Overview
- Walt Disney World began using the new bus loading zone on Monday, July 13, 2026, with buses boarding between the Rarotonga longhouse and the resort guest parking lot just steps from the main lobby.
- The change coincided with a permanent closure of the Seven Seas Drive and Floridian Way intersection and new driving directions that redirect vehicle access around the resort.
- The new stop serves bus routes to Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Disney Springs and several water-park connections while Magic Kingdom and EPCOT remain reached primarily by monorail and water taxi.
- Resort leadership notified guests by letter signed by General Manager Lauren Gossett and directed visitors to ask Front Desk Cast Members for help, and limited reports say Island Tower guests were told to park and check in at the Tower under the new traffic pattern.
- The bus loop is one phase of a multi-year modernization that began with permits in 2023 and construction work visible in April, and guests should expect signage, Cast Member guidance, and possible extra travel time during the transition.