You would love to hop on the Disney Skyliner for fast, free transportation to Epcot or Hollywood Studios. There is just one problem: for you, it is the scariest “ride” at Disney World.
This ride might seem impossible if you have health concerns, a fear of heights, a need for a nearby restroom, sensory problems, or claustrophobia.
I had reservations about this ride in the sky, but I was able to overcome my fear and attempt it. I want to share some information that might make it possible for you or someone in your party to ride it.
What Is The Disney Skyliner?
Disney describes this transportation system as an aerial gondola connecting its Hollywood Studios and International Gateway at Epcot to four resorts (Art of Animation, Riviera Resort, Caribbean Beach Resort, and Pop Century Resort). In addition to providing transportation between these two parks and to the parks from these resorts, the International Gateway is a short walk from BoardWalk Inn, Yacht Club Resort, Beach Club Resort, and the BoardWalk entertainment district. We rode the Skyliner because we stayed at Art of Animation. You can read a review of Disney’s Art of Animation Resort here.
At the time of this post, (according to the Disney World site) operating hours are one hour before early park entry at Epcot or Hollywood Studios until 90 minutes after Epcot or Hollywood Studios closes. When Epcot has extended evening hours, the Disney Skyliner will close one hour after the park closes. During this time, the Skyliner will provide transportation from Epcot to Riviera Resort; routes between Caribbean Beach Resort, Pop Century Resort, and Art of Animation will not be accessible. Check the time and availability for each vacation day to avoid transportation problems.
Information That Will Ease Your Worry
The first thing to know is that each trip segment is concise. Riding the Skyliner takes less time than driving straight to a park in a Minnie Van. The longest segment you must ride without exiting lasts approximately 5 minutes and 30 seconds.
There are also companion restrooms at the stations. I started to feel ill during the trip between Epcot and Riviera Resort, and I exited there because I thought I would have to go inside the Riviera Resort to find a restroom. I was so relieved to see companion bathrooms right at the station. If you need restrooms along the way, they are available.
Each vehicle has an emergency box with various items, which supposedly include water, bathroom bags, cold bags, and other items. There is an emergency call button in each car as well.
Sensory Details About The Disney Skyliner
Motion
Most of the ride is a smooth gliding sensation. There will be gentle rocking and a little movement when you are in the air.
When your vehicle inclines as it leaves a station, there is a bit of a “Weeee! Here we go!” feeling, but it is not extreme.
When your vehicle passes a support pole as you are in the air, there will be some shaking as you pass under wheels.
When your vehicle descends into a station, you will feel a few gentle bumps as you pass the wheels on the cable.
When entering a station, it feels like you are entering very quickly.
The Skyliner might stop or slow for a few seconds, including when you are in the air. Sometimes, cast members slow down the gondolas for people to exit or stop it briefly when parents get stroller wheels stuck as they exit the ride.
Visual Information
When you are in the air, oncoming vehicles will pass you on a nearby cable.
Some vehicles are primarily solid colors without decoration, but many have Disney characters. This is a great way to distract yourself or someone in your party if they struggle to get through the ride.
Depending on your route, you will have differing views. Between Art of Animation/Pop Century and Caribbean Beach, there will be a lake view and a pathway under the poles and cables. Between Caribbean Beach and Riviera Resort, there are water views and views of the Caribbean Beach Resort. From the Riviera Resort to Epcot, you will see trees, a 6-lane road, a wide pathway, and the turn station. The views are enjoyable and provide a good distraction if you are trying to get through the ride.
If you use the handicap line, your vehicle is pulled out for loading and will merge with the other vehicles. A vehicle will turn the corner near you before your car enters the lineup to leave the station. If this is scary to someone, you should warn them.
It can be slightly startling to see how fast you approach the gondola in front of you when you enter a station.
It will seem that your car might slam into the one in front of you as it lowers into a station. It will stop in time, but you might warn someone if this concerns them.
Auditory Information
Some segments of the ride have a dinging oncoming communication sound followed by a brief statement about the park or other information. I found this annoying, and it did not help me get through the ride, so if the sound is difficult for you and you have headphones, you might have them ready to cancel out the narration.
You will hear some noise when you pass over wheels near support poles and while descending into stations.
You will hear birds chirping while moving in the air and talking from other vehicles. This surprised me, and if someone in your party does not like auditory surprises, keep this in mind.
