leaving the resort you are visiting, you may need to use Disney Springs as a transfer point. The buses to and from Disney Springs in the evenings can be extremely crowded. Another trick that might be useful is to spend time in a park hop to the resort for some touring. Then, maybe a bite to eat, and then go to another park for evening fireworks. It’s still the same traveling, but there are fun stops on each leg of the journey.
No matter what you decide: shopping, eating, or just soaking it all in, taking some time to tour other resorts is an enjoyable way to spend some time at Walt Disney World. Exploring the resorts is a great way to spend a non-park day to plan for your next vacation!