The Three Ways to Park Hop Between Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios
If you’ve never park-hopped, you might not be aware of the fun ways to get around Walt Disney World. You might not know that you must take two monorails to get between Magic Kingdom and Epcot or that some parks offer park-to-park buses. So, for this article, I want to focus on the three ways to park hop between Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
If you’ve been following along, you know we’ve already discussed each of these routes individually with times, distances, and photos of what to expect along the way. To wrap up this series, I want to briefly review each option as a refresher and share with you which route is the fastest. For the record, I’ve been intentionally tracking each route for the last six months and have enough data to give you accurate averages. I think you’ll be surprised with the outcome. I could hardly believe it myself.
Take the FriendShips Between Epcot and Hollywood Studios
As we’ve already discussed, you can take the boat service between Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. These boats, formally known as the FriendShips, dock at Epcot’s International Gateway (the park’s secondary entrance/exit) and Disney’s Hollywood Studios (outside the park’s entrance). They travel the following route:
- Epcot
- Disney’s Boardwalk
- Disney’s Beach and Yacht Club
- Disney’s Swan and Dolphin
- Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Once the boat arrives at its destination, it returns in the opposite order. You can use the FriendShips to park-hop, but you’ll always make the stops along the route to each resort. For a complete overview with photos, see taking the FriendShips between Epcot and Hollywood Studios.
FriendShips Park-Hopping Route: 25 minutes
Take the Skyliner Between Epcot and Hollywood Studios
An alternative for park-hopping between Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios is to take the Skyliner. The Skyliner bypasses the Epcot Resorts Area and travels the route of the Skyliner Resorts. The Skyliner’s entrance is across the walkway from the boat dock at Epcot’s International Gateway and a few steps from the park’s entrance at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. It travels the following route:
- Epcot’s International Gateway
- Disney’s Riviera Resort (Drop-Down, Don’t Exit)
- Disney’s Caribbean Beach (Must Exit and Transfer)
- Disney’s Hollywood Studios
If you’re leaving Hollywood Studios, you’ll follow the same route listed above in the opposite direction. Everyone must exit the Skyliner at Disney’s Caribbean Beach and transfer to their destination. For a complete overview with photos, see taking the Skyliner between Hollywood Studios and Epcot.
Skyliner Park-Hopping Route: 25 minutes
Walking Between Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Lastly, walking between Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios is the most direct park-hopping route. We love this route, but you’ll want to consider the weather (rain and direct sun) and the distance (1.11 miles). The walking path at Disney’s Hollywood Studios begins outside the park between the restrooms and bus stop. When you get to the Boardwalk, you can stay to the right and walk along the Boardwalk or continue across the bridge. If you continue across the bridge, you’ll walk around the opposite side of the lake past Disney’s Beach and Yacht Club. The Boardwalk is a little shorter, but not by much. Both walking paths end at Epcot’s International Gateway. For a map and more photos, see walking between Hollywood Studios and Epcot.
Walking Park-Hopping Route: 25 minutes average
Which Way is the Fastest?
As you can imagine, I’ve been making these routes for years, but until recently, I had never considered comparing them to see which was the fastest. I would have told you that the Skyliner was the fastest, and I already knew the boat route was consistently 25 minutes. So, I was surprised by these results.
- FriendShips Park-Hopping Route: 25 minutes
- Skyliner Park-Hopping Route: 25 minutes
- Walking Park-Hopping Route: 25 minutes
While these are averages, we can take into account a few considerations. For instance, the Skyliner can be iffy. It could pause, or you could encounter a line while boarding or transferring. It was the most inconsistent of the three, but when I combined the numbers, it still averaged 25 minutes.
I’ve been tracking the FriendShips for years to provide data for our transportation times guides in the Resorts Gal Community. From my experiences, they have always been a rock-solid 25 minutes.
Lastly, the walking path will depend on how fast you’re walking, whether you pause to take in the scenic views, etc. I am a wanderer, so while my mileage is accurate, my speed varies. But I doubt most guests who walk the path are in a hurry. It’s a fun walk, especially if you enjoy getting in the extra steps.
That said, the FriendShips and Skyliner both allow you to rest your weary feet between the parks. Regardless of your choice, you should reach your destination in about 25 minutes!
Final Thoughts
We enjoy making these routes, and I hope that you found this information entertaining, at the very least. Sometimes, we get caught up trying to take the fastest route to get somewhere. If there’s one thing anyone should glean from these averages, it’s to take the route that works best for your travel party or the one you’re most interested in doing. Remember:
- The FriendShips are the least effort and don’t require transfers, making them perfect for first-time visitors.
- The Skyliner is a stunning ride (although not for anyone who fears heights). You do have to make one transfer between parks. But cast members will be at each station and can help you.
- Getting lost on the walking path between Epcot and Hollywood Studios would be difficult. But due to its length, you might feel unsure if you’ve never visited the area. The area between Hollywood Studios and the Boardwalk might feel remote.
For more routes, you might enjoy:
- Taking the Boat Service from Magic Kingdom to Grand Floridian
- Walking from Saratoga Springs to Disney Springs (Both Ways)
- How to Get to ‘Ohana with Resort Transfers
- Taking the Boat from Wilderness Lodge to Magic Kingdom
You might also enjoy our Resorts Gal Routes series, which shares some of our favorite routes to popular Walt Disney World destinations.
Want to save time and energy on your vacation? Get a copy of our 5 best transportation tips for Walt Disney World.
In the Comments
Were you surprised that each route between Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Epcot averages the same travel time? Let us know below in the comments.
