Disney's Art of Animation Transportation Guide

You’ve got options when it comes to transportation at Disney’s Art of Animation. One of the resort’s biggest highlights is that it shares a Skyliner station with neighboring Pop Century. So, you can take advantage of the Disney Skyliner when traveling to nearby parks and resorts.

But how will you get to other locations, and where will the Skyliner take you? We’ve got those answers and many other tips for using complimentary transportation options at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort.

If you’re preparing for a vacation, we recommend reading this entire guide to build a solid base of knowledge ahead of time. You can also bookmark it for reference during your vacation. As always, these tips are based on our personal experience traveling around Walt Disney World. By the time we finish, you’ll know everything you need regarding how transportation works at Disney’s Art of Animation.

a sign with Route 66 theming and directionals for transportation at Art of Animation — Disney’s Art of Animation offers access to the Disney Skyliner, buses, and a walking path around Hourglass Lake.

Transportation Options at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort

The following transportation options are available at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort.

Disney Skyliner
Disney’s Bus Service
Walking

While you cannot walk to a theme park from Disney’s Art of Animation, you can walk to Pop Century Resort next door.

the Disney Skyliner over Hour Glass Lake leaving Art of Animation — The Skyliner travels across the lake at Disney’s Art of Animation.

Transportation Hours at Art of Animation

Here are the transportation hours. The exact hours for the Skyliner will be posted near the Skyliner Station’s entrance. We like to take a photo of the sign when we first use the Skyliner as a reference during our stay.

Bus service between Disney Resort Hotels and Disney Theme Parks begins 45 minutes prior to opening and ends one hour after closing.*

Reference Disney

*That time includes early theme park hours in the morning for resort guests and extended evening hours for deluxe resort guests. We have found from experience that the buses generally begin running about an hour before the parks open.

The Disney Skyliner is available each day one hour before early theme park entry begins. It closes each day 90 minutes after Epcot or Hollywood Studios closes.
Reference Disney

The hours are always posted outside the Skyliner entrance. We recommend snapping a photo of those hours if you plan to visit early or stay out late. They fluctuate often.

the Disney Skyliner entrance at Art of Animation — Hours for the Skyliner are posted near the entrance. Times fluctuate based on the park’s operating hours.

How to Get to Magic Kingdom from Disney’s Art of Animation

Guests can take Disney’s bus service to and from the Magic Kingdom. The bus stop at Art of Animation sits near the resort’s main entrance. You can exit from the Ink and Paint Gift Shop or Animation Hall to the bus stop.

the entrance to Art of Animation from the bus stop — Disney’s bus service is available at the front entrance of Art of Animation.

A sign at the resort bus stop indicates the wait for the next bus. These times are based on the bus’s proximity to the resort via a signal from its location. We have found the posted wait times for the next bus reasonably accurate. However, the time might fluctuate if the bus runs into traffic or stops at a light.

a sign that shows an example of the wait times for the next bus at Art of Animation — Wait times for the next bus are posted at the resort bus stop.

How to Get to Epcot from Art of Animation

You’ll take the Disney Skyliner to Epcot from Art of Animation. First, you must board the Skyliner and take it to Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort. (This is the only place the Skyliner travels from Disney’s Art of Animation.)

Then, you’ll exit the Skyliner at Caribbean Beach and take a transfer to Epcot. Note that there is a line for both Hollywood Studios and Epcot (which includes Riviera Resort). You’ll want to continue straight across the walkway and join the line for Epcot.

If you happen upon a long line, a cast member will direct you to the end of the line for your destination. Someone usually holds up a sign indicating the end of the line. Don’t be too discouraged if you see a long line. The Skyliner boarding process tends to move quickly. However, it will pause from time to time to board guests with an ECV or wheelchair.

After boarding the Skyliner, you’ll lift from Caribbean Beach and almost immediately drop down to Disney’s Riviera. No worries, you’ll stay on board here. So hold tight and do not exit. After traveling through the Riviera, you’ll make your way to Epcot. This beautiful ride is where you’ll see most of the Epcot Resorts before reaching the International Gateway.

When it’s time to leave Epcot, you’ll exit the park at the International Gateway and return to your resort in the same way. So, again, you’ll stay on at the Riviera. Then, you’ll exit at Disney’s Caribbean Beach and join the Skyliner queue for Art of Animation.

*For those who do not know, the International Gateway is Epcot’s secondary or back entrance. A walkway leads to it between the France and the United Kingdom Pavilions.

