Dear fellow unfavorable guests, starting tomorrow, there will be new restrictions in place to prevent non-resort guests and guests without a valid dining or experience reservation from utilizing bus and watercraft transportation departing from Disney Springs. We decided to take one final relaxing round trip between Disney Springs and Port Orleans (French Quarter and Riverside) to share with you. Here’s our 40+ minute relaxing ride down the Sassagoula River.
Our Last Ride on the Sassagoula River Cruise Before Restrictions Begin
IN THIS ARTICLE:
- Our full 40+ minute round-trip from Disney Springs to Port Orleans and back
- Which guests can still board the Sassagoula River Cruise starting June 28
- When the permanent policy takes effect, and what we’ll be watching
One Last Trip Down the Waterway
We pushed off from the Disney Springs dock yesterday morning with no dining reservation and no resort key, the kind of ride that won’t be possible much longer. The boat traced its usual path along the Sassagoula River, the slow and partially shaded route that has long made this one of the most relaxing ways to move around Walt Disney World.
The cruise carried us to Port Orleans before turning back toward Disney Springs, a round-trip we filmed start to finish. Along the way, we passed the Saratoga Springs Resort and the Treehouse Villas before making our way onto the Port Orleans property. We wanted a record of the trip as it exists right now, open to anyone who wanders down to the dock.
What Changes on June 28
Starting June 28, guests without a confirmed resort hotel stay, dining reservation, or experience reservation will no longer be able to board the Sassagoula River Cruise from Disney Springs. As we reported, this is a permanent policy change, and it extends the same verification Disney already planned for the buses to the watercraft. Guests will scan a MagicBand or show a valid reservation before boarding, and those without an eligible booking will be turned away. There is no Annual Passholder exception.
The Sassagoula River Cruise service and routes aren’t going anywhere. The boats will keep running their usual path between Disney Springs and the Port Orleans resorts, Old Key West, and Saratoga Springs. What changes is who gets to step aboard. A resort hotel stay clears the checkpoint, as does a dining or experience reservation at one of those destinations, and for everyone else, today’s open ride was the last of its kind.
The Story So Far
- Disney first restricted Disney Springs buses in late March, requiring a reservation or resort stay to board.
- Disney lifted those temporary restrictions in early April.
- This month, Disney confirmed the restrictions are returning permanently and expanding to watercraft.
- Disney then released more details on how resort hopping and the two-hour reservation window will work.
What We’re Still Watching
A few questions remain, such as more potential loopholes for guests really willing to skirt Disney’s new policies. We’ll be keeping an eye out for further adjustments at Disney Springs and area resorts. Beyond that, we’re watching to see if marketing language turns into a strict policy when it comes to access to resort hotels this holiday season.
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!
If this resort access was important to you as a guest, especially if it will influence how much money you spend on Disney property, make sure to clearly inform guest relations that this change will impact your visits, preferably in person. The only way this sort of thing gets reversed these days is when the guests push back.