Easy Guide to Disney Skyliner

Disney Skyliner opened on Sept. 29, 2019 at the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. Here you’ll find information on Disney Skyliner times, hours of operation, and the route map.

Disney Skyliner

View fullsize

Disney Skyliner Map

Disney Skyliner conveniently transports guests between Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Epcot to four resort hotels:

1. Disney’s Art of Animation Resort

2. Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort (hub)

3. Disney’s Pop Century Resort

4. Disney’s Riviera Resort

The hub for Skyliner is located at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort. All routes lead to Caribbean Beach. At the hub, you can transfer to other Skyliner routes.

What are Disney Skyliner hours of operation?

Disney Skyliner hours vary. On a typical day gondolas begin flying approximately 1-hour prior to park opening and up to two hours after park closing. Disney does not post Skyliner hours on its website. Instead, there are signs at each Skyliner station that display operating hours. You can also ask at your hotel for daily Skyliner hours of operation.

What are the Disney Skyliner times along each route?

• Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort to Disney’s Hollywood Studios: 5 minutes

• Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort to Epcot: 15 minutes

• Disney’s Pop Century / Disney’s Art of Animation to Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort: 5 min

• Disney’s Riviera Resort to Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort: 5 minutes

• Disney’s Riviera Resort to Epcot: 10 minutes

• Epcot to Disney’s Hollywood Studios: 20 minutes

I have an early morning dining reservation, can I use Disney Skyliner to get there?

This is a tricky one. Disney doesn’t post Skyliner hours online and there are no set hours of operation. Ask at your hotel to be sure. You might have to plan on driving or taking Uber or Lyft.

Are there long lines to board Skyliner?

During the morning and evening rush lines can be as long as 15 to 20 minutes at the Caribbean Beach station. Transportation at Walt Disney World whether you’re waiting for a bus, monorail, boat or gondola, will usually be about 20 minutes when the parks are opening and closing.

The real advantage to Skyliner, however, is that during off-peak times, there’s no wait at all.

Can I use Skyliner for rope drop?

Rope drop is an unofficial term that means, “arriving at the parks slightly before they open.” This allows you to get a head start on crowds and I do highly recommend it.

Often Skyliner will start running 30-60 minutes prior to park opening. Ask at your hotel what time it will start running.

Don’t forget to allow time to board Skyliner during rush hour, wait times can be 15-20 minutes during this period. Yes, another reason to get an early start on your day at Walt Disney World!

Disney Skyliner station

Can I Ride Skyliner if I’m not staying at one of the hotels?

Yes! It’s perfectly ok to board Skyliner at one of the theme park stations to go for a ride. The best time to do this would be late afternoon to early evening. One of the more scenic routes is between Epcot and Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort.

I’m afraid of heights, can I take a bus instead of Skyliner?

Sure, buses still run between the Skyliner hotels and the theme parks, however, they are on reduced schedules and may arrive only once per hour.

Inside a Disney Skyliner gondola

Can I take a stroller in the gondola? Do strollers need to be folded on Skyliner

Most strollers will fit without the need to fold them up, even the double-wide strollers fit in the Skyliner gondolas.

Can I take a wheelchair or scooter on Skyliner?

Yes. Skyliner operators will slow the speed of the gondola allowing you to roll in. You also have the option of boarding a stationary gondola. Stationary gondolas are located on a separate spur in the station. When you’re ready to go, the gondola will rejoin the main line. The gondola will be discreetly marked so the operators at the other station will know to direct it off the main line onto the spur.

Are Skyliner cabins air conditioned?

No, but they have large vents at the top. While the gondolas are moving, there’s a steady breeze that passes through the cabin. Even on the hottest day in Florida, the breeze moving through the gondola is sufficient to keep you cool.

For over 12 years Darren Wittko has been helping people save money at Walt Disney World as both, a travel writer and a travel advisor with Magical Vacations Travel. He’s featured in the Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World as a Best of the Best Disney Travel Agent. Darren resides in Celebration, FL.

Recent Updates