5 Favorite Resort Hopping Itineraries for Disney World (And Everything Else You Need to Know)

What is Resort Hopping?

Resort hopping is a term for touring multiple resorts at Disney World. It is not to be confused with a split stay, which involves staying at multiple resorts during your vacation. Resort hopping is similar to park hopping. When you park hop, you might visit Magic Kingdom for a few hours and then “hop” to Epcot. Of course, you must have a park-hopper ticket to do that.

With resorts, it’s the same idea. For example, you might visit Disney’s Grand Floridian, hop to the Contemporary, and then the Polynesian. Don’t worry. You can take the monorail between these resorts. You don’t have to hop–that would take forever!

Wait! Does Disney World allow hotel hopping? Yes, you can visit any resort at Walt Disney World. However, you’ll want to know a few things upfront.

For starters, if you’re visiting from off-site, you might have to pay for valet parking at a resort, or you can secure a dining reservation at your first stop. Since we live nearby and are annual passholders, we often park at one of the theme parks and then walk or take a bus to our destination.

Additionally, resort-hopping might be limited on busy days of the year. For instance, visiting a couple of the deluxe resorts on holidays like the 4th of July or New Year’s Eve wouldn’t be a good idea. You would probably be turned away without a valid table service dining reservation. On these holidays, some resorts give armbands to their guests to indicate they are staying at the resort. (Think resorts like the Polynesian, where guests watch the fireworks from the beaches.)

As for the best time of day to do a little resort hopping, that’s up to you. You might plan an entire day of resort hopping or spend a day at the pool and then resort hop later that evening.

Disney World Resort Hopping Itineraries

Below, we’ve put together a few resort-hopping itineraries. Each set of resorts is grouped by location to make tours as convenient as possible. Toward the end, we’ve added the option to mix and match your resort-hopping itinerary with a few extra ideas!

Sometimes, the planning is part of the fun. If several resorts on your list are spread out, you’ll want to spend extra time planning how to get to and from each one.

Monorail Resort Hopping

Disney’s monorail resorts probably started it all when it comes to resort-hopping. Given the convenience of being on the monorail, you can quickly get from one resort to another. They are as follows:

• Disney’s Contemporary Resort
• Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
• Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa

While this might look like a simple list of resorts within close proximity of each other, don’t let it fool you. You’ll find plenty of things to do at each one, so much so that it will be hard to do everything. Below, we’ve listed a few highlights for each resort. Then, we’ve combined some of our favorites to make an itinerary. If you see something more important to your group, add it or swap it for another item.

Things to Do at Disney’s Contemporary while Resort Hopping:

• Plan a meal at Steakhouse 71. (Reservations Required)
• Have dinner at Disney’s California Grill. (Reservations Required)
• Lounge Options: Steakhouse 71 or California Grill (Based on Availability)
• Grab a quick-service meal at Contempo Cafe.
• Explore the Grand Concourse, the resort’s fourth floor.
• Watch Magic Kingdom fireworks from the observation deck or Skyway Bridge.
• Explore the Contemporary’s beautiful backyard and scenic Bay Lake.
• Shop at Bay View Gifts (This is one of our favorites!)

After leaving the Contemporary, we’ll hop on the monorail to Disney’s Polynesian. I don’t know about you, but I’m always happy to spend time at this tropical oasis.

Things to Do While Resort Hopping the Polynesian:

• First, relax. (That’s a must at the Poly!)
• Take a walk along the shores of Seven Seas Lagoon.
• Watch fireworks from the beaches of the Polynesian.
• Get a drink that comes in a pineapple.
• Lounges: Tambu Lounge, Trader Sam’s, Trader Sam’s Tiki Terrace
• Enjoy a meal at Kona Cafe. (Requires Reservations)
• Grab a bite to eat at Captain Cook’s.
• Tour the Great Ceremonial House. (Polynesian Lobby)
• Shop at Boutiki or Moana Mercantile.
• Enjoy a Dole Whip from Pineapple Lanai.

After doing a few of these things, you may wonder if you can even make it to another resort. But we have one more stop on the monorail: Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa.

