Well, we’ve got an update out of Disney World, and we’ve got a feeling many of you aren’t going to be happy about it.
We’re officially heading into one of the busiest parts of spring break season, and that means the crowds are truly everywhere — the parks, the hotels, and Disney Springs, especially since Easter is this weekend as well. To combat the crowds, Disney has done something extremely interesting in Disney Springs that we’ve never seen before — if you want to get on a bus to a nearby hotel, you’ve gotta tell Cast Members WHY you’re going, and potentially even have a reservation.
When we walked up to the bus depot at Disney Springs, we noticed that there are now barricades up near the entrance to the bus lines at the shopping and dining district to keep people from just walking to them. Instead, Guest Relations Cast Members are stationed nearby with iPads, and they’re checking with people why they’re heading to the resorts.
When we visited this morning, the bus lines were completely empty, with no one around, and yet, Cast Members were still stationed nearby. When we asked a Cast Member what was going on, they told us that the current plan is for this to stick around through this week, as crowds are expected to be at their highest for the spring break season. However, there has already been talk that this could likely extend.
So, who can travel to the hotels, then? Well, Cast Members are checking MagicBands for hotel reservations and dining reservations, but if you’re also heading to the hotel to experience the recreation activities, or just general business, you should still be allowed through. However, if you’re just going for leisure or just to resort hop and check out another hotel, you may be out of luck.
This means that if you were planning to check out a resort from Disney Springs, maybe because you’re planning on staying there in the future, or just want to go resort hopping, that just got much harder. We’ll be curious to see if this does extend, or perhaps arrives at other bus stations around the resort.
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We’ll be sure to keep you updated on this situation as it develops, so stay tuned to AllEars for all the latest.
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How do you feel about this change? Tell us in the comments.
I own DVC at The Riviera and have stayed several times. Never experienced a crowd issue, either on the transportation or at the resort itself. While the resort food is amazing, you can get similar items elsewhere, and there are only so many Topolino reservations available. The decor is also geared much more to adults than children, meaning fewer non-guests want to visit the place. So I don’t think the change will affect my vacations all that much even if this policy becomes permanent.
Our family saved for years to go to Disney this past week. We stayed at Animal Kingdom Lodge. During our 9 day stay, we visited Disney Springs via the bus, 3 times. Every ride back to the hotel the bus was PACKED with families going to use the pool, quick serve restaurant, locker room facilities and arcade. It was extremely frustrating having to battle these families for seats on the bus, in the eatery and at the pool so I didn’t have to stand poolside and watch my children. When paying a premium price, I do expect premium service and what we experienced during this last stay was far from what I’ve come to expect from Disney. All other resorts require Magic Bands to enter their pools and areas – Animal Kingdom Lodge should be no different. I’m sorry but I am not sorry that I want to be able to thoroughly enjoy a very expensive vacation and not have to battle crowds at the hotel as well as the parks. At least at the parks, it’s expected.
Over the years I have seen people that park at Disney Springs, get on a bus to a resort, and then board a bus to a park. I can see where three families with several bags of merchandise could and do take up a lot of room on a resort bus at closing time. Sounds like a lot of work to avoid paying parking at the parks but it happens. Not saying that this is what the cast members are preventing but it could very well be.
This keeps the riff raff and land whales away. When I’m on vacation the last thing I want to do is mingle with the peasantry.
One of my favorite non park activities is resort hopping. I hope the restrictions are just temporary for high seasons. However, as a guest at a deluxe resort, I appreciate Disney doing what they can to make sure the resort is available for ME, (ex: non guests hogging the beach at Poly or GF to watch fireworks, or extra crowded buses or gawkers in the lobby)
Disney continues to make their resort less and less attractive. Purposely, I think.
Checking out the resorts is a huge part of the Disney experience. Many people plan a day or more for resort hopping. As long as restaurant reservations are allowed reasons, then my family would be
As a hotel guest, I’m in favor of this method of crowd control. When paying deluxe hotel prices, I prefer a less crowded, less frenetic experience in the public spaces.