Skyliner for part of a day?

[OurLaughingPlace]

We have never gone on the Skyliner and would like to try it on a non-park day. We were thinking about visiting the Beach Club and Boardwalk resorts (their stores, Beaches and Cream ...) and picking it up just outside of Epcot. For those of you who have used the Skyliner, is it enjoyable? relaxing? Just looking for something low key. Do you get a good view of things? We are going in mid-December. My dad is with us (wheelchair, but can transfer if necessary). Where would you suggest to get the Skyliner? Which resort? We are in Disney Springs area so we can bus to any Disney resort to pick it up. Do we have to get off at each park or can you ride in a loop? Is there a method you suggest? Thank you.

 

[Skippyboo]

You would have to go to Hollywood Studios to get the Skyliner. At Epcot, the Skyliner is outside the International Gateway so you can’t access it from the Front of Epcot unless you walk through park.

From HS it goes to Caribbean Beach which is hub for Skyliner. You have to get off and then you can get on the Epcot line where it will open the doors at Riviera, then it goes to International gateway.

The wraps make it harder see but you see get a good view of Epcot, Caribbean beach and Boardwalk area.

There’s a separate load area for handicap where you can load into a stationary car instead of the moving regular car.

 

[Simba's Mom]

If, as you said, you could go to any resort (taking the bus from DS, I assume), I think that going to Y&BC is a great idea, then getting the skyliner outside the IG. I've stayed at BCV and ridden the Skyliner for a while several times. Round-trip to Caribbean Beach and back is 45-50 minutes or so. Or you can switch at the Caribbean to go to DHS, or switch over to the Pop/AoA trip. That one goes over water, a fun change to pace. Then, if you want, stop at whichever resort you might want to see. My only question is that hopefully, there's no more than 5 of you, I think. With 1 wheelchair, they limit the # of ambulatory people in the same car to, I think, no more than 4. If all are ambulatory, I think the limit is 10, but a wheelchair (or ECV) takes more room.

 

[mjmgsssp]

From the Caribbean Beach hub, you could also transfer to the Pop Century/Art of Animation line and enjoy exploring those resorts.

 

[OurLaughingPlace]

If, as you said, you could go to any resort (taking the bus from DS, I assume), I think that going to Y&BC is a great idea, then getting the skyliner outside the IG. I've stayed at BCV and ridden the Skyliner for a while several times. Round-trip to Caribbean Beach and back is 45-50 minutes or so. Or you can switch at the Caribbean to go to DHS, or switch over to the Pop/AoA trip. That one goes over water, a fun change to pace. Then, if you want, stop at whichever resort you might want to see. My only question is that hopefully, there's no more than 5 of you, I think. With 1 wheelchair, they limit the # of ambulatory people in the same car to, I think, no more than 4. If all are ambulatory, I think the limit is 10, but a wheelchair (or ECV) takes more room.

This is exactly what I was hoping for, being able to go to Beach Club (our favourite resort) and explore that area, including Boardwalk, maybe grab a Blue Ribbon corn dog / margarita and then walk to the Skyliner. I am glad to hear that we can ride it round trip Do we tell them that when we get on the ride? or do we stop at different places and we just tell them we'd like to stay on?
We are catching a bus from DS and there are only 3 of us.
Thanks very much.

 

[Dug720]

You'll have to get off and get in line to go back the other way.

 

[teach22180]

Everyone gets off at Caribbean Beach, and you'll have 3 choices: back to Epcot and Riviera, to HS or to Pop and A of A.

 

[Brian Noble]

If, as you said, you could go to any resort (taking the bus from DS, I assume), I think that going to Y&BC is a great idea, then getting the skyliner outside the IG

If it were me: Rather than taking the bus to DS and transferring to another bus to YC/BC, I'd just take the bus to DS and then get on the Skyliner there for a trip to the Crescent Lake area.

OP: Here's a good introduction to how it all works.
https://www.undercovertourist.com/blog/disney-skyliner-transportation-system/

 

[Stacybaeasm]

If it were me - I'd get on outside Epcot and ride to Caribbean Beach. Transfer to the Pop/AOA line to go over Hourglass Lake (if you can time it for sunset? Chef's Kiss!) Then maybe explore one of those resorts (or if you like a nice cocktail, I recommend the Pina Colava at Petals Pool Bar at Pop.) Then get back on to go back to Caribbean where you transfer back to the Epcot line but get off at Riviera. There is a lovely place to grab a quick bite and cocktail (Bar Riva) and explore because it is a beautiful resort. Then you can either get a bus back to the Disney Springs area from Riviera, or head back to Yacht Club for a bus.

You can not just ride round trip. No matter what, you have to get off at Caribbean Beach whether you are transferring to the Pop/AOA line or just want to head back to Epcot. Same if you head to Pop. Even if you don't want to explore, you have to get off and join the return line. They don't allow you to stay on at either place. The only time the doors open and you don't have to get off is at Riviera.

 

[liamthompson]

Do we tell them that when we get on the ride? or do we stop at different places and we just tell them we'd like to stay on?

From the hub at CBR, you have a choice of 3 lines: AoA/Pop, Hollywood studios, or Epcot.