Temperature
The ride is not air-conditioned. There are open vents that allow a breeze to come through. I felt good airflow and was comfortable, but it was only 84 degrees when I rode it.
Odors
Each vehicle is clean, and there are no odors.
Handicap Access
You have two options for access. The first is a vehicle pulled out of the line and entirely stopped for you to enter with your walker, scooter, or wheelchair. These vehicles leave every 90 seconds. If you arrive when it first arrives, you will sit for 1.5 minutes, so keep that in mind. Your vehicle will move and join the line of vehicles, where you will see a car turning the corner and merging in line in front of you. Again, this can be a little scary because of how close the cars are to one another.
The second option is to use the typical line. The cars will not come to a complete stop, so if you need that option, use the handicap line. The cast members can slow the vehicle as you enter with your wheelchair (or stroller). It looks like a wheelchair can’t make it while the car is slowly moving, but it is possible. It is also a good option if the handicapped access line is long.
There is a handicap line at the Riviera Resort, but the cars at this station are not pulled out separately. Instead, the system recognizes certain cars to be used here by cast members slowing or stopping them as wheelchair or scooter users board. These cars are then pulled out separately to be stopped for unloading at the next station.
How Do I Ride The Disney Skyliner Between Parks Or To And From The Parks And My Resort?
Confusion on top of anxiety will only make you more anxious, so here is what you need to know to navigate this free transportation with the least amount of stress.
If you are staying at Art of Animation or Pop Century, you will board the Skyliner at the station between these resorts. It will take you approximately 3 minutes and 15 seconds to arrive at Caribbean Beach Resort. You then exit and find the line for either Hollywood Studios or Epcot. The ride to Hollywood Studios will be approximately 3 minutes and 50 seconds. If you are going to Epcot, this will be the longest segment (but with an opportunity to exit and take a break.) You will travel to Riviera Resort on an approximately 2-minute and 15-second ride. You will have a choice of exiting or staying on and continuing to Epcot. If you continue, you will ride for approximately 3 minutes and 15 seconds, at which time the gondola changes direction at a turn station. There is no exit at the turn station; it simply turns the gondola in a different direction. You ride for approximately 2 minutes and 15 seconds and exit at Epcot. The overall ride time is relatively short, broken up by short segments and opportunities to exit or use a restroom.
If you stay at Caribbean Beach Resort, you will board the Skyliner at your resort. You can take a 3-minute and 50-second ride to Hollywood Studios or a 2-minute and 15-second ride to Riviera Resort and exit or continue to Epcot. If you continue, you have 3 minutes and 15 seconds to ride until the turn station and then 2 minutes and 15 seconds until you arrive at Epcot.
If you stay at Disney’s Riviera Resort, you will board the Skyliner at your resort and take a 2-minute and 15-second ride to the Caribbean Beach Resort. Then, you will exit and get in line for Hollywood Studios (for a ride lasting approximately 3 minutes and 50 seconds). Alternatively, you can go to Epcot with that 3-minute and 15-second ride to the turn station and continue for another 2 minutes and 15 seconds to the park.
There are cast members and signage to assist you.
Things To Keep In Mind
There is no way to guarantee a restroom will be empty when you need it at a station. There is no way to know if the Skyliner line will be short enough for you to feel comfortable waiting there. I certainly would not make a first attempt at riding it when Epcot lets out after the fireworks. Although it most likely would not happen, getting stuck on the ride for a short or long period is possible. If you have to exit the Skyliner to use the restroom and the park is busy, or it is a busy time when the park is closing, you might have to wait a long time to get back on it. I used the restroom after leaving Epcot and going to Art of Animation. I exited at the Riviera Resort and had to wait until someone exited there before there was an available vehicle so I could ride again. Also, the line for the Skyliner was already getting backed up when I left Epcot, and I felt trapped in line. I was using a wheelchair on this trip, so there was no way to turn around and get out of line, and there was a barrier between my line and the other line next to me. If you have concerns or health issues or want to avoid becoming trapped in the line before boarding, look at the line and judge whether you should enter it. You want to avoid becoming trapped without being able to exit or use a restroom if you have health issues.
After getting this information, it would be great if you could attempt the ride. However, only put yourself in a situation that will end well. It is nothing to feel badly about if you cannot ride it. Navigate the park in whatever way suits your needs. However you vacation, it is right for you and, therefore, the right choice.
