Skyliner between Epcot and Hollywood Studios?

[JennCa]

I see that in order to go on the skyliner between Epcot and HS you have to go via Caribbean Beach resort. Do I have to wait in the line only once or unload at CBR and wait again? How does it compare time wise to the boat transfer?

Jenn

 

[FoodieFriend]

you would disembark from the Epcot line, then walk to the HS boarding area. Depending on the time of day you are doing this, wait times will vary. We tried to use the Skyliner to rope drop at HS from Boardwalk. the HS LINE at CBR was SO SO SO long (it snaked out behind the CBR station), it was a total waste of time because all hotel guests from Pop, AoA, CBR, Riviera & other resorts on the Skyliner route were trying to do the same thing. The boat would've probably been faster. but returning from HS to Epcot after lunch was a breeze. Very quick & definitely faster than the boat because it doesn't make stops. I'd assume that if we were trying to use the Skyliner at park close, it would be the same issue as the rope drop situation, so many people all trying to get to CBR then transfer to the line to get back to their hotel.

 

[Gonflipin]

The above poster is correct, skyliner is great for off peak times. Don’t use it when trying to rope drop, it will put you severely behind. Everyone who tried to do that yesterday took them at least hour total to get to Epcot (line from AoA to first set of skyliners to CBR), then the line at CBR. Some gave up and took the bus to Epcot from CBR (we contemplated this actually).

 

[Nabas]

What everyone else said.

The Skyliner is a pleasant and relaxing experience in the middle of the day.

The lines are frustratingly long in the morning.

 

[kanerf]

It might be easier in the morning to take the Skyliner to Epcot and then take the Friendship boat to HS or walk, it is not that far.

 

[subtchr]

It might be easier in the morning to take the Skyliner to Epcot and then take the Friendship boat to HS or walk, it is not that far.

The Epcot line doesn’t start the same time as the HS line, because Epcot opens so much later.

You can use it to get to Riviera, if you show a dining or resort reservation there, but you can’t use it to get to Epcot.

 

[ENJDisneyFan]

Although I agree that the Skyliner lines can LOOK very long at peak times, I will say that the lines move incredibly fast. So fast that I still think it's a much better alternative than the bus or boat. Main reason being that the Skyliner is consistently running, and non-stop. With the bus and boat you never really know when the next one will arrive.

 

[hes122]

Although I agree that the Skyliner lines can LOOK very long at peak times, I will say that the lines move incredibly fast. So fast that I still think it's a much better alternative than the bus or boat. Main reason being that the Skyliner is consistently running, and non-stop. With the bus and boat you never really know when the next one will arrive.

I agree with this. In March, we walked on at Pop a little before 8:00. We were in HS and walking down Sunset Blvd by 8:25 and that includes the wait at CBR to get on the HS line (the line was well down the ramp past Joffrey's when we arrived at CBR). This was a day that HS opened at 9.

 

[MudQueen22]

Although I agree that the Skyliner lines can LOOK very long at peak times, I will say that the lines move incredibly fast. So fast that I still think it's a much better alternative than the bus or boat. Main reason being that the Skyliner is consistently running, and non-stop. With the bus and boat you never really know when the next one will arrive.

Did you find that you were able to make rope drop? If so, how much time in advance did you need to be in line from your resort? (Also, which resort?)

 

[ENJDisneyFan]

Did you find that you were able to make rope drop? If so, how much time in advance did you need to be in line from your resort? (Also, which resort?)

Yes - we were at CBR and for DHS rope drop we were at the station by about 7:30am for a 9am (official opening). We didn't try to rope drop Epcot, but I would recommend being there by 9:30am for an 11am opening.

If you're coming from Pop/AoA I'd be at the station by about 7:15am for a 9am opening.

 

[loves to dive]

I used it as an experiment last week and it took much longer than walking or possibly taking the boat would. It seems weird to me that they put the transfer in there at CB instead of making a direct line between the two parks, I'm convinced it was designed by the same engineers that designed spaghetti junction on 75 in Atlanta (who I'm convinced were either drunk or high at the time they did it). It was between 2 and 3 when I got on the skyliner in HS, had to stand in line at CB which was about 10 min, then it goes to Riviera where it did a sort of stutter stop, then to a turning station then to Epcot. On a whim I rode the boat from Epcot to Swan/Dolphin one evening and the actual boat ride took about 20 min. and wait for the boat was about 10 min. Most of the time I walk between HS and Epcot or if I'm feeling too lazy or my hips are hurting, I ride the boat to BW then walk the rest of the way.

