This information to the Skyliner explains the whole lot you wish to have to find out about our favourite type of transportation at Walt Disney Global, which connects a few of WDW’s best lodge accommodations to EPCOT & Hollywood Studios. The gondolas don’t seem to be with out faults, so this additionally covers professionals & cons, tips on how to decrease issues, highest & worst inns/rooms, occasions to experience & when to steer clear of…with the purpose of serving to you benefit from the device so you find yourself loving it up to we do!
We’ll get started with some fast fundamentals concerning the Disney Skyliner gondolas. Dubbed the “Maximum Magical Flight on Earth” by means of the in-cabin audio, the Skyliner services and products two Walt Disney Global theme parks (Hollywood Studios and EPCOT) plus 4 inns (Artwork of Animation & Pop Century, Caribbean Seashore, plus Caribbean Seashore (once more) & Riviera Hotel) by means of 5 stations.
One of the crucial Caribbean Seashore stations is the hub, from which you’ll achieve each vacation spot. It connects immediately to Hollywood Studios, Artwork of Animation/Pop Century, and EPCOT by means of the Riviera Hotel/Caribbean Seashore 2nd station. At maximum, you are going to have one switch whilst using the Disney Skyliner, because the Riviera station is en path to EPCOT and does no longer require disembarking.
Technically, the Skyliner additionally services and products all the Crescent Lake Inns which might be inside of strolling distance of the stations at EPCOT’s World Gateway. This comprises the Yacht & Seashore Membership, BoardWalk Inn, or even the trio of Swolphin inns.
In follow, the Skyliner is best environment friendly for having access to the 4 Skyliner accommodations from Crescent Lake. It’s quicker to stroll from any Crescent Lake Inns to Disney’s Hollywood Studios than it’s to take the convoluted Skyliner direction. Use the boats if you wish to save your ft.
In air trip occasions at the Skyliner range. It’s more or less 3-4 mins from the shared Pop Century/Artwork of Animation station to the Caribbean Seashore hub station. It’s additionally about 3-4 mins from the Disney’s Hollywood Studios station to the Caribbean Seashore hub station. (On the possibility of declaring the most obvious, those 3-4 minute flights are on separate strains.)
On the different finish of the spectrum, it’s 10-11 mins from Caribbean Seashore to EPCOT (or 4 mins from Caribbean Seashore to Riviera, plus 6 mins from Riviera to EPCOT). Upload to that no matter time you wait in line at your authentic station and the Caribbean Seashore Hotel hub station.
Right here’s a Skyliner direction map that are supposed to come up with a greater thought of ways this all works:
Each crimson Mickey Mouse head at the Skyliner map above is a station. Transfers are required in any respect of those stations apart from for the only at Disney’s Riviera Hotel, which means that if you happen to get on on the Caribbean Seashore hub, you’ll fly immediately to EPCOT with out getting off.
There’s a short lived slowdown so visitors can load on the Riviera, however visitors already on-board don’t must get off and again on once more. From the Skyliner station at Disney’s Riviera Hotel to EPCOT, it’s possible you’ll understand a pointy proper flip at the map above. That’s no longer any person having a spasm when making the map–there’s a station there designed for turning best.
The turning station exists basically to keep sightlines in Global Exhibit, and does make the flight rather longer than it’d in a different way be–however it’s a profitable tradeoff within the grand scheme of items. (It additionally maintains an more uncomplicated and important evacuation direction for the gondolas alongside roadways and parking rather a lot, so there’s that, too.)
Using the Disney Skyliner is “loose” in the similar sense that each one different Walt Disney Global transportation is loose. You aren’t paying a fare immediately when boarding, however you higher consider visitors on the inns serviced by means of the Skyliner are seeing its infrastructure and running prices constructed into their nightly charges.
Annual Passholders, visitors of different inns, or even people off-site are allowed to make use of the Skyliner. The one restriction on use comes by means of parking, which means that you can’t keep off-site and park at a Skyliner lodge to steer clear of paying for parking on the theme parks. Safety will prevent you and switch you round on the accommodations.
