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3. Skyliner

skyline
Image: Disney

Walt Disney World's newest transportation system is the Skyliner. Think like a ski lift, but way cooler! With giant 10-seater enclosed gondolas soaring over Disney World, while feeling the cool breeze through the well ventilated windows, these make for an awesome experience. 

Similar to the monorail, the Skyliner connects you to specific parks and resorts. It connects you to both Hollywood Studios and EPCOT, as well as these four resorts; Pop Century, Art of Animation, The Riviera, and Caribbean Beach Resort. So if you are staying at any of these resorts, you can access the Skyliner as well as if you are park hopping between Hollywood Studios and EPCOT. 

The Skyliner has similar hours to the monorail, where you can ride until 1 hour after each park closes, however they do open earlier than the monorail system does. Keep in mind a few things with the Skyliner, however. The Skyliner is the only mode of transportation from Hollywood Studios and EPCOT to the 4 resorts that I mentioned above, unless there is inclement weather in the area, such as thunder and lightning. So, if you are trying to catch the Skyliner at park close, especially after the EPCOT fireworks show, "Harmonious", it is going to be slammed and you should be prepared to wait quite some time.  Also, if you are not a fan of heights, this may not be the option for you.

Pop Century and Art of Animation share a Skyliner station which is located right in the middle of both resorts at the connecting bridge. The Riveira station is just to the side of the resort and only a short walk to the famous Topolino's restaurant. The Caribbean Beach Skyliner station is located in the back of the resort, closest to the Trinidad portion of the resort, so it can be a little far if you are staying in a preferred room. This station is also the main Skyliner hub, which connects to other Skyliner lines, so it will be the busiest of all of the resort stations. However, if you are staying here, you won't have to "connect" to a second line, which is nice. 

The Hollywood Studios Skyliner station is just outside security to the right, if you are looking at the park entrance from the parking lot. The EPCOT station is located in the back of the park. Be sure to keep this in mind if you plan to head to the front of EPCOT first, to see, say Spaceship Earth or rope drop Test Track, because you will have quite the walk to get there. 

Even though I love the Skyliner because of its convenience to a variety of resorts and privacy factor, the lines can get very long at park close and the location of some of the stations are not ideal, for me anyway. That puts the Skyliner in my number three spot. 

 
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Comments

This article has several mistakes. The Skyliner gondolas are not air conditioned. Also the Friendship Boats are the ones in Crescent Lake connecting Epcot, Hollywood Studios, and the surrounding resorts.

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