As we’ve talked about before, Disney World has a ton of secret shortcuts and we’re here to spill on them!
The secret shortcuts we’re looking at today are located in the EPCOT Resort Area, which links EPCOT and Hollywood Studios with the Boardwalk Resort, the Swan & Dolphin resorts, and the Yacht and Beach Club resorts.
With so many people putting in their two cents on the best ways to make your Disney World visit easier its tough to navigate the well-meaning advice from the down-right experienced ones. Luckily, you’ve come to the right place because our team is in Disney World every single day of the year.
All that walking in the elements and crowds can take its toll, and we’ve got a ton of ground to cover in a day (just like you do when you’re visiting), so to make things easier on us (and now you), we’ve come to scope out a few secret shortcuts that have just become second nature to use. Let’s take a look at some of our best-kept secrets!
Make Use Of The Walkway Near Disney’s Boardwalk Inn
So this one might seem a bit more obvious at face value, but hear us out. When you’re walking to hotels like Disney’s Swan, Dolphin, and Swan Reserve, it’s easy to beeline straight for the building in desperation.
While that’s certainly a choice, you could be costing yourself valuable time and energy, as the sidewalk closest to the building tends to wind and swerve the entire perimeter. Depending on where you are, it could be longer to get you in the entrance at the center, over taking the walkway that connects to Disney’s Boardwalk Inn Resort.
Plus, you’ll get some great views of the hotel on your walk over and get to wave at the passing Friendship boat as it ushers people around the neighboring hotels and EPCOT.
Don’t Sleep On Passing Through The Boardwalk Villas
The walking path from EPCOT to Disney’s Hollywood Studios is hardly a secret to the experienced Disney World visitor, but there’s a secret way to make that trek by foot even shorter!
We’ve discovered that if you’re willing to walk through Disney’s Boardwalk Inn on the villas’ side, you’ll come out to a secret pathway that connects to the walking path, cutting a good chunk of walking and time out of your journey.
The Closest Hotel Room To EPCOT Of All
Where your assigned room is CAN matter! Thanks to something we’ll call step science (literally just counting the steps as we moved along), we’ve found there’s one particular room that’s closer to EPCOT than all the rest. These are the rooms ending in: -501 through -530.
You’ll most likely have to luck into it, but you can help your chances by opting for a room within Disney’s Beach Club Resort villas. This particular room has a secret connecting walkway that leads out into the main walkway to EPCOT’s International Gateway entrance, cutting your walk time into and out of the park each day when it truly counts. It’s also a pretty ideal stroll back for when you want to take a quick mid-day nap in your room — go ahead, we won’t judge!
We’re always spilling our best secrets, tips, and tricks to help you plan the best Disney World visit yet! Make sure you’re following along with us at AllEars for even more.
Why Haven’t They Banned These EPCOT Pavilion Hacks Yet?
Which other secret shortcuts from the EPCOT area hotels do we need to take notice of? Tell us in the comments below!
A map, as given in the Epcot shortcuts article, would be most helpful. Unless one is in the parks almost as frequently as the All Ears team, it’s hard to visualize these shortcuts with just a word description.