Should you’re an on-site visitor staying at one of many Skyliner resorts, making the most of Early Entry at Disney’s Hollywood Studios or EPCOT means not less than one trip on the gondolas. This shares my cautionary story and provides phrases of warning about when to line up for the Skyliner gondolas, or when you ought to pay additional for Uber/Lyft or Minnie Van.
Throughout a current keep at Disney’s Artwork of Animation Resort, I meant upon persevering with my testing of the perfect approaches to Early Entry at EPCOT by way of the Worldwide Gateway. Particularly, figuring out whether or not I might beat the entrance entrance crowd to Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind (nonetheless a giant nope) in addition to the brand new protocol for Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Whereas I’ve used the Skyliner for Early Entry with regularity from Caribbean Seaside and Riviera Resorts, it had been some time since I’d executed the identical from the Artwork of Animation and Pop Century station throughout busier dates. Whereas I’ve used it in the course of the low season with out problem, that isn’t the identical.
Earlier than we dig into the small print of the day, let’s begin with a number of notes. The times I stayed at Artwork of Animation had been 7/10 to 9/10 on the group calendar at EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios (relying on the park and day). Common wait occasions all through the day for headliners like Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, Slinky Canine Sprint, Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run, Remy’s Ratatouille Journey, Frozen Ever After, and different points of interest had been all above an hour–a pair had been over 2 hours.
Equally importantly from the angle of the Skyliner, I might assume occupancy at each Pop Century and Artwork of Animation had been fairly excessive. This was in the course of the coronary heart of spring break season, and after I checked shortly earlier than my journey dates, neither resort had any availability in the usual rooms. Artwork of Animation did have one household suite type accessible, however that’s not unusual. Occupancy all throughout Walt Disney World was excessive.
Additionally notable about these checks occurred on days when each EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios opened at 9:00 am. This has been the norm for over a 12 months, because it’s exceedingly uncommon for both to prolonged their hours to eight:30 am opening occasions. It’s solely occurred a handful of occasions with DHS within the final 12 months, and none (to the perfect of my recollection) at EPCOT.
That is related as a result of the present commonplace working process is for the Skyliner to open solely an hour earlier than Early Entry begins. On this specific day, that meant 7:30 am. The Skyliner used to open at 7 am day by day with regularity, however that hasn’t been the case for not less than a 12 months. (If my expertise was any indication, it wants to return to opening at 7 am!)
That is highlighted as a result of it might change the calculus on utilizing the Skyliner for Early Entry. As we’ve seen prior to now, morning crowds are worse with later begin occasions and higher with earlier ones. It’s because folks wish to sleep-in on trip, or so I’m informed. This shrinks the pool of contributors for Early Entry as the beginning time strikes earlier.
Equally, beginning the Skyliner at 7:30 am places extra stress on the system, as many visitors need to benefit from Early Entry need to be at Disney’s Hollywood Studios or EPCOT by round that point. In consequence, some visitors line up earlier than the Skyliner opens, and there could be a backlog to course of that by no means goes away within the lead-up to Early Entry.
Lastly, there’s a giant distinction between doing Early Entry from Caribbean Seaside and Riviera Resort versus Pop Century and Artwork of Animation. That is because of the additional switch. It’s all the time going to take longer to make use of the Skyliner from the 2 Worth Resorts in consequence. In regular crowds, that’s often simply an additional 5-10 minutes, although.
Between the 2 Worth Resorts, there are practically 5,000 rooms. And at Artwork of Animation, a lot of these are household suites, so there are extra visitors per room on common. It is a lot of visitors being serviced by one station, and through peak season, there’s not simply excessive occupancy, but in addition greater crowds–making a larger incentive to benefit from Early Entry.
In contrast, there are underneath 2,000 rooms in complete between Caribbean Seaside and Riviera Resort. Granted, the latter is DVC and has a wide range of bigger rooms, however roughly two-thirds of the rooms are commonplace studios or the smaller 2-person studios. Extra importantly, there are two stations at these two resorts, which dilutes demand to a point. (The “to a point” half is as a result of these stations additionally should course of AoA and Pop transfers.)
On the actual day I did this, I left my Little Mermaid room at Artwork of Animation Resort at about 7:30 am.
This was a lot later than I might’ve preferred to depart. Usually, I’ll line up quarter-hour earlier than the Skyliner formally opens. On some events, I’ve been fortunate and it’s quietly began operating previous to the posted time.