Another way, there are not any regulations on who would possibly experience the Skyliner or get off the place. When you’re a visitor staying at a Skyliner lodge and thus not directly paying for the transportation, it’s possible you’ll suppose that is unfair. In follow, it does no longer in reality subject.
The main time visitors staying at different inns might be the use of the Skyliner is the center of the day, when it has a lot of extra bandwidth. Because of the aforementioned parking restrictions, there’s no reason why for off-site visitors to make use of the Skyliner pre-park opening or post-closing, when call for and pressure at the device is best possible.
Very best & Worst Skyliner Inns & Room Classes
The most productive resort for the Skyliner is definitely Caribbean Seashore. This sprawling lodge is house to the hub station, which means direct flights to in every single place else. You don’t must switch for Disney’s Hollywood Studios or EPCOT if ranging from this hub station. There’s the temporary slowdown for Disney’s Riviera Hotel, however that’s inconsequential within the grand scheme of items.
This may lead you to wonder if visitors of Disney’s Riviera Hotel are at a drawback, because the Skyliner arrives at this station pre-loaded from the Caribbean Seashore hub. No, no longer in reality. Maximum cabins are dispatched neatly underneath complete capability and Riviera is a reasonably small lodge (by means of a long way the smallest of any Skyliner lodge), so there’s additionally much less call for. Except you’ve got an excessively massive birthday party and are departing very first thing within the morning, it’s a non-issue as a rule.
This isn’t to mention the road doesn’t transfer slower than the only on the Caribbean Seashore hub–it no doubt does. Nevertheless it’s additionally shorter within the first position. We’ve by no means had any problems with the Skyliner from Riviera to EPCOT or Disney’s Hollywood Studios (knock on picket).
With out query, the worst inns for the Skyliner are Disney’s Pop Century and Artwork of Animation. Those are the one inns that require a switch for each EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. This implies stepping into line two times. When you’re staying at Caribbean Seashore or Riviera Hotel, you’ll have a minimum of one direct flight.
That’s no longer even the most important challenge, even though. Between the 2 Worth Inns, there are just about 5,000 rooms. And at Artwork of Animation, a lot of the ones are circle of relatives suites, so there are extra visitors consistent with room on reasonable. That is numerous visitors being serviced by means of the only Hourglass Lake Skyliner station.
All over top season, there’s no longer simply top occupancy on the inns, but additionally upper crowds within the parks–growing a better incentive for extra Pop Century and Artwork of Animation visitors to make use of the Skyliner to rope drop the parks.
In contrast, there are beneath 2,000 rooms in general between Caribbean Seashore and Riviera Hotel.
Extra importantly, there are two stations at those two inns, which dilutes call for to some extent. The “to some extent” phase is as a result of those stations additionally must procedure AoA and Pop transfers.
The hot button is that you simply’re a lot more prone to wait in a line from the Hourglass Lake Skyliner Station than anyplace else. It’s purely a numbers sport, making Pop Century and Artwork of Animation the worst inns for the Skyliner. Those also are the one two Worth Inns serviced by means of the gondolas, in order that turns out a minimum of moderately “honest.”
Drilling this down even additional, we now have favourite structures and rooms at Caribbean Seashore for Skyliner remains.
This will likely look like splitting hairs, and that anyplace at Caribbean Seashore is “excellent sufficient” by means of distinctive feature of being the number one Skyliner lodge. That’s an even point of view, however it’s a surprisingly sprawling lodge, and lots of rooms are a protracted stroll from both–or each–Skyliner stations.
There’s additionally the truth that the Skyliner stations are a protracted stroll from the principle foyer of Caribbean Seashore, so it’s an issue of tradeoffs–which issues extra to you, being close to the foyer or the Skyliner? For us, the solution is straightforward: Skyliner, no doubt. We’d quite be with reference to the stations very first thing within the morning, on the finish of the night time, or when in need of to get again and crash all the way through a noon destroy. We use the Skyliner a lot more than the principle foyer. Your mileage would possibly range on that, even though.
