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Disney Guests Found a Bus Hack. Will Disney Shut It Down?

Incognito Mouse

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Did you know that Disney's Swan and Dolphin resorts don't use Disney's regular bus transportation anymore? And did you know that guests staying at these resorts have figured out a little transportation hack to get around it?

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As a Walt Disney World bus driver, I see this firsthand! Guests staying at the Swan and Dolphin regularly use Disney buses at neighboring resorts like the Yacht and Beach Club and BoardWalk to get where they want to go.

But there's a bigger issue here.

Disney has already changed its transportation rules at Disney Springs, and I believe these kinds of workarounds could eventually lead to even more restrictions on who can ride Disney buses.

Could Disney eventually require guests to show a resort reservation or park ticket before boarding? And could a convenient little vacation hack end up changing Disney transportation for everybody?

In today's Bus Driver Thoughts, we're talking about the Swan and Dolphin, why their transportation is different, what guests are doing to get around it, and why I think this could become a much bigger issue.

What do YOU think? Should Disney transportation remain available to everyone, or should Disney restrict resort buses to guests staying at those resorts? Let me know in the comments!

My name is Ichabod Bones, aka the Incognito Mouse, but you can call me Ickey!

I'll see you at the bus stop!

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DISCLAIMER: The opinions expressed in this video are my own and do not represent The Walt Disney Company. Any discussion of potential future transportation restrictions is speculation, not an announcement of Disney policy.

#WaltDisneyWorld #SwanAndDolphin #DisneyTransportation #DisneyBusDriver #IncognitoMouse

20 Comments

@mindthegap2025 6 days ago (edited)

Swan Dolphin and Reserve guests are officially allowed to use Disney busses FROM Disney Springs to any resort (just not back to Swan Dolphin). While they have their own busses too, when returning from Disney Springs they can show their resort stay through the app at Springs just like they do for early entry and Evening Hours nights. Using Boardwalk etc to get to MK isn't a hack it's a legal agreement that Disney has to allow Swan Dolphin access (they just don't pick up and drop off at hotel directly anymore). It's not "exploiting", they are considered "on site Disney guests" even though the resorts are operated by Marriott

@karensanthin 7 days ago

The swan reserve is also included in the Disney perks. It’s part of Marriott.

@patrickcunningham6068 7 days ago

Glad you left in the bit about your interaction with the security person, that was fun.

@frankbroom1376 7 days ago

Interesting that each Disney resort has its own budget for buses. That helps explain the variation in bus allotment between the resorts.

@crytsanana3592 7 days ago

Thank you for explaining this. I knew that that were separate, but didn’t really understand. Disney is within their rights to restrict this. I could see this becoming a burden to Disney’s resorts. Also overcrowded buses aren’t great for the guests.

@EvanThomad 5 days ago

I never knew each hotel was responsible for scheduling the buses. Thanks for the great insight

@MichaelBatesCNY 7 days ago

I remember years ago when the Magic Kingdom bus picked up at the Swan and Dolphin, Yacht & Beach Club, and then Boardwalk. Those buses were always packed!

@mainstreetfirechief 6 days ago

We stayed at the Swan in Fall of 2022 and walked to Boardwalk to use the Disney Buses when we went to MK and AK.

@DVCBear 7 days ago

When we stay at the boardwalk, I often have taken the swan or dolphin bus and just walked over. It all depends on what bus. arrives first at the bus stop. It only works, though, when all the resorts are near each other. at the bus stop.

@lottaaction8072 7 days ago

I think the biggest factor was the resort hopping and people who reserve rooms and want to eat at those restaurants and swim at specific resort pools ARE getting crowded out by free.loaders.
My co-worker told me just the other day that they take the Disney Sorings bus to the Polynesian to sneak into their pools. They piggyback off of people with a fob. The bus budget would be a smaller issue.

@chuckgrenci6404 3 days ago

As having a Beach Club Villas home resort, I wouldn't appreciate (especially at busy morning rides), Swan and Dolphin patrons hopping on at the Yacht Club bus and taking potential seats that might have been available to me and my party when the bus gets to the Beach Club bus stop. As needing a handicapped seat, it might be especially troublesome. I wouldn't be averse to having either the Swan and Dolphin management be required to maintain a Disney bus contract (with separate bus transportation, or requiring Magic Band swipe of Yacht or Beach Club location.

@WanderingWishes3 6 days ago

I saw the golf cart roll up and I 😮. I’m glad they were just there to say hi! 😂

@CogitoErgoSum-she-her 7 days ago

I stay at Shades of Green when I visit WDW. Shades buses require us to show our Resort Card and our military ID to board. The precedent is already there for Disney buses to require guests to show proof of staying at a Disney resort before boarding. I think they should. By the way, taking the monorail or the ferry from TTC isn't a big deal. It's super easy to do.

@tinawhitman9680 7 days ago

Makes me think about if they would restrict the monorail.

@Mhguy7 3 days ago

I consider this " A cost of doing business " in a very unique format and environment. Lets face it Disney is not losing and if they are they created the situation in the first place. Cost of Doing Business with quarters this close

@monarchmiracles 7 days ago

Thanks for sharing your thoughts Icky. I really appreciate your take on things. Very professional.

@joebacarella1304 5 days ago

I absolutely love the Dolphin but last year i wanted to go to Typhoon Lagoon and Disney Springs and they dropped me off in some random parking lot and my walk to Disney Springs was ridiculous. Long, through a parking structure and a real pain.

@debbieboudreaux6635 7 days ago

I don't know how old you are; I'm 62. I distinctly remember a big selling point when Disney went to a 'pay one price' ticket was unlimited use of all Disney transportation. I can remember for a few years having to show my ticket to board any Disney bus, Disney shopping village included, going to the Hoop De Doo etc. I stayed at the Swan in June 1991 and we used Disney busses. Lovely property but lacking the Disney feel I love. Swan is a Westin and Dolphin is a Sheraton. For the price per nite, PLUS a $50 per day resort fee is a huge turnoff and really makes it out of reach for many. There is also a parking fee which I am waiting for Disney to implement at their resorts. For guests who pay that kind of money to use transportation that drops them off in BFE; it really must make them feel like they are no different than the guest using the shuttle at any of the 'friendly' hotels. Might as well stay at a Holiday Inn and use their shuttle. If I can find a ticket from the early 80's I will shoot you a pic of where it advertises the unlimited use

@mwil1323 7 days ago

I think that they could solve the whole problem if they just let the mears buses drop people off at the parks. Those people staying at Swan and dolphin are still Disney customers.

@MandalorianFanboy 7 days ago (edited)

The whole Swan and Dolphin hotel system is quite fascinating to me. The actual hotel buildings are owned by a joint venture between Tishman Hotel and Reality along with Metlife Investment Management...the land is owned by Disney and they receive ground lease payments from the owners...but each hotel is operated by a different hotel management company. Westin manages Swan and Sheraton manages the Dolphin. (Both of which are owned by Marriott) Quite a tangled web of corporate structure.