We like to stay at an Epcot resort because we usually go in and out of Epcot about 3 times a day. We can only handle the parks a few hours at a time. My family wants to stay at Rivera but my daughter won’t go on the skyliner. Does anyone have experience with the Rivera bus to Epcot? We are used to the 10 minute walk in and out of the back gate. Not sure if dragging ourselves to the front entrance and waiting for the bus will just make it that we won’t want to go back to Epcot that day.
My understanding is that SL resorts have less frequent bus service to HS and EC b/c they want ppl to use the SL. When we stayed at Pop a few years back, I was traveling w/ two friends afraid of heights, and they bused, and I took SL b/c while they were afraid of heights, and I had a bad knee and limited steps. I always got there first and after two times they worked through their fears and rode the SL w/ me to save time 
They were very interesting flights
Buses used to be one an hour from SL resorts to HS/EP when it first opened, but I’m not even sure if they have them at all anymore except for in bad weather.
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When we were there last week (we were at CBR but used the Riviera bus stop) they didn’t seem to be running, on the ‘bus times’ board for Epcot it just said “use Skyliner”.
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Thank you all. It sounds like we should just stick to Epcot area resorts.
I was at Riviera last week and specifically asked about buses to Epcot and HS and they don’t exist unless the Skyliner is down. I asked how someone who didn’t want to ride the SL could get to those parks and the answer was “they would have to find their own transportation.”
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It feels so unacceptable to me that this is the response.
When you’re staying at a monorail resort and want to go to MK, you’re not told “the only option is the monorail”. There is no bus, certainly, but you have your own two feet or a ferry.
I can certainly not running buses with an exceptional level of frequency, but it just feels so many kinds of wrong to offer zero alternative to a Skyliner
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Originally they said they would run once an hour, but to completely stop running is very icky.
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I was seriously shocked by the answer. I probably stared at the CM for several seconds before I could even respond.
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Agree.
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I’m so glad you all are helping and responding. We would of been in a bad situation with no way to get to Epcot. Thank you all so much!
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Are they still having an issue (shortage) w/ bus drivers? If so, I can see them cutting buses to resorts w/ other viable transportation.
It was in the business plan right from the start that the Skyliner would halve the need for buses from three of the largest escorts on property.
When they initially started running the Skyliner the hourly bus service was almost certainly meant to deter people from booking those resorts if the Skyliner wasn’t suitable, for any reason.
I doubt the buses will return. And frankly I’m fine with it. If a guest can’t ride it then don’t book a resort where it’s the only transportation option to half the parks. There are other value and moderate resorts where you can take a bus.
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I don’t understand why this is unacceptable. If you’re at a resort that only offers bus service and you don’t want to take the bus your only option is to figure out something else on your own, why is the Skyliner different?
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Interesting perspective.
I guess I never thought about it in the same way because I don’t know of anyone who doesn’t ride in a bus, but I do know of people who have a tremendous fear of heights that would restrict them from riding in the Skyliner.
But I see your point.
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I was disappointed to learn that there were no buses to Epcot from the SL on our last trip. It was my son’s first visit and I wanted him to get the full effect of walking in and seeing SE. The International Gateway is nice, but it just doesn’t compare to the view you get at the main gate IMO.
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I was nervous booking at Pop Century because of the Skyliner. I have a horrible fear of heights.
The reality of the experience, however, ended up being a bit of a non-issue. I’m not sure why, really, but the height never really bothered me once I actually got on the thing. After that, it was perfectly fine…except when it wasn’t working, which seemed far more often than I would have liked.
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I was the same way. I ended up riding it several times, my daughter (you know, the one who loves the fastest, craziest rides) once, and my husband none. Those two made fun of my resolve to stay away from them.
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