One of our favorite non-park activities at Walt Disney World is resort hopping.
You do not need a park ticket to enjoy many of Disney’s best restaurants, beautiful lobbies, unique gift shops, seasonal decorations, waterfront walks, and resort atmospheres. Some families build an entire afternoon or evening around visiting a Disney resort, having dinner, exploring the grounds, and enjoying transportation such as the Monorail, Disney Skyliner, or resort boats.
The good news is that staying at Shades of Green does not prevent you from enjoying any of it.
It simply requires a different transportation strategy.
Disney does not provide direct transportation from one resort to another, and Shades of Green guests cannot always use the same shortcuts that work for guests staying at Disney-owned resorts. The easiest route depends on where you are going, whether you are willing to pay for convenience, and whether your plans include a dining or experience reservation.
This guide explains the fastest paid options, the best complimentary routes, and the practical realities military families should understand before resort hopping from Shades of Green.
SEE:
The Fastest Way to Resort Hop Is Usually a Paid Ride
Minnie Van pulling up for a pick up at Shades of Green
Before looking at the complimentary routes, it is important to be direct about the easiest option.
For most resort-to-resort trips, the fastest and simplest transportation method is a Minnie Van, Uber, or Lyft.
A paid ride usually provides:
- Direct transportation from the Shades of Green porte-cochère
- Fewer transfers
- Less walking
- More predictable travel time
- A better option for dining reservations
- An easier return to Shades of Green late at night
Uber and Lyft normally cost considerably less than a Minnie Van. Minnie Vans cost more, but they are operated by Disney Cast Members, can use some convenient Disney transportation locations that regular rideshare vehicles cannot access, and offer a level of service and familiarity that some families value.
If you have a firm dining reservation, are dressed for a special dinner, are traveling with small children or older family members, or simply do not want to spend an hour transferring between transportation systems, a paid ride may be the best use of your vacation time.
Steve Says
The best transportation option is not always the cheapest one. If resort hopping is part of a special dinner or evening, I would rather spend a little more on a direct ride than spend much of the experience worrying about transfers and arrival times.
Our Disney World trips usually have two to four Minnie Van rides, all for convenience.
SEE:
Complimentary Resort Hopping Requires a Transportation Hub
Disney buses do not normally travel directly from one resort to another. To resort hop for free, you usually need to travel through a theme park, the Transportation and Ticket Center, or another Disney transportation connection.
From Shades of Green, the two most useful complimentary transportation connections are:
- Transportation and Ticket Center: Your primary transportation hub from Shades of Green. From here, you can walk or take the Resort Monorail to Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, continue to Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa and Disney’s Contemporary Resort, or travel to Magic Kingdom to connect with boats and buses serving other Magic Kingdom-area resorts.
- Disney’s Hollywood Studios: The best gateway to the EPCOT Resort Area and the Disney Skyliner resorts. From Hollywood Studios, you can walk, take a Friendship Boat, or board the Skyliner.
The complimentary routes can be enjoyable, but they require more time. Build extra travel time into the plan, especially when a meal reservation is involved.
SEE:
- The Transportation and Ticket Center Reality for Shades of Green Guests
- Walt Disney World’s Transportation and Ticket Center
Important: Disney Springs Is No Longer a General Resort Transportation Hub
Disney Springs can no longer be treated as an unrestricted transfer point for anyone who wants to board Disney transportation to a resort.
To leave Disney Springs aboard Disney bus or boat transportation bound for a Disney resort, guests must have:
- A qualifying Disney Resort hotel stay, or
- A dining or experience reservation at the destination resort within the next two hours
Shades of Green guests should not plan to travel to Disney Springs and then board any resort bus or boat simply for sightseeing. Use Disney Springs transportation only when your resort stay or qualifying reservation satisfies Disney’s current requirement.