How to Get to Hollywood Studios from Art of Animation

Traveling to Disney’s Hollywood Studios from Art of Animation, you’ll take the Skyliner from the resort to Caribbean Beach. From Caribbean Beach, you’ll exit and take a hard left to join the queue for Hollywood Studios.

This line from Caribbean Beach to Hollywood Studios is direct. You won’t drop down or make any turns on the way like you do when traveling to Epcot. You’ll return to the Art of Animation the same way. Below are a few notes discussing what to expect in inclement weather or if the Skyliner experiences downtime.

the Skyliner dropped guests off at Art of Animation at sunset

How to Get to Disney’s Animal Kingdom from Art of Animation

Guests will use Disney’s bus service when traveling to and from Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Bus service at Art of Animation is not usually shared with other resorts. It’s also a direct route from Art of Animation to Animal Kingdom.

a bus loading guests at Art of Animation Resort

How to Get to Disney Springs from Art of Animation

Bus service is available from Art of Animation to Disney Springs. Note that the bus service from Disney Springs only travels back to Disney Resorts.

So, if you’re at Disney Springs and want to go to Magic Kingdom later, there is no direct bus between the venues. For example, you might go to Disney Springs for lunch and then plan to spend the afternoon and evening at Magic Kingdom. In this case, you would want to take a bus from Disney Springs to a monorail resort and then take the monorail to Magic Kingdom.

a handicap accessible waiting area for guests boarding a bus at Art of Animation

How to Get to Disney’s Water Parks from Art of Animation

It is rare to see direct bus service to and from Disney’s Water Parks. When Blizzard Beach is open, you’ll take a bus from Art of Animation to Disney’s Animal Kingdom. From there, you’ll find the bus stop that provides a transfer bus to Blizzard Beach. You’ll return to the Art of Animation the same way.

You’ll take a bus from Art of Animation to Disney Springs for Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon. From there, you’ll take a transfer bus to Typhoon Lagoon across the street. However, when you return, you’ll have to locate the bus stop at Disney Springs that returns to Art of Animation. We find the return trip to be a bit of a hassle.

You’ll want to pack a change of clothes and give yourself time to dry out for the ride back. The buses are freezing, and you’ll join guests at the bus stop who are coming from Disney Springs.

an overall view of the bus stop at Art of Animation near Animation Hall

Accessibility at Disney’s Art of Animation

Most transportation options at Disney’s Art of Animation accommodate guests with accessibility needs. Disney provides an overview of each form of transportation on their website. If you’re using a wheelchair or ECV, there’s a separate boarding area when you enter the Skyliner’s queue. A cast member will assist you with the loading process.

Learn More>> Transportation and Mobility Disabilities at Disney World

a handicap accessible loading area for the Disney Skyliner — There’s a separate accessibility line for the Disney Skyliner.

If you’re using a wheelchair or ECV, there’s a separate waiting area for each queue at the bus stop. You’ll want to wait in this area so the bus driver can quickly identify you upon arrival.

The bus driver will board you before allowing anyone else on the bus. Then your family will get to board first. This ensures that you aren’t separated from your party. Upon arrival, all guests will exit the bus. Then, the bus driver will lower the ramp so you can exit.

wheelchair and ECV waiting area — There’s a separate waiting area for guests in wheelchairs and ECVs at each bus stop.

Overview of the Skyliner at Disney’s Art of Animation

Guests staying at Disney’s Pop Century or Art of Animation Resorts will find a similar experience. These resorts share a Skyliner station on a bridge across Hourglass Lake.

Skyliner guests will travel to Caribbean Beach’s central station from these resorts. From there, they will depart their gondola and get in line for Epcot or Hollywood Studios.

Traveling between Art of Animation and Disney’s Caribbean Beach takes approximately five minutes. You can expect long lines at each station during the busier parts of the day (morning and night).

Tip: You do not have to be in a hurry to leave the parks when they close. Many shops stay open, and some guests have dining reservations that extend past closing time. We like to let the crowds clear out as much as possible when leaving the parks late to avoid long lines at the Skyliner.

What if the Skyliner goes down?

Sometimes, the Skyliner goes down, especially during inclement weather. In this case, bus service is provided to Epcot and Hollywood Studios. In this event, signs will direct you to the Art of Animation bus stop. From there, buses will pick guests up and drop them off at the park.

Tip: Disney’s Hollywood Studios is less than five minutes from Art of Animation. So you might consider taking a car service if this happens or, in general, if you need to get to the park quickly.

But what should you do if you’re at Epcot and the Skyliner goes down? In this situation, you’ll want to exit via the International Gateway. At the exit, a cast member will provide directions. We’ve had several experiences with this happening. We’ve always been directed to Disney’s Boardwalk Inn or the Beach Club to catch a bus back to the resort. (Both resorts are within a 5-10 minute walking distance of the International Gateway.)

