Unnecessary Walks at Disney World

The idea of walking around Florida in the mid-day heat during a vacation is difficult to comprehend until you’re actually in it.

One of the most important lessons to learn, and unfortunately one that’s inevitable, is which walks are a good idea and which ones you should avoid. Usually you’ll find yourself thinking about your decisions in life when you’re drenched in sweat and trying to find the nearest form of air conditioning.

Walking from EPCOT to Disney’s Hollywood Studios

The Skyliner provides you with an opportunity to skip this walk all-together, as you’ll be able to enjoy a moving gondola from turnstile to turnstile. It’s a great thing to keep in mind because after years of making this 20-minute walk, it’s become difficult to bear when it’s 100% humidity.

IF you intend to make the trip, our advice would be:

• Get a cup of free water from Starbucks before leaving the park
• Pick a route before you leave (Boardwalk or Yacht & Beach)
• Take a 5-minute air conditioning break while walking through the resort gift shop
• Don’t be afraid to re-hydrate by the Resort lobby, as they usually have free water.

Walking Around the World Showcase

I love the world showcase! It’s full of amazing treasures, great food and shops to explore. Why is it on the list?

Once you commit to the walk, there’s no real turning back. It’s 1.2 miles, and that doesn’t include any of the walking into the pavilions themselves. It’s all in the open air and the walkways reflect the sun in a way that you can only describe when you’re dealing with it.

IF you intend to go around the World Showcase, our advice would be:

• Pick at least two pavilions that you’d like to spend some decent time in. This could be a meal/snack and an attraction or an indoor experience.
• Take your time and don’t rush. There’s no need to walk from Mexico to the UK when you can just start in Canada and go one pavilion over. There are shortcuts, so make wise decisions.
• Don’t go mid-day. Go early or go late afternoon.

Walking at Resorts with Internal Shuttles

We’ve got a golden rule: If there’s an internal bus shuttle, it’s not worth walking around the resort.

The number of times that I’ve gotten on a bus from a theme park to Saratoga Springs or Coronado Springs just to make a mistake on which stop to get off at would be more than I’d like to admit. In fact, even if it’s off-season and you’re trying to have a resort day, do your research before getting on a bus.

Honourable Mentions

• Rafiki’s Planet Watch at Disney’s Animal Kingdom (One way in and one way out)
• Tomorrowland to Frontierland VIA Fantasyland (Just go through the Hub)
• Orlando International Airport (Pay attention to your gate, luggage pickup carousel and Rideshare)