However, the restriction applies only to boarding resort-bound transportation at Disney Springs. There is no corresponding restriction on traveling from a Disney Resort hotel to Disney Springs. Once you have reached one of the Disney Springs Resort Area hotels, you can use its Disney transportation to continue to Disney Springs.
Military Disney Tips Reality Check
Older resort-hopping advice frequently recommends using Disney Springs as a transfer hub. That advice is now incomplete. Guests need an eligible Disney resort stay or a dining or experience reservation within the next two hours before boarding Disney resort transportation from Disney Springs. Shades of Green is not a qualifying Disney Resort.
The Classic Resort-Hopping Experience: The Monorail Resorts
The Monorail resorts provide the classic Walt Disney World resort-hopping experience.
You can visit:
- Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
- Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
- Disney’s Contemporary Resort
These resorts are popular for character dining, signature restaurants, lounges, gift shops, fireworks viewing, holiday decorations, and simply enjoying the atmosphere of the Monorail loop.
Fastest Paid Option
Take a Minnie Van, Uber, or Lyft directly from Shades of Green to the resort you want to visit.
This is especially helpful for:
- Dining reservations
- Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto
- California Grill
- Victoria & Albert’s
- Character meals
- Holiday evenings
Best Complimentary Option
Take the Shades of Green bus to the Transportation and Ticket Center.
From the TTC:
- Polynesian: Walk from the TTC or use the Resort Monorail
- Grand Floridian: Use the Resort Monorail
- Contemporary: Use the Resort Monorail
Once you reach one Monorail resort, you can continue around the loop to visit the others.
SEE:
The Shades of Green Polynesian Walkway Closure Changed This Trip
For many years, Shades of Green guests could walk directly from Shades of Green to Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort in approximately 10 to 15 minutes.
That walkway is permanently closed.
A visit that once required a short free walk now requires either:
- Complimentary route: Shades of Green bus to the TTC, followed by a walk or Monorail ride to the Polynesian
- Paid route: Approximately $8 to $10 by Uber or Lyft, or approximately $35 by Minnie Van, based on recent experience
The TTC route still works, but it is no longer the spontaneous short walk many repeat Shades of Green guests remember.
Steve Says
The Polynesian is still one of the easiest Disney resorts to visit from Shades of Green, but it no longer feels next door. For a casual visit, I would use the TTC route. For a dinner reservation or late evening, I would strongly consider a paid ride.
Other Magic Kingdom-Area Resorts
Disney’s Wilderness Lodge and Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground are also in the Magic Kingdom Resort Area, but they do not sit on the Monorail loop.
These destinations are worth visiting for:
- Whispering Canyon Cafe
- Story Book Dining at Artist Point
- Geyser Point Bar & Grill
- Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue
- Tri-Circle-D Ranch
- Holiday decorations
- Waterfront scenery
- Boat rides
Fastest Paid Option
Take a Minnie Van, Uber, or Lyft directly to Wilderness Lodge or Fort Wilderness.
Fort Wilderness is especially spread out, so confirm where your reservation or activity is located before selecting a drop-off point.
Best Complimentary Option
Take the Shades of Green bus to the Transportation and Ticket Center, continue to Magic Kingdom, and then use the appropriate Disney boat or bus.
- Wilderness Lodge: Boat or bus from Magic Kingdom
- Fort Wilderness: Boat from Magic Kingdom to the Settlement area
The boat route is enjoyable and can become part of the experience, but allow plenty of time.
Best For
Use the complimentary route when the boat ride and resort atmosphere are part of the outing. Use a paid ride when the destination is a time-sensitive meal or ticketed experience.
EPCOT Resort Area
The EPCOT Resort Area is one of the best places at Walt Disney World for an afternoon or evening of resort hopping.
