Disney World Skyliner Resorts: What You Need to Know

Many Disney World visitors struggle with choosing the perfect resort to stay during their trip. Since Disney World property is so large, many guests tend to choose resorts based on location, such as near Disney's BoardWalk or resorts located on the monorail. Location can be important depending on which activities and theme parks your group plans on enjoying during your vacation.This is why the Disney World Skyliner resorts are so popular!

If you plan on visiting EPCOT or Hollywood Studios, I recommend considering a resort located along Disney's free Skyliner transportation system. There are four resorts on the Skyliner's route that have a range of prices from value, moderate, and deluxe. The Skyliner takes guests between each of the four Skyliner resorts as well as EPCOT and Hollywood Studios in a gondola-style vehicle.

I am a Disney World annual passholder, Disney Vacation Club (DVC) member, and frequently visit and stay at Disney World resorts. I have stayed at each of the Disney Skyliner resorts multiple times, and consider each of them some of my personal favorites based on theme, location, and overall experience. I will discuss in detail what each of the Disney Skyliner resorts have to offer and why you should consider staying there on your next trip.

Disney World Skyliner Resort Benefits

There are four resorts located on the Skyliner's transportation route. These resorts include Pop Century and Art of Animation, which are both considered value resorts and fall within the cheapest tier of Disney World resorts. Caribbean Beach Resort is considered a moderate resort, and the Riviera Resort is a deluxe resort and considered one of the most expensive resorts. Despite the price range differences, each of these resorts have a lot to offer including the convenience being located on the Skyliner.

Location and Transportation

If you stay at one of the four Disney Skyliner resorts, you will have a ton of options to visit some of the best areas of Disney World property without needing to drive, pay for an Uber, or wait for a Disney World bus. As previously mentioned, you are able to use the Skyliner to visit any of the other Disney Skyliner resorts. This could come in handy if you want to try a different restaurant, bar, or gift shop located at one of these resorts. You can see our full guide to how to get from one resort to another at Disney World for details on transportation for resort hopping.

Disney Skyliner resort guests can also take the Skyliner directly to and from EPCOT and Hollywood Studios. If you plan to park hop, the Skyliner also goes between these two parks, making it very easy for Skyliner resort guests to travel between their resort and these two theme parks.

Additionally, EPCOT is a relatively short walk to Disney's BoardWalk area. The BoardWalk is a quarter-mile promenade of other deluxe resorts, restaurants, lounges, and nightlife. Due to it's popularity, it can be difficult to park near the BoardWalk. However, Skyliner resort guests can take the Skyliner to the EPCOT terminal stop and walk to the BoardWalk with no issue. If you don't want to walk from EPCOT to the BoardWalk, you also have the option of taking a Friendship Boat from EPCOT to any of the resorts located near the BoardWalk. The BoardWalk resorts include Disney's BoardWalk Villas, Disney's Beach Club Villas, Disney's Yacht Club Resort, Walt Disney World Dolphin Hotel, and Walt Disney World Swan Hotel.

Early Theme Park Entry

All Disney World property resort guests have the benefit of using Early Theme Park Entry for any Disney World theme park every day. This allows any resort guest to enter the theme parks 30 minutes before park opening. Early entry is valid starting the day of your resort check in through the day you check out.

Early theme park entry is a huge benefit especially if you plan on experiencing Disney World's most popular attractions. Even though you can enter the parks 30 minutes early, I still highly recommend arriving to the parks at least 30 minutes early, as there will be many other resort guests lined up for early entry as well. If you are taking the Skyliner to either EPCOT or Hollywood Studios, I recommend putting aside even more extra time as the Skyliner is busiest right before park opening and at park closing. 

Extended Evening Park Hours for Deluxe Resorts

If you choose to stay at the Riviera Resort, or any other deluxe Disney resort, you may be able to take advantage of Extended Evening Hours. Although they do not occur everyday like Early Theme Park Entry, it is another incredible benefit of staying at a deluxe resort.

Extended Evening Hours last between 2-3 hours and allows deluxe resort guests to maximize their time in the parks with low crowds. Guests also get another chance of joining the virtual queue to experience Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind at EPCOT and TRON Lightcycle / Run at Magic Kingdom. 

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Overview of Disney World Skyliner Resorts

The four Disney Skyliner resorts have their own unique themes, restaurants, and amenities for their guests to enjoy. While each of these resorts are unique in their own right, you may want to choose your resort based on any of these categories. For example, if you are interested in finer dining, I do not recommend staying at a value resort, as they only offer food court-style food. Additionally, if you plan on spending more time in the theme parks and less time in your resort room, it may be wiser to stay in a value resort to save money. 

Below are all of the details on the Disney World Skyliner resorts! 

Value Skyliner Resorts: Pop Century and Art of Animation

Theme

Disney's Pop Century and Disney's Art of Animation resorts are fairly similar but have two different themes. Both resorts are considered value, or less costly, and are located very closely next to each other. In fact, both resorts share the same Skyliner terminal stop, located on a bridge connecting Pop Century to the Finding Nemo section of Art of Animation. 

Pop Century pays tribute to various decades with buildings displaying themes from the '50s, '60s, '70s, '80s, and '90s. Art of Animation's buildings are inspired by animated Disney films including The Little Mermaid, Finding Nemo, Cars, and The Lion King.

