Topolinos breakfast and Epcot visit

[slyster]

I have a reservation at Topolinos at 8:50am and we plan on going to Epcot (opens 11am) for the day. We plan on using the Epcot skyliner to go to Topolinos since we are staying at BWI. Are there long lines at Rivera resort around 10:00am? I saw an available reservation at 7:45. We are hoping to rope drop and I'm thinking 8:50 may be pushing it? I'm also hoping skyliner is open that early too. Feedback is appreciated.

 

[ENJDisneyFan]

Depends...what time does Epcot open that day?

 

[slyster]

Depends...what time does Epcot open that day?

I edited my post...Epcot opens at 11am

 

[NYCgrrl]

I would switch to the earlier ADR if available. From BWI it’s an easy run to the Rivera on the Skyliner that should take about an 45 mins to an hour including the walk or boat ride to the Skyliner entrance at Epcot. Just for the record I’ve walked faster than most of the boats from BWI - one of the reasons I love that place is how easy it is to get to Epcot and HS on foot.
The earlier ADR will allow a nice eating pace and relaxing transport.

 

[slyster]

wow, so you mean it will take about 45 minutes from BWI to the skyliner and to Rivera? I thought the skyliner was 5-7 min from Epcot to Rivera.

How early does the skyliner start running at Epcot? If we have a 7:45 reservation, is the skyliner still an option?

 

[cafetao]

If I remember correctly the skyliner doesn't start until about an hour before park opening.

 

[CarolynFH]

wow, so you mean it will take about 45 minutes from BWI to the skyliner and to Rivera? I thought the skyliner was 5-7 min from Epcot to Rivera.

How early does the skyliner start running at Epcot? If we have a 7:45 reservation, is the skyliner still an option?

The Skyliner starts running in time for guests to ride from Riviera to DHS for park opening, so fairly early, but you'll need to check MDE or at BWI for the actual time when you're there. The Skyliner IG station is a short walk, maybe 5 minutes, from BWI and then a short ride, 10 minutes max, to Riviera. Guests with breakfast ADRs at Epcot resorts or at Riviera/CBR are allowed to ride the Skyliner in either direction to get to those ADRs. Guests without ADRs aren't allowed to board the Skyliner at CBR or Riviera until about an hour before Epcot opens, however.

 

[NYCgrrl]

wow, so you mean it will take about 45 minutes from BWI to the skyliner and to Rivera? I thought the skyliner was 5-7 min from Epcot to Rivera.

How early does the skyliner start running at Epcot? If we have a 7:45 reservation, is the skyliner still an option?

About 45 minutes in total from hotel room door to Topolino’s podium sounds about right to me. YMMV.

Time for the Skyliner from WDW info:

The operating hours for the gondolas tends to vary depending on what time the parks are opening and closing, but you can typically find them starting from around 7:30 am to 8:30 a.m. and going until 10 or 11 p.m.

 

[YourEveryDayAdam]

Skyliner is fast. Lines aren't typically long except FIRST thing before park opening and after the fireworks. I would think if you gave yourself an hour to get to EPCOT you'll be fine. I doubt it'll even take 30 minutes, but an hour should be safe.

 

[slyster]

I'm thinking I need to keep the 8:50 time....I believe 7:45 would be better, but I'm concerned the skyliner will not be running from Epcot to Rivera at 7:15-7:30. My option would be an uber/lyft.

 

[YourEveryDayAdam]

I'm thinking I need to keep the 8:50 time....I believe 7:45 would be better, but I'm concerned the skyliner will not be running from Epcot to Rivera at 7:15-7:30. My option would be an uber/lyft.

I might suggest getting an earlier time, if you can, then you will have a buffer if there are delays. If you get out at the expected time, you can explore the Riviera resort. it would be easy to kill an hour just walking around and checking things out or going for a walk along the lake. It's gorgeous! Or head out onto the balcony at Topolinos and enjoy the view!