 

[WEDWDW]

The Socially Distanced Gondolas are the culprit for the LONG waits at open and close.

The lines will go away when Covid goes away.

Still,Rope Drop using Skyliner can still be awesome-EARLY is the name of the game.

This was our experience from Pop Century one morning in January for a 9:00 AM "official" DHS open.


Arrive at PopArt Station at 7:15 AM-VERY short line.

First Flight at 7:32 AM.

Board our Gondola at 7:35 AM.

Arrive at CBR Station at 7:38 AM.

Short lines at CBR Station.

First Flight to DHS at 7:45 AM.(Line is rapidly building by this point.)

Arrive at DHS before Cars and Buses begin arriving.

DHS opens at 8:05 AM for "official" 9:00 AM open.

Two walk-ons for Slinky Dog.

GROOVY way to start the day!

 

[HiStitch626]

The Socially Distanced Gondolas are the culprit for the LONG waits at open and close.

The lines will go away when Covid goes away.

How do you think things will change? They are already using every gondola, so I am not sure how they are socially distanced.

 

[friendoffigment]

How do you think things will change? They are already using every gondola, so I am not sure how they are socially distanced.

They are using every gondola but not loading them to capacity. Loading your group only. We are a couple and had a gondola all to ourselves every time

 

[MDIME]

How do you think things will change? They are already using every gondola, so I am not sure how they are socially distanced.

Because they are loading only one party per gondola. Pre-Covid they would load them up (max of 10 people I think?), unless you have a party of 10, you would have strangers with you. Super efficient and hopefully we will get back to that ASAP! Though I do enjoy having a private gondola lol.

 

[HiStitch626]

They are using every gondola but not loading them to capacity. Loading your group only. We are a couple and had a gondola all to ourselves every time

This was our experience before the pandemic, never loaded with others. Although I have never ridden them first thing in the morning.

 

[Heather07438]

How do you think things will change? They are already using every gondola, so I am not sure how they are socially distanced.

They load up to 10 ppl. Precovid I boarded with 2 other parties, seated next to a couple and a party of 4 on the other bench. Post Covid DH and I had our own gondola.

 

[Kerr84]

I used it as an experiment last week and it took much longer than walking or possibly taking the boat would. It seems weird to me that they put the transfer in there at CB instead of making a direct line between the two parks, I'm convinced it was designed by the same engineers that designed spaghetti junction on 75 in Atlanta (who I'm convinced were either drunk or high at the time they did it). It was between 2 and 3 when I got on the skyliner in HS, had to stand in line at CB which was about 10 min, then it goes to Riviera where it did a sort of stutter stop, then to a turning station then to Epcot. On a whim I rode the boat from Epcot to Swan/Dolphin one evening and the actual boat ride took about 20 min. and wait for the boat was about 10 min. Most of the time I walk between HS and Epcot or if I'm feeling too lazy or my hips are hurting, I ride the boat to BW then walk the rest of the way.

I think they designed it this way because the point was to get guests from those 4 hotels to Epcot and HS. They didn't design with the sole purpose of going from HS to Epcot. I'm sure this was the cheapest way to include all 4 hotels and the 2 parks.

 

[joelkfla]

I'd assume that if we were trying to use the Skyliner at park close, it would be the same issue as the rope drop situation, so many people all trying to get to CBR then transfer to the line to get back to their hotel.

The transfer towards Epcot shouldn't be a problem in the evening, because everyone would be coming from DHS, but splitting up between the Pop & Epcot lines at CBR. So the people boarding at CBR for Epcot would be just that portion of the DHS exiters going to Riviera or the Epcot resorts, plus people from Pop or CBR going to Epcot (which wouldn't be too many in the evening.) Of course, the wait times at DHS would include people going to all of the served resorts.

OTOH, transferring towards Pop could be more of an issue, if DHS & Epcot are exiting around the same time.

 

[joelkfla]

I think they designed it this way because the point was to get guests from those 4 hotels to Epcot and HS. They didn't design with the sole purpose of going from HS to Epcot. I'm sure this was the cheapest way to include all 4 hotels and the 2 parks.

I think the most accepted explanation was to avoid creating a wall, in effect. If the line from Epcot continued on to DHS, for example, and both cables moved clockwise, everyone traveling from Epcot or Riviera to Pop or AA would have to walk over or under the DHS line, and everyone traveling from Pop or AoA to DHS would have to cross the Epcot line. The chosen design creates a hub where everyone transferring has a short, level walk between lines.

It also eliminates the problem of having to run some cabins empty so people boarding at CBR have a fair chance of getting on. That problem exists at Riviera, but for a much smaller number of travelers.