Disney’s crackdown on people who took advantage of Disney Springs’ free parking to visit the Orlando theme park’s various resorts triggered Zazu-like grumbling when itwent into effect in June.
The decision closed a loophole that had been in effect for the better part of two decades. Rather than paying a$35 parking fee and a $40 fee at Disney hotels, some guests would park at Disney Springs, which does not charge, then ride the free transportation Disney World offers.
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 tomeet 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 getfree 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.
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 endsone hour after Disney Springs closes.
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.
Chris Morris is a US based veteran journalist with more than 35 years of experience at many of the biggest digital news outlets. In addition to his activities as a writer, reporter and editor, Chris is also a frequent moderator and speaker at major conferences, including CES and South by Southwest.
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