Kurt’s Guide to Disney World Resort Hopping

Resort hopping?

If you are a guest at one of the Disney World Resorts, you can visit several of their other resorts during the day and enjoy quite a bit of entertainment by resort hopping.  Not to mention all the awesome and interesting dining options.  Disney has an “open resort” policy which means that you are allowed to visit their other resorts and enjoy their amenities.  But Disney is very careful to point out that using a pool at another resort is strictly forbidden.


[Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, image from Tripadvisor.com]

But aside from the pool issue, there are lots of reasons to resort hop while you’re staying at Disney.  I will attempt to run down the major reasons below.  Please let me know if I got anything wrong or if I missed something important!


[Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort pool, image from Tripadvisor.com]

Resort choices

Fort Wilderness Resort

  • near: Magic Kingdom, Epcot
  • dining: 1 casual, 2 dinner shows (Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue, Mickey’s Backyard BBQ), 1 bar
  • activities: archery, canoe/boat/kayak rentals, pony/horseback rides, movies under the stars, campfire sing-a-long, bike/jog trails, basketball, volleyball, arcade
  • transportation: boats to Magic Kingdom and Wilderness Lodge and Contemporary

All-Star Movies/Music/Sports Resorts

  • near: Animal Kingdom, Wide World of Sports, Blizzard Beach
  • dining: food courts, pool bars
  • activities: movies under the stars, jog trail, arcade

Pop Century and Art of Animation Resorts

  • near: Wide World of Sports, Hollywood Studios, Epcot
  • dining: food courts, pool bars
  • activities: movies under the stars, jog trail, arcade

Caribbean Beach Resort

  • near: Epcot
  • dining: 1 casual, 1 fast food, pool bar
  • activities: mini golf, adventure cruise, campfire, bike/jog trails, arcade

Port Orleans Resorts, French Quarter and Riverside

  • near: Downtown Disney, Epcot
  • dining: 1 casual, 2 fast food, 4 bars
  • activities: carriage rides, adventure cruise, campfire, bike/jog trails, arcade
  • transportation: boats to Downtown Disney

Coronado Springs Resort

  • near: Animal Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, Blizzard Beach
  • dining: 1 casual, 3 fast food, 3 bars
  • activities: campfire, jog trail, arcade

Animal Kingdom Lodge

  • near: Animal Kingdom
  • dining: 1 fine, 3 casual themed, 3 fast food, 2 bars
  • activities: safari animal viewing, African art & artifacts, campfire, jog trail, arcade

Wilderness Lodge

  • near: Magic Kingdom
  • dining: 1 casual, 2 dinner shows
  • activities: bike/jog trails, boat rentals, movies under the stars, campfires, arcade
  • transportation: boats to Magic Kingdom and Fort Wilderness and Contemporary

Old Key West Resort

  • near: Downtown Disney, Epcot
  • dining: 1 casual, 3 fast food
  • activities: fitness center, campfire, movies under the stars, bike/jog trains, basketball, tennis, volleyball, arcades
  • transportation: boats to Downtown Disney

Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa

  • near: Downtown Disney, Epcot
  • dining: 1 casual, 3 fast food, 2 bars
  • activities: spa services, campfire, bike/jog trails, tennis, basketball, arcade
  • transportation: boats to Downtown Disney

Contemporary Resort

  • near: Magic Kingdom
  • dining: 1 fine dining, 1 character dining, 1 casual themed, 3 fast food, 4 bars
  • activities: monorail runs through, water sports rentals, volleyball, tennis, jogging trail, campfire, movies under the stars, arcade, nighttime fireworks cruise
  • transportation: boats to Magic Kingdom and Fort Wilderness and Wilderness Lodge

Beach/Yacht Club Resorts

  • near: Epcot
  • dining: 1 fine dining, 1 character dining, 3 casual, 2 fast food, 3 bars
  • activities: fitness center, mini golf, campfire, movies under the stars, adventure cruise, boat rentals, bike/jog trails, tennis, volleyball, arcade
  • transportation: boats to Epcot, Hollywood Studios, Boardwalk and Swan/Dolphin

Boardwalk Inn Resort

  • near: Epcot
  • dining: 1 fine dining, 3 casual themed, 3 fast food, 1 bar
  • activities: mini golf, campfire, movies under the stars, bike/jog trails, tennis, arcade
  • transportation: boats to Epcot, Hollywood Studios, Beach/Yacht Club and Swan/Dolphin

Swan and Dolphin Hotels

  • near: Epcot
  • dining: 2 fine dining, 5 casual, 3 fast food, 5 bars
  • activities: fitness center, tennis, volleyball, basketball, arcade, jogging trail
  • transportation: boats to Epcot, Hollywood Studios, Boardwalk and Beach/Yacht Club

Polynesian Resort

  • near: Magic Kingdom
  • dining: 1 character dining, 1 dinner show, 2 casual themed, 3 fast food, 1 bar
  • activities: movies under the stars, boat rentals, campfire, bike/jog trails, volleyball
  • transportation: monorail and boats to Magic Kingdom and Grand Floridian

Grand Floridian Resort and Spa

  • near: Magic Kingdom
  • dining: 3 fine dining, 1 character dining, 1 casual, 3 fast food, 2 bars
  • activities: spa services, boat rentals, adventure cruise, movies under the stars, jogging trail, arcade
  • transportation: monorail and boats to Magic Kingdom and Polynesian

Getting from place to place

Epcot is a major bus hub, so you can get to pretty much anywhere from Epcot via bus.  Epcot is also a boat hub for the Boardwalk, the Beach/Yacht Clubs and the Dolphin/Swan resorts.

The Magic Kingdom is  a boat hub for the Grand Floridian, the Polynesian, the Wilderness Lodge,Fort Wilderness, and the Contemporary.  The Magic Kingdom is a monorail hub for the Contemporary, the Polynesian, and the Grand Floridian.  A second monorail line runs between the Magic Kingdom and Epcot.

Animal Kingdom is also a major bus hub.

Yuo can get to Downtown Disney from pretty much any resort.  Also, Downtown Disney is a boat hub for the Old Key West, Saratoga Springs and the Port Orleans French Quarter/Riverside resorts.

Have fun!

Thanks for reading my blog!  Let me know if I got anything wrong or if you have any information to add!  And also let me know if this blog post helped you in any way shape or form!  Thanks!

Kurt

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