Dining

Both Pop Century and Art of Animation have a quick service, or food court-style, restaurant open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Both Art of Animation's quick service restaurant, Landscape of Flavors, and Pop Century's restaurant, Everything POP and Dining, are open between 7 AM and 11 PM daily. Both include several “mini-restaurants” offering a wide variety of dishes to choose from during each meal. They also offer bakery items, alcoholic drinks, and snacks. 

Both restaurants at these value Skyliner resorts offer convenient dining options for guests, especially because no reservations are required and there are a variety of options. The only downside to these restaurants is they do not have the same quality or ambiance of some of the nicer restaurants located at other resorts. 

Amenities

Pop Century and Art of Animation both offer the following amenities and recreational activities:

• Pools
• Campfire activities
• Movies Under the Stars
• Jogging trail
• Playground
• Arcade
• Gift shops
• 24-hour self-service laundry rooms and dry cleaning
• Housekeeping services
• Mail services

Moderate Skyliner Resort: Caribbean Beach Resort

Theme

Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort is beautiful island-themed resort with buildings inspired by Barbados, Jamaica, Martinique, Trinidad, and Aruba. I have heard many guests say how incredible the property looks especially from above as they pass over the Caribbean Beach Resort on the Skyliner. It's hard to miss the pink buildings with teal rooftops throughout the resort property.

Dining

Caribbean Beach offers three different restaurants and one pool bar for guests to enjoy, including:

• Sebastian's Bistro: For a nice table service meal, Sebastian's Bistro is a great option for dinner and is open between 4:30 PM and 9:30 PM daily. Sebastian's Bistro serves Latin-inspired family style meals priced at $38 per adult and $20 per child (ages 3-9). Meals include buttery house-baked pull-apart rolls, a choice of entrée, and house-made coconut-pineapple bread pudding with caramel sauce and vanilla ice cream for dessert. Although not necessarily required, I always recommend making a reservation for any of Disney World's table service restaurants. 
• Centertown Market: This quick service dining option is open daily between 7 AM and 11 PM. This fast-casual restaurant has an indoor street market vibe. Centertown Market offers classic breakfast options as well as Latin- and Caribbean-inspired lunch and dinner menus. They also always offer snacks, drinks, and bakery items. 
• Spyglass Grill: Spyglass Grill is a walk-up counter located in the Trinidad pool area open daily between 7 AM and 10 PM. They offer American fare with a Caribbean twist during all meals and is a convenient on the go option. They also offer a patio overlooking Barefoot Bay while you enjoy the meal.
• Banana Cabana: Caribbean Beach Resort also has a walk-up pool bar which is open between 11 AM and 10 PM. Banana Cabana offers tropical drinks such as the signature Island Time Seasonal Margarita, Jamaican Frozen Runner, as well as beer, sangria, and non-alcoholic drinks. They also offer small bites such as zesty jerk chicken wings and crispy coconut shrimp.

Amenities

Caribbean Beach Resort offers several amenities and recreational activities to enjoy, including:

• Pools, including a water slide
• Campfire activities
• Movies Under the Stars
• Guided fishing excursion leaving from Caribbean Cay Island
• Sand volleyball court
• Jogging trail
• Playground
• Gift shop
• 24-hour self-service laundry rooms and dry cleaning
• Housekeeping services
• Mail services

Deluxe Skyliner Resort: Riviera Resort

Theme

The Riviera Resort is both an impressive and beautiful resort with a French-inspired theme. You can spot beautiful artwork all around the property and inside the rooms. Most guests also have views of EPCOT and fireworks from their balcony. Be sure to check out the beautiful Peter Pan and Tangled-inspired murals in the tunnel between the main pool area and the Skyliner terminal. 

Dining

Riviera offers three restaurants and one open-air pool bar for guests to enjoy:

• Topolino's Terrace – Flavors of the Riviera: Look no further than Topolino's for an exceptional dining experience. Topolino's is located on the rooftop of the Riviera Resort and is open for breakfast between 7:30 AM and 12:15 PM and dinner between 5 PM and 9:30 PM. At breakfast, you can meet classic Disney characters dressed in French artist style clothing. Although characters do not make appearances at dinner, Topolino's offers an exquisite dining experience with French and Italian cuisine. Reservations for both breakfast and dinner are highly recommended!
• Primo Piatto: Riviera's quick service restaurant, Primo Piatto, is open daily between 7 AM and 11 PM and offers convenient reservation-free dining at every meal. They offer classic breakfast meals as well as sandwiches, burgers, pizza, and vegetable skewers for lunch and dinner.
• Le Petit Café: Riviera offers a unique patisserie open daily between 7 AM and 9 PM. Le Petit Café sells oven-fresh treats and specialty coffee drinks throughout the day. They also offer cocktails, beer, wine, and savory bites during lunch and dinner.
• Bar Riva: Located inside the pool area, Bar Riva is an open-air bar offering a variety of cocktails, spritzers, and non-alcoholic drinks. Guests can also purchase small bites including sandwiches and salads. 

Amenities

Disney's Riviera Resort offers the following amenities and recreational activities:

• Pool Areas, including water slide
• Campfire activities
• Movies Under the Stars
• Fitness center
• Housekeeping services
• Lawn games

Plan Your Next Disney World Vacation

Be sure to subscribe to our FREE Mickey Visit newsletter for tips and tricks to help plan your next Disney trip. For more resources related to planning your vacation and getting the most out of your visit to the parks, check out these other resources:

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