Disney Skyliner (Gondola Transportation System) Read Post 1 Now Open!

[TheMaxRebo]

I wonder how many more people will be flocking to resorts on the Skyliner route when it opens...it may be harder to get a room. IDK...thoughts?

I think the idea is to make these resorts more appealing as being more efficient to get to DHS (I.e., Galaxy’s Edge) so that will make them more in demand and thus more expensive

Though also some people are not wanting to ride in these so that will drive them away

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Interesting question. I wonder if they are in heavy demand already? I suspect the moderate CBR wasn't one to book up early but maybe that will change. Pop and AoA? I thought they were already sought after value resorts.

I know for us the combination of the Skyliner and the room redo made POP pretty attractive to us

 

[rteetz]

Interesting question. I wonder if they are in heavy demand already? I suspect the moderate CBR wasn't one to book up early but maybe that will change. Pop and AoA? I thought they were already sought after value resorts.

I never really considered CBR before but I am now after the changes and Skyliner.

 

[OSUZorba]

Interesting question. I wonder if they are in heavy demand already? I suspect the moderate CBR wasn't one to book up early but maybe that will change. Pop and AoA? I thought they were already sought after value resorts.

I beat they will see far fewer discounts.

 

[Frederic Civish]

The speculation when fall was first announced was that it was a delay in the delivery of the gondola cabins. This could still be true since I think there are only about 100 on site and there will likely be around 300 total.

They might also soft opening much sooner and just have the grand opening in Fall.

Closer to 200, counting the ones spotted at CBR + the ones in the construction yard at AoA. It may well be over 200 by now; Magic In the Park saw flatbed trucks leaving the yard, so it appears that deliveries are ongoing.

My personal theory is that the cabins are being held in the construction yard until the north storage yard at CBR is finished.

I hope these are running in mid-August. I'd like to see what they're like. We've generally stayed at the Epcot resorts the last several trips, but we'd be willing to try a few other options once the gondolas are available.

I never really considered CBR before but I am now after the changes and Skyliner.

They won't need all 300 gondolas. They could easily open with 100 or 200 and then add the rest as they come in. But I think they are likely to have all 300 by early May at the latest.

I think they need to rebuild the International Gateway at Epcot so it can accomodate gondola traffic. While they are doing that, they will finish up a few other things. I predict it will be open by July 1st at the latest.

Yes, I haven't stayed at Caribbean Beach in over 10 years. I think it is time to consider CB again. Book it just in case, then cancel if I can get into Riviera for our October trip.

 

[PrincessArlena'sDad]

They won't need all 300 gondolas. They could easily open with 100 or 200 and then add the rest as they come in. But I think they are likely to have all 300 by early May at the latest.

I think they need to rebuild the International Gateway at Epcot so it can accomodate gondola traffic. While they are doing that, they will finish up a few other things. I predict it will be open by July 1st at the latest.

Yes, I haven't stayed at Caribbean Beach in over 10 years. I think it is time to consider CB again. Book it just in case, then cancel if I can get into Riviera for our October trip.

From your keyboard to Walt’s ears.

We check into CBR on June 30, and are planning DHS EMM on July 1.

 

[OSUZorba]

They won't need all 300 gondolas. They could easily open with 100 or 200 and then add the rest as they come in. But I think they are likely to have all 300 by early May at the latest.

I think they need to rebuild the International Gateway at Epcot so it can accomodate gondola traffic. While they are doing that, they will finish up a few other things. I predict it will be open by July 1st at the latest.

Yes, I haven't stayed at Caribbean Beach in over 10 years. I think it is time to consider CB again. Book it just in case, then cancel if I can get into Riviera for our October trip.

If they want to run all three lines at anywhere near capacity they'd need around 275 gondolas.

 

[rteetz]

I think they need to rebuild the International Gateway at Epcot so it can accomodate gondola traffic. While they are doing that, they will finish up a few other things. I predict it will be open by July 1st at the latest.

No rebuild but there will be changes.

 

[Jon84]

No rebuild but there will be changes.

