What’s Walkable at Disney World

(Updated 2/21/2023)

Most of the Disney World Parks and Resorts are not within walking distance of each other

While just about everything written about the most magical place on earth mentions the amount of walking you will do inside the parks, it isn’t always clear what’s walkable at Disney World outside of the parks. For example, even if you wanted to trudge the almost 6 miles from Magic Kingdom to Animal Kingdom, the infrastructure is just not there.  Unless you want to stroll down the shoulder of Osceola Parkway, you aren’t walking there.

I often wonder how many people book a stay at Animal Kingdom Lodge thinking that they can walk to Animal Kingdom. Sounds logical, but it’s not possible to walk between Animal Kingdom and Animal Kingdom Lodge. Even though some places look super close on a Google map, that doesn’t mean that there is a path or walkway that you can access to get from point A to point B. Wilderness Lodge is pretty close to the Ticket and Transportation Center but there is no walkway between them.  Art of Animation is just 1 1/2 miles from Hollywood Studios, but you can’t walk from one to the other.  The free transportation that Disney World offers is there for a reason.

However, there are some walking paths at Disney World

In certain circumstances, walking might save you some time, offer a different view of Disney property AND sway you to booking one resort over another for convenience.  I know it sounds counter intuitive to do MORE WALKING on top of all of the walking that you will do in the parks.  BUT, while it does mean more walking, it may also mean:

• Bypassing the crowds and crazy lines for the bus after park close or fireworks
• Getting back to your resort sooner than taking the bus which means…. MORE SLEEP
• Waking up a little later to rope drop some parks than guests taking transportation can…agaIn, MORE SLEEP
• Easier and quicker access to your resort for afternoon park breaks and a swim
• Resort hopping or park hopping with more ease

Now do you see the advantage? Let’s take a look at what’s walkable at Disney World. WITH MAPS!

Magic Kingdom & Contemporary | Magic Kingdom & Grand Floridan | Hollywood Studios & Epcot | All Star Music, Movies and Sports | Art of Animation & Pop Century | Grand Floridian & Polynesian Village | Port Orleans French Quarter & Riverside | Fort Wilderness & Wilderness Lodge

Path between Magic Kingdom and the Contemporary resort

Yep. Believe it or not, you can WALK to the Magic Kingdom.  There is a 1/2 mile walking path from the Contemporary resort that leads right to the Magic Kingdom. The big bonus here is that the bag security check is along the walkway. Once you get to Magic Kingdom, you just need to go through the entrance tap points. You don’t have to be a guest at the Contemporary to utilize this.

Use this path to:

• Walk right on over to Magic Kingdom for rope drop if you are a guest at the Contemporary
• Have breakfast at one of the  Contemporary dining locations and then stroll on over to Magic Kingdom
• Take a break from Magic Kingdom and walk over to the Contemporary for a relaxing lunch in air conditioning and then wander back to Magic Kingdom
• Optimize a Park Hopper ticket and split your day between Magic Kingdom and Epcot with  lunch or a cocktail at the Contemporary in between

Path between Hollywood Studios and Epcot’s International Gateway entrance

There is a ~ 1 mile walking  path between the Hollywood Studios park entrance and the International Gateway entrance of Epcot. While boats travel back and forth on Crescent Lake along that same path, walking is often faster. The Epcot resort area is along this path: Boardwalk Inn, Beach and Yacht Clubs as well as the Swan and Dolphin resorts.  If you will spend a lot of time at Epcot or Hollywood Studios, these are the resorts worth staying at.

Use this path to:

• Walk to Epcot’s International Gateway entrance from Boardwalk Inn and Beach and Yacht Club in less than 10 minutes
• Walk from those same resorts to Hollywood Studios faster than the Friendship boats OR the bus
• Optimize your Park Hopper ticket and walk between Hollywood Studios and Epcot. Stop at the boardwalk area for an ice cream cone to eat on your way or grab a lunch and relax a bit in between the parks

Path connecting the 3 All Star Resorts

All Star Movies, Music and Sports value resorts are all within walking distance of one another.

Use this path to:

• Take advantage of the dining and food options at each of the All Stars by walking along the 1 mile trail that connects all three resorts

Path and bridge between Art of Animation and Pop Century resorts

These two value resorts are located adjacent to one another and are connected by a 1/2 mile pathway as well as a bridge over Hourglass Lake.

Use this path or the bridge to:

• Enjoy the benefits of more dining and shopping options  just across the lake if you are a guest at either of these resorts
• Resort hop! Take a bus over to either Pop Century or Art of Animation & grab a quick service meal at Landscape of Flavors or Everything Pop Shopping and Dining to check out the crazy theming at both of these resorts.

Path between the Grand Floridian and Polynesian Village resorts

NOTE: This path was closed 2/13/23 and is slated to be closed for several months. There is a ~1 mile scenic walking path between the Grand Floridian and the Polynesian.

Use this path to:

• Stroll between the Grand Floridian and the Polynesian and take a peek at the Disney World wedding pavilion along the way
• Enjoy the benefits of more dining and shopping locations at an adjacent property if you are a guest at one of these resorts
• Take the resort monorail or a boat to the Grand Floridian,  after a morning at Magic Kingdom,  grab some lunch and then walk over to the Poly for a Dole Whip dessert (with a much shorter line than in Adventureland)

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Port Orleans French Quarter and Port Orleans Riverside resorts

These resorts are within walking distance of each other.  Take a 1/2 mile stroll along the Sassagoula river and take advantage of the dining locations, shopping and ambiance of each resort.

Use this path to:

• Enjoy the benefits of more dining and shopping options if you are staying at one of these resorts
• Resort hop! Grab a breakfast beignet at French Quarter and take a leisurely stroll up to Riverside and catch the boat to Disney Springs

Path between Wilderness Lodge and Fort Wilderness

This path is currently closed.

There is a 0.75 mile biking/walking path connecting these two resorts.

Use this path to:

• Take advantage of the dining locations and activities  at each of these resorts
• Spend the morning in Magic Kingdom and then boat over to Wilderness Lodge for lunch when the park starts to get crowded.  Mosey on down the trail after lunch to Fort Wilderness and visit the Tri-Circle-D Ranch.

Magic Kingdom and Grand Floridian

There is a ~1/2 mile walking path and bridge between the Grand Floridian Resort and Magic Kingdom. Google maps hasn’t caught up to this new development apparently, so check it out here. With this path open, you can also now walk from the Polynesian, past the Grand Floridian, and right over to Magic Kingdom.

If you have the time and energy, check out these paths. They could save you some time, but can also afford a different view of the parks and a short “time-out” from the crowds and hectic pace of the parks. It’s also a great way to resort hop and check out where you might want to stay next time if you are planning another trip to Disney World!  If you want to know a little more about how to get around Disney World, check out Transportation by Resort, Park and Type.