When we’re at Walt Disney World, we’re always focused on the best ways to get around.
Grand Floridian Resort
Of course, Disney transportation will get you where you need to go on property for free, but those waits can be LONG. Even in the best of times, we all wish we could just stroll right into the park from our hotel, and we REALLY wish for that super short commute after a long day — when we just want to COLLAPSE in our room. Well, a few Disney World resorts actually make that possible, so check out these SEVEN Disney World resorts that are close enough to walk to a theme park!
Disney’s Contemporary Resort and Bay Lake Tower
Disney’s Contemporary Resort and Bay Lake Tower, the Disney Vacation Club property next door, have THE most prime location when it comes to getting to Magic Kingdom.
Bay Lake Tower
From either resort building, you can easily follow a walkway over to the Magic Kingdom. Simply cross the street near the guard shack at the gate and follow the signs and path right to the park. This walk takes around 10 minutes or less and is usually the quickest and easiest way in and out of the park.
Click here for pictures of the Contemporary walking path!
Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa and Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
There’s also a walkway connected to both Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa and Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort to Magic Kingdom. From the Polynesian, you’re looking at an approximately 25-minute walk to bag check at Magic Kingdom…
Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
…and from the Grand Floridian, it could take you around 15-20 minutes. The walkway from Grand Floridian opened in November 2020, so it’s a newer perk for guests staying there!
Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
You can also walk to Magic Kingdom from the Transportation and Ticket Center, which overall takes around 32 minutes for the full walk.
Take a look at the Grand Floridian to Magic Kingdom walkway!
Disney’s BoardWalk Inn and Villas
Next up, we’re headed to the EPCOT resort area to take a look at the resorts within walking distance of EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. EPCOT’s World Showcase is just around the bend from the BoardWalk with a path from the International Gateway. This back entrance is just a 5-minute stroll away and gives guests PRIME access on foot to EPCOT!
Disney’s BoardWalk
The BoardWalk is also within walking distance to Hollywood Studios, although you will be in for a slightly longer jaunt if you head that way. Follow the path along the waterway for 15-20 minutes and you’ll arrive at the park that’s home to two of the newest attractions in Disney World, Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance and Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway. Note that the path to Hollywood Studios may be closed, so check with the front desk for details.
Click here to learn more about the upcoming BoardWalk transformation!
Disney’s Beach Club Resort and Villas
In the same area, Disney’s Beach Club Resort and Villas also provides walking access to EPCOT and Hollywood Studios. Just a stone’s throw from the International Gateway, you can walk out your door and be munching croissants in the France pavilion or fish and chips in the UK pavilion in just 10 minutes or less!
Disney’s Beach Club Resort
If you’re headed to Hollywood Studios, walk towards the BoardWalk then over to the walkway behind BoardWalk Villas. This 20-minute walk will have you over to Rise of the Resistance in little to no time.
Check out the returned buffet to Cape May Cafe in Beach Club!
Disney’s Yacht Club Resort
Given that you can walk from the Beach Club to EPCOT, it’s almost as easy to walk from Disney’s Yacht Club Resort, since it’s right next door to the Beach Club. To get to EPCOT, it’s the same quick 10-minute walk along the waterway to the International Gateway.
Disney’s Yacht Club Resort
Hollywood Studios is the same 20-minute walk along the waterway. Keep in mind this walk amounts to about one mile so you’ll be tacking that onto the steps you take IN the actual parks.
Check out our most recent review of Yachtsman Steakhouse!
Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort
Though the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort is not operated by Disney (the resort is owned by Marriott International), it holds prime positioning in the EPCOT resort area, making it walkable to two parks! The Swan and Dolphin connect via a bridge over to the BoardWalk. From there, you can take a pleasant 10-minute stroll right up to EPCOT’s International Gateway.
Walt Disney World Dolphin Resort
The Swan and Dolphin are very close to Hollywood Studios too! To get there, head to the path that begins right behind the entrance to the BoardWalk and follow it all the way to the Hollywood Studios parking lot. This walk takes around 15 minutes.
Take a look at the 2022 Swan and Dolphin Wine Classic coming to Disney World!
Bonus!
We’ve got one more resort to add to this list that isn’t walkable to the theme parks, but it’s still worth mentioning!
Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa
Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa is too far from any of the theme parks to have a walking path to them, but it IS extremely close to Disney Springs! You’ll notice signage around the resort directing guests to a walking path over to Disney Springs. Just head over to the Congress Park building and over the bridge and you’ll have access to all the shopping and dining locations at Disney Springs!
Paddock Pool at Saratoga Springs
And there you have it! Those are all the Disney resorts that give you the SUPERPOWER of being able to walk to and from the parks! As always, stay tuned to DFB for the latest Disney planning tips, and get ready to get those steps in on your next trip!
Looking for all the pros and cons of Disney transportation? Click here to watch our video!
Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe!
WE KNOW DISNEY.
YOU CAN, TOO.
Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation.
Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever!
Which resort is YOUR favorite for easy park access? Tell us in the comments!
Our handy (and portable!) ebook guides make sure you get the best deals and can plan a vacation of a lifetime.
Swan and Dolphin have the best beds! Love staying at these hotels and just booked for five nights in November .
Booked for six (6) nights at Boardwalk Villas in mid-September 😊
The walkway from the Grand Floridian to the Magic Kingdom is a definite loss for the resort guests staying on the Seven Seas Lagoon or Bay Lake. Now, the nightly water pageant will have no place to park during the day as the storage canal is blocked off by the walkway. They should have put a drawbridge there to accommodate the walkway and the canal. I will always miss the nightly water pageant that made the tour around the ponds. I will always cherish the time I viewed it with my young daughter and feel sorry for the many thousands that will have never enjoyed the simplicity of Disney Magic. Bad show Disney
Ken, our understanding is the walkway rotates to allow the Water Pageant to pass through.
You can also walk from Disney’s Old Key West Resort to Disney Springs
There where several off site hotels near Disney Springs. We would walk down and catch a Disney bust to a park because they ran more frequently than ours
While researching the Swan, I found this article. The statement that you can walk to DHS is contradicted by Disney, that says you can walk to Epcot, or take a boat to DHS. Has something changed?