Examples of Skyliner Ride and Wait Times
Here are some examples of the ride and wait times during our trip; notice that even though ride segments are short in duration, if it is busy, the total time of your trip may be longer than you desire. Plan ahead for alternate transportation if you visit during peak times or as a park closes if the wait times are too long for you.
Date: May 21, 2024
Time: 11:35 a.m.
Boarded at Caribbean Beach
Arrived at Riviera Resort 2 minutes, 45 seconds later
Left Riviera Resort 1 minute, 30 seconds later
Turned at Turn Station 4 minutes, 10 seconds later
Arrived at Epcot 3 minutes, 5 seconds later
Total Ride and Wait Time: 11 minutes, 30 seconds
Date: May 21, 2024
Time: 10:24 p.m.
Boarded at Epcot
Turned at Turn Station 3 minutes, 25 seconds later
Arrived at Riviera Resort 4 minutes, 30 seconds later
Left Riviera Resort 2 minutes, 35 seconds later
Arrived at Caribbean Beach 4 minutes, 25 seconds later
Boarded for Art of Animation at Caribbean Beach at 10:44 p.m. after waiting in line for 5 minutes, 5 seconds
Arrived at Art of Animation 5 minutes, 25 seconds later
Total Ride and Wait Time: 20 minutes, 20 seconds
Date: May 22, 2024
Time: 10:50 a.m.
Boarded at Art of Animation
Arrived at Caribbean Beach 3 minutes, 22 seconds later
Left Caribbean Beach 4 minutes, 35 seconds later
Arrived at Riviera Resort 2 minutes, 33 seconds later
Total Ride and Wait Time: 10 minutes, 30 seconds
Date: May 22, 2024
Time: 1:03 p.m.
Boarded at Riviera Resort
Turned at Turn Station 4 minutes, 22 seconds later
Arrived at Epcot 3 minutes, 54 seconds later
Total Ride and Wait Time: 8 minutes, 7 seconds
Date: May 22, 2024
Time: 6:09 p.m.
Boarded at Epcot
Turned at Turn Station 2 minutes, 42 seconds later
Arrived at Riviera Resort 4 minutes, 26 seconds later
Left Riviera Resort 1 minute, 8 seconds later
Boarded for Hollywood Studios at Caribbean Beach at 6:26 p.m., leaving 5 minutes, 58 seconds later
Arrived at Hollywood Studios 4 minutes, 14 seconds later
Total Ride and Wait Time: 21 minutes, 14 seconds
Date: May 22, 2024
Time: 9:28 a.m.
Boarded at Hollywood Studios
Arrived at Caribbean Beach 4 minutes, 12 seconds later
Boarded for Art of Animation at Caribbean Beach at 9:52 p.m. after waiting in line for 19 minutes, 48 seconds
Arrived at Art of Animation after 3 minutes, 21 seconds
Total Ride and Wait Time: 27 minutes, 21 seconds
Date: May 23, 2024
Time: 10:55 a.m.
Boarded at Caribbean Beach
Arrived at Art of Animation
Arrived at Caribbean Beach 3 minutes, 20 seconds later
Boarded for Hollywood Studios at Caribbean Beach at 11:02 a.m. after waiting in line for 3 minutes, 40 seconds
Arrived at Hollywood Studios 4 minutes, 37 seconds later
Total Ride and Wait Time: 11 minutes, 37 seconds
Date: May 23, 2024
Time: 10:05 p.m.
Boarded at Hollywood Studios
Arrived at Caribbean Beach 4 minutes, 30 seconds later
Left Caribbean Beach at 10:27 p.m. after waiting in line for 17 minutes, 30 seconds
Arrived at Art of Animation 3 minutes, 24 seconds later
Total Ride and Wait Time: 25 minutes, 24 seconds
Date: May 24, 2024
Time: 11:25 a.m.
Boarded at Art of Animation
Arrived at Caribbean Beach 3 minutes, 20 seconds later
Boarded for Epcot (Riviera stop) at 11:32 a.m. after waiting in line for 3 minutes, 40 seconds
Arrived at Riviera Resort 2 minutes, 41 seconds later
Total Ride and Wait Time: 9 minutes, 41 seconds