Summary
The Disney Skyliner transportation system opened in fall 2019 at Walt Disney World Resort and has since been taking guests on the "most magical flight on earth!" It joins the many wonderful, free transportation options (buses, ferryboats and monorails) that take guests around the parks, hotels and entertainment areas. For many tadpoles, ours included, it doesn't get any better than the monorail to Magic Kingdom, but Skyliner just might be our new favorite option!Now that we're gondola pros, here is everything you need to know about the Disney Skyliner.
Hop To
- Overview
- Gondola Details
- Hours
- Tips
Overview of the Disney Skyliner Transportation System
When Disney first announced this new gondola system,Iimagineda rowboat coasting through the Venice canals — the type Mommy Frog would find quite romantic. Don't be fooled like me! This is a gondolalift:an enclosed cabin transported through the sky via cables, much like you see on the ski slopes. With Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort serving as the Skyliner's "hub," guests staying at this hotel (or connecting hotels) or traveling between Disney's Hollywood Studios and EPCOT will especially want to be aware of it.
The Disney Skyliner transportation system connects four Walt Disney World Resort hotels to both EPCOT and Disney's Hollywood Studios. Theresorts with Disney Skyliner access are:
- Disney's Pop Century
- Disney's Caribbean Beach
- Disney's Art of Animation
- Disney's Riviera Resort
With Pop Century and Art of Animation being two of our preferred value resort hotels, having this extra transportation option is a major bonus. Additionally, a new way to get to EPCOT and Disney's Hollywood Studios is sure to shorten the bus line for those looking to save time. Ifthisisn't a concern for you, the Skyliner can delight tadpoles with its towering height and views of the horizon.
Disney Skyliner Map and Stations
Note: Skyliner does have a stop at Disney's Riviera Resort, which is open. Disney has not released an updated map featuring this stop yet.
Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort is at the center of the new transportation system's route, with a hub designed to reflect the imagery of Caribbean open-air village marketplaces. The station incorporates detailed architectural elements of the resort, especially its vibrant color scheme. Here, guests must hop off and transfer gondola routes to reach their end destination, similar to the monorail’s Transportation and Ticket Center.
The Riviera station is the only station that you do not have to get off at, unless it's your intended stop. Caribbean Beach Resort guests can also hop on at the Riviera Resort station if they’re closer to it (for example, staying at a room in Aruba) and would like to go directly to EPCOT.
If hopping to Hollywood Studios, guests can still use the Riviera station but must go to the Caribbean Beach main hub to switch routes. If guests hop on at the Caribbean Beach main hub to go to EPCOT, they do not have to get off at the Riviera station and will then have a direct trip to EPCOT's International Gateway.
The International Gateway station at EPCOT is inspired by the park’s nearby European Pavilions. This hub fits perfectly into the surrounding World Showcase, with ornamental steel structures, glass and metal canopies and hand-painted murals reminiscent of 18th century Art Nouveau style. Traveling to and from this station offers a never-before-seen aerial view of World Showcase and Disney’s Boardwalk, including the new France pavilion expansion featuring Remy's Ratatouille Adventure!
Disney’s Pop Century and Art of Animation Resorts are also part of the Disney Skyliner transportation system travel loop. These two value resort favorites share a "floating" station matching the colorful, whimsical atmosphere they both exemplify. The gondola travels over the resorts’ shared Hourglass Lake for a panoramic view of their colorful character displays.
Disney’s Hollywood Studios is the only other park stop for the Disney Skyliner transportation system. The design matches the park’s entrance with turquoise and red tones. An awesome view of the park, particularly the Tower of Terror, can be seen when traveling to and from Hollywood Studios!
Along Buena Vista Drive, gondola cabins slow down at a turn-station so guests can see the aerial and mechanical aspects of Skyliner.
Disney Skyliner Gondola Details
Each gondola has wooden bench-style seating that fits a maximum of 10 people (or six guests if you're riding a wheelchair-accessible gondola).There is enough room for strollers to roll on without having to fold them up. Larger strollers may also use the wheelchair queue. Both mobility aids and strollers must fit within a 30-inch by 48-inch area for access.
The gondolas don’t stop, but instead keep moving as they enter and exit the station (similar to the Haunted Mansion ride). For guests with wheelchairs or other assistive devices, there is a separate queue at each station for anyone needing extra time while getting on a gondola. These special gondolas move to the side, so it doesn't affect the other gondolas coming in and out of the station — keeping the Skyliner system operating at all times.
The nearly 300 gondolas feature onboard audio, which is unique to every Disney Skyliner route, depending on the destination you're headed to. The gondolas are not air-conditioned, but they feature reflective panels to avoid direct sunlight and cross-ventilation windows that allow for airflow. We were concerned that it'd get too hot inside, but we'rehoppyto report that it's a comfortable ride! The only time we've felt the heat was when we were stopped for nearly 10 minutes at the Riviera Resort station, waiting to take off after a short delay.
