It’s no secrete that a Disney vacation can be super expensive. Hands-down though, there are countless ways to experience some Disney magic without dropping some serious cash. One of our favorite ways to make magic on a budget is through resort hopping.
What is Resort Hopping?
In a nutshell, resort hopping is when you “hop” around to the various Disney World hotels to experience all they have to offer. You can eat some delicious foods and take in the atmosphere. Resort hopping is a fun way to save money on a day-off from the parks, and to even take the opportunity to scope out other Disney properties.
Rules of Resort Hopping
Folks staying both on and off Disney property are welcome to resort hop. There are, however, some key rules to keep in mind if you considering building in a resort-hopping day into your next Disney World vacation itinerary.
- No Pool Hopping
- This one’s rough. As AMAZING as it would be to visit the Art of Animation resort and take a dip into the Big Blue Pool, all resort pools are only open for guests staying at those resorts. There are no exceptions to this rule.
- Parking Restrictions
- For many resorts, and especially during super-busy periods like the holidays, one can’t drive and park there. Parking at most resorts is reserved for guests and folks with dining reservations. In our experience, this also applies to ride shares like Uber. In a past trip, we took an Uber to Animal Kingdom Lodge. The security guard needed to confirm that we had a reservation at Sanaa before letting the driver through the gates.
Three Resort Hopping Loops
In an effort to avoid potential barriers associated with parking, we recommend going on one of the resort hopping loops that does not require a car. The three main resort hopping loops are through the 1) monorail, 2) Skyliner, and 3) Crescent Lake.
The Classic Monorail Crawl (Magic Kingdom Area)
Classy and luxurious, the Monorail crawl has you pop on and off the Disney Monorail to visit each of these sorts. The route for this crawl is Contemporary Resort –> Polynesian –> Grand Floridian.
Hopping on and off the monorail can be a smooth and exciting and adventure. If you’re traveling with a little, you don’t need to break down the stroller getting on and off the Monorail. Your day can be spend visiting the Contemporary to watch the Monorail literally pass through the building (so cool!). Then, as a fun fact, did you know you can get a Dole Whip at the Polynesian? For an ultra swanky feel, you can also visit the Grand Floridian and listen to a live pianist in the lobby. Such fun!
We personally haven’t tried this one yet, but it sounds fun. During one of our recent trips, we took a trip over the Polynesian to grab dinner. While there, we chatted with a couple who were doing a Monorail bar crawl. How creative!
Skyliner Route (EPCOT & Hollywood Studios Area)
This adventure would be your best choice if you’re already staying at one of the Skyliner resorts. Check out our post to leave everything you might need to know about the Disney Skyliner. The route for this crawl is the Riviera Resort –> Caribbean Beach –> Pop Century/Art of Animation.
Similar to the Monorail, you don’t need breakdown the stroller to board the Skyliner gondolas. In our book, this is always a perk when visiting Disney with a toddler (or even older!). Depending on your feelings on heights, traveling high in the sky instead of on the Monorail could be a little more magical. For us personally, we feel like the Skyliner crawl has more fun options if food is your priority, but the vibes are just as magical. Different for sure, but definitely magical.
At the Riviera Resort, you can find Topolino’s Terrace, which has a very highly rated character breakfast. If you’d like to invest in this experience, this is a great option since it does not also require a park ticket. Caribbean has it’s own tropic vibes, but with a Spanish twist. One of the most recent food-related developments is that you can now get the infamous Mickey churro waffles here. Previously, you could only find that at the breakfast buffet at the Crystal Palace and on Disney cruises. Now, you don’t even need a park ticket to try them!
The final Skyliner stop is a double-feature with not one, but two parks to explore. Vibrant and exiting pop culture vibes at the Pop Century Resort and then a super immersive experience over at the Art of Animation. If you’re looking for more than just vibes, you can also try out that super colorful PB&J croissant. Feel free to check out blog post that compares and contrasts these two, super fun value options.
Crescent Lake Stroll
This last route doesn’t rely on one of the Disney modes of transportation. Well, it actually does. This is one where you walk around to each of the resorts. If that sounds AWFUL after a rope-drop to fireworks show park day, maybe one of the other resort hopping routes is better for you! The route for this adventure is Boardwalk Inn –> Yacht & Beach Club –> Swan and Dolphin.
For us, the cutest part of this stroll is walking around the Boardwalk. It’s cheesy, especially since we live in NJ and there are several “real” boardwalks within a 45-minute drive from us. The vibes are just so cute though. During the holidays, you can check out the super cute gingerbread display at the Boardwalk Inn, too!
While one also can walk over the Swan & Dolphin, we don’t know if we’d recommend it. The Swan & Dolphin lives in a weird Disney property, but not a Disney property limbo. It’s actually a Marriott hotel. If you’re looking for some Disney magic, you won’t find any characters or dining experiences that reflect Disney characters. It’s a super nice hotel – don’t get us wrong. In 2022, I attended a conference that actually put me up in the Swan & Dolphin and it was a gorgeous place. In comparison to other resorts though, there’s minimal Disney vibes. The only one we can think of is that you can get Mickey waffles for breakfast at the Swan side of the property.
Top Things to Keep in Mind When Resort Hopping
The two biggest things to keep in mind when resort hopping are the opportunity make dining reservations and the free seasonal displays. Inherently, because resort restaurants are not in the parks, most of them tend to be easier to snag than experience like dinner at Be Our Guest. For folks staying on property, they’re able to make dining reservations 60 days before the first day of their visit. That means that 60 days out, you can snag reservations at Topolino’s Terrace, ‘Ohana, Sanaa, and many others. As previously mentioned, a dining reservation can also serve as your “ticket” into a resort as well – especially if you’re visiting during an extra busy time of the year.
Additionally, if you’re visiting Disney around the holidays, check to see if the holiday displays are up. While the gingerbread house wasn’t put up in the Grand Floridian for the 2025 season, it’s usually a stable. And it’s magnificent!
We were lucky enough to be staying at Pop Century when the Christmas tree in their lobby went up. It was super cute with ornaments reflecting all the different decades featured at the resort.
Conclusion
While you can actually pack A LOT into a day of resort hopping, we like to recommend keeping these days a little more slower pace. The parks are always go-go-go. Take in some Disney magic at a more leisurely pace when you’re resort hopping.
Which Disney resort is at the top of your visit list? Let us know in the comments below!
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