By In your search for the best transportation options and logistics at Walt Disney World, you will undoubtedly find a favorite. While David favors the Monorail for its Disney vibe and history, Kim loves nothing more than to be able to easily walk in and out of the parks.
And yes, if you stay in the right hotel, you can absolutely do that!
Let’s talk about the Disney resorts that are so close to the parks, you can take a walking path to get to them.
On an important note before we get started, Animal Kingdom does not have any hotels within walking distance. Please don’t try, as there is not a safe route.
Magic Kingdom Resorts
All three resorts that sit on the monorail route also have walking paths to Magic Kingdom. We’ll give you the approximate time it takes to walk from each location so that you can make an informed decision about whether using the paths is right for your travel group.
- Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort
- This resort is closest to Magic Kingdom. It will probably take you about 10 minutes to get to the front of the park. Note that there is an intersection with a traffic light to cross. The light indicates when it’s safe to walk. You will also encounter security prior to arriving at the front of the park.
- Disney’s Contemporary Resort
- This resort uses the same path as the one from Bay Lake Tower but is just a touch farther away. It’s probably closer to a 12–15-minute walk from here, but it’s still plenty close!
- Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
- The walk on this path is lovely and picturesque, with amazing views of the hotel and the park. It will require about 15-20 minutes, again with a security checkpoint. You won’t encounter any traffic lights, though.
- Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
- This one’s a bit of a haul, but it’s totally possible! You’ll walk on the path from the Polynesian to the Grand Floridian. Then, you’ll take the same path that goes from the Grand Floridian to Magic Kingdom. You’ll need 25-30 minutes to complete this walk, but you can always take a break at the Grand Floridian and enjoy their beautiful lobby.
EPCOT
A lot of people love the resorts located closest to EPCOT because they take visitors straight to the International Gateway and easy access to the World Showcase. They’re particularly in demand during festival seasons, so you will want to make hotel reservations early if you can!
- Disney’s Beach Club Resort / Disney’s Yacht Club Resort
- These connected resorts are closest to EPCOT, though the length of the walk will depend on where your room is located. The trek from these resorts to EPCOT will take anywhere from five to 12 minutes. Like the monorail resorts, you will pass through security before entering the park.
- Disney’s BoardWalk Inn
- You must cross a bridge to get to the same starting point as the Beach Club vacationers, but this walk is still fairly quick at 10-15 minutes.
- Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Hotels
- Although these hotels are managed by Marriott rather than Disney, they still have the advantage of a terrific location. You’ll need about 15-20 minutes to walk into EPCOT.
Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Hollywood Studios is within walking distance of a few hotels, including two not managed by Disney. It definitely requires the longest walk overall from the resort to the park, though.
- Disney’s BoardWalk Inn
- The walking path from BoardWalk to Hollywood Studios is about three-quarters of a mile long and will require about 15-20 minutes.
- Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Hotels
- Some people say they can make this walk in 15 minutes, but it may be closer to 20 for you and your family.
- Disney’s Beach Club Resort / Disney’s Yacht Club Resort
- This one’s a longer journey at 25 minutes. You’ll cross the bridge to the BoardWalk and watch for the signs pointing you to the path near the entrance to BoardWalk Inn.
- Some guests may prefer to walk to the Skyliner station just outside EPCOT at the International Gateway and take that to Hollywood Studios instead. Likewise, the boat may be preferable if you don’t want to be on your feet that long.
Disney Springs
Those who enjoy the shopping and nightlife offered at Disney Springs will favor the resorts below. Keep in mind that there are also boats available to and from Saratoga Springs and Old Key West.
- Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa
- This on-site resort is a fantastic option for walking into Disney Springs – assuming you’re staying in the Congress Park area of the resort. You should know that Saratoga Springs is a sprawling resort that sits on 65 acres, so you can imagine that some locations may not be as convenient.
- On the other hand, you can take a bus from your area of Saratoga Springs to the Congress Park bus stop and walk from there! The boat will also get you there pretty quickly.
- From Congress Park, the trip will take about 10 minutes. You’ll end at the Marketplace entrance of Disney Springs.
- Disney’s Old Key West Resort
- If you’re up for a longer walk, you can head to the Conch Flats Trail at Old Key West, which will end at the West Side next to Cirque du Soleil.
- Disney Springs Resort Area Hotels
- These hotels aren’t owned or operated by Disney, but we’ll include them here if you’re partial to being close to the Disney Springs action. Hilton Orlando Buena Vista Palace and Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista have dedicated pedestrian walkways to Disney Springs. You should check the websites of other non-Disney hotels in the area to see if walking is an option.