How do you get from Disney’s Yacht Club Resort to Hollywood Studios?
If you are staying at the Yacht Club or planning a future visit, you probably want to know the different ways to get to Hollywood Studios from the resort. Below I will detail FIVE specific ways you can make this journey.
But before you start reading, please know that you CAN NOT take the Disney buses from the Yacht Club to Hollywood Studios. Many people mistakenly stand outside the Yacht Club waiting for a bus to Hollywood Studios that is never going to arrive. 🙂
Option #1. Take the Friendship Boats to Hollywood Studios!
In my opinion, the most fun and relaxing way to get to Hollywood Studios from the Yacht Club is to take the FREE boat transportation using Disney’s Friendship Boats.
To find the boat dock, walk out the back of the Yacht Club and head towards Crescent Lake. As soon as you get outside, you should see a large dock that leads directly to a lighthouse. To board the Friendship Boats to go to Hollywood Studios, you will need to head to the lighthouse. 🙂
Once you arrive at the lighthouse, make sure you board the correct boat, as you can also take a boat to Epcot and the Boardwalk. The boat that goes to Hollywood Studios will board on the right, and there are signs pointing exactly where you need to stand.
And don’t worry if you have a stroller, as they are allowed on the boats, but you must fold them. The Friendship Boats are also accessible for wheelchairs and motorized scooters.
How long is the boat ride from the Yacht Club to Hollywood Studios?
You can expect to be at Hollywood Studios about 15-20 minutes after the boat leaves the Yacht Club. Please be aware that on your way, you will make a stop at Disney’s Swan and Dolphin Resort before heading to Hollywood Studios. So the exact time varies depending on how many guests are boarding at the Swan and Dolphin.
The picture below is the dock where you get off the boat in front of Hollywood Studios. It’s also where you board the boat to return to the Yacht Club.
The biggest negative to taking the boats from the Yacht Club is waiting for the next boat to arrive! In my experience, a new boat arrives every 15-20 minutes. So if you miss a boat, you will be waiting at the dock for a bit until the next one gets there. I know our family has made multiple mad dashes on the dock, attempting to board a boat that is preparing to leave. 🙂
Option #2. Walk from the Yacht Club to Hollywood Studios!
The best part about walking to Hollywood Studios from the Yacht Club is that you don’t have to WAIT for a boat or stand in line for the Skyliner. Once we start walking, our family knows that in approximately 20 minutes, we will be setting foot inside the theme park.
And finding the pathway is incredibly easy to find and navigate.
- First, you will walk out the back of the Yacht Club.
- Once you get near Crescent Lake, you will see a walkway that goes around the lake. Turn right and start walking on the pathway. At this point, Crescent Lake will be on your left.
- As you approach the Swan and Dolphin Hotels, you will cross over a large bridge.
- Once you walk over the bridge, stay on the path toward Hollywood Studios, which is clearly marked by a sign.
- Now you will walk along a waterway all the way to Hollywood Studios. We typically see many interesting water birds in the morning and evening, such as Great Blue Herons, Great Egrets, etc.
- You know you are going in the correct direction as the Tower of Terror gets closer and closer!
How long does walking from the Yacht Club to Hollywood Studios take?
It depends on how fast you walk! The distance between the resort and the park is 1.1 miles (1.8 km). If you walk at an average pace, which is 3 mph, then it will take 22 minutes.
Option #3: Ride and relax on the Disney Skyliner!
If you don’t want to walk or take a boat to Hollywood Studios, you can also jump on the Disney Skyliner.
There is a boarding station that is only a 5-minute walk from the Yacht Club. It is located at the International Gateway, which is the “back” entrance to Epcot. To get there, as you walk out the back of the Yacht Club, take a left on the walkway as you near Crescent Lake. There are various signs that point you to Epcot.
