There’s no such thing as a PERFECT mode of Disney World transportation, though some of Disney’s newer solutions come pretty close! For example, ever since the Skyliner opened, it’s been a POPULAR alternative to taking the bus to EPCOT or Disney’s Hollywood Studios. (And it’s way faster, too!)
Who’s up for a ride on the Skyliner?
That said, it’s still not a perfect system, so we’ve rounded up some of the downsides to taking the Skyliner.
Admittedly, we’re BIG fans of the Skyliner. When everything is in proper working order, it can be a fast, efficient mode of transportation that saves time compared to driving. Unfortunately, things don’t always run smoothly because, well, it’s impossible to control the weather or build unlimited Skyliner gondolas. Now, let’s dive into some of the biggest problems with the Skyliner.
Loooong Lines
If you find yourself at the Skyliner station bright and early before EPCOT or Disney’s Hollywood Studios opens, you may end up waiting in a LONG line. Turns out, everyone tends to wake up with the same idea: “Let’s rope-drop Disney’s Hollywood Studios, kids!” Yeah, let’s just say you won’t be the only one waiting to go to EPCOT or Hollywood Studios in the morning.
Look out for CROWDS!
The same logic applies at night. Right after the EPCOT fireworks and the end of Disney’s Fantasmic! show, HUGE crowds of people pack it in for the night and head straight to the Skyliner Station.
Ugh — another line!
Again, be prepared to wait in line — you won’t be the only ones headed out when the parks close. That said, the line tends to move pretty quickly since the Skyliner doesn’t ever actually stop moving, so don’t panic when you encounter a long line.
Bad Weather
Remember how we mentioned needing perfect conditions to successfully ride the Skyliner? This is what we’re talking about. When there’s lightning nearby or severe weather in the area, the Skyliner will close out of an abundance of caution. After all, no one wants to get stuck way up in the air in the middle of a monsoon!
The Skyliner closes in bad weather
When this happens, Disney encourages guests to use the bus instead, though depending on the time and your location, this may add a significant amount of time to your journey. If you happen to be in line to use the Skyliner when it closes, Cast Members typically arrange for a bus to come and pick you up, though this can take anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes, depending on the bus schedule.
We HATE when this happens!
On the other hand, if you find yourself in EPCOT when the Skyliner is down, you may find a sign suggesting you use the bus stop outside the main entrance of EPCOT, which is VERY far away.
You can still take the EPCOT bus, but it’s not nearby!
In the summer, storms happen pretty much EVERY day, meaning there’s at least one hour that the Skyliner is unavailable every time there’s a storm.
Yuck — Sharing!
Many people strongly dislike sharing a Skyliner gondola with another party. When it’s especially busy, you’re likely going to be seated with another family, depending on the size of your party. Think of it like sharing a table at a restaurant — it’s pretty close quarters!
Inside a gondola
Note that you can ask to ride alone, though Cast Members may not be able to 100% guarantee you a private cabin. That said, Disney tries to be as accommodating as they can whenever possible.
Fear of Heights
If the idea of being suspended way up in the air freaks you out, don’t ride the Skyliner. Just don’t do it.
The Skyliner is VERY high off the ground!
While Disney has a reputation for being VERY cautious and safe, some people may choose not to ride out of fear of heights. When you really think about it, it’s pretty crazy that those big, heavy gondolas can move so quickly through the air on just that thin cable.
Away we go!
Also, keep in mind that the Skyliner may temporarily stop without warning at any time, so if you don’t like the idea of being stuck (for ANY period of time — even just a few minutes), you might not want to use the Skyliner.
The Skyliner is a fun way to hop from EPCOT to Hollywood Studios!
As you can see, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows, but overall, the Skyliner is a fun, handy way to get from place to place. In the meantime, we’re always on the lookout for the latest Disney news, so stay tuned for more.
The Surprising Reason You Should Stay at This Underrated Disney World Hotel
Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe!
WE KNOW DISNEY.
YOU CAN, TOO.
Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation.
Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever!
Do you like using the Skyliner? Let us know in the comments!
Our handy (and portable!) ebook guides make sure you get the best deals and can plan a vacation of a lifetime.
Sharing is not really an issue. we are together on buses, monorail and attractions. so that’s not really a big deal
Was really impressed with the skyliner. Visited Walt Disney World last week of June. Encountered long line, like you said after Fantasmic at Hollywood Studios. However it moved quickly and was not that long of a wait. Stayed at CBR there was 12 of us. Only 2 complaints kind of, first the grandkids where disappointed sometimes when the skyliner didn’t have a character on it. Not a big deal to me, but was to the kids. Here is my worst compaint. We were at EPCOT and we were leaving after having Dinner at the Garden Grill, it began to rain. So our families split up. We went to the main EPCOT entrance to catch a bus. Thinking we could not catch the Skyliner. At that time we were told no buses to CBR would have to use the Skyliner,even tough it was raining pretty steadily, so we headed back across EPCOT to the Skyliner station, We had ponchos but still got wet. However one of my daughters and her family was able to catch a bus to CBR. Not sure why we were told no buses. That’s really the only issue we had with the Skyliner. But the skyliner sure cuts done on bus travel when you stay in one of the resorts. Will definitely stay at a Skyliner resort again. But my real wish is to stay at the Polynesian someday.
It move quick even when the lines are long. Much faster than waiting in buses.
If you are staying at one of the resorts on the Skyliner route, taking the bus to EPCOT or Hollywood Studios is only an option when the skyliner is not operating. There are signs in the area where the buses would normally be for those 2 parks advising you to use the skyliner. Which explains the long lines – it’s your only option unless you drive yourself to EPCOT & HS. Personally I would use the skyliner for all parks if I could.
Is there a way to tell the operating status of the Skyliner on the MDE App?
Skylines is my absolute favorite disney transportation. Sometimes I’ll ride just to ride even when I have no where to go.
I really hope they expand it to more locations.
Pro Tip:
Use yhe bathroom before boarding… JUST IN CASE
My daughter, husband, 2 grandkids, & I loved the Skyliner. It’s so awesome riding so high & overlooking the Disney property.
Thunderstorms came one day at the end of the day. The Skyliner shut down, so we headed towards the buses. After around a 30 min. wait (not bad) we were off to our hotel.
One thing I will say, Disney waste no thing moving those buses.
There are alternatives to the Skyliner, though they are slower.
(1) There is a boat that runs from Epcot to Studios and back, with a stop at Swan/Dolphin.
(2) There is a walking path from Epcot to Studios, which can either be convenient, inconvenient, or torture, depending on the weather and your phyisical condition.
I do not enjoy heights, but I have absolutely no problem with the Skyliner.
I’ve read conflicting information. We’re staying at Caribbean Beach and some sites I’ve read have said the Skyliners are the ONLY way to and from Epcot and Hollywood from the resorts (barring lightning). Now you are saying there are busses also? We have someone very afraid of heights, so if there is a possibility of him using the bus we would want to take advantage of that. Can you please clarify. Are their busses to Epcot and Hollywood regardless of if the skyliners are running?