Disney isn’t waiting until the last minute to tell you about the change coming to Disney Springs transportation. Signage has gone up at the shopping, dining, and entertainment district, posted well ahead of the new rule taking effect. The signs make clear who will and won’t be able to board, and they leave little room for confusion. Here’s what we saw on the ground.
Disney Springs Transportation Signage Now Posted Ahead of New Restrictions
IN THIS ARTICLE:
- Where the new signage is posted and what it actually says
- Who still qualifies to ride buses and watercraft from Disney Springs
- When the permanent restriction officially takes effect
- How the rule extends beyond buses to the Sassagoula River Cruise
WARNING SIGNS ARE UP AT DISNEY SPRINGS
Following our exclusive report yesterday morning, Disney installed new signage at Disney Springs, giving guests advance notice of the transportation changes before they begin. We made it out to the shopping, dining, and entertainment district today to get a look. The signs arrive ahead of the policy taking effect, which lines up with Disney’s stated plan to inform guests well in advance.
The signs are posted at the transportation points themselves, including spots like the bus map and the watercraft dock. That placement puts the notice right where guests would otherwise line up to board, rather than at the entrance to the complex or parking areas.
THE NEW RULE TAKES EFFECT SOON
Starting June 28th, guests without a confirmed resort hotel stay, dining reservation, or experience reservation will no longer be able to use resort transportation from Disney Springs. As we reported, this is a permanent policy change that follows an earlier round of testing during peak times. Disney has framed the move as a way to keep complimentary transportation running smoothly for resort guests.
Boarding will work much like it did during the testing phase. Guests will need to scan a MagicBand or show a valid reservation before they can board a resort bus at Disney Springs.
IT’S NOT JUST THE BUSES
The restriction reaches beyond bus service. Disney will apply the same rule to the Sassagoula River Cruise, the watercraft route that carries guests to Old Key West, Saratoga Springs, and Port Orleans.
I’ve fielded some questions about Annual Passholders and this change: the answer is straightforward. A valid, eligible reservation is required to ride, and there is no Passholder exception. Annual Passholders can still park at the theme parks and take the resort buses from the theme park transportation hubs. The restriction only applies to transportation departing from Disney Springs.
THE STORY SO FAR
Disney had been testing transportation restrictions at peak times recently. We first reported on the then-temporary restrictions in place at Disney Springs in late March. The company then ended those temporary restrictions in early April. The temporary restrictions were framed as a test for the upcoming permanent implementation.
This week, Disney confirmed the restrictions are returning permanently, this time covering both bus and watercraft transportation.
To say that there has been strong discourse about this change on social media would be an understatement. I’m really not sure what there is to discuss. Currently, a number of resorts allow day-guests to park to shop and dine. We do it often. Other resorts implement hard parking restrictions. For those resorts, guests will need a confirmed reservation to visit. In those cases, guests can park at the theme parks and take resort buses or other forms of complimentary transportation to get around.
For example, if we want to visit Disney’s BoardWalk, we typically park at EPCOT and walk through the park. If we want to avoid walking through the park, we park at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and take the Disney Skyliner over. Those options exist today, and they are not changing with the updated Disney Springs policy. The only thing that is changing is the outbound transportation options from Disney Springs.
As always, keep checking back with us here at BlogMickey.com as we continue to bring you the latest news, photos, and info from around the Disney Parks!