Favorite Things to Do While Resort Hopping the Grand Floridian:

• Enjoy the live piano player in Grand Floridian’s lobby. (When available)
• Have a meal at Grand Floridian Cafe. (Requires Reservations)
• Grab a bite to eat at Gasparilla Island Grill.
• Have a cocktail or small dinner at the Enchanted Rose Lounge.
• Walk to The Villas at Grand Floridian and see the Mary Poppins fountain.
• Shop in the hotel’s gift shops.
• Grab a lounge chair and rest on one of the resort’s beaches.
• Schedule a spa appointment
• Bonus: See holiday decorations at Christmas and Easter.

One can easily spend an entire day resort hopping the monorail resorts. So you’ll have to decide which aspects are important.

Monorail Resort Hopping Itinerary

To put this all together, here’s a sample itinerary for spending a little time at each monorail resort.

1. Visit the Grand Floridian for brunch to start your day.
2. Tour the resort’s grounds at Grand Floridian.
3. Take the monorail to the Contemporary.
4. Explore the Grand Concourse and check out the lobby.
5. Take a walk through the resort’s backyard.
6. Take in the views from the Skyway Bridge.
7. Shop in Bay View Gifts.
8. Board the monorail to Disney’s Polynesian.
9. Explore the Great Ceremonial House
10. Shop in Boutiki or Moana Mercantile.
11. Pick up a Dole Whip and relax for a bit.
12. Enjoy a specialty drink on the resort’s white sand beaches.

If you’re visiting during the evening, you might enjoy watching the fireworks or the Electrical Water Pageant from one of these resorts. You can check the exact times for either performance in the My Disney Experience on the day of your visit.

Epcot Resorts Hopping

Next, we’ll discuss resort-hopping the Epcot Resorts area. For this cluster of resorts, you’ll have the option to walk or take Disney’s Friendship Boats. All of the resorts in this area are centered around Crescent Lake.They are:

• Disney’s Boardwalk Inn
• Disney’s Beach Club Resort
• Disney’s Yacht Club Resort
• Disney’s Swan and Dolphin Resort

We’ll start at Disney’s Boardwalk Inn, then continue to Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club. Additionally, I’ll provide a few things to do at the Swan and Dolphin Hotels.

Things to Do While Resort Hopping at Disney’s Boardwalk Inn:

• Explore the Boardwalk, play games, and enjoy nightly entertainment.
• Grab a bite to eat at the Boardwalk Deli.
• Order ice cream at the Boardwalk Ice Cream Shop.
• Have dinner at Trattoria al Forno or Flying Fish. (Reservations needed)
• Enjoy lunch or dinner at Blue Ribbon Corn Dogs!
• Make reservations at the Cake Bake Shop or pick up a treat in their bakery.
• Shop at the gift shops.
• Visit the Promenade Art Gallery
• Rent a Surrey Bike and pedal it around Crescent Lake.
• Pick up a cocktail at Belle Vue Lounge or Abracadabar.

Tip: You can enjoy the Boardwalk any time of day. However, the entire area lacks shade. Therefore, you might prefer to visit closer to sunset or in the evening. The Boardwalk comes alive at night with carnival games and performers. Some might be interested in locations for adults age 21 or over, like Atlantic Dance Hall and Jelly Rolls. See our list of 12 things to do at Disney’s Boardwalk for more ideas.

Moving on, we’ll visit Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club, both neighbors of the Boardwalk. While two separate resorts, they are connected and share some amenities. This resort area is our favorite place to spend time at Walt Disney World.

Things to Do at Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club While Resort Hopping:

• Sit in a swing on the beach and take in the views.
• Hang out in the Yacht Club lobby.
• Locate the Ariel statue in the Beach Club Villas.
• Grab a bite to eat at Hurricane Hanna’s.
• Have dinner at Yachtsman Steakhouse. (Reservation Required)
• Enjoy breakfast with a buffet and entree at Ale and Compass. (Reservations)
• Have lunch or an early dinner at Beaches and Cream. (Try the Kitchen Sink!)
• Explore the indoor/outdoor walkway between the Beach and the Yacht Club.
• Lounges: Martha’s Vineyard and Crew’s Cup
• Bonus: See the train station and gingerbread carousel at Christmas.