The Epcot line is not direct, it makes a stop at Riviera station. The doors will open, an attendant will ask if you're continuing to Epcot (the majority of folks) or getting off at Riviera. If you're continuing to Epcot, Riviera is the only stop where you can remain in the car and not get out for a transfer.

If you're catching a Disney springs bus, my suggestion would be to catch whichever resort bus arrives first: AoA, pop, CBR, BC/YC, boardwalk, swan and dolphin, or DHS. As Skippyboo mentioned above, the epcot skyliner station is at international gateway so I would not get on the epcot bus.

From DHS or swan and dolphin, my family likes to ride the ferry boat over to boardwalk area. After enjoying the boardwalk and BC/YC, we board the skyliner at Epcot station and ride it back "home" to AoA. The view over the water is very relaxing.

...however, if your family is car crazy like mine, they may enjoy the line from CBR to DHS which covers a large swath of parking lot, much to the delight of my husband and child...it's the small things in life haha

 

[hardcorestitch]

We have never gone on the Skyliner and would like to try it on a non-park day. We were thinking about visiting the Beach Club and Boardwalk resorts (their stores, Beaches and Cream ...) and picking it up just outside of Epcot. For those of you who have used the Skyliner, is it enjoyable? relaxing? Just looking for something low key. Do you get a good view of things? We are going in mid-December. My dad is with us (wheelchair, but can transfer if necessary). Where would you suggest to get the Skyliner? Which resort? We are in Disney Springs area so we can bus to any Disney resort to pick it up. Do we have to get off at each park or can you ride in a loop? Is there a method you suggest? Thank you.

Just prepare for potential weather conditions… I went on the Disney Skyliner on my last day at Disney and it was enjoyable! Luckily I came early enough just before rain and winds shut it down.

 

[CarolynFH]

If it were me: Rather than taking the bus to DS and transferring to another bus to YC/BC, I'd just take the bus to DS and then get on the Skyliner there for a trip to the Crescent Lake area.

OP: Here's a good introduction to how it all works.
https://www.undercovertourist.com/blog/disney-skyliner-transportation-system/

Brian, in your head does DS = Disney [Hollywood] Studios or Disney Springs? OP is “in the Disney Springs area,” thus thinking about bus from Disney Springs, not DHS, to Yacht & Beach.

 

[Brian Noble]

Disney Studios---which I suppose should really be DHS or HS. I don't go to Disney Springs often enough to think of an abbreviation for it!

 

[OurLaughingPlace]

Everyone gets off at Caribbean Beach, and you'll have 3 choices: back to Epcot and Riviera, to HS or to Pop and A of A.

Thank you- this makes it much clearer. We might do a couple of these routes.

 

[OurLaughingPlace]

If it were me - I'd get on outside Epcot and ride to Caribbean Beach. Transfer to the Pop/AOA line to go over Hourglass Lake (if you can time it for sunset? Chef's Kiss!) Then maybe explore one of those resorts (or if you like a nice cocktail, I recommend the Pina Colava at Petals Pool Bar at Pop.) Then get back on to go back to Caribbean where you transfer back to the Epcot line but get off at Riviera. There is a lovely place to grab a quick bite and cocktail (Bar Riva) and explore because it is a beautiful resort. Then you can either get a bus back to the Disney Springs area from Riviera, or head back to Yacht Club for a bus.

You can not just ride round trip. No matter what, you have to get off at Caribbean Beach whether you are transferring to the Pop/AOA line or just want to head back to Epcot. Same if you head to Pop. Even if you don't want to explore, you have to get off and join the return line. They don't allow you to stay on at either place. The only time the doors open and you don't have to get off is at Riviera.

Love these ideas for stops! Thanks!

 

[OurLaughingPlace]

From the hub at CBR, you have a choice of 3 lines: AoA/Pop, Hollywood studios, or Epcot.

The Epcot line is not direct, it makes a stop at Riviera station. The doors will open, an attendant will ask if you're continuing to Epcot (the majority of folks) or getting off at Riviera. If you're continuing to Epcot, Riviera is the only stop where you can remain in the car and not get out for a transfer.

If you're catching a Disney springs bus, my suggestion would be to catch whichever resort bus arrives first: AoA, pop, CBR, BC/YC, boardwalk, swan and dolphin, or DHS. As Skippyboo mentioned above, the epcot skyliner station is at international gateway so I would not get on the epcot bus.

From DHS or swan and dolphin, my family likes to ride the ferry boat over to boardwalk area. After enjoying the boardwalk and BC/YC, we board the skyliner at Epcot station and ride it back "home" to AoA. The view over the water is very relaxing.

...however, if your family is car crazy like mine, they may enjoy the line from CBR to DHS which covers a large swath of parking lot, much to the delight of my husband and child...it's the small things in life haha

This is what we're looking for ... good entertainment We will have the day to spend exploring resorts and riding the Skyliner.

 

[hardcorestitch]

This is what we're looking for ... good entertainment We will have the day to spend exploring resorts and riding the Skyliner.

(proceeds to order a hamburger from Landscape of Flavors)