From the PeopleMover to the monorail, Disney World has some of Florida’s most UNIQUE transportation options! Here’s a fun fact for ya: EPCOT is the only Disney World park you can get to from every type of Disney World transportation — even your own two feet (if you’re staying within walking distance from the park, anyway).
EPCOT
One of our FAVORITE transportation methods is the Disney World Skyliner system. It’s still relatively new, so if you haven’t been to Disney World in a while, allow us to teach you all about the Skyliner.
What is the Disney Skyliner?
The Skyliner is a gondola system that connects TWO Disney parks (EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios) with multiple Disney Resorts right above our heads! Oh, and good news; like Disney’s other transportation methods, this one is FREE.
Away we go!
You can get to the Skyliner from several locations, including EPCOT’s International Gateway, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Disney’s Pop Century and Art of Animation Resorts, and Disney’s Riviera Resort. But (this is important, so listen up) you can ONLY get to the Disney World parks by visiting the Skyliner hub at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort. (Or Disney’s Riviera Resort, but that station only has a direct line to EPCOT)
You have to transfer at the Caribbean Beach Resort Disney Skyliner station
In other words, don’t expect every Skyliner station to take you straight to your destination. You may have to hop into a gondola at one station, get off at the Caribbean Beach Resort station, then transfer lines.
The Skyliner is a fun way to hop from EPCOT to Hollywood Studios!
Luckily, the Skyliner is pretty simple to use; you just hop into a gondola and let the Skyliner do its thing! Just make sure to check the operating hours in the morning so you know when the Skyliner closes for the night. There’s usually a sign posted by the entrance to each Skyliner station with all the operational details.
Don’t make this ROOKIE mistake!
Now that we’ve covered the basics let’s talk about the biggest MISTAKE we see first-timers make with the Skyliner.
The Skyliner is SUCH a convenient way to travel!
Here’s the thing: Florida weather is super unpredictable, and nasty weather often impacts Disney World transportation. You can’t take the boat in lightning conditions, you can’t use the monorail in bad weather, and you can’t ride the Skyliner when lightning is nearby.
Look out for stormy weather!
That may seem obvious, right? But the truth is, the Skyliner often closes BEFORE bad weather is even happening! Cast Members are trained to carefully monitor nearby weather conditions to prevent guests from being stuck in a thunderstorm. You may see blue skies and sunshine, but the Skyliner could close due to a lightning strike miles away.
The weather can be deceiving!
Currently, Disney doesn’t really have any sort of mass notification system to alert guests that the Skyliner is closed. This means some guests may walk allll the way over to the Skyliner just to find out that it’s not operating. (We’ve been there — it’s not fun!)
Look for a sign to let you know the Skyliner is closed!
In some places, it’s a short walk from the Skyliner to the bus stop, but other Skyliner stations are far from alternate transportation options, which can add a LOT of time to your journey.
Hollywood Studios Skyliner Station
For example, EPCOT guests hoping to take the Skyliner are typically re-directed to the bus stop when the Skyliner is closed, which is on the complete OPPOSITE side of the park. After a long day of standing and walking, the news can feel pretty devastating. That’s a long walk!
Prepare for a long walk!
So, what can you do to prevent this mistake? First of all, check the weather on your phone BEFORE you head to the Skyliner. If you see a thunderstorm predicted to come in the near future, don’t risk it! Take the bus instead.
Bus Transportation is free, too!
Next (and this isn’t foolproof, so keep that in mind), you can look at nearby attraction closures to gauge the likelihood that the Skyliner is operating. If you see Disney’s outdoor attractions start closing, there’s a high chance that the Skyliner isn’t operating, either.
Look for other closures first!
You can also try asking a Cast Member, but keep in mind that not all Cast Members are immediately notified when the Skyliner closes.
Look for a Cast Member in this costume — they can help!
It’s not always easy to predict if (and when) the Skyliner may close, but keep your eyes out for signs before you start walking to the Skyliner — it might save you some time! In the meantime, we’re always on the lookout for the latest Disney news, so stay tuned for more!
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Have YOU ever made this rookie mistake? Let us know in the comments!
The post The BIGGEST Skyliner Mistake That Rookies Make in Disney World first appeared on the disney food blog.