Resort hopping for Christmas

[Lnebel]

Hi everyone!

I always hear/read how much people love resort hopping during the holiday season, but I'm interested in knowing the logistics. Where do you park? Where do you eat? Which specific resorts do you try to hit and in what order? Do you use the monorail, skyliner, boats, or a combination? I'm looking for a route we could do without a park ticket. Thanks in advance for any advice you have to offer!

 

[loves to dive]

Unless you have a dining reservation, your only option is going to be to use Disney transportation. Are you staying on site or are you going to have to drive your car and park somewhere?

What I usually do:
Start at MK and hop the monorail to CR which is my least favorite. Monorail around from there to Poly and end at GF, which is my favorite. Back to MK and hop a boat to WL. You can start with WL and reverse it if you want. I usually just grab a snack somewhere along the way and it's usually just a pause in my day, I spend maybe 2 hours on the monorail loop.

Start at HS, hop a boat to Swan/Dolphin. Explore those two, walk to either BW or YC. Explore your way around the lake ending up back where you started. I rarely use the boats on the return trip and just walk it.

The values and moderates can be tricky. With the sky liner you can hop on it at either HS or Epcot and get off at CB or Riv and walk around both of those. Hop back on it and go to AoA and POP. Back on it to where you started.

For POR you can either hop on a boat at DS or hop on a bus at any of the parks, explore both Riverside and French Quarter. For the All Stars and CS you are going to have to hop on a bus at one of the parks.

 

[Lnebel]

Thank you so much for your reply, this is so helpful! We're local so I'd need to park somewhere. This has given me some great ideas! The moderates and values weren't even on my radar, do you think they're worth visiting during the Christmas season? Thanks for all of your help!

 

[Weedy]

Good too hear

 

[BrotherCraig]

We just did the resort hopping thing on the 20th. It was a Saturday. We took the bus from Animal Kingdom Lodge (we had breakfast at Boma) to MK after we checked out AKL. Then jumped on the monorail to Contemporary. Then we went to Polynesian to look around (not a big deal there) and then went to Grand Floridian. GF was amazing. Definitely check that place our during the holidays. We were going to head to Wilderness Lodge but ran out of time.

 

[elledubs]

My son just wants to spend a day next week looking around at contemporary and grand Floridian and poly. We are not staying on property and would be dropped off by my in-laws by car or an Uber. We would not park. How do we get in? Mixed info on getting into the actual hotel drop off area. ?!? Tia.

 

[CarolynFH]

The easiest would be the Guest Dropoff at TTC - follow the signs as you approach MK. You’ll find yourselves right next to the monorail station where you could catch the Resort monorail or take a short walk to the Poly itself. You won’t have to worry about being turned away by the guards at the resort parking lots.

 

[Wendysofftoneverland]

We just did the resort hopping thing on the 20th. It was a Saturday. We took the bus from Animal Kingdom Lodge (we had breakfast at Boma) to MK after we checked out AKL. Then jumped on the monorail to Contemporary. Then we went to Polynesian to look around (not a big deal there) and then went to Grand Floridian. GF was amazing. Definitely check that place our during the holidays. We were going to head to Wilderness Lodge but ran out of time.

Was there much to see at Contemporary? Or is it best to focus on GF and WL?

 

[BrotherCraig]

Was there much to see at Contemporary? Or is it best to focus on GF and WL?

Didn't see much there. The Christmas Tree was outside and we didn't go outside to see it. Some decorations were present but I would pass on it.

 

[loves to dive]

Thank you so much for your reply, this is so helpful! We're local so I'd need to park somewhere. This has given me some great ideas! The moderates and values weren't even on my radar, do you think they're worth visiting during the Christmas season? Thanks for all of your help!

I've always enjoyed them, the moderates do a little more than the values but they all decorate. CS has the new tower so they go a little more all out than the others but all of them do a really good job.

 

[DSLRuser]

or...go to disney springs and park...then take a bus to what ever hotel you want to see......then go where ever you want.....return to Disney springs when you are done

 

[CarolynFH]

or...go to disney springs and park...then take a bus to what ever hotel you want to see......then go where ever you want.....return to Disney springs when you are done

OP said they’re being dropped off, not parking, so no need to start at DS.