The rules of the Ultimate Resort Hopping Challenge are simple, visit every Walt Disney World Resort in one day. At each resort visit and take a photograph of the pool, check-in desk, a shop, a restaurant and admire some artwork. As far as possible, Disney Transportation should be used.
Resorts which share the same site are counted as one resort, e.g., Bay Lake Tower & Contemporary Resort or the numerous resorts that can now be found at Wilderness Lodge. By our rules, there are currently 20 resorts in Walt Disney World to complete in the Ultimate Resort Hopping Challenge.
We attempted the Ultimate Resort Hopping Challenge in 2017 and failed miserably. However, with a new strategy we have decided to give it another go and here is how we got on:
Our first resort was Disney’s Wilderness Lodge which we are currently staying in. From Wilderness Lodge we took the ferry to the Contemporary Resort.
Disney’s Contemporary Resort Disney’s Contemporary Resort Disney’s Contemporary Resort
From the Contemporary we took the monorail to visit the Polynesian and Grand Floridian.
Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa
Our plan was then to catch a bus from the Grand Floridian to Disney Springs and then visit the Disney Springs resorts. For unknown reasons the Disney Springs bus driver, after letting on a disabled passenger, forgot he had other guests and drove off without us! We quickly altered our plans and took a bus to the Animal Kingdom.
From the Animal Kingdom, a bus arrived going to the All Star Resorts. We got off at All Star Sports and walked through to All Star Music & All Star Movies.
All Star Sports All Star Music All Star Movies
We then caught the bus again to the Animal Kingdom before transferring to Coronado Springs. Coronado Springs has just had a massive redevelopment completed including the new Gran Destiny Tower. So new is the development our bus driver even got lost! We will be writing about this resort later this week when we visit the new Toledo Tapas, Steak & Seafood.
Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort
Next we caught a bus to Disney Springs before transferring to Port Orleans French Quarter. From the French Quarter we walked through to Riverside.
Port Orleans Riverside Port Orleans French Quarter
From Riverside it was back to Animal Kingdom before catching the bus to Animal Kingdom Lodge Jambo House. Controversially Jambo House and Kidani Village count as 1 resort by our rules.
Back to Animal Kingdom and this time we transfer to the Caribbean Beach resort.
At this point, we are struggling for time and decide to catch our first Uber to take us to Pop Century. From Pop Century we take the short walk to Art of Animation.
Disney’s Pop Century Resort Disney’s Art of Animation Resort
We decide to take another Uber to the Boardwalk Resort and walk the short distance to both the Beach Club & Yacht Club.
Disney’s Yacht Club Disney’s Beach Club Disney’s Boardwalk Resort
We hit 11 pm and decide it is time to complete the Ultimate Resort Hopping Challenge. In total, we completed 17 resorts and just missed Fort Wilderness, Saratoga Springs & Old Key West. Next time we are sure we will complete the challenge and think it will become more comfortable with the opening of the Skyliner.
We will discuss further the Ultimate Resort Hopping Challenge in coming weeks.
Tomorrow we are off to Epcot to tour World Showcase. You can catch up with all our daily Disney World Live Blogs for 2019 by clicking the link.
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