If you’re visiting Hollywood Studios and the Skyliner goes down, the park’s bus stop is a few steps ahead. A cast member, or at least a sign, will direct you to the correct bus stop.

the Skyliner station with a reflection on Hourglass Lake at sunset

Walking to Pop Century from Art of Animation

Guests can walk back and forth between Pop Century and Art of Animation. You can cut straight across between the resorts on the bridge where the Skyliner station is located. Or you can take the walking path around Hourglass Lake to reach either resort. It’s a beautiful walk that we especially enjoy at sunset.

the walkway around the lake at Art of Animation — Path around Hourglass Lake at Disney’s Art of Animation

Disney’s Art of Animation to Other Resorts

Lastly, I wanted to discuss the best ways to get to a few popular resort destinations for touring or dining reservations. I don’t know about you, but we tend to spend a good deal of time resort-hopping.

Art of Animation to Disney’s Boardwalk (and Epcot Resorts)

You can climb aboard a gondola to visit the Epcot Resorts Area. Take the Skyliner to Epcot’s International Gateway. Then you’ll be within short walking distance of the following hotels:

Disney’s Boardwalk Inn
Disney’s Beach Club Resort
Disney’s Yacht Club Resort
Disney’s Swan and Dolphin

If you don’t want to walk to the Epcot Resorts, you can take the Friendship Boats from the International Gateway to all three resorts.

interior of a Skyliner gondola crossing the lake by Art of Animation Resort

Art of Animation to the Monorail Resorts

Most guests will want to visit the monorail resorts for dining or touring. To do this, you can take a bus from Art of Animation to Magic Kingdom. From there, you will have to walk through security at Magic Kingdom. Then you can walk, boat, or monorail to the following resorts:

Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa (walk via Grand Floridian walkway from Magic Kingdom, boat, monorail)
Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort (boat, monorail)
Disney’s Contemporary Resort (walk or monorail)

Art of Animation to Disney’s Wilderness Lodge and Fort Wilderness

Additionally, you can take a bus from Disney’s Art of Animation to Magic Kingdom to visit Disney’s Wilderness Lodge or Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground. Once you arrive at Magic Kingdom, take a bus or the red flag boat to either resort.

*During inclement weather, you will have to take a bus from Magic Kingdom to Wilderness Lodge or Fort Wilderness. Hopefully, you’ll get to take the boat, though. It’s a pleasant ride and part of the fun.

Art of Animation to Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge

If you visit Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, you can take a bus from Art of Animation to the theme park. Then, board a bus to Animal Kingdom Lodge. Animal Kingdom Lodge has two stops, Kidani Village and Jambo House. So you’ll want to know which stop you want before you get there.

Art of Animation to the Resorts near Disney Springs

If you want to visit one of the resorts near Disney Springs, you can take a bus from Art of Animation to Disney Springs. You’ll have these options:

Walk or take a water taxi from the Disney Springs Marketplace to Disney’s Saratoga Springs.
Take a water taxi from the Disney Springs Marketplace to Old Key West Resort, Port Orleans-French Quarter, or Port Orleans-Riverside.

If you do not want to walk across Disney Springs to the Marketplace and boat to these resorts, an alternative would be to take a bus to Hollywood Studios (during hours of operation) and then take a bus to that resort.

*In the event of a drought, water taxis to and from Disney Springs might not be available, so you would need to rely on bus transportation. Unfortunately, this happens from time to time. Signage will be posted at the boat docks and resorts.

Tip: If you need to travel outside of complimentary transportation hours, you can order a car service (e.g., Lyft, Uber, Taxi, or Minnie Van). We try to avoid the extra expense as much as possible. But if we had late dining reservations or something comparable, we would take a car service back to our hotel.

restrooms near the Skyliner at Art of Animation — A pair of restrooms is available near the Skyliner on the Art of Animation side of the resort.

Final Thoughts

Hopefully, this guide gave you an idea of how to efficiently get to and from Disney’s Art of Animation Resort. I know how overwhelming it can be to figure out how to travel from one place to another. Of course, there are plenty of alternatives. If you’re in a pinch for time, you might take a Minnie Van or other car service. For more information about Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, you might enjoy the following:

For more on transportation, see our Disney World Transportation Guide. You might also enjoy our other popular resources for the Disney World Resorts and Dining at Disney World. Make sure to get a copy of our free PDF below.

Resorts Gal Disclaimer: All of the photos and information provided (including travel times) are from our experience, time spent at the resort, and expenditures.