Disney’s New Disney Springs Rules Conflict With Its Own Transportation FAQ

One day after implementing restrictive changes to Disney Springs bus and boat transportation, Walt Disney World has finally updated the official language on its website.

Until today, guests who don’t spend their days on social media or Disney blogs could only learn about the new rules once they arrived at Disney Springs. A-frame signs at the bus stop and Sassagoula River Cruise dock were the only notice that transportation access had changed.

Here is the updated language for Disney Springs buses:

Bus service from Disney Springs to Disney Resort hotels is available for Guests staying at a Disney Resort hotel or visiting one with a valid dining or experience reservation. Guests may be asked to show a valid Resort hotel room key, dining reservation or experience reservation.

Guests with a valid dining or experience reservation may board the appropriate Disney Resort hotel bus from Disney Springs up to 2 hours before their reservation time.

Bus service between Disney Resort hotels and Disney Springs is available during Disney Springs operating hours—and ends one hour after closing.

Disney also updated its language for the Sassagoula River Cruise, which connects Disney Springs with Old Key West, Saratoga Springs, Port Orleans – Riverside, and Port Orleans – French Quarter:

Guests boarding the Sassagoula River Cruise from Disney Springs to a Disney Resort hotel may be asked to show a valid room key, dining reservation or experience reservation. These Guests may board the Sassagoula River Cruise from Disney Springs up to 2 hours before their reservation time.

There is, however, one major unintended consequence of these rules. Disney’s own transportation FAQ still says this:

Q: I’m not staying at a Disney Resort hotel. Can I use the monorails, buses, boats and Disney Skyliner to get around Walt Disney World Resort?

Yes. All Guests have complimentary access to our network of monorails, buses, boats and Disney Skyliner. Plus, Minnie Van™ service is available for a fee, using the Lyft app.

If you would like to visit multiple parks, enjoy dinner at one of the Disney Resort hotels or shop at Disney Springs, you can park your car in the theme park lot for the day and use our transportation network.

Based on what friends have shared, there is no signage at Walt Disney World’s theme parks alerting guests to the Disney Springs transportation restrictions. And as the FAQ makes clear, Disney is still telling guests who park at a theme park that they can visit Disney Springs and use complimentary transportation to return to their cars. Those guests might encounter a little friction during their return trip.

Disney is trying to prevent day guests from overcrowding its popular resorts. It is also closing the loophole that allowed guests to park for free at Disney Springs before heading to the parks. We understand both goals.

But this rollout has been clunky, to say the least. Guests need clearer communication, not just on Disney’s website, but throughout Walt Disney World. And guests who have paid to park at a theme park should absolutely be able to use complimentary Disney Springs transportation to get back to their cars.