Art of Animation to EPCOT, Hollywood Studios & Every Disney Park

Disney's Art of Animation Resort has Skyliner gondola access to EPCOT and Hollywood Studios (both require a transfer at Caribbean Beach), plus direct bus service to Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, and Disney Springs. Disney runs buses from Art of Animation to EPCOT and Hollywood Studios only when the Skyliner is closed (weather, maintenance, or its annual refurbishment). It shares a Skyliner station with Pop Century across Hourglass Lake, connected by the Generation Gap Bridge — making it one of only two value resorts with gondola access. The catch: Art of Animation's larger footprint means longer walks to the station, especially from the Little Mermaid standard rooms — the farthest section from the station — where that walk adds noticeably to every Skyliner trip.

Quick Answer: Art of Animation to Every Park

For Little Mermaid guests (the farthest standard rooms), add 5-10 min of in-resort walking to the Skyliner times.

Skyliner from Art of Animation

Art of Animation shares the Skyliner station with Pop Century, located on the Generation Gap Bridge between the two resorts. From most Art of Animation buildings, it's a 5-10 minute walk to the station — the Finding Nemo suites are closest, and the Little Mermaid standard rooms are farthest. For how the shared two-resort station works, see the Pop Century & Art of Animation Skyliner Station guide.

To EPCOT (International Gateway)

The Skyliner runs from the shared station to Caribbean Beach, where you transfer to the EPCOT line through Riviera to International Gateway.

Typical time: 30-40 minutes (including transfer)

Drops you at: International Gateway (World Showcase, between France and the UK). For the main entrance (Spaceship Earth, Guardians of the Galaxy), walk through World Showcase from International Gateway (about 15 minutes) — buses to EPCOT run only when the Skyliner is closed.

For step-by-step directions and timing, see Art of Animation to EPCOT.

To Hollywood Studios

Requires a transfer at the Caribbean Beach hub station. Ride to the hub, exit, cross the station to the Hollywood Studios line, and board again. See the station guide for full transfer mechanics.

Typical time: 25-40 minutes (including transfer)

The transfer adds 5-10 minutes. See The Hidden Cost of Transfers for more on how this affects your trip.

For step-by-step directions including the transfer, see Art of Animation to Hollywood Studios.

Walk Time to the Station

Art of Animation is a large resort. Your building location affects how long it takes to reach the Skyliner:

The Little Mermaid standard rooms are the lowest-priced at the resort, which leads people to assume they're conveniently placed — they're actually the longest walk to the station, about a third of a mile around Hourglass Lake. If you're in Little Mermaid, add this walk time to your Skyliner estimates. It can turn a "20-minute trip" into 30+ minutes door-to-park-gate.

Buses from Art of Animation

Buses run from Art of Animation to Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, and Disney Springs. The bus stop is near the main lobby — centrally located for all sections. Disney runs buses to EPCOT and Hollywood Studios only when the Skyliner is closed (weather, maintenance, or its annual refurbishment).

To Magic Kingdom

Typical time: 20-35 minutes

Direct bus to the Magic Kingdom bus loop, located just outside the park gates. No transfer needed. See Getting to Magic Kingdom.

EPCOT and Hollywood Studios — Skyliner is the regular mode

There is no regular Art of Animation bus to EPCOT or Hollywood Studios — the Skyliner handles both, with a transfer at Caribbean Beach. When the Skyliner is closed, Disney runs backup buses to those two parks — see Weather Considerations below. See also Bus vs. Skyliner.

To Animal Kingdom

Typical time: 20-30 minutes

Bus only.

To Disney Springs

Typical time: 15-25 minutes

Direct bus service.

Which Should You Take?

The Walk Factor

Art of Animation guests need to factor in the walk to the Skyliner station more than Pop Century guests. If you're in the Little Mermaid standard rooms, it's an 8-10 minute walk just to reach the station — before any wait or ride time.

Budget total door-to-park time, not just ride time.

Family Suite Considerations

Art of Animation is popular for its family suites (Finding Nemo, Cars, Lion King sections). If you're traveling with young kids:

• Morning energy: Kids are fresh and the Skyliner is exciting — a fun start to EPCOT and Hollywood Studios days.
• Evening exhaustion: After a long park day, the walk back from the Skyliner station feels longer — especially to the far sections.
• Strollers: Gondolas accommodate strollers, but it's tighter with large double strollers.

Weather Considerations

The Skyliner closes during lightning and high winds. When it closes, backup buses run to EPCOT and Hollywood Studios but can have longer waits since they aren't pre-positioned.

Florida weather tip: Afternoon thunderstorms are common June through September. If your plans are time-sensitive, build in extra time in case you end up on a backup bus.

For more on Skyliner weather closures, see the Skyliner Complete Guide.

Departure Strategy

After Park Close

Art of Animation buses can have longer waits after fireworks since it's one of Disney's largest resorts by guest count.

Best strategies:

• Leave before the show ends
• Stay 20-30 minutes after to let crowds clear
• From EPCOT or Hollywood Studios, the Skyliner handles evening departures well — the continuous loading means lines move steadily

For more strategies, see Transportation at Park Close.

The Bottom Line

Art of Animation's transportation is identical to Pop Century's in terms of Skyliner access — they share the same station. The key difference is the walk from your room to the station. Guests in the Finding Nemo suites are closest to the station. Guests in the Little Mermaid standard rooms have the longest walk — factor in an extra 5-10 minutes.

The Skyliner is still a major perk for a value resort. Just be realistic about total travel time, including your walk to the station. For help planning your commute on a specific date, or comparing options when you're there — see how the app handles this decision.

Related Guides

• Pop Century & Art of Animation Skyliner Station — the shared station you start from
• Caribbean Beach Skyliner Station — the hub you transfer through for every Skyliner trip
• Disney Skyliner: Complete Guide
• Disney Buses Explained
• Bus vs. Skyliner: Which Should You Take?
• The Hidden Cost of Transfers
• Getting to EPCOT
• Getting to Hollywood Studios
• Transportation at Park Close
• All-Star Movies Transportation — bus-only value resort nearby