Select Skyliner cabins feature classic Disney pals such as the Fab Five, as well as newer films like “Zootopia” and “Ralph Breaks the Internet”. Both animated films and Walt Disney World attractions make appearances on the gondolas, including “Lilo and Stitch,” “Moana,” “Finding Dory,” the Haunted Mansion and Pirates of the Caribbean. There's even ones themed to Disney World's 50th anniversary!
Disney Skyliner Hours and Timing
Disney Skyliner hours vary each day depending on park hours, the weather, the season and even the route you're taking. Some routes begin operating before the park opens, while others begin operating right at park opening; all routes will remain open for a bit after park closing. Our best advice is to check posted hours for travel to the parks the evening before you hop aboard, and check closing hours as you arrive to the park you'll be visiting for the day. The Skyliner temporarily pauses for inclement weather and/or high winds. Guests staying at any of the four connected resorts will then be able to take busses to EPCOT or Hollywood Studios.
How Long Does a Skyliner Ride Take?
Because the gondolas can load up to 10 guests and are always moving, the queue moves very quickly! Even when the line for EPCOT at the Caribbean Beach station looked scary long, it took less than 10 minutes to hop on. It can take a little longer during peak times, especially around park opening.
To give you an idea of how long the actual ride is, we took every route and timed it ourselves:
- To Hollywood Studiosfrom Caribbean Beach Resort: five minutes
- To Pop Century & Art of Animation Resorts from Caribbean Beach Resort: five minutes
- To Riviera Resort from Caribbean Beach Resort: three minutes
- To EPCOT from Caribbean Beach Resort: 12 minutes
Tips for Using the Disney Skyliner System
Here's some extra tips for the Disney Skyliner:
- If you have a fear of heights or enclosed spaces, we wouldn't recommend the Skyliner as a travel option.
- For people with severe motion sickness, the Disney Skyliner may also not be the best option. Flora can easily get carsick and seasick, and she felt some queasiness during each takeoff and when the gondola stopped and gently swayed in the air.
- Anyone can ride the Skyliner! You do not have to present any hotel reservation information in order to get to the resorts accessible by gondolas.
- That said, you can only park at any of the resorts if you are a registered guest, attending a convention or have a dining reservation.
- Keep the gondola balanced if you do not want an extra rocky ride! Don't all sit on one side, and have the tadpoles sit in between the grown-up frogs.
- Riding at night offers atoadally different experience. As we left Hollywood Studios after closing, we could see the fireworks exploding in the sky at EPCOT! If you have a character-themed gondola, it is a little harder to see out.
- If you're staying at any of the resorts along the Skyliner routes, Skyliner is currently the only Disney transportation option available for EPCOT and Disney's Hollywood Studios. Buses are only available if Skyliner is not operating.
With this new addition, more improved and fun ways to hop around Walt Disney World will allow guests to save time and create even more magical memories! Ribbit!
With all of the exciting new experiences coming to Walt Disney World — from new lands to new ways to travel — there’s no better time to book your next trip. We've got greatdiscounts onyour Orlando hotel and theme park tickets!
Related: Your Complete Guide to Walt Disney World Transportation
Keep hopping!
FAQs
Can you ride the Skyliner and not get off? ›
This is also true at the Caribbean Beach station. Disney is not allowing guests to ride continuously without getting off. Once you arrive at one of these locations you have to exit the Skyliner. If you want to get back on and keep riding that's no problem.
Can you ride the Skyliner all the way around? ›Sort of. If you just want to ride the Skyliner for fun, you will have to get off at a destination—you cannot just stay on through a station—but you can usually just walk right back on going the other way. Of course, during peak times (park closing, particularly) this might be a bad idea.
How do you ride Disney Skyliner without staying on property? ›Anyone can ride the Skyliner; you don't have to be staying at a Disney Resort. Probably the easiest way to catch a ride on the Skyliner (if you aren't staying at a resort with a station or if you are staying offsite) is to board at either Hollywood Studios or Epcot.
Is the Skyliner at Disney worth it? ›14 – Overall Thoughts
The ride experience is comfortable and relaxing and offers a really unique way to see and experience Walt Disney World. We think Disney has hit a home run with the Disney Skyliner and brought guests a fun, efficient, and magical way to travel throughout the resort!
The Disney Skyliner is by far our new favorite Disney transportation system, and we will probably ride it just for fun many times. It's faster than a bus or monorail and is a more enjoyable form of transportation than either of those as well.
