Pop Century to EPCOT Gondola

[OhDannyBoy]

Hi There!!

My wife and I are planning a adults only birthday trip for me to EPCOT for the Food and Wine Festival the weekend of September 8. We have never been to anything Disney without our 8 and 6 year olds since they were born and have never been to a Food and Wine Festival at all.

I'm trying to strategize where to stay and transportation options. I'm thinking of staying at the Pop Century and using the gondola to get to EPCOT. That would be yet another first for us. I know there is construction at the Pop Century but we don't care as we are only in the room to sleep. But I want to see if staying on campus is worth it for the gondola ride.

What I'm trying to figure out is a realistic timeline on getting on the gondola and off at EPCOT. I know it's going to vary a lot but just a general idea of how long. Also how long to Hollywood studios as we will have 3 day tickets and the gondola goes there too if i'm not mistaken.

Appreciate the help.

 

[georgina]

Hi There!!

My wife and I are planning a adults only birthday trip for me to EPCOT for the Food and Wine Festival the weekend of September 8. We have never been to anything Disney without our 8 and 6 year olds since they were born and have never been to a Food and Wine Festival at all.

I'm trying to strategize where to stay and transportation options. I'm thinking of staying at the Pop Century and using the gondola to get to EPCOT. That would be yet another first for us. I know there is construction at the Pop Century but we don't care as we are only in the room to sleep. But I want to see if staying on campus is worth it for the gondola ride.

What I'm trying to figure out is a realistic timeline on getting on the gondola and off at EPCOT. I know it's going to vary a lot but just a general idea of how long. Also how long to Hollywood studios as we will have 3 day tickets and the gondola goes there too if i'm not mistaken.

Appreciate the help.

Not sure if you have looked at a skyliner map, there are 3 lines with a central hub at Caribbean Beach. So, going from the Pop/AoA stop, you get off at CB and get on either the line to Epcot or HS. The Epcot line stops at Riviera, but you can just stay on and continue to Epcot. Lines will be longer at opening and closing, but they move continuously, maybe 30-ish minutes from Pop to Epcot? Sometimes the ride slows down, or stops for a bit. Going from Epcot to HS, again, you stay on at the Riviera stop, exit at CB and get in the HS line. I usually allow 30 minutes for that too. Should be quicker from Pop to HS, less ground to cover.

If there is an afternoon thunderstorm the skyliner may be shut down for a time. They run buses then to the resorts.

https://secure.cdn1.wdpromedia.com/...ey-skyliner/disney-skyliner-card-map-only.pdf

 

[OhDannyBoy]

Not sure if you have looked at a skyliner map, there are 3 lines with a central hub at Caribbean Beach. So, going from the Pop/AoA stop, you get off at CB and get on either the line to Epcot or HS. The Epcot line stops at Riviera, but you can just stay on and continue to Epcot. Lines will be longer at opening and closing, but they move continuously, maybe 30-ish minutes from Pop to Epcot? Sometimes the ride slows down, or stops for a bit. Going from Epcot to HS, again, you stay on at the Riviera stop, exit at CB and get in the HS line. I usually allow 30 minutes for that too. Should be quicker from Pop to HS, less ground to cover.

If there is an afternoon thunderstorm the skyliner may be shut down for a time. They run buses then to the resorts.

https://secure.cdn1.wdpromedia.com/...ey-skyliner/disney-skyliner-card-map-only.pdf

Sweet!! I figured close to an hour with the transfer and what not. Appreciate the info!!

 

[thanxfornoticin]

The Skyliner is pretty simple to navigate and is usually efficient. Just beware that in early September, the weather can be very summer-like, and the Skyliner can shut down for periods of time if it gets stormy and/or windy, especially in the afternoons. The worst scenario is in the afternoon/evening if you're leaving the International Gateway exit of EPCOT, expecting to grab a gondola, and they've closed it. At that point you're kind of stuck and have to walk back to the main entrance to get a bus, or wait until they start running again.

