Disney Skyliner: Essential Info on the Magical Gondola System
Introduction to New Disney Skyliner
So you have booked your magical vacation in a resort along the Disney Skyliner. Now, you have all of the questions.
Where does it take you?
Where do you get on?
When does it run?
What can you take with you?
Is it scary?
And for the love of mouse, can we talk about Bruno on there?
Ok, so I threw that last one in for fun.
But seriously, if you ask yourself the rest of these questions, you have come to the right place. My friend, we are about to answer all of these and more. Let’s get started!
What is Disney Skyliner?
In late September 2019, Disney’s Skyliner opened for use by Walt Disney World Resort Guests. The new Disney Skyliner Gondola System provides guests with a fun, quick new mode of transportation along limited routes throughout the resort.
Providing quick, peaceful transportation in a skyliner cabin from select resorts to both Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Epcot’s International Gateway, it has quickly become a favorite among Disney guests. As Walt Disney World’s newest form of transportation, the new skyliner has quickly proven itself to be a fantastic improvement to the transportation offerings across the resort.
Unique Features of Disney Skyliner
Compared to the other modes of transportation on the property (the Disney Monorail System, the bus system, and the beloved boats), the new Disney Skyliner boasts some pretty unique features.
Non-Stop Loading
Due to the design and speed of the Skyliner system, non-stop, continuous loading takes place with most skyliner cabins. This helps keep the boarding and unboarding process moving and those long lines at bay.
Disney Cast Members are there to direct you to your cabin and alert you when it is your time to board. Walk on, watching your step as you move to your preferred spot on the wooden bench inside. Then, you are on your way to the next station, where you will be directed to exit if need be, or, continued on to your destination.
No Need to Fold Strollers
Major plus for the new Disney Skyliner Gondolas is the fact that you do not have to collapse strollers before boarding. While this may seem intimidating initially, I promise it is very easy.
The most challenging part was aiming the stroller at the skyliner cabin doors to ensure I didn’t clip a door on our way in. Pro-tip: ALWAYS remind kiddos to keep their hands and feet in the stroller before boarding. It will keep your anxiety lessened and your kid’s limbs less bruised.
Spacious Aerial Gondolas
My favorite feature of the new skyliner system is how spacious the cabins are. Even during the busiest times of the day when the cabin was filled, I still felt like there was breathing room. This is a MAJOR improvement over the monorail or bus system, where I sometimes think you are packed in to transport as many people as possible without consideration for comfort.
For reference, the capacity of the skyliner cabins is ten people. You will be split up between cabins if you have more than that in your party. Planning accordingly and knowing who will ride in which group before you get to boarding can help to expedite the process and keep the line moving!
Bright Colors and Character Theming
Kids will be particularly delighted by the bright colors and themes of the Disney Skyliner cabins. Many of the cabins feature special wraps with favorite characters and scenes from Disney movies.
We saw anything from Star Wars and Haunted Mansion to Zootopia and Encanto cabins, all in vibrant colors. This made even the experience of waiting in line to board fun as we watched the aerial gondolas go by!
Disney Skyliner Stations and Routes
The most confusing part of the Disney Skyliner is figuring out the skyliner stations and routes, and how best to utilize them. Thanks to some super helpful cast members, this process is quick to nail down once you start. For those seeking a bit more information before they jump on, though, I have broken down the most crucial parts to get you started below.
Resort Hotels on Skyliner Routes
While I wish it could be different, every resort hotel at Disney is not accessible by the Disney skyliner. Therefore, if you are booking your vacation and you want the Skyliner to be one of the main methods of transportation for your crew, you are going to need to check into one of the Disney skyliner resorts listed below:
Disney’s Art of Animation & Disney’s Pop Century Resort
For all of you Art of Animation and Pop Century Resort fans, get excited. Not only are these hotels located on a skyliner route, but the trip back to these hotels is also probably the prettiest. With a direct route over Hourglass Lake, every time you depart and arrive back at your hotel, you will have beautiful water views to welcome you.
Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
Do you love the Caribbean vibes of the Caribbean Beach Resort? With the luscious palm trees and true Caribbean feel, what wouldn’t be to love?
The new thing you have to love about this resort hotel is that it is also on the skyliner route! Not only that, but if the main station isn’t overly close to you, a quick walk around the small lake near this hotel will take you over the Riviera (also on the route, as we are about to find out.) Now, you have two skyliner stations available for your convenience from one resort hotel!
Disney’s Riviera Resort
Last but certainly not least, the new Riviera Resort Hotel is on the skyliner route. This deluxe resort is the latest resort to Disney property, offering stylish, European-modeled accommodations.
It also hosts our FAVORITE Disney characters, Mickey and the gang, at Topolino’s Terrace for breakfast. It seems perfect for being part of the Disney skyliner system, right?
Honorable Mentions
Ok, so these resort hotels do not have their own station on the Disney World skyliner route, but secret time. They are all three a very quick walk to Epcot’s International Gateway station. Therefore if you wanted to utilize the skyliner to jump over to another resort or to head to Hollywood Studios, it is so doable.
Disney’s Beach Club Resort, Disney’s Yacht Club Resort, and Disney’s Boardwalk Resort are all three resort hotels in the Epcot resort area, about a 5-10 minute walk to the station. For guests staying at any of these locations, I certainly wouldn’t be ruling in favor of the bus over the skyliner. Just saying.
Disney Skyliner Stations
Speaking of skyliner stations, it is probably time that we chat about them! There are five stations along the Disney skyliner route. Let’s check them out:
The Main Hub: Caribbean Beach Resort Station
On the Disney Skyliner route, one main hub serves as a transfer hub. That is the Caribbean Beach Station.