Right here’s a map of Caribbean Seashore Hotel appearing the structures in terms of the Skyliner stations:
Constructions 41-43 in Jamaica, structures 31-33 in Barbados, and 34-36 in Trinidad are the nearest to the hub Skyliner station. Constructions 54-56 are closest to the Skyliner station at Riviera Hotel. It’s higher to be close to the hub station, however it’s possible you’ll favor the Aruba location if you happen to plan on eating at Riviera Hotel steadily.
Drilling this down even additional, our favourite rooms for a Skyliner-centric keep at Caribbean Seashore are the ones in Trinidad. Those are farther away than the ones in Jamaica, however we favor the Below the Sea rooms impressed by means of The Little Mermaid in Trinidad. Take a look at our Evaluation, Footage & Video: Little Mermaid Rooms at Disney’s Caribbean Seashore Hotel for a complete excursion to look whether or not they’re proper to your circle of relatives. Simply be warned that they’re somewhat difficult to order.
For a good deeper dive about the place to stick and room requests to make, see Very best Rooms & Places at Disney’s Caribbean Seashore Hotel. That provides extra steadiness, and recommendation on explicit structures or even blocks of rooms inside of the ones.
Very best & Worst Trip Instances
As hinted at above, the worst trip time is pre-park opening. Even if hours range, the present same old running process is for the Skyliner to open best an hour prior to Early Access begins, which means it’s normally open at 7:30 am. The Skyliner used to open at 7 am day by day with regularity, however that hasn’t been the case for a minimum of a 12 months.
Beginning the Skyliner at 7:30 am places extra tension at the device, as many visitors wish to make the most of Early Access wish to be at Disney’s Hollywood Studios or EPCOT by means of round that point–sure, an hour prior to Early Access begins. (When you’re early, you’re on-time; if you happen to’re on-time, you’re past due!) In consequence, some visitors line up prior to the Skyliner opens, and there could be a backlog to procedure that by no means is going away within the lead-up to Early Access, particularly on the Artwork of Animation and Pop Century station.
Because of this, you’re having a look at a 30+ minute wait from the Hourglass Lake station from 7:30 am to eight:30 am many mornings. For a have a look at this enjoy, see Skyliner Caution for Rope Losing Disney’s Hollywood Studios or EPCOT. Observe that this isn’t just about as unhealthy from Caribbean Seashore because of the aforementioned numbers imbalance.
The opposite busy time of day is round park ultimate from both Disney’s Hollywood Studios or EPCOT.
That is very true all the way through the post-closing exodus following the Luminous fireworks at EPCOT or Fantasmic middle of the night impressive at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. At those occasions, you’ll stumble upon lengthy strains at respective Skyliner stations, as everybody staying on the Skyliner inns is heading the similar path. Traces may also be 20-Half-hour lengthy at their top.
The great factor is that there’s a approach to this. Both you’ll beat the post-fireworks crowd by means of reserving it out of the parks, during which case it’s possible you’ll wait 5-10 mins. Or you’ll linger, savoring the middle of the night surroundings in Global Exhibit at EPCOT or the neon on the entrance of Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
That is what we do. We’d quite spend that very same ~Half-hour putting out within the park, playing the atmosphere, than hurrying as much as wait in line for the Skyliner. The Skyliner normally runs till 11 pm, so there’s a 90-120 minute buffer from park ultimate or the tip of fireworks. Numerous time. There’s no rush to go out the parks, both, so we take a leisurely walk and go away as soon as the Skyliner line has died down. Most often, there’s no line–we continuously get a cabin all to ourselves!
As for the most productive occasions to take the Skyliner…just about any time out of doors the home windows recognized above. The majority of the day is incredible!
When you’re the use of the Skyliner from one hour after park opening via one hour prior to park ultimate, there’s a superb opportunity you are going to stumble upon a wait time of beneath 5 mins. Regularly occasions, it’ll be an entire walk-on.
When you use the Skyliner out of doors of top park opening and shutting occasions, you’ll additionally normally get a cabin for your birthday party. Even if there’s a brief line, Forged Individuals won’t make teams percentage cabins. They’ll give everybody their very own gondola until there’s a average or above line, during which case events do percentage. (That means that you simply’ll completely be grouped with different visitors at park opening and shutting.)