 

[slyster]

The Skyliner starts running in time for guests to ride from Riviera to DHS for park opening, so fairly early, but you'll need to check MDE or at BWI for the actual time when you're there. The Skyliner IG station is a short walk, maybe 5 minutes, from BWI and then a short ride, 10 minutes max, to Riviera. Guests with breakfast ADRs at Epcot resorts or at Riviera/CBR are allowed to ride the Skyliner in either direction to get to those ADRs. Guests without ADRs aren't allowed to board the Skyliner at CBR or Riviera until about an hour before Epcot opens, however.

Is this doable with a 7:45am reservation? or am I better off keeping the 8:50am reservation I have.

Also, I"m sure I'm overthinking it, but if we do a 7:45 reservation and are finished by 9, will they will allow us to ride the skyliner back to Epcot and back to BWI?

 

[slyster]

well, it looks like the 7:45 reservation is gone LOL. I think we will have to go with 8:50am

 

[YourEveryDayAdam]

Is this doable with a 7:45am reservation? or am I better off keeping the 8:50am reservation I have.

Also, I"m sure I'm overthinking it, but if we do a 7:45 reservation and are finished by 9, will they will allow us to ride the skyliner back to Epcot and back to BWI?

As long as the skyliner is open and running by then, anyone who's at the Skyliner station can just get on. They don't check ID's, Magic Bands, or anything. Just tell them where you're going and they'll get you on the right gondola.

 

[CarolynFH]

Is this doable with a 7:45am reservation? or am I better off keeping the 8:50am reservation I have.

Also, I"m sure I'm overthinking it, but if we do a 7:45 reservation and are finished by 9, will they will allow us to ride the skyliner back to Epcot and back to BWI?

well, it looks like the 7:45 reservation is gone LOL. I think we will have to go with 8:50am

This is now a moot point, but I think that they don't let people ride to the IG until about an hour before Epcot is scheduled to open, to prevent a large crowd forming there. The exception is people who have an ADR at an Epcot area resort, which the CMs can confirm - they can ride to the IG because they'll then disperse to the resorts where their ADRs are instead of congregating outside of Epcot.

 

[slyster]

As long as the skyliner is open and running by then, anyone who's at the Skyliner station can just get on. They don't check ID's, Magic Bands, or anything. Just tell them where you're going and they'll get you on the right gondola.

ok but how will I know if it is up and running. Can BWI tell me that?

 

[YourEveryDayAdam]

If it's during the operating hours of the Skyliner, it should be running. Barring any malfunction or unplanned maintenance. If the skyliner is down, they will have busses to take you to the parks.

Current Disney Skyliner Operating Hours:
Disney's Hollywood Studios Line 9:00 a.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Epcot Line 9:00 a.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Art of Animation Resort/Disney's Pop Century Resort Line 9:00 a.m. – 8:30 p.m.

So it looks like everything starts running at 9am. At 9am, you can go from anywhere to anywhere in the skyliner system.

 

[slyster]

If it's during the operating hours of the Skyliner, it should be running. Barring any malfunction or unplanned maintenance. If the skyliner is down, they will have busses to take you to the parks.



So it looks like everything starts running at 9am. At 9am, you can go from anywhere to anywhere in the skyliner system.

So based on those hours, I won’t be able to use it to get rivera for my 8:50 reservation.

 

[YourEveryDayAdam]

So based on those hours, I won’t be able to use it to get rivera for my 8:50 reservation.

Correct. I would plan on an Uber or Lyft for a reservation before 9:30am or so.

 

[honeymo78]

So it looks like everything starts running at 9am. At 9am, you can go from anywhere to anywhere in the skyliner system.

Did HS have a delayed opening or something? 9am is very late for the Skyliner to start running if HS is opening at a normal time. My last 2 trips in April and late June had HS opening at 9am and the Skyliner starting to run sometime around 7:30am from PoP and CBR. Many people have reported zero issues using the Epcot line for breakfast ADRs in the 8-9am range at Rivera or Epcot area resorts (coming from Pop/AoA or CBR) - they've needed to show their ADR to get on as they don't let everyone on that line until closer to Epcot opening hours. It would make sense that Epcot resort guests could head to Rivera for breakfast as well.

Slyster - with an 8:50 ADR, you should have no trouble hopping on the Epcot line to Rivera, although they may ask to see your ADR.