Regulars of the Crescent Lake resorts are getting worried. My assumption will be there will be lanes for security for Foot and Skyliner traffic separately. The covered area by the toilets looks perfect to hold the Skyliner Security, it's currently just benches.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Regulars of the Crescent Lake resorts are getting worried. My assumption will be there will be lanes for security for Foot and Skyliner traffic separately. The covered area by the toilets looks perfect to hold the Skyliner Security, it's currently just benches.

Definitely will need to be some realignment of traffic entering ... but that should only be an issue at park opening. During the day the gondolas are continuous so it isn’t like a bus load of people all at once hitting the entranceway. So most of the day I don’t think it will be much of an issue

 

[Cinderumbrella]

Definitely will need to be some realignment of traffic entering ... but that should only be an issue at park opening. During the day the gondolas are continuous so it isn’t like a bus load of people all at once hitting the entranceway. So most of the day I don’t think it will be much of an issue

Unless they add more bag screeners, it’s going to back up big time if gondola people & Crescent Lake walkers all need to be screened at that tiny checkpoint. Bag check isn’t exactly quick.

 

[Jon84]

Unless they add more bag screeners, it’s going to back up big time if gondola people & Crescent Lake walkers all need to be screened at that tiny checkpoint. Bag check isn’t exactly quick.

One Friendship Boat load and it's suddenly a 20 min queue just to get in the park with the right combination of minimal staffing, and buggies, wheelchairs, newebies etc.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Unless they add more bag screeners, it’s going to back up big time if gondola people & Crescent Lake walkers all need to be screened at that tiny checkpoint. Bag check isn’t exactly quick.

Don't disagree with that - but I think they can do that without some major redesign

and even with that I think they will only need extra at park opening

 

[Cinderumbrella]

Don't disagree with that - but I think they can do that without some major redesign

and even with that I think they will only need extra at park opening

How many are there now (I haven’t entered lately, just exited)? A steady trickle of groups of 4 wouldn’t take much to back up since it takes a minute or 2 to check each bag. Throw in walkers and a boat? I’m not saying it will be a 20 minute wait all day but it certainly won’t be the lazy entrance it is now at 2pm (as an example).

 

[TheMaxRebo]

How many are there now (I haven’t entered lately, just exited)? A steady trickle of groups of 4 wouldn’t take much to back up since it takes a minute or 2 to check each bag. Throw in walkers and a boat? I’m not saying it will be a 20 minute wait all day but it certainly won’t be the lazy entrance it is now at 2pm (as an example).

Honestly I don't know - but I do agree the bag check would be the point of backup if/when there are any (so figuring out how to add some more for peak times would be a help) ... I believe the tapstyles have sensors at front and back so they can increase capacity their relatively easily, so really would be the bag check they would want to build out/add more staff too

 

[ksromack]

I have a trip booked for May 11-21 and have tried twice to get insiders to just tell me these won't be open during my trip so I can just let it go. They won't do that. Martin has said that it depends on how the testing goes at this point. There is also a fair bit of finishing work to be done at the stations, so obviously the pace of that will also play into whether these can open earlier or not. I'm trying really hard to not get my hopes up for our trip, but seeing the gondolas run from CBR to DHS is making that harder and harder.

I never really considered CBR before but I am now after the changes and Skyliner.

We'll be there in May and December......so I'm pretty sure May is out for the gondolas and December, well, I'm guessing they will have all the kinks ironed out by then.

I beat they will see far fewer discounts.

Word.

 

[Cinderumbrella]

I don’t think any resort will see discounts for awhile once Star Wars opens (gondolas or not).

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Not sure how to embed twitter videos directly here, so just a link:

https://twitter.com/WDWNT/status/1100050026427006976

But gist is that winds are currently measuring at 14 MPH and they are testing the gondolas and they seem to be unaffected

 

[TheMaxRebo]

I don’t think any resort will see discounts for awhile once Star Wars opens (gondolas or not).

fair point - or at least not discounts like we see them now

I still fully expect Disney to continue to increase prices and then have promotions so it "looks" like you are getting a great deal (but probably more with packages on certain dates, than the level of room only type discounts we see now)

 

[Cinderumbrella]

fair point - or at least not discounts like we see them now

I still fully expect Disney to continue to increase prices and then have promotions so it "looks" like you are getting a great deal (but probably more with packages on certain dates, than the level of room only type discounts we see now)

I fully expect them to raise rates 25% and discount 20%