Disney World killed the Disney Springs parking hack — 3 legal ways to still skip the $35 fee

As influencers and social media spread the word about the workaround, buses became overcrowded, triggering the rule change. Now, to hop a ride from Disney Springs to the resorts, you’ll have to meet certain conditions.

Resort hopping, the act of visiting Disney hotels — especially those that are in the vicinity of the Magic Kingdom — is still allowed. But if you want to do so without paying to park, your options are limited.

Here’s how you can save some money and still remain in Mickey’s good graces.

Have an annual pass

Annual passholders at Disney get free standard parking at any of the company’s theme parks.

This is a much faster way for would-be resort hoppers, as they don’t have to spend 15 to 20 minutes — plus bus wait time — traveling from Disney Springs to the Transportation and Ticket Center. Those who want to shop before they resort hop are welcome to, but they’ll have to drive themselves to a theme park. An annual pass won’t get you on the bus or boat at Disney Springs either.

Plan a meal at the hotel

If you’ve got a dinner reservation at the Grand Floridian, Contemporary Resort or any other Disney hotel property, you’ll be able to hop a bus at Disney Springs, though there are some limitations. You won’t be able to board until two hours before your reservation time.

From there, you can resort hop as long as you’d like, but you’ll want to time your return trip appropriately. Bus service between Disney resorts and Disney Springs ends one hour after Disney Springs closes.

Schedule a massage

Not hungry? You can also schedule an event at one of the resorts to take advantage of free parking at Disney Springs. That can include spa treatments, fishing excursions, a round of golf, portrait sessions or horseback riding.

The same rules apply: You can’t board a bus at Disney Springs until two hours before your reservation or tee time, and you’ll need to be back before the last bus to the shopping district runs.