Hi Heidi,
I also love a fun Disney souvenir or collection. My family got into collecting these pennies a few years back and I love having them as a neat little memory from my visits to Disney World. The Disney Resort hotels are some of the best places to shop for souvenirs and we like to spend a lot of time touring these resorts when we are on vacation. Unfortunately, you still can not park at a Disney Resort hotel unless you are a guest staying there or have an advanced dining reservation. You can still visit the Disney Resort hotels, you will just need to find another place to park and use Disney transportation to take you to the resorts.
The easiest option for quick access to several different Disney Resort hotels is to park in the Magic Kingdom parking lot and board the
Resort Monorail at the Transportation and Ticket Center. The monorail will take you to Disney's Polynesian Village Resort, Contemporary Resort, and Grand Floridian Resort and Spa. I love hopping between these resorts to enjoy their shopping, dining options, and excellent views. The Polynesian Village Resort even has a walk-up counter where you can grab an iconic Dole Whip!
Another great option is to park at Disney Springs and board a bus to whichever Disney Resort hotel you want to visit. There is a bus station located just outside of Disney Springs that has a bus to every one of the Disney Resort hotels. You can also hop on a
water taxi at Disney Springs for a ride over to Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa, Old Key West Resort, Port Orleans - Riverside, or Port Orlean's French Quarter.
My favorite option is to park at Disney's Hollywood Studios and jump on the
Disney Skyliner to visit
Disney's Riviera Resort, Caribbean Beach Resort, Art of Animation Resort, and Pop Century Resort. If you go with this option make sure to spend some time relaxing in the courtyard of the Riviera Resort where you can grab some gelato, play a game of life-size yard chess, or bocce ball. The drinks and food at
Bar Riva are delicious and there is no reservation required to dine here. You can also hop off the Disney Skyliner at the International Gateway entrance to EPCOT and walk over to Disney's BoardWalk Inn, Yacht Club Resort, and Beach Club Resort.
Happy Planning,
Jenna