11 Top Secret Shortcuts at Disney World's Skyliner Hotels

Being at a Disney World Skyliner hotel is a big deal for a lot of people, because hey, you’ve got the SKYLINER!

It’s a great way to get to Disney’s Hollywood Studios and EPCOT, as well as explore some other Disney World hotels, but we’ll be the first to admit that three out of the four Skyliner hotels are quite expansive and getting around them can be a bit of a pain. So let’s break down some of the shortcuts you need to know about for your next trip!

Disney’s Art of Animation Resort

Art of Animation isn’t the largest resort on this list, but it certainly is pretty spread out! Here are our top recommendations when it comes to shortcuts:

To get to the Skyliner from the lobby/bus stop (or vice versa), you’re going to want to walk straight through the lobby, and just walk in a straight line overall. We know, there’s a lot to look at, but walk around the Big Blue Pool keep heading straight, and you’re in good shape. (Red Line)
Sometimes, the parking lot is the faster way to get where you’re going, especially when you’re staying at the left side of the Cars section or Lion King sections. Just walk on the sidewalks right near the parking lot to reach the lobby and bus stops faster! (Blue Line)
You can take the path to the left of the lobby building from the Cars section if you don’t want to walk through the lobby to get to the front of the resort and the bus stops. (Black Line)

Pop Century

Pop Century is nearly a mirror image of Art of Animation, but it does have it’s own set of shortcuts as well!

Similar to Art of Animation, the fastest way to get from the lobby/buses to the Skyliner (and vice versa) is a straight line. At this resort you’ll be passing by the Hippy Dippy Pool, but it’s still the easiest way to get from one way to another and easy to not get lost — just stay on a straight path! (Red Line)
Just like Art of Animation, that pathway to the left of the lobby building is also there for you if you don’t want to walk through the lobby to get to the bus stop. This path is most beneficial from the main pool area or from the ’50s section (Black Line)
Unlike Art of Animation, the parking lots will NOT be your friends here for the most part, just due to how they’re laid out. If you’re trying to get to the Skyliner from the ’80s and ’90s sections, the best thing to do will be to head straight ahead and take the walking trail where the water is immediately on your left. This will lead you straight up to the station and will save you time as you’re not switching pathways and dodging through buildings. (Blue Line)

Riviera Resort

Disney’s Riviera Resort is the smallest Skyliner hotel and is fairly easy to navigate in comparison to the others, but there are still a few shortcuts to chat about.

If you’re staying in the southernmost building of the East Wing (in the same building as Primo Piatto (Q on the map) and Bar Riva (R on the map)), the quickest way to get to the Skyliner station is to walk out of the building facing the Riviera Pool and immediately head to your right. Walk straight until you hit the southernmost building of the West Wing and then turn right to take the small path north, then cut left into the building to reach the Skyliner station on the other side. (Black Line)
Additionally, if you’re staying in the East Wing and wanting to get to the front of the hotel as fast as possible, you’ll want to exit out the furthest door to the east (right if you’re facing the direction the front of the hotel is in) and walk to your left, around to the front of the building. You’ll pass the East Parking Lot and then will quickly find yourself at the front and can follow the covered pathway to the buses. (Blue Line)

Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort

Ah, the largest and most complicated Skyliner hotel of them all. Caribbean Beach is a MASSIVE hotel and is hard to get around, despite its beauty.

If you’re staying anywhere in Martinique or the northern part of Aruba, it will be easiest for you to use the Riviera Skyliner station instead. For Martinique, head west (left if you’re facing the Riviera) until the lake is immediately to your left and walk along that path, cut sideways (west) through the Riviera, and follow signs for their Skyliner station. (Black Line) For Aruba, head east until the lake is immediately on your right, follow the path north, and you’ll find yourself at the station. (Red Line)
If you’re at the front of the hotel (Olde Port Royal) and want to get to the Skyliner station as fast as possible (or again, vice versa), you’ll need to cut through the island and then continue into the Aruba section. From here, you are essentially equal distance to both Skyliner locations, but the path to the Riviera Station will require fewer twists and turns. (Red Line)
Over in Barbados and Trinidad, the Caribbean Beach Resort Skyliner Station is a much better bet. While it may be hard to see on the map, the running trail does take you over the water and to the other side of the lake, which is where you’ll find the station. (Blue Line) For Barbados, you’ll need to head to the west and then head south to get to the crossing point, and for Trinidad you’ll need to walk to the west and head north.
Caribbean Beach Resort is so large, if you brought your own car, it very well may be worth it to drive to a section of the hotel that’s closer to one of the two Skyliner stations, get on the Skyliner, and then drive back to your section of the hotel at the end of your day.
You can also use the internal bus loop, although they’re often very crowded. However, you may save more time getting on a bus and heading for EPCOT or Hollywood Studios rather than walking all the way to a Skyliner station.