There are many reasons why you might choose to stay at one Walt Disney World Resort hotel over another, since every resort has its pros and cons. When deciding on what perks will make your trip more convenient, location can obviously provide a huge advantage. What if I told you that there are multiple resorts located within walking distance to the entrance of one (or more!) Disney World theme parks? When you stay at these resorts, you’re literally only steps away from the magic!
Three out of the four Disney World theme parks are accessible via walking paths that connect to nearby resorts. This means that you can get from your room at the resort to your favorite theme parks in only a matter of minutes. No twiddling your thumbs waiting for a Monorail or boat to arrive, no waiting in line for a Skyliner gondola, and no crowded buses! Simply using your own two feet will get you where you want to go!
EPCOT / Disney’s Hollywood Studios Area
Did you know that Disney’s Beach Club Resort is the closest Disney resort to any of the Walt Disney World theme parks? It’s less than a 5 minute walk from some of the Beach Club Resort rooms to the EPCOT International Gateway entrance. Beach Club’s sister resort, Disney’s Yacht Club Resort, is also only a few minutes of walking to EPCOT. So convenient!
There are several other resorts that are located at a reasonably close walking distance from EPCOT’s International Gateway. These other resorts include:
- Disney’s Boardwalk Inn
- Walt Disney World Swan Hotel
- Walt Disney World Dolphin Hotel
- Walt Disney World Swan Reserve Hotel
These EPCOT area resorts also have the advantage of being within walking distance to Disney’s Hollywood Studios. There is a separate walking path that originates between Boardwalk Inn and the Swan and Dolphin hotels. This path follows the route of the waterway the Friendship Boats use to get to and from Hollywood Studios. The walking path arrives at Hollywood Studios right near the Skyliner Station, providing convenient access to the front of the theme park.
Magic Kingdom Area
Another set of Disney resorts are located within walking distance to Magic Kingdom! The closest is Disney’s Contemporary Resort. It’s only about a 7-10 minute walk from the Contemporary’s lobby to Magic Kingdom’s front gates. Alternatively, if you’re staying at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort or Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, there is a different walking path that goes around the perimeter of Seven Seas Lagoon. That walk is a little bit longer, but it’s very scenic. Expect to see views of Seven Seas Lagoon, the Monorail, and the boat traffic traveling back and forth from Magic Kingdom, the monorail resorts, and the Transportation and Ticket Center.
An additional advantage of walking to Magic Kingdom from any of the Monorail loop resorts is that the walking paths have dedicated security screening lines. This means you don’t have to worry about getting stuck in the longer lines serving bus and ferry passengers at the beginning of the day.
If you don’t mind a few extra steps in your day, using the walking paths to get to the theme parks from nearby resorts can be a relaxing way to head to the parks for the day. It can also help you avoid crowded transportation and long lines at the end of the night when all you want to do is get back to your resort hotel room.
When you’re planning your next Disney World vacation, don’t forget your walking shoes, and stay tuned to MouseHouseNews.net for more Walt Disney World news and tips!