We’ve discovered Forged Individuals to be very good at exercising discretion about when to–and when no longer to–seat strangers in cabins in combination. Principally, pass ~Half-hour after the rope drop rush to ~60 mins prior to park ultimate and the chance of getting your personal cabin as a rule is fairly top.
Very best & Worst Skyliner Keep Dates
Let’s get started with the worst dates for reserving Skyliner inns, which is when it’s both scheduled to be closed or extra vulnerable to unplanned day by day downtime. The primary of those is all the way through the (virtually) annual refurbishment, which generally happens in past due January. Right here’s a rundown of previous, provide, and long term Skyliner refurbishment dates:
- Iciness 2027: Skyliner closure January 24-30, 2027
- Iciness 2026: Skyliner closure January 25-31, 2026
- Iciness 2025: No closure
- Iciness 2024: Routes in levels from January 16-26.
- Iciness 2023: Skyliner closure January 22-29.
- Iciness 2022: Skyliner closure January 23-28.
- Iciness 2021: Skyliner person routes closed for single-day downtime between January 24 and 28.
- Iciness 2020: No Skyliner closure–it used to be only some months previous!
This closure virtually all the time inside of the similar window, normally after MLK Day Weekend. Because you’re paying a top class for Skyliner inns, you shouldn’t e book them all the way through this time-frame. When you’re already having a look forward to 2028 or past, it’s price holding those refurbishment dates in thoughts.
The opposite ‘worst’ window is for much longer: Hurricane Season at Walt Disney Global. if you happen to’re visiting Walt Disney Global from June 1 via November 30, the professional Atlantic storm season consistent with NOAA, you will have to be ready for wet days–or worse. Narrowing that down somewhat, August and October is the center of storm season.
There’s a hurricane radius for the Skyliner and if a lightning strike happens inside of that, the gondolas will cycle till they’re empty, dumping visitors from the strains and no longer reloading till there were X mins for the reason that remaining strike. Disney has refined climate monitoring generation (you almost certainly do too on your pocket), they usually’ve honed this procedure through the years for swimming pools and outside sights.
Nobody goes to be stranded within gondolas all the way through a hurricane. Although you had been because of a chain of unlucky occasions, the Disney Skyliner is grounded. It may function in wind and rain, even supposing there are some limits to this. If prerequisites are unhealthy sufficient, even within the absence of lightning, the Skyliner can shut because of inclement climate.
Value noting that hurricane season coincides in large part with summer time, and the most up to date months of the 12 months. Because the Skyliner isn’t air-conditioned, this may input the calculus when figuring out whether or not you wish to have to stick at a Skyliner lodge all the way through your keep.
The most productive time of 12 months for staying at a Skyliner lodge is mainly the other of this, the months that don’t seem to be hurricane season.
For my part, I’d regulate the ones dates just a little. Our favourite time of 12 months to do Skyliner remains is October via April/Might, minus that week or so closure for refurbishment. Even if there were October and November hurricanes at Walt Disney Global in the previous couple of years, the ones look like a ‘dinner party or famine’ scenario. And if there’s a storm coming near Central Florida, you’ve were given so much larger issues than the Skyliner taking place. It’s going to affect virtually the whole lot.
In my enjoy, Skyliner closures because of lightning are maximum widespread from June via August. The ones are the months that I generally wouldn’t e book a Skyliner lodge. Or quite, the dates I’d be least most likely to e book, if different choices had been at the desk. I’d nonetheless take a Skyliner lodge over one with all-bus transportation, because it’s normally high quality at park opening and shutting. Noon is the actual drawback, and I’d simply take into account of the elements when strategizing a noon destroy.
Observe that after the Skyliner does pass down because of inclement climate, Walt Disney Global dispatches buses as a substitute type of transportation. Because of this, in concept, there’s no actual drawback to reserving the Skyliner inns, even all the way through the months when lightning happens maximum steadily.
In follow, this has no longer been our enjoy. Disney’s deployment of buses can go away one thing to be desired. Clearly, a complete fleet doesn’t simply materialize out of skinny air the second one there’s a lightning extend. Nevertheless it takes longer than it will have to and there’s continuously a loss of conversation to visitors about selection transportation.
