Skyliner vs Monorail vs Bus-Only Resorts: How Transportation Impacts Your Entire Trip
There are several different types of complimentary transportation for guests to use during their stay at Walt Disney World Resort, but certain types of transportation may not be ideal for all guests. We’re going to look at the different transportation types and who they are best suited for and who might want to choose a different transportation type.
Skyliner
The Skyliner is a system of aerial gondolas and connects 4 resorts to the International Gateway at EPCOT and Hollywood Studios. For some guests, the Skyliner is a fun alternative to the more conventional modes of transportation to the parks. You get unique scenic views that you won’t get anywhere else, it is the fastest transportation option to EPCOT or Hollywood Studios from the resorts connected to the Skyliner and it offers frequent service with low wait times throughout most of the day. Guests using ECV scooters or wheelchairs can easily board a Skyliner gondola without having to transfer out of the scooter or wheelchair.
There are some downsides of the Skyliner. If there is lightning or high winds in the area, the gondolas won’t run and back-up buses will be used. There is no air conditioning in the gondolas, only vents. If the gondolas pause, as they sometimes do, there will be no air movement which can become uncomfortable, especially in the summer heat. Everyone traveling from Art of Animation or Pop Century resorts to EPCOT or Hollywood Studios and back to their resort at the end of the day will need to transfer at the Caribbean Beach Resort. This adds time onto their journey. Another thing to consider about the Skyliner is that it doesn’t go to all of the parks. Therefore, if Magic Kingdom or Animal Kingdom are your final destinations you will need to transfer to another type of transportation in order to get to the park of your choice. One thing to keep in mind is that at the beginning of the day and at park close, lines to get on the Skyliner can become very long. If you are traveling with a stroller, it must be folded before entering the gondola. The last thing to consider is if anyone in your travel party has claustrophobia, is prone to motion sickness or has a fear of heights, the Skyliner may not be the best choice for transportation.
Monorail
The Monorail is another choice for complimentary transportation. This is a train on elevated tracks. There are 3 routes that guests can choose from depending on where they would like to go. The Express Monorail connects Magic Kingdom to the Transportation and Ticket Center (TTC), the EPCOT Monorail runs from the TTC to EPCOT and the Resort Monorail connects the 3 monorail resorts to Magic Kingdom and the TTC. The benefits of the monorail are that it is a quick way to get to Magic Kingdom, especially if you are staying at one of the three resorts on the monorail loop. There are great views of the resorts and of EPCOT as you go by. You can even ride through the middle of the Contemporary Resort! If you are interested in resort hopping (which I highly recommend!), the monorail is a great way to be able to see the different resorts and maybe even grab a bite at one of the restaurants. If families are traveling with a stroller, it doesn’t need to be folded to be able to board the car. Also, guests using ECV scooters or wheelchairs will easily be able to board the monorail car without having to transfer out of the scooter or wheelchair.
There are a few drawbacks to traveling by monorail. The first is that it doesn’t go to Hollywood Studios or Animal Kingdom so you will need to find alternate transportation to these parks if they are in your plans for the day. There are also times that the monorail will experience mechanical issues and will not be able to run during these times. Another thing to consider is that before the parks open and after they close, there will be long lines with guests trying to get back to their resort or to the TTC. While the monorail does go to both Magic Kingdom and EPCOT, there is no direct connection between the 2 parks. Guests will need to take the monorail to the TTC and then transfer to the monorail that is going to the park of their choice. This will add time to their journey that needs to be factored in.
Disney Buses
The transportation that most guests use are the buses. They go from resorts to the parks, the water parks and Disney Springs. Some of the benefits of using the bus system are that they run on a frequent schedule, so if you miss one bus to the park of your choice, there will be another one along soon. Another real benefit of using the bus system is the convenience of not having to navigate Orlando traffic. You can just sit back, relax and enjoy the ride. The buses are also able to drop you off closer to the park entrance than if you were to park your own car in the parking lots. Guests using ECV scooters or wheelchairs will be able to ride the buses without having to transfer out of their scooter or wheelchair. They will usually board the bus first with their families before other guests are able to get on the bus so they can be secured into their spot. They usually will be the last guests off of the bus when they arrive at their destination.
As with the other types of transportation, there are some drawbacks to the bus system. First of all, the bus travel times will be longer than other types of transportation due to having to navigate the Orlando traffic. Before parks open and after the parks close, there will be longer lines waiting for the buses and keep in mind that the bus stops for some resorts are much farther away from the entrance to the parks, so after a day in the parks, you will have to walk a considerable ways to get to your bus stop and will then have to wait in line for your bus to come. The biggest drawback of the buses, in my opinion, is that sometimes at the end of the night, the buses will be very crowded and guests may find themselves having to stand up the entire ride back to their resort. This is especially bothersome if you have been walking in the parks all day, you’re tired and your feet hurt.
Bonus Mode of Transportation- Water Taxis
There are a few resorts in the EPCOT resort area that have access to the FriendShip Boats, which are complimentary water taxis that take guests to the International Gateway at EPCOT or to Hollywood Studios. These are a fun way to get from the resorts to the park or just to take a break during the day to check out what the resorts have to offer, especially in the way of dining.
If guests are staying at a resort in the Disney Springs area, they also have access to a water taxi, called the Sassagoula River Boats which take them to Disney Springs and/or to the other resorts in the area.
There are also water taxis that travel from the Magic Kingdom resorts to the Magic Kingdom. This is a fun alternative to using a bus or monorail and sometimes not as crowded as the other 2 options. The one drawback to the smaller water taxis is that guests in ECV scooters and wheelchairs may have to transfer out of the scooter or wheelchair to board the boat.
Each type of transportation has its own positive attributes as well as its drawbacks. The key to success is to know how to navigate the different types of transportation before you get to Walt Disney World, otherwise it can seem very overwhelming with the transfers, finding the correct bus stop, which type of transportation goes where, etc. Your Goofy Getaways Travel Advisor can definitely help you with this planning before your trip. However if you find yourself a bit confused when you're on your vacation, don’t hesitate to ask one of the Cast Members where to go or how to get to your next destination. They are more than willing to help. Once you have an understanding of the transportation around the Walt Disney World Resort, you will be traveling between resorts and parks like a pro.
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