The area includes:
- Disney’s BoardWalk Inn
- Disney’s Beach Club Resort
- Disney’s Yacht Club Resort
- Walt Disney World Swan
- Walt Disney World Dolphin
Reasons to visit include:
- The BoardWalk Dining and Entertainment Area
- Beaches & Cream Soda Shop
- Yachtsman Steakhouse
- Flying Fish
- Jellyrolls
- Crescent Lake walks
- Holiday displays
- Easy access between several resorts
Fastest Paid Option
Take a Minnie Van, Uber, or Lyft directly to the resort closest to your first destination.
Once you arrive, the EPCOT resorts are easy to explore on foot. Friendship Boats also connect portions of the area.
Best Complimentary Routes
Take the Shades of Green bus to Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
From Hollywood Studios, you have three complimentary ways to reach the EPCOT Resort Area:
- Walk to Disney’s BoardWalk, Disney’s Yacht Club Resort, Disney’s Beach Club Resort, the Walt Disney World Swan, and the Walt Disney World Dolphin.
- Take a Friendship Boat to the EPCOT Resort Area.
- Ride the Disney Skyliner to Disney’s International Gateway. You can exit the Skyliner station without entering EPCOT and walk directly into the EPCOT Resort Area.
If you already have valid EPCOT admission, another option is to take the Shades of Green bus to the Transportation and Ticket Center, ride the EPCOT Monorail, enter EPCOT, and walk through the park to the International Gateway. While this route works well if you’re already planning to spend time in EPCOT, it requires park admission and is usually less practical if your goal is simply to visit the surrounding resorts.
Steve Says
For a free resort-hopping afternoon, Hollywood Studios is the best gateway to the BoardWalk area. Once you arrive, slow down and enjoy Crescent Lake instead of trying to rush through every resort.
SEE:
- The BoardWalk Resort Area
- Disney’s BoardWalk Dining and Entertainment Area
- Walking between Hollywood Studios and the EPCOT Resort Area
- Disney World’s Skyliner
- Disney World’s Friendship Boats
- EPCOT’s International Gateway
Disney Skyliner Resorts
Disney’s Riviera Skyliner Station
The Disney Skyliner connects several resorts that are easy to combine into one resort-hopping experience:
- Disney’s Riviera Resort
- Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
- Disney’s Pop Century Resort
- Disney’s Art of Animation Resort
These resorts are worth visiting for:
- Topolino’s Terrace
- Riviera’s artwork and European-inspired atmosphere
- Caribbean Beach dining and waterfront setting
- Art of Animation’s larger-than-life theming
- Pop Century’s nostalgic displays
- The Skyliner ride itself
Fastest Paid Option
Take a paid ride directly to the resort where you want to begin.
Riviera or Caribbean Beach usually makes the best starting point if you plan to continue along the Skyliner route.
Best Complimentary Option
Take the Shades of Green bus to Disney’s Hollywood Studios and board the Disney Skyliner.
From Hollywood Studios, the Skyliner travels to Caribbean Beach, where you can transfer to Riviera and EPCOT on one route and Pop Century or Art of Animation on the other.
This is one of the most enjoyable complimentary resort-hopping routes because the transportation itself becomes part of the outing.
When the Skyliner Is Not Operating
The Disney Skyliner does not operate during severe weather and can close temporarily for lightning, high winds, or other operational reasons. It is also usually closed for approximately two weeks in mid-January for refurbishment.
Do not build a tightly timed dining plan around multiple Skyliner transfers without allowing a backup option.
Animal Kingdom Resort Area
For resort-hopping purposes, the Animal Kingdom area includes:
- Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
- Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort
- Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort
- Disney’s All-Star Music Resort
- Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort
These resorts are not connected by Monorail, boat, or Skyliner service. That makes free resort hopping less convenient than in other areas.
Why Visit
Animal Kingdom Lodge is the main resort-hopping destination in this area because of:
- Savanna animal viewing
- Boma
- Jiko
- Sanaa
- African artwork and architecture
- Holiday decorations
Coronado Springs is worth visiting for:
- Gran Destino Tower
- Toledo
- Dahlia Lounge
- Three Bridges Bar & Grill
- Waterfront atmosphere
The All-Star resorts can be fun for families who want to see their oversized icons and themed grounds, but they are less efficient as part of a larger resort-hopping route.
