Skyliner at Riviera

[BamaGuy44]

We are about to close on our first contract at AKV. At some point we will possibly add some direct points so we could use them at Riviera. We toured it and love the rooms and location.

We also love the concept of the Skyliner, we rode it several times on our recent trip and enjoyed it. But that was in the middle of the day when it wasn’t busy. So RIV fans, what’s it like for day to day use? Would we be able to count on using it for, say, rope drop at HS? We absolutely love being able to walk to Epcot and HS from the Crescent Lake area. If the Skyliner can do the same thing and save the steps, even better! But I’m afraid long lines at rope drop time at RIV and the transfer at CBR could be frustrating. How has your experience been using it as a main transportation method during your stay?

 

[Jimmy Mouse]

We own at Riviera. We have rode early morning and at park close. The lines can get long but it moves really fast. Way less time than waiting on a bus. But, its awkward when others are in the cabin with you. Let me rephrase that. When it's a couple or family, we strike up conversation. When it's just one person, it feels weird and we sit in silence lol.

 

[zapple]

If you want to rope drop HS, you need to just walk down to the CB station because you’ll have to get off there anyway. It can be slow to get to Epcot in the morning because the cars are usually full coming from CB and they don’t leave many empty cars.

 

[UrsulaWantsYourSoul]

If you are there at the skyliner first thing in the morning, walkers from Beach and Boardwalk will still beat you but you'll still be fine. Often if you are in the very first several gondolas from Rivera they let you cut the line before letting everyone in at CB, but probably safer to walk down there. I must say though that as smooth as morning went... skyliner can by very annoying in the summer. Most summer afternoons = thunderstorms and then skyliner stops and you have to either wait for who knows how long or wait for the busses they provide. One time as soon as we walked to the Boardwalk bus terminal boom there was a Riviera bus and we were off! Another time... it took forever and there was no marked place for where it was going to arrive so by the time it got there.. more than a bus worth of people were in a mass and it was Lord of the Flies of who got on the one bus first. So yeah... they need to work on the bus solution of it being super timely and a dedicated place it picks people up so they can line up there in a polite and fair way ;-). That said... I LOVE the skyliner!

 

[sethschroeder]

we could use them at Riviera

What I will say how things are today vs April vs next year vs 2 years is going to change. Yes everything changes but you need to remember the Skyliner has only been "fully" open for like a year and open "partially" another 9 months.

I expect lots of things to change in the next couple years on how they load balance things.

Additionally the whole "onsite" gets a 30 min head start just started as well so will that change anything and with Epcot closing later for Deluxe guests once per week that will be a walk-on period.


Tips if very nervous about lines:

• Rope Drop
  • HS - Walk to CBR station to board there
  • Epcot - Ride to HS and take the boats/walk back to the Beach Club to Epcot
• Park Close
  • HS - Skyliner back or go to Epcot station and take that back
  • Epcot - Either leave a little earlier or plan dinner right at Park Close (note if you dine outside the park there is chance you might need to Uber back to the hotel if you took a super long dinner)

You can also just check reports before you leave and see if things are running quickly and just ride the skyliner like normal. We haven't been there since the Skyliner was fully open with multiple parties in the same car.

 

[BamaGuy44]

Another time... it took forever and there was no marked place for where it was going to arrive so by the time it got there.. more than a bus worth of people were in a mass and it was Lord of the Flies of who got on the one bus first. So yeah... they need to work on the bus solution of it being super timely and a dedicated place it picks people up so they can line up there in a polite and fair way ;-). That said... I LOVE the skyliner!

See that's the kind of thing that would frustrate us at the end of a long day. I'm guessing that wouldn't be too often though. Probably over time the "Plan B" scenarios will improve. (I hope?)

 

[BamaGuy44]

• What I will say how things are today vs April vs next year vs 2 years is going to change. Yes everything changes but you need to remember the Skyliner has only been "fully" open for like a year and open "partially" another 9 months.

I expect lots of things to change in the next couple years on how they load balance things.

Additionally the whole "onsite" gets a 30 min head start just started as well so will that change anything and with Epcot closing later for Deluxe guests once per week that will be a walk-on period.


Tips if very nervous about lines:

• Rope Drop
  • HS - Walk to CBR station to board there
  • Epcot - Ride to HS and take the boats/walk back to the Beach Club to Epcot
• Park Close
  • HS - Skyliner back or go to Epcot station and take that back
  • Epcot - Either leave a little earlier or plan dinner right at Park Close (note if you dine outside the park there is chance you might need to Uber back to the hotel if you took a super long dinner)

You can also just check reports before you leave and see if things are running quickly and just ride the skyliner like normal. We haven't been there since the Skyliner was fully open with multiple parties in the same car.

Thanks for the info. We were just there, right when the 30 minute head start thing started up. It's very nice, I'd rather have 30 at any park than 1 hour but everyone floods to the same one. we just missed the start of the late hours for deluxe guests, sadly. You're right that will probably change our touring plans in the future.

I'm confused about what you said here: Epcot - Ride to HS and take the boats/walk back to the Beach Club to Epcot
Doesn't the skyliner go straight from Riviera to Epcot?

