Take This Shortcut if You’re Walking Between Hollywood Studios and Disney’s Boardwalk

If you plan to stay at Disney’s Boardwalk Inn or walk through the Epcot Resorts Area often, I have a little shortcut. This shortcut will trim almost 0.20 miles off the walk between Disney’s Hollywood Studios and the Boardwalk. That’s almost a quarter of a mile!

Depending on your room location at Disney’s Boardwalk, this will likely be the most efficient way to get to and from Disney’s Hollywood Studios unless you prefer to take the boat. While we love the Friendship Boats, we almost always take the walking path. It’s one of our favorite places to decompress after a visit to the theme park. Here’s a photo looking back to Disney’s Hollywood Studios from the walkway.

Below, on the left side, we have a path of the regular walkway that loops around the entirety of the Boardwalk. This is the typical route most guests take to and from the Boardwalk when walking to Disney’s Hollywood Studios. On the right side, we have a significantly shorter shortcut. I’ve labeled both maps with the distances, steps, and times I recorded on recent walks. We’ll take a photo walkthrough so you can identify where to turn to take the shortcut.

I’m no stranger to the walkway between Disney’s Hollywood Studios and the Boardwalk. I often walk this path in its entirety to Epcot. A separate article shares the timing and distance of walking between Hollywood Studios and Epcot.

Our walk begins at the bus stop of Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Exiting the park, you’ll walk past the Skyliner station and continue toward the bus stop. Take a hard left at the bus stop, and you’ll see where the pathway begins along the water’s edge.

It’s a peaceful, quiet walk. You’ll likely see plenty of ducks along the way. However, while the walk might appear remote, it’s not. We often see a decent number of guests walking it, and the Friendship boats pass through here and there.

Looking back, you can see the bus stops.

You’ll walk under an overpass at Buena Vista. On the other side, the Swan Hotel comes into view.

Disney’s Boardwalk is ahead on the right, past the tennis and pickleball courts. When you reach the outskirts of the Boardwalk, you’ll begin to see directionals, ensuring you’re going in the right direction.

There are a few places where you can cross over to the hotel. If your room is in one of these areas, you’ll be even closer than our shortcut. I cannot stress enough how important it is to locate your room on the map and learn the most efficient ways to get around at the start of your trip. It will save you time down the road.

Related: Disney’s Boardwalk Transportation Map

I took these photos for anyone who might have accessibility needs. The pathway sits at the bottom of a sloped area around this side of the Boardwalk. So, a ramp is available if needed.

We usually take this set of stairs up. However, you want to cross on the left side of the building ahead and not straight across. If you go straight, you’ll loop around the Boardwalk Villas Community Hall Pool. Again, if your room is in this area, take this path. If not, take the path to the left.

You can easily identify the correct path because you’ll see the back of the Keister Coaster, a giant slide designed to resemble a wooden roller coaster. Continue to walk behind the slide like the people in the photo below.

Related: The Resorts Gal Guide to Disney’s Boardwalk Pools

You’ll pass by the outskirts of the Luna Park Pool.

Then, you’ll see Leaping Horse Libations, the Boardwalk’s Pool Bar.

When you come out at the front of the pool, a tunnel-like opening leads to the Boardwalk lawn.

Disney’s Boardwalk sits at the edge of the lawn, or you can take a right and take the stairs or elevators up to the 2nd-floor lobby.

Here are a few more photos as we return to the walkway to Disney’s Hollywood Studios from the Boardwalk.

We’ll take the covered walkway by the hotel’s gym and arcade toward the Luna Park Pool.

Here is a photo of where you’ll come out in front of the pool.

We’ll take a left to return to Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

When you reach the walkway, you’ll cross the service road and take the stairs or ramp down to the walking path.

Once you take a left on the path, the walkway dead ends at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

We hope you can use this shortcut. Here are a few other times you might remember it:

• When walking from Epcot to Hollywood Studios
• When walking from Hollywood Studios to Epcot
• When walking from Beach Club to Hollywood Studios

For more information about this hotel, try our Resorts Gal Guide to Disney’s Boardwalk. Or you might like one of the following:

• Disney’s Boardwalk Inn’s New Rooms (Photos and Video)
• The Difference Between Disney’s Boardwalk and Disney Springs
• Are Refillable Mugs Worth It at Disney’s Boardwalk?
• Everything You Need to Know for Doing Laundry at Disney’s Boardwalk

In the Comments

Did you find this shortcut helpful? Have you used it before? Leave a comment below and let us know! We enjoy taking these routes to create these kinds of articles and hope they save our readers a few steps or some extra time!