Walt Disney World Transportation: Walking Paths
With a plethora of complimentary and paid transportation options at Walt Disney World, it may seem too simple to get from place to place on your feet. But sometimes, simple is best (or, at least, convenient!).
We’re sharing Walt Disney World’s major walking paths — paths that guests can use to go from Resort to Park, Resort to Resort, and Resort to Recreation. We’re not including walkways within Resorts or jogging/walking trails (you can learn more about those here). Rather, these are walkways that get you from one place to another without the use of transportation vehicles.
Lace up, and let’s go!
Magic Kingdom-Area Resort Paths
The Magic Kingdom-Area Resorts feature several walking paths that you can use to explore Resort to Resort, to get to the Parks, or to see things from a new perspective. In some cases, you can combine walkways to go even further. For example, if you don’t mind a 30+-minute walk, you could go from the Polynesian Resort to Magic Kingdom entirely by foot!
- Contemporary Resort to Magic Kingdom
One of the shortest and most convenient walking paths on property is the 5- to 10-minute walk between the Contemporary Resort and Magic Kingdom. This pathway includes a designated security stop so you can skip the busier Park entrance bag checks and head straight to the tapstiles. On this walk you’ll pass the bus stops to your left as you approach the Park, and the Monorail will glide overhead.
- Grand Floridian Resort & Spa to Magic Kingdom
This relatively new path will take you about twenty minutes to traverse, but along the way you’ll likely spot some Florida wildlife and be able to see Seven Seas Lagoon from a brand new perspective.
This path is actually a combination of the Polynesian’s internal walkways that connect directly to TTC. The most direct trip from the front of the Great Ceremonial House to TTC is about 1/3 mile.
- Polynesian Resort to Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
This picturesque path winds along Seven Seas Lagoon and passes by Disney’s Wedding Pavilion. This one’s a great path to use if you want to partake of dining at the neighboring Resort, if the Monorail station happens to be closed at one or the other of the Resorts (you can catch it at the next stop!), or you want a unique view of the Electrical Water Pageant at night. This path is about 1/3 mile long.
- Shades of Green Resort to Polynesian Village Resort
Shades of Green is a U.S. Department of Defense Resort, and for guests staying here, it’s about a one-mile walk to the front of the Polynesian Resort. This could be helpful if your family wants to hop on the Monorail or use boat service across Seven Seas Lagoon — or if you’re hungry for dining at the Monorail Resorts!
EPCOT/DHS-Area Resort Paths
All of the Resorts and hotels in the area of EPCOT and Hollywood Studios are linked by walking paths, making it the most connected area in which to lay your head at Walt Disney World. The Resorts — technically considered EPCOT-Area Resorts by Disney — on Crescent Lake include Beach Club Resort, Yacht Club Resort, and BoardWalk Inn. The Walt Disney World Swan, Swan Reserve, and Dolphin resorts sit slightly off to the side of Crescent Lake but still benefit from their proximity to the Parks.
- Crescent Lake Resorts to EPCOT
All the Resorts on Crescent Lake connect to EPCOT’s International Gateway (also called EPCOT’s back or second gate). Technically they are all connected by walkways, though some Resorts are much closer to EPCOT than others. The Yacht and Beach Club Resorts are only about a quarter mile from EPCOT’s back gate.
BoardWalk Inn & Villas are under 1/3 mile from EPCOT’s second gate.
The Swan, Swan Reserve, and Dolphin resorts are about 3/4 of a mile from International Gateway (though some areas of these properties could be notably longer walks).
- Crescent Lake Resorts to Disney’s Hollywood Studios
The Resorts on Crescent Lake benefit from proximity to Disney’s Hollywood Studios as well, though the walks are longer in this case. All of these Resorts access Hollywood Studios via a path that runs past the bus stops and Skyliner station en route to the main entrance. BoardWalk Inn is the closest at about 3/4 mile from the entrance of Hollywood Studios.
Swan, Swan Reserve, and Dolphin are about a mile away by foot.
The Yacht and Beach Club Resorts are on the far side of Crescent Lake from Hollywood Studios. You’ll have to walk just over a mile to get from there to the Park entrance.
- Disney’s Hollywood Studios to EPCOT
If it sounds fun to walk from one Park to another, this is your only east coast opportunity. Hollywood Studios’ front gate and EPCOT’s back gate are connected via all those EPCOT-Area Resort paths, and this will be the longest walk in this area. It’ll add 1.25 miles or so to your pedometer.
- Fantasia Garden Miniature Golf to Swan, Swan Reserve, and Dolphin
If you like to swing a club on the miniature links at Fantasia Garden, note that there’s a very short walk from the Swan, Swan Reserve, and Dolphin resorts. You’ll only hit about a quarter mile on this walk! If you stay at Swan Reserve, you’ll quite literally be right next door. (Don’t forget to pack your putter!)
Disney Springs-Area Resorts
Disney Springs is proximal to a couple of Disney’s Disney Vacation Club Resorts. These Resorts are also walkable (for those ambitious enough to go for it) to golf!
- Saratoga Springs to Disney Springs
Saratoga Springs is a massive Resort, and as such, some areas of the Resort are much more reasonable distances for walking to Disney Springs. The Congress Park section of the Resort is the best one for walking to Disney Springs. From here you can expect to trek an average of a quarter mile.
The south ends of The Paddock and The Springs sections of the Resort are also walkable (roughly a half mile or so from Disney Springs Marketplace). If you’re staying in The Carousel, The Grandstand, or the far end of The Paddock sections, you’re probably better off taking an internal bus to one of the closer sections and making the walk from there (or finding a Sassagoula River water taxi and enjoying a leisurely float to one of the docks in Disney Springs).
- Saratoga Springs Resort to Lake Buena Vista Golf Course
If you’re hoping to play a round of golf, Saratoga Springs Resort is a great location to make a potentially short walk to the Clubhouse of Lake Buena Vista Golf Course. The Carousel section is the furthest walk to the Clubhouse at about 1/3 mile.
Resort to Resort Options
Several Resorts are in close enough proximity that they make for an easy walk if you want to explore dining, atmosphere, and amenities at a nearby Resort.
The path between Fort Wilderness and Wilderness Lodge makes good on the wilderness descriptor. This roughly 3/4 mile path takes guests through the woods for a relaxing walk — and the amenities and dining at these Resorts means guests will surely be tempted to make the journey.
Art of Animation was originally planned to be a second half of the Pop Century theme. It would’ve embraced the early 1900s and been dubbed “The Legendary Years”. Despite the change in theme, the distance between the Resorts remains miniscule; from lobby to lobby it’s just about 1/3 mile. Even better? The so-called Generation Gap Bridge that spans Hourglass Lake and unites the Resorts is also home to a Skyliner station!
These sister Resorts share amenities, which means guests are free to go from one Resort pool or activity to another at the other half of the Resort. And though Riverside is a sprawling Resort with its own internal bus system, it is feasible to walk between the two. From one pool to the other is just over half a mile.
When Riviera Resort’s tower went up over the past couple years, it did so in a space that used to be home to several Caribbean Beach Resort buildings — that’s how close these two Resorts are. But because Caribbean Beach Resort is so massive, distances can vary when you’re walking from one to the other. From Centertown to Riviera is just over a quarter mile. From the furthest point at Caribbean Beach, however, it’s more than double that.
