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Guests at four Walt Disney World resorts will need to use buses instead of gondolas for one week in January 2027. The Disney Skyliner is scheduled to close from January 24 through January 30 for routine refurbishment.
Disney has confirmed the dates on its official Skyliner page and says complimentary bus service will be available. The closure affects transportation to both EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios, so it is worth adding extra travel time before Early Entry, dining reservations, and park opening.
In This Article
- January 24–30 closure dates
- Four affected Disney resorts
- Replacement bus transportation
- EPCOT and Hollywood Studios impact
- Morning timing tips
Disney Skyliner Closure Quick Details
- Closed: January 24 through January 30, 2027
- Reason: scheduled refurbishment
- Replacement: complimentary Disney buses
- Affected parks: EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios
- Planned return: after the January 30 maintenance window
Which Resorts Lose Skyliner Service?
| Resort | Normal Skyliner route | Closure plan |
|---|---|---|
| Pop Century | Transfer at Caribbean Beach | Bus to EPCOT or Hollywood Studios |
| Art of Animation | Transfer at Caribbean Beach | Bus to EPCOT or Hollywood Studios |
| Caribbean Beach | Hub for both park lines | Bus to either park |
| Riviera Resort | Direct station on EPCOT line | Bus to either park |
Pop Century and Art of Animation guests usually ride to Caribbean Beach and transfer to a second gondola. During the closure, they can skip that transfer but will trade a continuously moving system for a bus schedule and boarding queue.
Caribbean Beach guests lose the biggest transportation advantage because that resort is the central Skyliner hub. Riviera guests also lose their direct aerial connection to EPCOT’s International Gateway.
How Much Extra Time Should You Allow?
Disney has not published a special bus timetable for the maintenance week. A safe plan is to leave earlier than you would for the Skyliner, especially if you need to reach Early Entry or a fixed dining reservation.
Buses have separate loading, travel, and unloading steps. They also arrive at the front of EPCOT instead of International Gateway, which can change the best route to Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, the France Pavilion, or a breakfast reservation in World Showcase.
What Still Works During the Closure?
International Gateway remains an EPCOT entrance for guests walking or using Friendship boats from the EPCOT resort area. The Skyliner stations are what close; Disney is not closing the park entrance itself.
Resort buses, personal vehicles, rideshare, and Minnie Van service remain alternatives. Rideshare can be useful for a time-sensitive reservation, but it is an added cost and drop-off rules vary by destination.
Should This Change Your Hotel Choice?
For a trip built around the Skyliner, the closure removes a major reason to pay for that location during this specific week. That does not make the four resorts poor choices, but guests comparing similar prices should treat bus transportation as the real park connection for January 24–30.
If your reservation is already booked, a hotel change is usually not necessary. Adjust morning departure times, know which park entrance the bus uses, and recheck Disney’s notice shortly before travel in case the maintenance window changes.
What Disney Has Not Shared
Disney has not detailed the station-by-station work or promised exact bus frequency. It also has not said whether the system could reopen early. Plan around the full announced closure rather than assuming gondolas will return before January 30.
Would a week without the Skyliner change which Disney resort you book, or would replacement buses be good enough? Let us know in the comments below; we would love to hear how you would plan it.
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