Fastest Paid Option
Use a Minnie Van, Uber, or Lyft.
This is the strongest paid-versus-free recommendation in the article. These resorts are spread out, and complimentary transportation normally requires transferring at an open theme park.
Best Complimentary Option
Travel from Shades of Green to the most practical open theme park, then transfer to a resort bus.
For Animal Kingdom Lodge, using Disney’s Animal Kingdom as the transfer point is often logical when the park is open and transportation is operating.
For Coronado Springs or the All-Star resorts, use a theme park transfer that fits your schedule.
Worth Paying For?
Yes, especially for Animal Kingdom Lodge or Coronado Springs. The free route works, but the transfers can consume a large portion of the outing.
Disney Springs Resort Area
The Disney Springs Resort Area includes:
- Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa
- Disney’s Old Key West Resort
- Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside
- Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter
These resorts are worth visiting for:
- Boat rides
- Scenic walking areas
- Olivia’s Cafe
- Boatwright’s Dining Hall
- Scat Cat’s Club
- Mickey-shaped beignets
- Horse-drawn carriage rides
- Quiet waterfront atmosphere
Fastest Paid Option
Take a Minnie Van, Uber, or Lyft directly from Shades of Green.
This is the easiest and most reliable way to visit these resorts.
Complimentary Option
Unlike in the past, Disney Springs should no longer be considered a general transportation hub for resort hopping.
Disney now restricts boarding Disney resort buses and boats from Disney Springs to eligible guests, such as Disney Resort hotel guests or guests with qualifying dining or experience reservations.
Because this guide is written for Shades of Green guests, I do not recommend planning a resort-hopping itinerary that depends on transferring from Disney Springs. Instead, use another complimentary transportation route or choose a direct paid ride.
However, there is no restriction on traveling from a Disney resort to Disney Springs. Once you’re at one of the Disney Springs Resort Area hotels, you can freely use Disney transportation to Disney Springs.
Which Resort Areas Are Easiest to Combine?
| Resort-Hopping Combination | Best Connection | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|
| Polynesian, Grand Floridian, and Contemporary | Resort Monorail | Easy |
| BoardWalk, Beach Club, Yacht Club, Swan, and Dolphin | Walk or Friendship Boat | Easy |
| Riviera, Caribbean Beach, Pop Century, and Art of Animation | Disney Skyliner | Easy when operating |
| Wilderness Lodge and Fort Wilderness | Boat and internal Fort Wilderness transportation | Moderate |
| Animal Kingdom Lodge and Coronado Springs | Paid ride recommended | Difficult for free |
Practical Resort-Hopping Tips
Allow More Time Than You Think You Need
A complimentary route that looks simple on a map may require waiting for two or three separate transportation systems.
For an important dining reservation, allow at least 60 to 90 minutes when transfers are involved.
Do Not Try to Visit Too Many Resorts
Resort hopping is most enjoyable when you experience the resort instead of treating it like a checklist.
Choose one resort area, combine resorts that are naturally connected, and leave time to explore.
Check Dining and Experience Requirements
A dining reservation may affect whether you can board resort transportation from Disney Springs. It can also affect whether security permits a rideshare or personal vehicle to enter a resort.
What is an Experience Reservation?
An experience reservation is a reserved activity at a particular Disney resort. Reservations may be made through the Walt Disney World website, the My Disney Experience app, or by telephone. Examples include a fireworks cruise departing from Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort or Disney’s Yacht Club Resort and Sangria University at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort.
Consider the Return Trip
The route that works in the afternoon may not work late at night after theme parks close or transportation routes stop operating.
Plan the return to Shades of Green before leaving the resort.
Use a Paid Ride for the Last Leg
A good compromise is to use complimentary transportation while you are fresh and enjoying the experience, then use Uber, Lyft, or a Minnie Van for the direct ride back to Shades of Green.
