One of the things we like to stress around here is that there are ways to have fun at Walt Disney World that don’t break the bank. Yes, theme park admission is expensive and, yes, once you get inside, you still have all kinds of costs like food, souvenirs, and any unforeseen sundry necessities. However, if you stay outside the parks, there’s plenty you can do for a fraction of the cost – or even for free.
One such activity is called “resort hopping.” Disney’s resort hotels are so well designed and themed, they can be considered attractions unto themselves. As such, passionate Disney fans love exploring and seeing these gorgeous accommodations, even if they aren’t staying there themselves. Resort hopping usually involves using Disney’s transportation to go from resort to resort, experiencing all of the awesome details of each new location along the way.
While resort hopping is fun no matter what, there are a few things you can do to make your experience even better:
1. Put together a plan
Image: Disney
As George Orwell once wrote: Every Disney hotel is awesome in its own way, but some are more awesome than others (that is how that quote goes, right?). Because of this, you’ll want to prioritize which hotels you want to visit, and in what order you’d like to visit them. Unlike the theme parks, there’s far less structure to your day when you’re resort hopping, and so more decisions are in your hands.
The simplest way to do this is to choose hotels that are connected by a particularly convenient mode of transportation. The monorail hotels near the Magic Kingdom are a great place to explore easily, as are the hotels around Crescent Lake between Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. There are other clusters worth checking out as well (the two Port Orleans hotels are connected with the Saratoga Springs Resort and with Downtown Disney/Disney Springs), but the easiest way to do it is to plan to visit hotels that are within walking distance of one another.
Having a plan and knowing which hotels you want to visit (and in what order you’d like to visit them) can help keep travel time between them to a minimum. Which, in turn, keeps the stress level down on what should be a very relaxing day.
2. Make a breakfast reservation
Image: Disney
Disney does not actively discourage resort hopping. To them, any more time guests spend on property is a good thing as it will likely cause them to spend more money (I’m guilty there…). Or, at the very least, feel more loyalty toward the brand and encourage them to return. As such, no one will yell at you for visiting a resort at which you are not staying as a guest. So, you really needn’t worry about that.
Parking, on the other hand…
Disney doesn’t like giving guests free parking. Despite the fact that they have an enormous plot of land in central Florida, to them, the square footage taken up by your car is strangely valuable real estate. For this reason, Disney discontinued direct bus service between the theme parks and Downtown Disney – guests would park there and take the bus to avoid paying the fee.
And so, if you aren’t staying at a Walt Disney World resort, you might not be able to park at just any resort. Unless, of course, you have a dining reservation there.
My personal favorite way of doing this is to book a breakfast reservation at one hotel in a cluster (say, Tonga Toast at the Kona Cafe in Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort), and then enjoy the rest of my resort hopping experience from there, knowing my car is located in a convenient (and, effectively, free) parking space. Sure, I’m paying Disney money, but instead of being given the privilege of leaving my car unattended in the hot sun, I’m getting deep-fried stuffed french toast. And the hot sun thing.
There are other options for resort hopping, of course, and many rely either on your own patience with Disney’s bus system or the discretion of the security guards (if you’re staying off-site to begin with), and so the easiest way to eliminate the hassle is just to schedule a breakfast stop.
3. Take time to learn the history of the resort
Image: Disney
What Disney has done with Walt Disney World (and Disneyland before it) is use the vacation experience to create art. Disney’s works are absolutely art, and one of the areas in which Disney’s art is the best is with their hotels.
Each one tells a unique story – some more elaborate than others – and each hotel has a completely different atmosphere and vibe. When you visit multiple hotels in one day, this will become obvious and, very likely, will inspire you to do some research. Did you know the Contemporary’s rooms were built and completed off-site and then lifted and slid into place in the A-frame’s structure? Did you know the Animal Kingdom Lodge and Wilderness Lodge were designed by the same person? The more you see from these beautiful resorts, the more you’ll want to know.
Maybe you’ll want to know who designed each hotel. Maybe you’ll want to know exactly the story each one is trying to tell. Maybe you’ll want to know when they was built, or how, or for how long.
Disney’s hotels each have a passionate fan community, and there are countless places on the web (including this very site) that will help you learn some of this information. But, often, the best resource for information are the people at that resort: the cast members.
Disney’s front-line hotel cast members tend to be more polished and knowledgable about the parks and resorts, and if you have a question, they will likely be able to answer it. Or, failing that, they’ll be able to help find the answer for you. Some resorts have actual memorabilia in them that’s worth viewing. Others have interesting architectural features. Others have unique landscaping. All of those things make the experience better, and if you’re feeling curious about something, just ask.
4. Be sure to bring an empty stomach
Image: Disney
Resort hopping isn’t just about sightseeing, however. You’ll also want to enjoy the countless culinary offerings of the many luxurious locales. The deluxe and moderate resorts all feature countless restaurants and food options, some of which offer the best food you’ll find anywhere.
There are over a dozen restaurants and bars in the Crescent Lake area worth trying. The monorail loop features one of the best bar crawls you’ll find anywhere: Taking the monorail between the watering holes at the Grand Floridian, Contemporary, and Polynesian Village Resorts (which now features the much-anticipated Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto).
The point is, all of the hotels have something you will most definitely want to try. Make sure to save room for it – you never know when something will catch your fancy.
5. Don’t be afraid to explore
Despite the fact that they technically have the right to form their own court system, as of yet, there is no such thing as Disney jail. There is no reason to be afraid of cast members unless you’re flouting the rules or doing something dangerous and irresponsible, in which case, you shouldn’t be going to Walt Disney World in the first place.
For this reason, give yourself and anyone visiting with you the freedom to explore these beautiful resorts. There are so many hidden nooks and crannies within them that there’s no way you could see every inch in one lifetime. And, like any art, your perception of these resorts will change with time as you notice more about them. You’ll feel more comfortable in some and less in others and, who knows, maybe you’ll find a new favorite must-stay resort on property.
From the themed wings of the Art of Animation Resort to the stunning beaches at the Polynesian Village Resort, there’s always something new to see and somewhere unvisited to seek out. And no, you’re not going to Disney jail for looking at it. Don’t worry: explore.
