Disney Bans Guests Walking From the Transportation and Ticket Center to Magic Kingdom
Walt Disney World Resort appears to be drawing a firm line around its most exclusive hotel properties, and guests who have long enjoyed the scenic walk from the Transportation and Ticket Center to Magic Kingdom Park are finding that route is no longer open to them.
The Walkway Is Now Restricted
On June 23, Reddit user u/Chris-Jean-Jean-Alice reported that a YouTube livestreamer was turned away while attempting to walk the path from the Transportation and Ticket Center through Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort and Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa to Magic Kingdom Park. A security cast member stationed on the path told the livestreamer directly that the walkway was now reserved exclusively for guests with hotel or dining reservations at either resort property.
A livestreamer on YouTube who streams the same walk from the TTC to the Magic Kingdom through the Polynesian and Grand Floridian was turned away this morning early around 6:30am and told by a stationed guard on the path that from now on that path through the resort properties is for hotel and dining reservation guests only. He was told this was now a permanent policy. Interesting because this is not about paying for parking because the path starts at the TTC.
So, free roaming resorts may actually be over.
Livestreamer turned away at the Poly
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u/Chris-Jean-Alice in
WaltDisneyWorld
Some initially suggested the early hour — around 6:30 a.m. — might explain the refusal. That theory didn’t hold. Another commenter reported that their mother, a local who walks the path regularly for exercise, was also turned away later in the morning. u/kelcemagic explained:
“We live local also, my mom likes to walk from TTC to MK in the mornings. She was also turned around this morning at the Poly walkway 😕…She texted me around 8, so it was definitely later. She does this routine 2 or 3 times a week, been doing it for years. Hopefully it was just this morning, if you park at the TTC you should be able to walk if you choose too.”
Mixed Reactions From Disney Fans
The response from the Disney Parks community has been divided, with vocal camps on both sides.
Those frustrated by the change pointed to the financial and experiential impact of restricting casual visitors from resort properties. u/Acrobatic_touch_5765 wrote:
“Disney is going to lose a ton of money at ALL resorts not letting people there. We go to the resorts frequently to have a quick service meal and shop. We spend a TON of money as non resort guests. If they wanna stop that, fine, we will take our money elsewhere. But it’s not as if the resort guests are going to recoup that loss so it truly will just be loss on Disneys part.”
“A Disney vacation loses serious appeal for me if I am [not] allowed to explore the property,” said u/ViVella23.
u/Halabane questioned whether the enforcement was even sustainable:
“Very disappointing. Be interesting to see how long this last because its got to cost them money to have someone patrolling all these walk ways figuring out who belongs or not.”
Others, however, welcomed the change.
“The resorts, especially MK and the boardwalk area resorts are way too crowded,” u/lake_lover_ commented.
u/BoSKnight87 agreed, citing firsthand experience at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort:
“I agree, that was the only issue we had staying at the poly. Couldn’t even enjoy the lobby it was always mobbed, and the line for the monorail was insane. Would have to sometimes wait for a 2nd or 3rd.”
Part of a Bigger Shift at Walt Disney World
The walkway restriction isn’t happening in isolation. Beginning June 28, guests at Disney Springs will need to scan a MagicBand, phone, or other device to verify a hotel stay or dining reservation before boarding bus or boat transportation from the shopping and entertainment district — a policy tested earlier this year and now going permanent.
Walt Disney World Resort’s broader intent is becoming clearer with each announcement. The resort recently confirmed that the life-size Gingerbread House will not return to Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa — removing a major seasonal draw for off-property visitors — and a Disney Parks Blog post explicitly stated that the resort’s Christmas decorations are for guests staying on property or visiting with a dining reservation.
Whether Walt Disney World Resort will eventually extend verification requirements to buses, the Disney Skyliner, the Monorail, and other forms of on-property transportation hasn’t been confirmed. But this could be the beginning of the end of Resort Hopping in Central Florida.
Do you agree with Walt Disney World Resort cracking down on Resort Hopping? Share your opinion with Disney Dining in the comments!
