Okay, let’s be real for a second. One of the BIGGEST reasons people pay the insane prices for Disney World resort hotels (and we mean INSANE) is the transportation. Like, yeah, the theming is cute and Early Entry is nice, but let’s not pretend that Monorails, boats, and the Skyliner aren’t a huge part of why we’re willing to drop $300+ per night when we could stay off-property for $80!
Well, if you’ve got a trip coming up in January 2026, we have some news that might make you want to double-check your resort reservation. Disney is shutting down TWO major transportation options this month for maintenance, and depending on when you’re visiting and where you’re staying, this could seriously affect your vacation experience.
Let’s break down exactly what’s closing, when, and what you should do about it!
The Wilderness Lodge Boat Is Going Away (Sort Of)
Now, if you’ve never stayed at Wilderness Lodge, you might be thinking “so what, take the bus.” But here’s the thing: THE BOAT IS LITERALLY WHY PEOPLE BOOK THIS RESORT. Okay, maybe not the ONLY reason, but it’s a BIG one. That scenic ride across Bay Lake to Magic Kingdom is absolutely magical. You get to see the Contemporary Resort, spot some ducks and birds, and watch Magic Kingdom get closer and closer across the water. It’s peaceful, it’s beautiful, and it makes you feel like your Disney day started the second you left your room.
The Good News: The Magic Kingdom boat route specifically will only be closed from January 12 through January 30, 2026. So if you’re staying at Wilderness Lodge after January 30, you’ll still get your boat ride even though other dock work continues through April!
The Bad News: If your stay falls between January 12-30, you’re stuck taking buses to Magic Kingdom. And look, the buses are FINE. They work. They get you there. But they’re just… buses. There’s nothing special about them. You’re literally just sitting on a bus in traffic like you could do in any city in America.
For people who specifically chose Wilderness Lodge because of that boat ride? This is a major bummer. Like, “I paid extra for this specific amenity and now it’s not available” level of bummer. 😤
The Skyliner Is Closing for a WEEK
But wait, there’s more! (And by more, we mean more bad news.)
The Disney Skyliner is shutting down from January 25-31, 2026 for its annual maintenance. This affects FOUR resorts:
- Art of Animation
- Pop Century
- Caribbean Beach
- Riviera Resort
Now, before you panic, let’s acknowledge that this happens EVERY YEAR. Disney closes the Skyliner for about a week each January to do maintenance and make sure everything’s working properly. It’s already scheduled to close again in 2027 from January 24-30. So this isn’t some surprise emergency closure or anything.
But here’s why it still matters:
The Skyliner is AWESOME. It’s fast, it’s fun, it’s air-conditioned (crucial in Florida!), and it barely ever has a wait. You can get from Pop Century to EPCOT in like 15 minutes. The gondolas just keep coming, so you hop on and go. It’s honestly one of the best things Disney has added to the resort in recent years!
When the Skyliner closes, you’re back to buses. And buses are… not the Skyliner. They come on a schedule (so you wait), they take longer (20-25+ minutes to EPCOT), and they’re just not as FUN. Kids LOVE the Skyliner because it feels like a ride. Nobody gets excited about buses.
The Real Talk:
If you specifically chose Art of Animation, Pop Century, Caribbean Beach, or Riviera BECAUSE of the Skyliner, and your trip is January 25-31, you’re losing your main transportation perk. Disney will provide free buses, so you’ll still GET to the parks. But the experience is totally different.
Should You Cancel Your Reservation?
Okay, so now the big question: Should you ditch your resort and book somewhere else?
Honestly? It depends!
DON’T CHANGE if:
- You love your resort for OTHER reasons (theming, pools, dining, room layout)
- You don’t really care HOW you get to the parks as long as you get there
- You’ve already got dining reservations and don’t want to mess with your plans
- The closure is only affecting part of your stay
- You’re getting a great rate and other resorts are way more expensive
MAYBE CONSIDER CHANGING if:
- The boat/Skyliner was literally your #1 reason for choosing that resort
- You can easily switch dates to avoid the closures
- You haven’t made dining reservations or other hard-to-change plans yet
- There’s another resort you love just as much without transportation issues
- You’re going to be genuinely upset about taking buses the whole time
What Are Your Other Options?
If you decide you DO want to avoid these transportation headaches, here are some alternatives:
Instead of Wilderness Lodge (Jan 12-30):
- Grand Floridian or Polynesian (Monorail to Magic Kingdom!)
- Contemporary (you can literally WALK to Magic Kingdom)
- Wait until after January 30 if you can move your dates
Instead of Skyliner Resorts (Jan 25-31):
- Beach Club or BoardWalk (walking distance to EPCOT!)
- Any Monorail resort if you’re prioritizing Magic Kingdom
- Literally wait one week and book after January 31
Or Just Deal With It: Real talk? Buses aren’t the end of the world. They’re just not as fun or convenient as boats and Skyliner. If you already booked, you love your resort, and you’re not willing to deal with the hassle of changing everything, you’ll be FINE. You’ll still have a great trip! You’ll just be taking slightly less magical transportation.
Why Does This Keep Happening?
Look, we get it. Disney needs to do maintenance. Things break down. Systems need inspections. The Skyliner has to be safe, the boat docks need refurbishment, and all of that requires closing stuff down sometimes.
BUT (and this is a big but), it’s frustrating when you’ve planned and saved for a Disney vacation, specifically chose your resort based on certain amenities, and then find out AFTER you’ve booked that those amenities won’t be available during your stay. Disney SHOULD be more upfront about these closures when people are actively booking reservations. Like, maybe a pop-up that says “Hey, just so you know, the Skyliner will be closed during your dates” would be helpful? Just a thought, Disney! 💭
Are YOU staying at Wilderness Lodge or a Skyliner resort during these closure dates? Are you keeping your reservation or switching to a different hotel? Have you dealt with transportation closures on past Disney trips? Drop a comment and let us know! We want to hear if you think this is no big deal or if you’re seriously reconsidering your plans. And if you’ve got tips for making bus transportation less painful, PLEASE share them because we could all use the advice!