Resort Transportation Is Not Guaranteed for Sightseeing
Disney transportation exists primarily to move eligible guests to and from Disney destinations. Policies, security practices, and boarding requirements can change.
Follow current Disney instructions and do not rely on outdated resort-hopping shortcuts.
Steve’s Resort-Hopping Strategy
We do not try to visit as many resorts as possible in one day.
We usually choose one resort area, build the visit around a meal or activity, and allow time to enjoy the atmosphere.
For the Monorail resorts, I would use the Shades of Green bus to the TTC when we have plenty of time. For a special dinner, I would take a paid ride directly to the resort.
For the BoardWalk or Skyliner resorts, I like using Hollywood Studios as the complimentary transportation gateway because the boat, walking path, or Skyliner becomes part of the experience.
For Animal Kingdom Lodge, Coronado Springs, or another resort that requires multiple transfers, I would pay for the direct ride.
If we use complimentary transportation for the outbound trip, I frequently consider a Minnie Van, Uber, or Lyft for the return to Shades of Green.
Resort hopping should feel like part of the vacation—not a transportation endurance test.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Shades of Green guests visit Disney resorts?
Yes. Shades of Green guests can visit Disney resorts for dining, shopping, entertainment, and sightseeing, subject to Disney’s current parking, security, transportation, and reservation requirements.
Can Shades of Green guests ride Disney transportation?
Yes. Shades of Green guests can use Disney buses, boats, the Monorail, and the Disney Skyliner when the transportation route is operating and they meet any applicable boarding requirements.
Can I ride the Monorail without a park ticket?
Yes. A park ticket is not required to ride the Resort Monorail or visit the Monorail resorts.
Can a Shades of Green guest use Disney Springs to travel to a Disney resort?
Only when you have a qualifying Disney Resort hotel stay or a dining or experience reservation at the destination resort within the next two hours.
What is the easiest Disney resort to visit from Shades of Green?
Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort remains one of the easiest because Shades of Green transportation reaches the Transportation and Ticket Center, where you can walk or use the Resort Monorail to the Polynesian.
Can I still walk from Shades of Green to the Polynesian?
No. The pedestrian walkway from Shades of Green to Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort is permanently closed.
What is the easiest free route to the BoardWalk resorts?
Take the Shades of Green bus to Disney’s Hollywood Studios. From there, you can walk, use a Friendship Boat, or take the Disney Skyliner to International Gateway without entering EPCOT.
Should I use a Minnie Van for resort hopping?
A Minnie Van is worth considering for time-sensitive dining reservations, late-night returns, families who prefer Disney Cast Member drivers, and resorts that require multiple complimentary transportation transfers.
Can I park at a Disney resort just to look around?
Disney may restrict resort parking to registered guests and visitors with confirmed dining or experience reservations. Do not assume that sightseeing alone will qualify you to park at a Disney resort.
How much time should I allow for resort hopping?
Allow at least 60 to 90 minutes for a complimentary route involving transfers. Direct paid transportation requires less time, but traffic, security, and pickup waits still need to be considered.
This article was written by Steve Bell, founder of Military Disney Tips.
Steve is a retired U.S. military member who has been visiting the Disney Parks since 1971 and writing about Disney military discounts and vacations for the military community for over 18 years.
Read Steve’s Full Bio | Follow Military Disney Tips on Facebook
Planning a Stay at Shades of Green?
Shades of Green is one of the most unique military benefits available for Walt Disney World vacations. From eligibility rules and room categories to transportation and military ticket sales, these guides will help you better understand Disney’s military-only resort.
- Shades of Green Overview
- Shades of Green Rooms
- Shades of Green Room Rates
- How to Make Reservations at Shades of Green
- Disney Tickets at Shades of Green
- Shades of Green Fact Sheet & FAQ
Additional Shades of Green Resources:
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