Next, we’ll examine Disney’s Swan and Dolphin Hotels and the Swan Reserve. These resorts are unique because while they sit on Disney property, Marriott owns and operates them.

Resort Hopping at the Swan and Dolphin Hotels

• Explore the beautiful grounds of the Swan and Dolphin.
• Enjoy a meal near the pool at the Cabana Bar and Beach Club.
• Have lunch or dinner at The Fountain inside the Dolphin.
• Have dinner at Shula’s Steakhouse or Il Mulino. (Reservations Needed)
• Have dinner at Amare at the Swan Reserve. (Reservations Needed)
• Spend some time in the Dolphin’s lobby.
• Shop at the resort’s gift shops and boutiques.
• Tour the Swan Reserve.
• Enjoy a round of putt-putt golf at Fantasia Gardens. (next door to the Swan Reserve)

Tip: Each evening, the hotel offers a light show on the causeway between the Swan and Dolphin. It’s a fun place to find a bench and enjoy the atmosphere.

Itinerary for Resort-Hopping the Epcot Resorts

Here’s a sample itinerary of what you might do in this area.

1. Make reservations for dinner at the Yachtsman Steakhouse.
2. Visit the Beach and Yacht Club a few hours before your dining reservation.
3. Tour the Beach Club side of the resort.
4. Shop in the gift shops.
5. Enjoy a pre-dinner cocktail at Ale and Compass Lounge.
6. Have dinner at Yachtsman Steakhouse.
7. Enjoy a sunset stroll or boat ride to the Swan and Dolphin.
8. Walk over to Fantasia Gardens for a round of mini-golf.
9. Head over to the Boardwalk to see the nightlife.

Those who might enjoy something unique that costs extra should consider reserving a fireworks cruise at Epcot. More information is available on Disney’s site.

Resort Hopping the Disney Skyliner Resorts

The Disney Skyliner has become a must-do for many who visit. You might consider incorporating a ride on the gondolas as part of your resort-hopping adventure. Here are the Skyliner Resorts:

• Disney’s Riviera Resort
• Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
• Disney’s Pop Century Resort
• Disney’s Art of Animation Resort

Additionally, the Skyliner drops off at both Epcot and Hollywood Studios. Therefore, it’s within walking distance of the Epcot Resorts. So if you want to extend your resort hopping to include both the Epcot and Skyliner Resorts, you can do just that!

First, we’ll look at Disney’s Riviera Resort before moving on to Caribbean Beach, Pop Century, and Art of Animation.

Things to do while resort hopping Disney’s Riviera Resort:

• Take an art tour! (Pick up a copy of the self-guided tour in the lobby.)
• Explore the beautiful grounds of the resort.
• Visit Le Petit Cafe for a coffee, pastry, or cocktail!
• Have breakfast with characters at Topolino’s Terrace. (Requires Reservations)
• Shop at La Boutique.
• Enjoy a meal from Primo Piatto outside near the lake.
• Relax at the indoor and outdoor lounge at Bar Riva. (They have great entrees!)
• If visiting in the evening, have dinner at Topolino’s Terrace or check for availability at the rooftop lounge. (Reservations required for dinner.)

While at the Riviera, you can continue to Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort. You can walk around the lake to Old Port Royale, where the resort’s lobby and main recreation area are located. Caribbean Beach is a beautiful resort, and its grounds are fun to explore. However, if you’re visiting during extreme heat, remember that sunset visits are more enjoyable than midday.

Things to Do While Resort Hopping at Caribbean Beach:

• Walk to the lighthouse between Caribbean Beach and Riviera Resort.
• Explore Caribbean Cay (the island near Old Port Royale) and take a break on one of the swings.
• Enjoy a beverage at the Banana Cabana.
• Have dinner at Sebastian’s Bistro. (Reservations Required)
• Grab a bite to eat at Centertown Market.
• Rent bicycles and take a ride around Barefoot Bay.

