Well, that escalated fast. Just days after we told you about the new bus and boat restrictions coming to Disney Springs on June 28, the announcement set off a wave of confusion and frustration across Disney social media, with plenty of guests convinced this meant the end of resort hopping entirely. Now Disney has stepped in to clear things up, and the actual policy is narrower than a lot of the panic online suggested.
Here’s exactly what you’ll need starting June 28 to board a resort bus or the Sassagoula River Cruise from Disney Springs: a valid Disney Resort Hotel room key or MagicBand, or a confirmed dining or Enchanting Extras reservation at the resort you’re heading to. If you’re using a dining or experience reservation to get through the checkpoint, Disney has confirmed you can start boarding up to two hours before your reservation time, so you won’t need to time your arrival down to the minute.
The biggest misconception making the rounds is that this kills resort hopping altogether. It doesn’t. If you’re staying on property or have a legitimate reservation at a resort, whether that’s dinner, a recreation activity, or anything else bookable through My Disney Experience, nothing changes for you. What this policy actually targets is the long running practice of day guests parking for free at Disney Springs and then hopping a bus or boat to reach a theme park or resort without paying for parking, along with content creators who have used the same loophole to film resort walkthroughs without ever booking a stay.
Online reaction has been mixed since the clarification. Plenty of resort guests and annual passholders are on board, pointing to overcrowded amenities and longer lines for things like the beignets at Port Orleans as proof this change was overdue. Others are still bummed about losing the old spontaneous tradition of taking a rest day, parking at Disney Springs, and boating over to peek at a different resort just because. Either way, the policy is officially permanent starting June 28. Where do you land on this one, overdue fix or the end of a fun Disney Springs tradition? Let us know in the comments.
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