When you do to find your self feeling annoyed or “stranded” when the Skyliner is going down, our greatest piece of recommendation is to only throw within the towel and use an Uber, Lyft or Minnie Van. Talking from enjoy, you’ll continuously simply inform when there’s a transportation meltdown brewing. Slightly than protecting out hope that it’ll recuperate–and losing a ton of time within the procedure–simply name it early and spend the cash on rideshare.
With regards to pointers & methods for the use of the Skyliner, and the most productive & worst components of the gondola device, that’s in reality about it. Once more, we adore the Skyliner and to find it to be the most productive type of transportation at Walt Disney Global…a minimum of, inside the above parameters. With that out of the way in which, listed here are any other issues we revel in concerning the Skyliner…
Why We Love the Skyliner
The perspectives introduced by means of the Skyliner are impressive. My greatest concern seeing numerous unsightly behind the curtain spaces, parking rather a lot, and nothingness. There’s one of the most latter two, however there’s additionally no reason why to be having a look immediately down on the flooring to scope out parked automobiles or pathways.
Alongside each and every leg of the adventure, there’s one thing other and attractive that can as an alternative seize your consideration. Your eye is of course drawn throughout Walt Disney Global belongings. I’d pass so far as to mention the perspectives are in most cases higher than the monorail.
Caribbean Seashore to Disney’s Hollywood Studios provides a fowl’s eye view of that park, in addition to EPCOT within the distance. From Pop Century and Artwork of Animation to Caribbean Seashore, you swoop low over Hourglass Lake and feature the outsized icons of the lodge to each and every facet.
The lengthy direction between EPCOT and Caribbean Seashore (by means of Riviera) is a long way and away my favourite stretch of the Skyliner.
This places you immediately at the back of Global Exhibit, and it’s in reality cool to look the icons of each and every country with Spaceship Earth within the background. Plus, you aren’t in reality seeing a lot behind the curtain. En path to Disney’s Riviera Hotel, you’ve got the rooftops and landscaping of Caribbean Seashore, and gliding over those is way cooler than anticipated.
The bench seating scenario could be a bit awkward. If seated “generally,” your perspectives will both be out an aspect window or immediately ahead, having a look previous different visitors. Maximum visitors will as an alternative flip round and face the window towards which they’re seated.
This provides higher, unobstructed perspectives. When you’re taking footage, it additionally permits you to put your telephone or digicam lens flush towards the cabin glass to steer clear of reflections. Seating backwards and going through backwards, to have a forward-moving view, is in reality learn how to pass.
Added bonus: if you happen to sit down that means with strangers on your cabin, no loopy fellow enthusiasts will attempt to enlighten you about Disney secretly construction a brand new park in Texas or rant at you concerning the techniques Dino-Rama used to be secretly good as a result of its backstory.
Movement illness doesn’t in most cases appear to be a topic with the Skyliner, until you’re touring on an excessively blustery day.
On one such windy day, after a number of back-to-back-to-back flights, Sarah’s movement illness used to be “performing up” (her phrases). She didn’t really feel unwell, however because of how it used to be swinging, she may’ve felt unwell if she stored using. On some other instance, she felt this manner after our cabin made an abrupt prevent when arriving right into a station.
In order that’s one thing to remember in case you are vulnerable to movement illness. This isn’t a topic we pay attention continuously, even though, and best came about after a number of consecutive rides. When you spent all day using a Walt Disney Global bus pushed by means of any person auditioning for Mr. Toad’s Wild Trip, you’ll have a an identical enjoy, however that most definitely wouldn’t be an even indictment of the bus transportation.
The nature wraps are no doubt a blended bag. Seeing your favourite characters go your cabin is neat, however you completely don’t wish to be within a gondola with a wrap.
Perspectives are considerably impaired, and you’ll utterly disregard about footage. The only slight certain is those cabins felt a tad cooler than unwrapped ones. With that stated, you’ll request a cabin with no wrap in some cases. I do that each time there’s no person in line at the back of me, which is reasonably continuously all the way through the center of the day.