Things to Do While Resort Hopping Disney’s Wilderness Lodge:

• Find a seat at one of the galleries on the upper-level floors off the lobby and relax.
• Follow Copper Creek Springs from the lobby out to Bay Lake.
• See the geyser erupt!
• Enjoy lunch or dinner at Geyser Point Bar and Grill. (No reservations, but there might be a wait.)
• Shop in the gift shop.
• Enjoy character dining at Artist Point. (Reservations Required)
• Grab a bite to eat at Roaring Fork and enjoy it outside.
• Explore the grounds of the resort. It’s beautiful!
• Grab a beverage or a meal at Territory Lounge in the evening.
• Have breakfast at Whispering Canyon Cafe! (Reservations Required)
• Sneak down to the villa’s lobby at Boulder Ridge!

Things to Do at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge:

• Tour the lobby at Jambo House.
• Take a self-guided art tour of the resort.
• Visit the public viewing areas to see the animals grazing on the savannas.
• Have lunch at The Mara!
• Dine at Jiko, the resort’s signature dining location. (Requires Reservations)
• Have breakfast at Boma, Flavors of Africa. (Requires Reservations)
• Pick up an order of zebra domes for a snack.
• Shop in Zawadi Market Place.
• Wander around until your heart’s content.
• Walk down to Kidani Village.
• Visit the savanna viewing areas at the resort. (Don’t miss the one by the pool!)
• Tour the resort’s beautiful pool area.
• Grab lunch at the Maji Pool Bar.
• Shop in Johari Treasures gift shop.
• Have lunch or dinner at Sanaa (It’s the one with bread service!)

The Lodges Resort Hopping Itinerary

Putting it all together, here’s a sample itinerary for the Lodges:

1. Enjoy breakfast at Boma, Flavors of Africa.
2. Tour the Jambo House lobby.
3. Check out the public savanna areas at the resort.
4. Participate in a hidden Mickey scavenger hunt. (Ask the front desk.)
5. Explore Kidani Village and have lunch at Sanaa.
6. Take a bus to Magic Kingdom and a boat to Fort Wilderness.
7. Visit Tri Circle D stables near Pioneer Hall.
8. Take a bus to Disney’s Wilderness Lodge. (The bus stop is near the stables.)
9. Explore the Wilderness Lodge.
10. Take an elevator to one of the upper floors off the lobby, find a couch, and relax!
11. Watch the geyser erupt!
12. Have dinner at Geyser Point Bar and Grill or cocktails at Territory Lounge.

Resort Hopping (Mix and Match)

While all of Walt Disney World’s Resorts are suitable for resort hopping, you might have a few you specifically want to visit. So, when planning, you can create a custom itinerary to mix and match the resort you most want to visit.

That said, a few resorts are still worth mentioning. So below, we’ve listed the things to do at each one.

You could spend a reasonable amount of time at Disney’s Port Orleans French Quarter and Port Orleans Riverside Resorts. They are within walking distance, or you could take a water taxi between them.

Things to Do at Disney’s Port Orleans Resorts:

• Tour the Port Orleans French Quarter grounds and check out the pool area.
• Enjoy beignets at Scat Cat’s Club Cafe. (French Quarter)
• Have a meal at Sassagoula Floatworks and Food Factory. (French Quarter)
• Take a horse-drawn carriage ride. (Requires Reservations)
• Walk or take the boat between the resorts.
• Rent bikes at Port Orleans Riverside.
• Shop at either of the resort’s gift shops.
• Take in a performance of Yehaa Bob Jackson at River Roost Lounge. (Select evenings)

If you want to organize an itinerary for touring these resorts, I’d plan an afternoon or early evening. You might spend an afternoon at Disney Springs before or after visiting these resorts. (Water taxis run between both resorts and Disney Springs.)

To get to Coronado Springs, you’ll need to take a bus from a theme park or Disney Springs. You can also take a taxi, Minnie Vans, or a car service like Lyft or Uber.

Things to Do at Coronado Springs Resort:

• Tour the El Centro Lobby.
• Shop in Panchito’s gift shop.
• Take a walk around the lake and enjoy the wildlife.
• Have dinner at Three Bridges Bar and Grill.
• Tour Gran Destino Tower.
• Have dinner at Toledo. (Requires Reservations)
• Enjoy a cocktail and the views from Dahlia Lounge.