Regardless of where you are coming from, you must disembark from your aerial gondola once you arrive at the Caribbean Beach station. Then, you can get into another cabin to continue your journey to your final destination.
From this station, you can take a skyliner cabin to Disney’s Hollywood Studios, to the Riviera Resort, or to Art of Animation/Pop Century Resorts. Bonus: the Caribbean Beach Station is the only station with a Jeoffery’s coffee shop. It is located at the base of the station ramp. If you need caffeine, those few extra steps are totally worth it!
Theme Park Stations: Hollywood Studio’s Station and Epcot’s International Gateway Station
The Disney Skyliner services two of Disney’s four theme parks, Hollywood Studios and Epcot. This being said, you can find a skyliner station outside of each of these theme parks!
The Hollywood Studio’s station is going to be found right outside of the main gates to the park. If you head towards the Friendship Boats station, you will not be able to miss the skyliner station!
As for the Epcot Station, it is found at the back entrance to Epcot, by France in the Epcot International Gateway. It will be just outside the park’s back entrance, so again, you cannot miss it. Keep in mind, you will NOT be able to transfer from the Skyliner to the Buses or Disney’s Monorail System without a park entry ticket. This is because the stations are located at different ends of the park.
Resort Stations: Riviera Resort Station and Pop Century/Art of Animation Resorts Dual Station
The other two resort station locations are at Riviera Resort and Pop Century/Art of Animation Resorts.
The Riviera Resort Station is a pass-through station along the route from Epcot to the Carribean Beach Station. If you are staying at, or visiting Riviera resort, you will disembark your skyliner cabin at this station. If not, smile and wave to the cast members as you move through and continue on to Carribean Beach Station. In the event you are loading from this station, you can travel to Epcot or in the opposite direction to Carribean Beach!
Over at Art of Animation/Pop Century Resorts, you will find the other resort located Skyliner station. This is also the only floating skyliner station on Disney property! This station is pretty straightforward, as there is only one destination going out and one place you are coming from if you are arriving, Caribbean Beach.
Experiencing Disney Skyliner: Tips for a Seamless Journey
Now that you know a bit more about how to navigate the skyliner system, let’s talk about some insights to make sure your experience is nothing short of magical!
Accessibility and Transfers
While the Skyliner loading process is non-stop, there are exceptions to this rule. If you have a member of your party who is physically unable to participate in non-stop loading, simply alert one of the many cast members at the station. They will ensure that a stationary loading cabin is made available. Your cabin will also be made stationary for any transfers needing to be made along your route to your final destination.
Weather
You will typically find the Disney Skyliner running rain or shine. It will be halted and completely evacuated during certain weather events. During high winds or in the event of lightning in the area, the skyliner will not be in service. Also, if Florida is forecast to be impacted by hurricane weather, you can anticipate the skyliner will not be running.
Maintenance
Once a year, typically in January, the Disney skyliner will close for a couple of weeks for routine maintenance. These time blocks are heavily announced ahead of time and guests are made aware of the closure. This helps to limit unexpected maintenance closures throughout the rest of the year and ensures the skyliner is well maintained.
Operating Hours
Disney Skyliner hours are posted at each station. These change based on park opening times, so check your station for the most accurate information! The skyliner will typically begin operating about an hour before early park entry to Epcot or Hollywood Studios, whichever opens first that day. It will close approximately 90 minutes after the Epcot and Hollywood Studios are closed for the evening. If you happen to be at a park past the skyliner closure, you will likely be taking an Uber or catching the bus.
Avoiding Long Lines
With a day of theme park lines in store, the last thing most people want to do is stand in line for transportation to or from the park. If you want to avoid the lines, I recommend waiting until about 45 minutes AFTER the skyliner starts running in the morning to try to board. For folks looking to rope drop Hollywood Studios or Epcot, I recommend getting to the station a SOLID thirty to forty-five before the station opens. The line for the skyliner for the rope drop can take every bit of that to get loaded.
Do you want to avoid the lines towards the end of the night? DO NOT wait until park close, or right after one of the evening shows to try to leave. Make your strategy sneaking out to the skyliner between events, and you will likely spend less time waiting on a ride back to your bed.
Route Times
The exact time you get from station to station will vary based on who you talk to. After riding (multiple times thanks to Ellie’s love of the skyliner) these were the approximate ride times I came up with. Bear in mind these times can fluctuate depending on how many times the skyliner has to pause temporarily:
- From Pop Century & Art of Animation Resorts Station to Caribbean Beach Resort Station – 6 minutes
- From Caribbean Beach Resort Station to Hollywood Studios – 5 minutes
- From Caribbean Beach Resort Station to Riviera Resort Station – 4 minutes
- From Caribbean Beach Resort to EPCOT Station (Passing through Riviera) – 12 minutes
The Disney Skyliner: A Few Final Words
Regarding Disney World transportation options, the skyliner has become a fast favorite in this family. After our last trip, I mistakenly asked Ellie what her favorite part of her Disney Vacation was.
Her response?
The Skyliner.
You will be hard-pressed to convince me that staying off the skyliner route is a good idea. (Though each resort has its own perks.) Now I must know, have you ridden the skyliner with your family? Did you love it or hate it? Let me know in the comments below.
If you are ready to book your own vacation so you can get on board the skyliner yourself, reach out to Charming Getaways By Kameron, and she will help you get on the skyliner route! Be sure to check out my latest post here for some tips on a magical meeting with Mirabel from Disney’s Encanto!