Does Disney Skyliner have free rides? ›Is Disney Skyliner Free? Disney Skyliner is completely free. Disney World advertises this as a service for resort guests, but it's also available for folks who want to connect between EPCOT and Hollywood Studios and those that just feel like an overhead view of Disney World.
Do you need a park reservation to ride the Skyliner? ›Guests are not required to have theme park reservations or advanced dining reservations if they would like to ride the Disney Skyliner! This means you can simply board an aerial gondola and get a treetop tour if you'd like!
How long is the Skyliner ride? ›The journey time for a one-way journey along the full route from Caribbean Beach to Epcot is 11 minutes. A journey between Caribbean Beach and Riviera takes three minutes, and the journey between Riviera and Epcot takes six minutes.
Can you get to the monorail from the Skyliner? ›Keep in mind that the Skyliner station in EPCOT is located at International Gateway, whereas the Monorail station is at the main entrance. So you'll need to walk through the park in order to take this route.
Can non resort guests use the Skyliner? ›Anyone can ride the Skyliner! You do not have to present any hotel reservation information in order to get to the resorts accessible by gondolas.
Where do you park for Disney Skyliner? ›
If you are at EPCOT or Disney's Hollywood Studios, simply hop on the Skyliner while your car is parked in the main lots. Please note that if boarding at EPCOT, the station is located at the International Gateway near World Showcase.
Can you take the Skyliner at EPCOT without a ticket? ›The Disney Skyliner is part of the complimentary transportation system at Walt Disney World Resort, which means you can board it from any of its locations, including the Disney BoardWalk, without a theme park ticket.
Can you take drinks on Disney Skyliner? ›While you may bring non-alcoholic beverages aboard the Disney Skyliner, you must finish your adult beverages before you board your gondola. While you are exploring The Big Blue Pool, you absolutely have to try my absolute favorite summer beverage, the Frosé.
Can you take coffee on Disney Skyliner? ›As you soar to your magical adventures on the Disney Skyliner, you are welcome to take your jet fuel (i.e. coffee!) along for the ride! There is a restriction on bringing alcoholic beverages on the Disney Skyliner, but your boost of morning Java will be just fine!
Does the Disney Skyliner run in the rain? ›Does the Skyliner close if it rains? During storms or high winds, or if lightning has been detected nearby, the Disney Skyliner does close.
What time does Skyliner start running? ›Disney Skyliner Hours & Wait Times
Typically, Skyliner gondolas start running around 60-90 minutes before park open, around 7:30-9:00 AM, and continue operating until about 60-90 minutes after the park close, around 10:00-11:00 PM.
Disney Skyliner Hours vary depending on park opening and closing times. They will typically start between 7:30am-8:30am and stop between 10:00pm and 11:00pm. There are signs at the entrance with the hours for the day.
Where does the Skyliner drop you off at EPCOT? ›When you take the Disney Skyliner to EPCOT, you will exit the Disney Skyliner at the EPCOT International Gateway. The EPCOT International Gateway is located in EPCOT'S World Showcase area. If you are planning to board the monorail from EPCOT, then you would need to pass through EPCOT and exit the front entrance.
Can you park hop with the Skyliner? ›They are complimentary; no need for a park ticket or reservation, and they will take you back and forth, weather dependent. Within minutes you will can hop to each park! The Skyliner is not air-conditioned but has open air, and breezes come through; you are also high in the sky, so be prepared for that experience.
Can I take food to Disney World? ›A. Guests are allowed to bring outside food and nonalcoholic beverage items into the park for self-consumption, provided they are not in glass containers and do not require heating, reheating, processing, refrigeration or temperature control and do not have pungent odors.
Is food free at Disney World? ›
Normally, if you stay at a Value or Moderate Resort, you'll receive the Quick Service Dining Plan for FREE, meaning you'll get two fast-food type meals and two snacks per night per person. If you reserve a Deluxe or Deluxe Villa Resort, you will receive the Standard Dining Plan for FREE.
What time does the Skyliner start running 2022? ›As a general rule of thumb, the Disney skyliner hours typically start to run around 60-90 minutes before EPCOT opens in the morning which can be between 7:30 AM – 9:00 AM. This would be the same for the other nearby park Hollywood Studios.
Can you ride Skyliner from EPCOT? ›Plus, the Disney Skyliner station at International Gateway at EPCOT is conveniently located just a short stroll away from Disney's BoardWalk entertainment district, Disney's Yacht Club Resort, Disney's Beach Club Resort and Disney's BoardWalk Inn.
How many people fit in a Disney Skyliner? ›Skyliner gondolas can hold up to ten passengers without a wheelchair, ECV, or stroller on board. With one of these, capacity drops to six passengers. Strollers can remain open with a child riding in them as long as they fall within the maximum size requirements: 30″ x 48″.