You will board a gondola at the Skyliner, taking you on a beautiful 15-minute ride in the sky, eventually delivering you to the Caribbean Beach Boarding Station. Once you arrive, you must leave your gondola and follow the signs to board another gondola that will finish your journey to Hollywood Studios.
This second ride is very short (6 minutes) and takes you directly to the front of Hollywood Studios. Below is the view of the park as you approach!
How long does it take using the Disney Skyliner to go from the Yacht Club to Hollywood Studios?
My estimate is that the entire journey will take about 30 minutes, assuming there are no lines at the boarding stations. First, you must walk to the Skyliner from the Yacht Club, which is about 5 minutes. Then the ride from the International Gateway to the Caribbean Beach Resort is 15 minutes. From here, you must get out and find the line that goes to Hollywood Studios. Once you board this gondola, the ride is 6 minutes to Hollywood Studios.
And there is a good chance you will encounter some sort of line at one of the two Skyliner boarding stations, which can add considerable travel time.
In my opinion, between the three options discussed so far, I would rather use the Friendship Boats or walk to Hollywood Studios than use the Disney Skyliner, mostly because of the travel time. Unless you have to wait a REALLY long time for a boat, taking the Skyliner is probably the slowest option. But the ride itself is fun, especially if you have never done it!
Option #4: Take an Uber, Lyft, or MINNIE Van to Hollywood Studios
If you want to get to Hollywood Studios fast, taking a rideshare from the Yacht Club is easy. Using this option can save a lot of time, especially if you just missed a boat or you don’t want to make the 1.1-mile (1.8 km) walk.
The easiest place to meet your driver is outside near the Yacht Club front lobby, as there are plenty of spots for them to stop and for you to get in the car.
The driving distance from Disney’s Yacht Club Resort to Hollywood Studios is only 3.8 miles (6.1 km), and the drive should take about 10 minutes, depending on the amount of traffic.
TWO rideshare companies operate in Disney World – Uber and Lyft. Between them both, there are a lot of drivers cruising around. Almost every time I’ve used a rideshare to the parks, I’ve had to wait less than 10 minutes to get picked up.
One neat thing about using Lyft is that they have partnered with Disney World to provide MINNIE VANS, which are Minnie Mouse-themed mini-vans! While using the Lyft app inside the resort, choose Hollywood Studios as your destination. Then order the Minnie Van to come and pick you up.
While this option is fun, as you can see above, it is more expensive than a regular Lyft vehicle.
Option #5: Drive yourself to Hollywood Studios!
Getting in your car and driving yourself is an often overlooked way to go from the Yacht Club to Hollywood Studios. It’s probably the fastest way to travel since you don’t have to wait for someone to pick you up. 🙂
The distance between these two locations is only 3.8 miles (6.1 km). The drive takes about 10 minutes, depending on traffic.
And here is the BEST news about driving yourself to Hollywood Studios…
As long as you are staying at the Yacht Club, the parking at Hollywood Studios is FREE! Unfortunately, many guests don’t realize (or forget) that if you stay at a Disney World Resort, parking at any of the parks does not cost anything.
Getting FREE parking at the theme parks is an incredible benefit of staying at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort, as parking costs a minimum of $25 per day at each park.
Related Posts:
Can I take the Disney buses from the Yacht Club to Hollywood Studios?
No, Disney does not provide bus transportation to Hollywood Studios from the Yacht Club. You must use one of the other methods described above!
It’s very common to find people at the bus stop, waiting patiently for a bus to Hollywood Studios that will never arrive. If you see this happening, please gently inform them of their transportation options now that you have read this post. 🙂
Can I take the Disney Monorail from the Yacht Club to Hollywood Studios?
No, the monorail does not have a boarding station at the Yacht Club, nor does the monorail travel to Hollywood Studios. If you want access to the monorail from your hotel, you must stay at the Contemporary Resort, Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, or Polynesian Village Resort.
What is your favorite way to travel from the Yacht Club to Hollywood Studios?
Leave a COMMENT below!