Since this was checkout day and I used to be transferring resorts, I additionally needed to drop my baggage off on the entrance earlier than heading again to the Skyliner station. Even so, I might see the road throughout Hourglass Lake at Pop Century, and it was lengthy. It’s laborious to make out from the cellphone photograph, however the line extends all the best way to the bowling pin on the far left of the above photograph.
After dropping off my baggage on the entrance and making my method again to the Skyliner station, I discovered a equally lengthy line on the Artwork of Animation facet. Right here’s the top of it as of seven:55 am.
Not like the end-of-night strains at EPCOT’s Worldwide Gateway or Disney’s Hollywood Studios, this line didn’t transfer particularly rapidly. It was extra like begins and stops, considerably akin to a standby line merging with the Lightning Lane.
Or on this case, two totally different standby strains, as there was a Forged Member merging the Artwork of Animation and Pop Century queues for the Skyliner. They’d let X variety of visitors by from one facet, then maintain the road and do the identical for the opposite facet.
Throughout regular middle-of-the-day operations, every get together will often get a Skyliner cabin to themselves.
I used to be nervous that was the case right here, as the road gave the impression to be transferring actually slowly, nevertheless it was all a matter of that merge. Forged Members on the station had been loading cabins effectively. To not their full capability most, however that may be unpleasantly crowded–and it’s troublesome to group that effectively at this station.
Anyway, I used to be lastly boarded the Skyliner on the Hourglass Lake station at 8:26 am. All informed, it was a wait of ~half-hour, which was worse than I’d ever skilled for Early Entry, even in the course of the peak of crowds plus bodily distancing. (My earlier excessive was underneath 25 minutes.)
My Early Entry plan for Toy Story Land was completely out the window at this level, regardless, however I used to be however involved that I’d encounter one other similarly-long line on the hub station at Disney’s Caribbean Seaside Resort. The identical visitors would nonetheless be in entrance of me, plus one other few thousand extra from these rooms–a converging crowd and chaotic state of affairs. Between this being peak spring break season, that’s what I used to be bracing myself for the worst upon exiting at CBR.
I used to be very glad to be incorrect, and fortunately, this was not even remotely the case. To my shock, there was nearly no line on the DHS facet, and EPCOT was effectively inside its regular switchbacks. These strains had been considerably shorter than I’ve skilled just lately at Caribbean Seaside’s hub…albeit round an hour earlier!
My finest guess as to the reason for that is that there are a number of stations and locations right here, thereby diluting crowds. On prime of that, I used to be already late at this level, so I used to be most likely behind the push from CBR and Riviera. In any case, I used to be on the Skyliner certain for Disney’s Hollywood Studios by 8:32 am in a cabin all to myself. I’ll take it–small victory!
One other small victory is that I used to be by safety at Disney’s Hollywood Studios by 8:40 am.
No line, no secondary screening–nothing. This put me contained in the park only some minutes later (it appears busy, however the entry course of is easy with fingerprint verification disabled), nonetheless with 20 minutes on the clock throughout Early Entry.
For many who are curious, this arrival time takes each Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance and Slinky Canine Sprint off the desk. For each of those headliners, when you’re on time for Early Entry, you’re late. And I wasn’t even on-time. By the point I made my method again to Toy Story Land, the road for Slinky Canine Sprint was approaching the Woody marquee!
All of my finest choices at this level would’ve been secondary points of interest in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and Toy Story Land or (higher but) Sundown Boulevard. I might’ve knocked out each Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster and Tower of Terror forward of the common rope drop rush.
Actually, that would possibly have been my most suitable choice regardless of after I arrived. One of many issues I’m making an attempt to check is time saved beginning at Sundown Boulevard versus the aforementioned headliners. Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster is routinely a prime 3 wait time within the park, not that far off from Slinky Canine Sprint and Rise of the Resistance. And but, it’s a lot much less common throughout Early Entry.
Level being, the play when you’re on time or barely late to Early Entry at Disney’s Hollywood Studios might be Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster (probably twice) and Tower of Terror for optimum time financial savings. (I’m not a fan of doing Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway at this level.)
The flight is longer to EPCOT, however I’m guessing I nonetheless might’ve made it inside Worldwide Gateway by round 8:50 am. That may not have given me sufficient time to energy stroll to Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, however it could’ve left Remy’s Ratatouille Journey or perhaps Frozen Ever After as choices.