How long does Disney Skyliner take round trip? ›The Disney Skyliner routes are taking shape and the new mode of transportation at Walt Disney World will be opening later this year. The gondolas will travel swiftly across their routes, with rides approximately 5 to 15 minutes in length, depending on your destination.
Are Disney buses free? ›Complimentary bus transportation is available to and from Disneyland Park, Disney California Adventure Park and the Toy Story Parking Area. Buses operate until approximately one hour after the last theme park closes.
Can you walk from monorail to Skyliner at EPCOT? ›Since the Monorail is located at the front gate of Epcot, you would need a park ticket and a reservation for Epcot to walk through the park to get to where the Epcot Monorail Station is located.
Can you take a scooter on Disney Skyliner? ›Inside The Skyliner Gondola With The Mobility Scooter
Seating is possible, but there would be no legroom.
The ride from this station to Disney's Hollywood Studios is about five minutes. To be safe, I would recommend budgeting at least 30 minutes to get to your destination. If the Skyliner lines are long, you can also walk to Hollywood Studios- it may not be as fun, but the trip would only take you 15-20 minutes.
How does the Skyliner work at Disney? ›The Skyliner connects four different points in Walt Disney World. You can ride the Skyliner to Epcot (with an optional stop en route at Disney's Riviera Resort), Hollywood Studios, Caribbean Beach Resort, and Disney's Art of Animation and Pop Century resorts. The latter two are serviced by the same station.
How long does it take to ride the Skyliner from Hollywood Studios to EPCOT? ›
Disney's Hollywood Studios and EPCOT: 18 minutes.
Can you get to the monorail from the Skyliner? ›Keep in mind that the Skyliner station in EPCOT is located at International Gateway, whereas the Monorail station is at the main entrance. So you'll need to walk through the park in order to take this route.
Can you bring drinks on the Skyliner? ›While you may bring non-alcoholic beverages aboard the Disney Skyliner, you must finish your adult beverages before you board your gondola. While you are exploring The Big Blue Pool, you absolutely have to try my absolute favorite summer beverage, the Frosé.
Can anyone ride the Disney Skyliner? ›Anyone can ride the Skyliner! You do not have to present any hotel reservation information in order to get to the resorts accessible by gondolas.
How many people fit in a Disney Skyliner? ›Skyliner gondolas can hold up to ten passengers without a wheelchair, ECV, or stroller on board. With one of these, capacity drops to six passengers. Strollers can remain open with a child riding in them as long as they fall within the maximum size requirements: 30″ x 48″.
Where do you park for Disney Skyliner? ›If you are at EPCOT or Disney's Hollywood Studios, simply hop on the Skyliner while your car is parked in the main lots. Please note that if boarding at EPCOT, the station is located at the International Gateway near World Showcase.
Does the Disney Skyliner run in the rain? ›Does the Skyliner close if it rains? During storms or high winds, or if lightning has been detected nearby, the Disney Skyliner does close.
Can you park hop before 2PM? ›Park Hopping Begins at 2PM
This time may change or even vary by day, but Disney currently says that park hopping hours will be from 2PM to the close of the park. So if you visit your first park at 9AM and leave at 11AM, you have to wait until 2PM to enter another park.
Disney Skyliner Hours & Wait Times
Typically, Skyliner gondolas start running around 60-90 minutes before park open, around 7:30-9:00 AM, and continue operating until about 60-90 minutes after the park close, around 10:00-11:00 PM.
Basically, the Skyliner station at EPCOT is located just outside the International Gateway entrance to the park. You could easily walk to that station from many of the area resorts, or even ride one of the Friendship boats to the station.
What time does the Skyliner run until? ›
Disney Skyliner Hours
They will typically start between 7:30am-8:30am and stop between 10:00pm and 11:00pm. There are signs at the entrance with the hours for the day.
The monorail is located at the front of EPCOT, whereas the Disney Skyliner stop is at the International Gateway entrance. This requires utilizing a theme park ticket to enter EPCOT in order to access the monorail.
Can I take coffee on Disney Skyliner? ›along for the ride! There is a restriction on bringing alcoholic beverages on the Disney Skyliner, but your boost of morning Java will be just fine! There just happens to be a Joffrey's stand at the Caribbean Beach Skyliner station. They have tons of great coffee and tea options!
Can I take food on the Disney Skyliner? ›Can I eat and drink on the Skyliner? We saw guests riding with coffee (with lids) from the new coffee stand at the Caribbean Beach Resort station, and you can bring food into the gondolas.
Can you have food on Disney Skyliner? ›Everywhere You Can Dine on the Skyliner. Just like with the buses, boats, and monorail, anyone visiting Walt Disney World can use the Disney Skyliner. And, you don't have to be staying at one of the Skyliner resorts to ride it, either.