I best ask going from Caribbean Seashore to EPCOT. The opposite routes are so quick that it doesn’t subject. We’d suggest the use of not unusual sense in relation to making–or no longer making–a request.
The most important ‘controversy’ concerning the Disney Skyliner has been the loss of air-conditioning within the cabins. That is most commonly a non-issue, and fortunately, it’s this once-hot debate has in large part died down for the reason that Skyliner opened.
The outside glaze sufficiently displays warmth and the passive air flow device works. It supplies a fab and constant breeze that makes the Skyliner comfy.
Air-conditioning is normally a non-issue whilst using, and no much more likely to come back to thoughts than issues a couple of colossal gorilla showing and tearing the tramway out of the sky. (A dire tragedy and one thing Florida has in fact suffered from prior to now.)
Disney’s Skyliner is extra comfy than sitting at a shaded bus prevent and about on par with the Tomorrowland Transit Authority Peoplemover. It’s much less comfy than the air-conditioned buses, which might be like stepping right into a refreshing refrigerator on wheels (not anything beats a bus on a scorching day–not anything).
The Skyliner is a toss-up in comparison to the monorails. We’ve had ones the place it feels just like the air-conditioning is simply running–that coupled with a crowded cabin has led to a few unsightly trips at the Freeway within the Sky.
Since motion is essential to passive air flow, it may turn into rather uncomfortable if there’s an unplanned prevent. As a rule, you gained’t enjoy a stoppage longer than 3 mins (maximum are 30 seconds or much less).
On longer stops with the solar shining immediately into the cabin and no breeze, the Skyliner cabins can turn into uncomfortable. We’ve had that occur a few occasions within the remaining 5+ years, and that’s with masses of rides at the Skyliner.
The audio spiel is a pleasant contact–however it might be “catchier.” Even a number of years after opening, there are not any strains that experience emerged just like the monorail that stick out as quotable or nostalgia-worthy.
Stations are effectively designed and befitting in their atmosphere. For essentially the most phase, they now appear to be they’ve all the time been there. The Caribbean Seashore hub seems like a central/union station, which is amusing. It additionally has a Joffrey’s stand with distinctive beverages.
Walt Disney Global provides particular gondola wraps for particular events, corresponding to again all the way through the fiftieth Anniversary or to advertise new motion pictures. We additionally love and extremely suggest doing a Skyliner meals & beverages move slowly as a amusing no-parks day job.
In the long run, the “Maximum Magical Flight on Earth” moniker is solely apt for the Disney Skyliner. It’s no longer best, however it’s the most productive, predictable and dependable type of Walt Disney Global transportation for ~8 months of the 12 months.
It’s considered one of our favourite additions to the parks & inns within the remaining decade, and would simply be #1 if Cosmic Rewind and Upward push of the Resistance didn’t exist to make {that a} harder selection. The Skyliner is one thing we revel in such a lot that we mechanically take it “for amusing” or when Park Hopping between EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios, in spite of strolling being extra environment friendly.
Making plans a Walt Disney Global commute? Find out about accommodations on our Walt Disney Global Motels Opinions web page. For the place to devour, learn our Walt Disney Global Eating place Opinions. To economize on tickets or decide which sort to shop for, learn our Guidelines for Saving Cash on Walt Disney Global Tickets publish. Our What to Pack for Disney Journeys publish takes a singular have a look at artful pieces to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney Global Trip Guides will lend a hand. For complete recommendation, the most productive position to begin is our Walt Disney Global Shuttle Making plans Information for the whole lot you wish to have to understand!
Your Ideas
What do you bring to mind the Skyliner? Is it your favourite type of transportation at Walt Disney Global, or do you suppose it’s overestimated? Any occasions of 12 months you’d steer clear of Skyliner inns? Ideas on the use of the Skyliner for Early Access, rope drop, park ultimate, or some other occasions? Do you compromise or disagree with our evaluate? Any questions we will be able to can help you resolution? Listening to your comments–even while you disagree with us–is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please percentage your ideas underneath within the feedback!
