Walt Disney World (FL)

How to Get Around Without the Skyliner

Julia Mascardo
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When the Skyliner opened, it was billed as a quick and easy way to get between locations–and it was! Well, until it wasn’t, that is. Following this weekend’s “operational incident”, the Skyliner has been closed while a safety investigation is done to make sure that such an incident doesn’t happen again. In the meantime, there’s now necessary workarounds needed to get from Point A to Point B. And even when the Skyliner reopens, there may be times when the Skyliner will be unavailable due to weather issues, or there may be people who don’t want to ride the Skyliner. So how do you get around using Disney transportation? Here’s a helpful guide.

Hollywood Studios to Crescent Lake Resorts (Beach Club, Yacht Club, Boardwalk, Swan, and Dolphin)

There are three ways to get from Hollywood Studios to the Crescent Lake Resorts. From the front entrance of Disney’s Hollywood Studios, the Friendships will take you by each the hotels and on to Epcot. The Friendships may also be closed for weather, however. There is a walking path that goes from Hollywood Studios to Crescent Lake and on to Epcot, but likewise during bad weather, this will not be a good option. If weather is an issue, you’ll need to take the busses to get around if you’re using Disney transportation. Direct busses are available from Disney’s Hollywood Studios to each of those resorts.

Hollywood Studios to Epcot 

There are three ways to get from Hollywood Studios to the International Gateway entrance at the back of Epcot. From the front entrance of Disney’s Hollywood Studios, the Friendships will take you to the hotel stops and on to Epcot. The total travel time between the Studios and Epcot is about 25 minutes. The Friendships may also be closed for weather, however. There is a walking path that goes from Hollywood Studios to Crescent Lake and on to Epcot, but likewise during bad weather, this will not be a good option. If weather is an issue, you’ll need to take the busses to get around if you’re using Disney transportation. Direct busses are available from Disney’s Hollywood Studios to the front entrance of Epcot.

Hollywood Studios to Caribbean Beach, Riviera Resort, Art of Animation/Pop Century

Should the Skyliner system be down, the only Disney transportation option from Disney’s Hollywood Studios to Caribbean Beach, Riviera Resort, or Art of Animation and Pop Century is the bus system.

Crescent Lake Resorts (Beach Club, Yacht Club, Boardwalk, Swan, and Dolphin) to Epcot

There are three ways to get from the Crescent Lake Resorts to Epcot. The Friendships will take you from the hotels and on to the International Gateway entrance at the back of Epcot–travel time will vary based on what resort you are at. The Friendships may also be closed for weather, however. There is a walking path that goes from the Crescent Lake Resorts to Epcot, but likewise during bad weather, this will not be a good option. If weather is an issue, you’ll need to take the busses to get around if you’re using Disney transportation. Direct busses are available from each resort hotel to the front entrance of Epcot.

Crescent Lake Resorts (Beach Club, Yacht Club, Boardwalk, Swan, and Dolphin) to Hollywood Studios 

There are three ways to get from the Crescent Lake Resorts to Hollywood Studios. The Friendships will take you from the hotels and on to Disney’s Hollywood Studios–travel time will vary based on what resort you are at. The Friendships may also be closed for weather, however. There is a walking path that goes from the Crescent Lake Resorts to Hollywood Studios, but likewise during bad weather, this will not be a good option. If weather is an issue, you’ll need to take the busses to get around if you’re using Disney transportation. Direct busses are available from each resort hotel to Hollywood Studios.

Crescent Lake Resorts (Beach Club, Yacht Club, Boardwalk, Swan, and Dolphin) to Art of Animation/Pop Century, Caribbean Beach, Riviera Resort

Unfortunately, no direct transfer options exist between these resorts. To go between these resorts, you’ll need to take transportation to a the front entrance of a theme park (and so taking a Friendship to Epcot would not be an option) or Disney Springs and then take a bus to the resort of your choice.

Caribbean Beach, Riveria Resort, Art of Animation/Pop Century to Epcot

If the Skyliner system is down, you’ll need to take a Disney bus from your resort to the front entrance of Epcot.

Caribbean Beach, Riveria Resort, Art of Animation/Pop Century to Hollywood Studios 

If the Skyliner system is down, you’ll need to take a Disney bus from your resort to the front entrance of Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

Caribbean Beach, Riveria Resort, Art of Animation/Pop Century to Crescent Lake Resorts

Unfortunately, no direct transfer options exist between resorts. To go between these resorts, you’ll need to take bus transportation to a the front entrance of a theme park or Disney Springs and then take a bus to the resort of your choice. If you go to Disney’s Hollywood Studios, you can also walk or take Friendship, weather permitting.

Caribbean Beach, Riveria Resort, Art of Animation/Pop Century to a different resort from the Caribbean Beach, Riveria Resort, Art of Animation/Pop Century

Unfortunately, no direct transfer options exist between resorts. To go between these resorts, you’ll need to take transportation to a the front entrance of a theme park or Disney Springs and then take a bus to the resort of your choice.

What’s your preferred mode of transportation? Let us know in the comments.

 

 

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Julia Mascardo

Former writer, editor, and social media manager of TouringPlans. Embarking on new adventures with husband, kid, and cats.

9 thoughts on “How to Get Around Without the Skyliner”

  • I’m far from being a frequent visitor (been twice with a 20 year gap between visits) and I know there’s no direct bus between the resorts. Google is my friend. Some people do like being spoonfed though.

  • This has to be a joke post.

  • Since this article is more geared to a newer guest, it may be worth mentioning the Friendship Boats or something instead of just “Friendships”, which may not be obvious despite it’s punny name.

  • Clarification: there are usually no buses from BC/YC to Epcot. Only if there is a thunderstorm that has shut down the Friendships (and I’m assuming the Skyliner).

  • How to get around with skyliner down? Simple! Same way we did for almost 5 decades as of 2 weeks ago.

  • Wow! “…necessary workarounds…”? And all this time I thought I was using traditional WDW transportation.

    • One question we get a lot is how do I get to a resort from another resort–for instance, going to Cape May for breakfast from a hotel room at Pop Century without paying for a ride share vehicle. When the Skyliner system is up, it’s now a lot easier, and you’ll see many sites simply saying “Take the Skyliner from Pop to Caribbean Beach to the Epcot line, and then walk from the Epcot station over.” Even Disney’s own app will be likely to suggest that as the first method to get from A to B.

      But when the system is down, the question starts coming through again. Although it’s common sense for frequent guests at Walt Disney World that you can’t take a bus from one hotel to another, I’ve overheard a lot of people asking a bus driver when the bus to such-and-such hotel will arrive. Or when the Friendships are down due to weather (and therefore the Skyliner system would also be down), you’ll always see at least one family standing at the docks completely lost about how they can get anywhere.

      When the recommended form of transportation isn’t running, whether that’s a boat, a monorail, or the Skyliner, sometimes there’s an easy solution–other times it’s less obvious for new people visiting Walt Disney World. (And not everyone is thrilled with the “common solution” of just grab a Minnie Van!)

      • Last time we were there we took a Lyft 3 times between The Riverside & 3 other resorts where we had dinner or early morning breakfast reservations. It was worth every penny (& much cheaper than a Minnie Van). We saved so much time (especially when the alternative was 2 long bus rides)!!

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