 

[summerlvr]

If you are wanting to get to the parks for early entry, it is recommended that you get in line at least 90 minutes before early entry starts. If you are not interested in being one of the first folks in the park, you can wait a bit. The skyliner starts running at 7:30, so if you arrive at 7 for 8:30 early entry, you will have a bit of a wait before it starts up.
Also, for early entry crowds, there are 2 lines, one for Pop and one for AOA. They periodically stop the Pop line to let AOA folks on and vice versa.
I was there a couple weeks ago and waited until 8:10 to get in line. I think it took about 20 or so minutes for me to actually get on the skyliner. I got to Hollywood Studios after early entry had started, but before it ended. If I had been going to Epcot, which is a longer trip, I might not have made it all for early entry. If you aren't going into the parks until a little later, you shouldn't encounter a long line.

 

[OhDannyBoy]

The Skyliner is pretty simple to navigate and is usually efficient. Just beware that in early September, the weather can be very summer-like, and the Skyliner can shut down for periods of time if it gets stormy and/or windy, especially in the afternoons. The worst scenario is in the afternoon/evening if you're leaving the International Gateway exit of EPCOT, expecting to grab a gondola, and they've closed it. At that point you're kind of stuck and have to walk back to the main entrance to get a bus, or wait until they start running again.

As a Florida native, yeah September weather here can be a bear and unpredictable.

If you are wanting to get to the parks for early entry, it is recommended that you get in line at least 90 minutes before early entry starts. If you are not interested in being one of the first folks in the park, you can wait a bit. The skyliner starts running at 7:30, so if you arrive at 7 for 8:30 early entry, you will have a bit of a wait before it starts up.
Also, for early entry crowds, there are 2 lines, one for Pop and one for AOA. They periodically stop the Pop line to let AOA folks on and vice versa.
I was there a couple weeks ago and waited until 8:10 to get in line. I think it took about 20 or so minutes for me to actually get on the skyliner. I got to Hollywood Studios after early entry had started, but before it ended. If I had been going to Epcot, which is a longer trip, I might not have made it all for early entry. If you aren't going into the parks until a little later, you shouldn't encounter a long line.

This is something I need to consider. I don't think we will care about rope dropping or early entry as we have been to EPCOT so many times but every time i say that I'm one of the first ones there. It might help that we are planning on going to the parks on a Monday and possibly Tuesday. But honestly, i think this trip might be a get up when we get up and we get in when we get in.

Appreciate all the insight everyone!!

 

[Skippyboo]

If you are basically just going for Epcot. I would look at the crescent lake hotels where you can just walk to Epcot.

 

[fla4fun]

If you are basically just going for Epcot. I would look at the crescent lake hotels where you can just walk to Epcot.

True, provided the OP can (and wants to) spend a lot more money. They could stay at Pop for rack rate and take a Minnie Van to and from the parks every day and not pay as much as they would for a Crescent Lake resort. . . with a discount.

(I do love staying at the BW when I can though. )

OP, I have stayed at both Pop and AoA many times since the Skyliner opened. The only issue we have had, other than weather closures, was a huge wait to board the Epcot gondolas at the CB hub. The line wound around completely filling any open space at the hub, wound back and forth along the exit to CB, and on the sidewalks of the resort itself. It was about 10:30-ish because I was aiming to get to Epcot when WS opened at 11:00. I do not know what caused the problem (it wasn’t weather related) and it only happened the one time, but it was over an hour wait in the hot sun. Most of the time the Skyliner is very efficient but when it isn’t, it’s a pain.

I usually pick All Star over Pop during July-September because of the weather. At least I know in advance that I need to exit at the front of the park. There’s nothing worse than being hot and tired, finding out the Skyliner is closed due to weather nearby, and then either having to go back to the front of the park or over to the Studios to get transportation back to the resort.

 

[HopperFan]

I am at POP now, in a building being worked on. Zero impact and unless you are by where they are working you wouldn’t even know. Rode Skyliner to DHS and it was a breeze.

 

[OhDannyBoy]

We are taking advantage of the FL resident summer tickets and picking a budget friendly spot on property as we rarely do.

