Disney World Resorts Within Walking Distance: Is It Worth the Price?
Deluxe Disney Resorts, including the DVC Resorts, have some of the best locations on property. Some DVC Resorts are even walking distance to one or more theme parks! Since resorts with these prime locations can cost more, is it worth paying more to be able to walk from your resort to theme parks?
Which DVC Resorts Offer Walking Access to the Theme Parks?
You can find DVC Resorts within walking distance of Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, and Hollywood Studios:
Magic Kingdom
Bay Lake Tower offers the shortest walk to Magic Kingdom. It takes about 10 minutes. The walk from the Grand Floridian to Magic Kingdom is about 15 minutes.
EPCOT
The Beach Club is the closest to EPCOT. It only takes about 5 minutes to walk from the lobby to International Gateway, which is the back entrance to EPCOT. The BoardWalk is close as well, but it takes about 10 minutes to walk to EPCOT.
Hollywood Studios
- Beach Club
- BoardWalk
The BoardWalk is the closest to Hollywood Studios with about a 15 minute walk. From the Beach Club, it takes about 20 minutes to walk to Hollywood Studios.
How Much More Does It Cost to Stay at a Resort That’s Walking Distance from a Park?
A good way to illustrate the difference in cost is to compare two different Magic Kingdom area resorts, such as Bay Lake Tower at the Contemporary versus Boulder Ridge at Wilderness Lodge. While Bay Lake Tower is walking distance from Magic Kingdom, you would need to take a boat to travel from Boulder Ridge to Magic Kingdom.
If you wanted to stay in a Deluxe Studio from February 23 to February 25, 2027, you could currently choose between two confirmed reservations. The reservation at Bay Lake Tower would cost $966 for the two nights whereas the reservation at Boulder Ridge would cost $836 for those same two nights. This means you are paying $130 more to stay at a resort that is walking distance from a theme park.
When Is Walking Access Worth the Price?
Being able to walk to and from the theme parks is such a game changer because you can come and go as you please; there’s no waiting for the next bus that has space or waiting for any transportation at all. This is particularly true if you tend to travel at peak times like for rope drop, park close, the start of a special event, or the end of a special event. If you’re traveling with little ones, it’s also helpful to not have to fold up your stroller to get to a theme park.
Being walking distance from the parks also makes it quick to go back to your resort, which can be key for midday breaks, especially with young children who need to return to the room for nap time.
When Is It Better to Have Other Modes of Transportation?
If anyone in your travel party has mobility concerns, the walking paths may not be such a great perk. The parks themselves require a lot of walking as it is. Instead, you could consider resorts that have monorail, Skyliner, boat, or bus access to the parks.
Also, if you are visiting during a particularly rainy time of year like summer into fall, you may not get the most out of the walking paths. When it’s pouring outside, staying dry by taking a bus back to your resort may sound like a much better option. The same goes for the hotter months. Walking 20 minutes from the Beach Club to Hollywood Studios may not be that far a distance, but the Florida sun can be intense.
Start planning your next Disney vacation by comparing DVC availability and pricing for your dates. You can browse the confirmed reservations or request a free quote to rent DVC points and stay deluxe for less!
