Caribbean Beach Transportation: The Skyliner Hub Resort

Caribbean Beach has the best Skyliner position of any Disney resort. It's the hub — both Skyliner lines connect here, giving you direct gondola service to both EPCOT and Hollywood Studios without any transfers.

That's a significant advantage over Pop Century and Art of Animation, which need to transfer at Caribbean Beach for Hollywood Studios. And it's a practical advantage over Riviera, which is closer to EPCOT but further from Hollywood Studios.

Here's everything you need to know about getting around from Caribbean Beach.

Skyliner from Caribbean Beach

Caribbean Beach station is the largest in the Skyliner system. It has two platforms — one for the EPCOT line and one for the Hollywood Studios line. All transfers between the two lines happen here.

To EPCOT (International Gateway)

Direct service through Riviera to EPCOT's International Gateway.

Typical time: 10-15 minutes

Drops you at: International Gateway (World Showcase, between France and the UK). For the main entrance (Spaceship Earth, Guardians of the Galaxy), take the bus.

To Hollywood Studios

Direct service — no transfer, no intermediate stops.

Typical time: 10-15 minutes

This is the fastest Skyliner-to-park connection in the system. No transfer means less variability and shorter total time.

The Hub Advantage

Being at the hub means:

• No transfers ever — you board at Caribbean Beach and ride directly to either park
• Shorter waits — the station handles high volume and lines move quickly
• Flexibility — you can check both platforms and pick whichever line is shorter

Other Skyliner guests transfer through your station. You skip that step entirely.

Buses from Caribbean Beach

Buses run from Caribbean Beach to every Disney destination. The bus stop is near the main lobby at Old Port Royale.

To Magic Kingdom

Typical time: 25-35 minutes

Drops you at TTC, where you transfer to the monorail or ferry. See Getting to Magic Kingdom.

To EPCOT (Main Entrance)

Typical time: 20-30 minutes

Direct to EPCOT's front entrance. Use this when you need Spaceship Earth, Guardians of the Galaxy, or Test Track first.

To Hollywood Studios

Typical time: 15-25 minutes

Direct service. The Skyliner is usually better from Caribbean Beach since it's also direct and more enjoyable. But the bus is a solid backup during weather closures.

To Animal Kingdom

Typical time: 20-30 minutes

Bus only.

To Disney Springs

Typical time: 15-20 minutes

Direct bus service.

Which Should You Take?

From Caribbean Beach, the Skyliner is almost always the right choice for EPCOT and Hollywood Studios. Unlike Pop Century guests who face a transfer to Hollywood Studios, you have a direct shot to both parks. The only reason to take the bus is weather, EPCOT's main entrance, or a bus that's boarding right now when the Skyliner line is long.

For more on the Skyliner vs. bus decision, see Bus vs. Skyliner: Which Should You Take?.

The Resort Size Factor

Caribbean Beach is one of Disney's largest resorts geographically. Your room location significantly affects your walk to the Skyliner station and bus stop.

Villages closest to the Skyliner station:

• Jamaica
• Aruba

Villages further from the station:

• Trinidad North & South
• Barbados
• Martinique

If you're in Trinidad South, it can be a 15-minute walk to the Skyliner station. If possible, request a room near Jamaica or Aruba for the best Skyliner access.

Alternative: If the main station is far from your room, you can walk to Riviera's Skyliner station in about 10 minutes. On quiet afternoons, Riviera's smaller station may have shorter waits.

Weather Considerations

The Skyliner closes during lightning, high winds, and heavy rain. As the hub station, Caribbean Beach is where backup bus operations are coordinated — but even so, backup buses aren't instant.

If weather is threatening: The bus is more reliable for time-sensitive plans. See the Skyliner Complete Guide for more on weather closures.

Departure Strategy

After Park Close

Caribbean Beach's Skyliner advantage continues at park close. Both lines serve you directly, so you can board at Hollywood Studios or EPCOT and ride straight to your resort — no transfer, no walking to a different platform.

From Hollywood Studios: The Skyliner handles park close well. Lines look long but move continuously. You'll be back at your resort in 15-20 minutes even during busy periods.

From EPCOT: Exit via International Gateway and take the Skyliner home. The ride is direct through Riviera to Caribbean Beach.

For more strategies, see Transportation at Park Close.

The Bottom Line

Caribbean Beach has the strongest Skyliner position of any Disney resort. Direct service to both EPCOT and Hollywood Studios — no transfers — makes it uniquely well-connected for a moderate resort.

The trade-off is the resort's size. If your room is far from the station, that walk eats into the time you save by skipping transfers. Request a room near Jamaica or Aruba if Skyliner access matters to you.

For Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom, you're on buses like everyone else. But for EPCOT and Hollywood Studios, Caribbean Beach guests have it better than most deluxe resort guests.

For real-time help with transportation from Caribbean Beach, see how the app can help.

Related Guides

• 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