Mickey Mouse? Minnie Mouse? Or possibly Goofy or Pluto? Maybe even the Hitchhiking ghosts from the Haunted Mansion?
Well, it could be those characters and more if you are riding on Walt Disney World’s newest transportation system, the Disney Skyliner.
What is the Disney Skyliner?
The Disney Skyliner is a brand new form of Disney transportation, never seen before in any Disney theme park. It is a gondola system that will run above ground and will not be affected by traffic problems. If you have ever been skiing, you will be familiar how the new Skyliner system works.
Each gondola will seat up to 10 people and will accommodate strollers. Not all gondolas will be able to fit ECVs or wheelchairs, but there are a limited number of special gondolas that will work for you. Similar to most Disney attractions, you will have a separate line to access your specialized gondolas. There are over 300 gondolas, and Disney estimates that the capacity is over 4,500 guests per hour.
Please note that there is no bus service to Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Epcot from the resorts that are serviced by the Skyliner. Buses are used when weather or other complications shut down the Skyliner. Like other Walt Disney World outdoor attractions, lightning in the area will probably result in a temporary halt. Bus service, if needed, should be about every 20 minutes.
Where does the Disney Skyliner Go?
The Disney Skyliner is initially set to service the following resorts:
- Disney’s Art of Animation Resort
- Disney’s Pop Century Resort
- Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
- Disney’s Riviera Resort
There will be one stop that will serve both Pop Century and Art of Animation, a second stop that will serve the South end of Caribbean Beach and third stop that will serve the north end of Caribbean Beach and the Riviera.
The Disney Skyliner will serve the following theme parks:
- Disney’s Hollywood Studios
- Epcot
Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort is the hub. To go to either Disney’s Hollywood Studio or Epcot, you will need to board separate Gondolas here. If you came from Disney’s Pop Century or Art of Animation, simply get off, and go to the appropriate line. These lines move quickly.
The estimated times are very low, much lower than the current bus system.
- Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort to Disney’s Pop Century Resort: about 5 minutes
- Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort to Disney’s Riviera Resort: about 5 minutes
- Disney’s Caribbean Beach to Disney’s Hollywood Studios: about 6 minutes
- Disney’s Riviera Resort to International Gateway at Epcot: about 9 minutes
- Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort to International Gateway at Epcot: about 15 minutes
Will the Disney Skyliner be better for me?
I can’t see any reason why the Disney Skyliner isn’t going to be super popular. I think kids are going to love it, it is almost like a ride before you ever get into the theme park. Second, when using the Disney Skyliner, it does not need to stop to load or unload guests. The Disney Skyliner has several gondolas in station that move very slowly, allowing guests to load. Compared to the bus, there won’t be long waits while wheelchairs and ECVs are loaded and unloaded.
The one possible downside is if you are going to Epcot, the Skyliner station is at the International Gateway Entrance. That entrance is located between the United Kingdom and France and is not the front entrance to Epcot you may be used to.
When I asked around , various people said they will not ride on the Skyliner. Others can’t wait to try it out. This is, of course, the first stop in the Skyliner project. While not announced, it is expected that Walt Disney World will extend the Skyliner to service additional resorts and theme parks at some point in the near future. Traffic is a real issue around Walt Disney World, and the more people they can take-off of the streets, the better.
As always, Disney is concerned about safety. The Skyliner may not run during times of high winds or if lightning is in the area. Disney monitors the weather constantly, and if severe weather is a concern, it may be shut down until weather conditions improve. If the Skyliner needs to be shut down, bus service will increase. I can’t wait to ride the Skyliner the next time I am at Walt Disney World.
Mouse Dreams Vacations Travel Tips
The addition of the Skyliner at these resorts is going to increase their popularity, and for good reason. Access to the Skyliner is a great perk, and if you are considering a value resort, we strongly suggest that you lean towards Pop Century or Art of Animation. Same for Caribbean Beach as a moderate resort option. The Skyliner is faster than the Disney buses, runs constantly and should decrease wait times for existing buses if you prefer to stick with that option.
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