I haven’t tried doing the Rat Journey on the finish of Early Entry, so I can’t communicate as to whether there’s a little bit of a lull after the primary wave of visitors are processed, however I’m guessing there may be not. Remy’s Ratatouille Journey continues to be a very common Early Entry vacation spot even post-Cosmic Rewind getting a standby line.
Not solely that, however there are nonetheless loads of households who come by the entrance entrance of EPCOT and do Remy’s Ratatouille Journey first. This leads to a gentle circulation of visitors doing Rat Journey all through Early Entry. Whereas I haven’t examined the precise wait occasions round 8:55 am, I’ve gotten off the trip round then and noticed the continued inflow.
Finally, only a warning when you’re planning to make use of the Skyliner for Early Entry at EPCOT or Disney’s Hollywood Studios to do Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, Slinky Canine Sprint, Remy’s Ratatouille Journey, or Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind. You completely must line up at or earlier than the Skyliner formally opens. Whereas I used to be nonetheless capable of salvage my morning, it required pivoting from my unique Toy Story Land plan, which might’ve been an terrible concept as I used to be behind the wave of the group.
Clearly, I might’ve been in a a lot better place had been I not operating late. That’s my very own fault and I knew I’d be slicing it shut. However even at round 7:30 am when it first opened, the road was prolonged for the Skyliner, and most likely round a 30 minute wait then, too. It would’ve even been longer relying on how many individuals lined up forward of opening.
That may’ve put my arrival time at DHS at round 8:10 am or 8:20 at EPCOT, on the earliest. These occasions are nonetheless pushing it for all the aforementioned headliners–you positively received’t be at or close to the entrance of the pack! And when you aren’t close to the entrance of the pack, it actually calls into query whether or not it’s best to begin with Slinky Canine Sprint, Rise of the Resistance, and so forth.
It’s unlucky that Walt Disney World has pushed again the opening of the Skyliner to 7:30 am, as that clearly is inadequate, particularly for Pop Century and Artwork of Animation because of the additional switch. Actually, primarily based on my current experiences with Early Entry at DHS, I’d additionally add that it’s a disgrace this park additionally isn’t opening earlier–however that’s one other story for an additional publish.
In relation to arriving on time, strolling from the Crescent Lake Resorts continues to be the optimum technique for Early Entry at DHS or EPCOT because you’re answerable for your personal destiny. (I don’t even wish to take the FriendShip boats for Early Entry since they’re much less predictable!) Nevertheless, that’s not simply accomplishable until you’re staying at these accommodations. From the Hourglass Lake or Barefoot Bay Resorts, strolling isn’t an possibility.
The primary takeaway right here ought to be that it’s essential to be on the Hourglass Lake Skyliner station by 7:15 am or so in peak crowds, begin with points of interest aside from these headliners, or spend additional by taking an Uber, Lyft, or Minnie Van from the Skyliner resorts. The gondola is an effective way to begin the day, however there’s not an enormous margin for error when you’re making an attempt to do one of many prime 4 rides at DHS or EPCOT from Artwork of Animation or Pop Century Resorts.
Planning a Walt Disney World journey? Find out about accommodations on our Walt Disney World Accommodations Critiques web page. For the place to eat, learn our Walt Disney World Restaurant Critiques. To economize on tickets or decide which sort to purchase, learn our Suggestions for Saving Cash on Walt Disney World Tickets publish. Our What to Pack for Disney Journeys publish takes a singular have a look at intelligent objects to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Journey Guides will assist. For complete recommendation, the perfect place to begin is our Walt Disney World Journey Planning Information for all the pieces it is advisable to know!
Your Ideas
Have you ever used the Skyliner for Early Entry at EPCOT or Disney’s Hollywood Studios from the Hourglass Lake Worth Resorts? What time did you arrive on the station? How lengthy was the road? Have been you continue to capable of beat the crowds to Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, Slinky Canine Sprint, Cosmic Rewind, or Remy’s Ratatouille Journey? What time did the Skyliner begin working if you did this? Would you advocate the Skyliner, or utilizing Uber/Lyft? Do you agree or disagree with our evaluation? Any questions? Listening to your suggestions–even if you disagree with us–is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas under within the feedback!
