Disney World is known for the incredible theme parks, but secretly, I love a Disney Resort just as much! Resort Hopping is an entirely different side of Disney that can lead you to some amazing shopping, delicious dining, and more.

Disney Springs is full of things to do!
While you can’t park at most Disney hotels without a hotel or dining reservation, there are ways around that. One of the easiest ways is to park at Disney Springs, hop on one of Disney’s free transportation buses, and enjoy your day. But you could have a hiccup in your plans, and this is why some guests might want to avoid Disney Springs in 2026.
During a busy spring break week, we were at Disney’s shopping district and went to hop on a bus for a resort stop; however, we learned that was not possible. A Cast Member confirmed that you can no longer go from Disney Springs to any resort you want to. Now, you need to have a reservation to hop on board.

Inside a Disney Bus
At each bus station, there was a guest relations Cast Member stationed so they could check to see if you have a confirmed reservation before hopping on the bus and heading to the resort. We spoke to a Cast Member who confirmed that it’s restricted to hotel reservations, dining reservations, recreation activities, or any general business at the resort besides leisure.

Cast Members checking MagicBands
This was only put in place temporarily to help with crowds during a peak season. Cast Members confirmed the change is just for this week, which they called their ‘busy season’ for spring break. However, it might not be the last time we see this happen during 2026.
“Bus Lice” Are Causing Chaos in Disney World, and We Need to Talk About It

Blockades put up
A Cast Member mentioned to us that this could return for the week of the Fourth of July and the week of Christmas. Both of these holidays bring huge crowds to Disney World, so this wouldn’t surprise us. If you are planning on having a resort-hopping day on your trip during these periods, just be prepared to have an alternative plan.

Disney Springs buses
You can head to a theme park and then take a resort bus from there without needing a park ticket. You can also head over to the Transportation and Ticket Center, which has transportation to every Disney resort. We do not recommend driving yourself or taking a rideshare to a Disney resort without a reservation, as you could be turned away at the security gate.
5 Tips For the NEW Disney Springs Bus Rule

TTC
While we are glad this change isn’t permanent, it could come back later this year. If you love to resort hop, just keep this in the back of your mind on your next trip. Be sure to keep following DisneyFoodBlog for more Disney news, updates, and more.
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