My wife wants to go to HS now too as we got a 3 day ticket. Should be fun. I love EPCOT with just us 2. I will miss the kiddos though. But we took them to MK, AK, and EPCOT in January so I don't feel too bad. LOL

 

[Travelgrrl]

It was about 10:30-ish because I was aiming to get to Epcot when WS opened at 11:00. I

I am so confused about this and hope someone can help me. We plan to go to Epcot during Early Entry in the hopes of riding Remy, which I understand is offered during EE. In the past, World Showcase opened at 11 and the rest of the park at 9; is this still the case? Our plan was to arrive via the IG (coming on Skyliner from Pop) and then go right to Remy's. Then afterwards, have some pastries in France and continue around World Showcase counter clockwise. Is that not an option? Is Remy's open at EE and then closed until 11?! That doesn't seem right. Or is Remy's open but nothing else in World Showcase (other than the Frozen ride, I believe) until 11?

I'm also confused by reports that when arriving at the IG for EE, that one is held in Canada (rather than at the IG which is north of Canada and closer to France). If someone can solve that mystery for me, I'd be grateful too!

 

[georgina]

I am so confused about this and hope someone can help me. We plan to go to Epcot during Early Entry in the hopes of riding Remy, which I understand is offered during EE. In the past, World Showcase opened at 11 and the rest of the park at 9; is this still the case? Our plan was to arrive via the IG (coming on Skyliner from Pop) and then go right to Remy's. Then afterwards, have some pastries in France and continue around World Showcase counter clockwise. Is that not an option? Is Remy's open at EE and then closed until 11?! That doesn't seem right. Or is Remy's open but nothing else in World Showcase (other than the Frozen ride, I believe) until 11?

I'm also confused by reports that when arriving at the IG for EE, that one is held in Canada (rather than at the IG which is north of Canada and closer to France). If someone can solve that mystery for me, I'd be grateful too!

Unless things have changed, this is my understanding. Early entry at International gateway - you can go right to rope drop Remy or left to go around to Frozen (or the rest of the park). You can not walk from France to Norway through the countries, the main world showcase does not open until 11. The boulangerie and (Creperie ?) are also open at 9.

 

[jimmymc]

I am so confused about this and hope someone can help me. We plan to go to Epcot during Early Entry in the hopes of riding Remy, which I understand is offered during EE. In the past, World Showcase opened at 11 and the rest of the park at 9; is this still the case? Our plan was to arrive via the IG (coming on Skyliner from Pop) and then go right to Remy's. Then afterwards, have some pastries in France and continue around World Showcase counter clockwise. Is that not an option? Is Remy's open at EE and then closed until 11?! That doesn't seem right. Or is Remy's open but nothing else in World Showcase (other than the Frozen ride, I believe) until 11?

I'm also confused by reports that when arriving at the IG for EE, that one is held in Canada (rather than at the IG which is north of Canada and closer to France). If someone can solve that mystery for me, I'd be grateful too!

The website lists all the World Showcase rides and movies as open at 9. I remember they used to keep everything except Frozen closed until 11, but that seems to have changed.

 

[Travelgrrl]

You can not walk from France to Norway through the countries, the main world showcase does not open until 11.

The website lists all the World Showcase rides and movies as open at 9. I remember they used to keep everything except Frozen closed until 11, but that seems to have changed.

Thank you so much! Although I got diametrically opposed answers as to whether World Showcase is all open at 9 or not...?

 

[Ross Kratter]

Thank you so much! Although I got diametrically opposed answers as to whether World Showcase is all open at 9 or not...?

It opens at 9; has since 2020

 

[gottalovepluto]

Thank you so much! Although I got diametrically opposed answers as to whether World Showcase is all open at 9 or not...?

It’s sort of a ish situation. The shops & stands may not be open until 10-11. I’ve found myself down in Italy and Germany looking to wander shops (I love to wander the shops when it’s quiet) and they hadn’t opened yet. Also the boat doesn’t run until 11.