 

[Tigger's ally]

We went to DHS twice for rope drop and were first gondola from Riv both times with 5 minutes of waiting and was ushered straight to waiting gondola at CBR stop. Was great. Love the skyliners.

 

[Dancer84xoxo]

Never had a single issue with skyliner last trip. Moved fast with no stoppages. We had great weather the whole trip though! So I could see storms messing it up. It is light years ahead of taking the bus that’s for sure!

 

[BamaGuy44]

We went to DHS twice for rope drop and were first gondola from Riv both times with 5 minutes of waiting and was ushered straight to waiting gondola at CBR stop. Was great. Love the skyliners.

How early did you get to the Skyliner station to get the first gondola?

 

[Tigger's ally]

How early did you get to the Skyliner station to get the first gondola?

quarter till 8

 

[BamaGuy44]

quarter till 8

Thanks. That’s for an 8:30 opening for resort guests right? We recently stayed at the Swan and walking to HS we tried to get to the park around 8. Sounds like you probably got there around 8 as well. If I can get there just as early without having to walk I’m all for it haha

 

[Tigger's ally]

No, that was for a 9 a.m. opening. The resort guest early opening wasn't a thing yet.

 

[DSLRuser]

sept 2020 we HATED it. only loading single families in the gondolas was such a waste of efficiency. Countless cars with 1, 2 4 people instead of the 10 they should hold.

Was much better oct 2021. They were still not loading to capacities, but a family of 2 would sit with another family of 2. As long as they keep sitting groups together it will be fine.

When we go skiing. Steamboat Colorado for example. The pack you in shoulder to shoulder...the line must move. I wish Disney would do this.

 

[eandt]

Got stuck on the Skyliner on Monday on our way from DHS to Riviera.. Probably only about 15 minutes total as it started and stopped again several times but seemed like an eternity. I could see where that could be extremely uncomfortable if other riders with scared crying kids had been in the car with us. We slowly limped into Caribbean Beach station where all had to disembark and were directed to a CBR bus stop to get to our ultimate destination (Disney Springs). We ended up taking an UBER for about $9.

 

[kc51570]

What I will say how things are today vs April vs next year vs 2 years is going to change. Yes everything changes but you need to remember the Skyliner has only been "fully" open for like a year and open "partially" another 9 months.

I expect lots of things to change in the next couple years on how they load balance things.

Additionally the whole "onsite" gets a 30 min head start just started as well so will that change anything and with Epcot closing later for Deluxe guests once per week that will be a walk-on period.


Tips if very nervous about lines:

• Rope Drop
  • HS - Walk to CBR station to board there
  • Epcot - Ride to HS and take the boats/walk back to the Beach Club to Epcot
• Park Close
  • HS - Skyliner back or go to Epcot station and take that back
  • Epcot - Either leave a little earlier or plan dinner right at Park Close (note if you dine outside the park there is chance you might need to Uber back to the hotel if you took a super long dinner)

You can also just check reports before you leave and see if things are running quickly and just ride the skyliner like normal. We haven't been there since the Skyliner was fully open with multiple parties in the same car.

The Riviera skyliner goes straIght to Epcot so taking it to HS when you have to stop at or walk to CB first and then walking or boating from HS to Epcot seems very inefficlient and unnecessarily long.

 

[sethschroeder]

The Riviera skyliner goes straIght to Epcot so taking it to HS when you have to stop at or walk to CB first and then walking or boating from HS to Epcot seems very inefficlient and unnecessarily long.

Since the Skyliner to HS will be running 2/3 hours before it starts running to Epcot. You avoid an potential backup waiting to get to Epcot for rope drop. As outlined my comments were specific to park opening when there would potentially be lines.

Its essentially the "walk" instead of the "boat" method from Poly to MK.

 

[Sydnerella]

Since the Skyliner to HS will be running 2/3 hours before it starts running to Epcot. You avoid an potential backup waiting to get to Epcot for rope drop. As outlined my comments were specific to park opening when there would potentially be lines.

Its essentially the "walk" instead of the "boat" method from Poly to MK.

Last Thanksgiving while staying at Riviera which we loved and are returning to (so much so we are staying at rack rates) we used Uber /lyft to Boardwalk area for rope drops - walking to the two parks from being dropped off near the BW. The Skyliner didn’t operate early enough to put us in the front of the line as we desired. Otherwise we loved the convenience and ease for travel between - and liked having our own cabin. It will be interesting to share next week!

 

[Sandisw]

We did rope drop...close to it...for HS in the summer and to be honest, it was pretty quick, even with the winding lines. This was also when they were still doing one group per car. Now they will load more than one.

Honestly, so far, we have not found it too bad. We were just there at the end of October and hit Epcot each day close to opening...not early hours...and the line for those not needing a ECV car which we did...we getting on with less than a 5 minute wait..

Other than when you can walk to a park...I found the wait for this no more/less than having to wait it out for a bus or monorail when going right at opening. Now, I will say we have never used it after fireworks from Epcot without someone with an ECV...which got us on faster..but the line did seem to be moving at a decent pace in October.

 

[pianomanzano]

Rode it last night around 7:30 from HS to RIV to visit/grab dinner at Primo Piatto. No waits getting on and transferring at CBR. Couple brief moments when it would pause en route, but overall a fun experience!