Transportation Recommendation

[AVanstraten]

Looking for recommendation for transportation for the following:

• DHS to Epcot (boat, skyliner, bus...)
• AK to MK - is the only option bus or is there another free way or is it better to Uber/Lyft?

Thanks!

 

[Alesia]

Looking for recommendation for transportation for the following:

• DHS to Epcot (boat, skyliner, bus...)
• AK to MK - is the only option bus or is there another free way or is it better to Uber/Lyft?

Thanks!

DHS to Epcot: I prefer to walk.
MK to AK: bus. You can Lyft if you want, but it won't save you any time.

 

[AVanstraten]

DHS to Epcot: I prefer to walk.
MK to AK: bus. You can Lyft if you want, but it won't save you any time.

How long is the walk from DHS to Epcot? While I think I've heard it's not too long, with two kids I'm thinking the skyliner will be a nice rest and cool view of the parks and resorts. But does it take forever?

 

[CarolynFH]

Looking for recommendation for transportation for the following:

• DHS to Epcot (boat, skyliner, bus...)
• AK to MK - is the only option bus or is there another free way or is it better to Uber/Lyft?

Thanks!

From DHS to Epcot, we’d take the Skyliner. We found it so pleasant that we might even take it when our actual destination is Boardwalk! Some people can walk it faster, but we can’t, and I don’t know how your kids would do.

From AK to MK, the only free option is the bus. “Better” to Uber/Lyft, to me, is open to your value judgement regarding cost, time needed, issues wrangling kids, etc. if you choose Uber/Lyft, set your destination as Contemporary Resort or BLT. If you set it as MK, you’ll be dropped off at the TTC and have to monorail or ferry to the MK entrance.

 

[loves to dive]

I agree with the walk from HS to Epcot and your options AK to MK are free bus or pay for Lyft/Uber or minnie van. We walk from HS to Epcot unless we've done it more than once in a day and it's hotter than heck and I'm just dog tired, then we will take the boat. We've never done the skylift and probably never will, my son is afraid of heights and claustrophobic, the last thing we need is for it to get stuck with him up in the air in a box. From what I understand, it's not direct between the two parks, you have to go to Riveria and transfer.

 

[CarolynFH]

From what I understand, it's not direct between the two parks, you have to go to Riveria and transfer.

This is true (actually, you transfer at Caribbean Beach resort), but because there’s essentially no wait for a gondola, the Skyliner is overall just as fast or faster, especially if you have to wait for a boat. But it’s not for those who are afraid of heights.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Where in Epcot. The bus might be faster.

 

[Alesia]

How long is the walk from DHS to Epcot? While I think I've heard it's not too long, with two kids I'm thinking the skyliner will be a nice rest and cool view of the parks and resorts. But does it take forever?

It's about a mile, so about 20 minutes. The bus and the boat are around 30 minutes. I'm not sure about the skyliner -- I refuse to take it until they work out the problems.

 

[joelkfla]

I'm thinking the skyliner will be a nice rest and cool view of the parks and resorts. But does it take forever?

Usually 20-25 minutes, which is faster than the boats and in the same ballpark as walking. But it can take longer if there are delays.

If you walk, there's a shortcut by the roller-coaster themed pool that cuts 5 minutes off the walking time. With the shortcut, the walk is 1 mile. There's no shade along much of it.

 

[AVanstraten]

From DHS to Epcot, we’d take the Skyliner. We found it so pleasant that we might even take it when our actual destination is Boardwalk! Some people can walk it faster, but we can’t, and I don’t know how your kids would do.

From AK to MK, the only free option is the bus. “Better” to Uber/Lyft, to me, is open to your value judgement regarding cost, time needed, issues wrangling kids, etc. if you choose Uber/Lyft, set your destination as Contemporary Resort or BLT. If you set it as MK, you’ll be dropped off at the TTC and have to monorail or ferry to the MK entrance.

Good to know on the Contemporary resort, thank you! We will be using Uber/Lyft a couple of times this vacation and do so quite often with travels with the kids so we are good with that. I feel like the wait for the bus and crowded buses make it not so comfortable.

 

[AVanstraten]

It's about a mile, so about 20 minutes. The bus and the boat are around 30 minutes. I'm not sure about the skyliner -- I refuse to take it until they work out the problems.

Have there been more issues with the skyliner since the one early on? I haven't been following.

 

[AVanstraten]

Thank you everyone for the quick responses! Does the walk go by anything fun/cool or places to stop? If not, I'm thinking of leaning towards the skyliner. Just think it would be fun to try with the kids, something different, and relaxing as it would just be the 4 of us in it. Do they allow food in them? Thinking we could grab a snack before getting on and eat while riding it?

 

[gatour]

Thank you everyone for the quick responses! Does the walk go by anything fun/cool or places to stop? If not, I'm thinking of leaning towards the skyliner. Just think it would be fun to try with the kids, something different, and relaxing as it would just be the 4 of us in it. Do they allow food in them? Thinking we could grab a snack before getting on and eat while riding it?

Yes to the skyliner allowing food

 

[nkereina]

The walk is long enough where we don't want to do it after walking around Epcot and before walking around DHS. Some of the path is also in the sun.

IMO, Skyliner is the best choice. You can bring food on it, but the ride is relatively quick so keep that in mind. It will take less than 10 minutes to go from Epcot to CBR, and to transfer you simply walk 100 feet to the DHS line and board there. Its maybe 7 minutes to DHS from there.

I'm not sure what recent issues PP is referring to. We rode it with no issues for 4 days at the end of October. Like the in park rides, there may be instances where a line is briefly down or delayed, but its not frequent or prohibitive IMO. Its going to be par for the course with something like this.

 

[catomi01]

Skyliner is the way to go I think...but as others have said, there have been some issues and delays, so if you've got kids with you (and for yourself) make sure you hit the bathrooms before you board.

AK to MK, is going to take a while no matter how you go, its just a relatively long distance (about as far as you can get from one point to the other on property.) If you've got dining reservations or something time sensitive, I would suggest lyft/uber...or at least allow some extra time for travel if you use the buses.

 

[Alesia]

Have there been more issues with the skyliner since the one early on? I haven't been following.

https://mickeyblog.com/2019/12/30/guests-disney-skyliner-got-stuck-open-emergency-kits-yesterday/

 

[joelkfla]

https://mickeyblog.com/2019/12/30/guests-disney-skyliner-got-stuck-open-emergency-kits-yesterday/

This article has some factual problems:

Three of the Skyliner’s main lines required extended downtime for maintenance. The Caribbean, Epcot, and Riviera connections all needed safety checks and possibly repairs.

The 3 stations listed are all on the same line. So were all 3 lines actually down, or is the author ignorant or exaggerating?

 

[karly05]

I saw a video a while back about a group that "raced" from DHS to Epcot. One young(er) man who appeared to be in good shape walked it; walking quickly, he made it in 19-20 minutes but was ready for a bench and his water bottle when he got there. The others in his party took the Skyliner. It took about 23 minutes but they enjoyed the ride and were refreshed and ready to go when they landed.

I've never tried the walk, but I'd go for the Skyliner if you're game. I'll be at Pop in a month and can't wait! I like the boat, but it is slooow. (I've never used the bus between Epcot and DHS.)