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

[Disneylover99]

Yeah, but if meeting those friends in World Showcase, taking the DHS to (front of) Epcot bus doesn’t help a whole lot. You’d lose all the benefit of the AC.

Of course. It’s always dependent on where you want to enter Epcot. The Skyliner definitely has the advantage if you want to go directly to WS.

 

[Moliphino]

I've "raced" one before. I was walking out of the IG as one was leaving the dock. I made it to security at HS as the boat was unloading. Now I was probably walking a tiny bit faster than normal because I wanted to win, but I wasn't going that fast. So for me, walking is faster and I find the walk very enjoyable. I'd pick the walk over the boat anytime, but I will probably pick the gondolas over walking some times because they're so darn cool haha.

My family left DHS at the same time this afternoon. One sister and I walked and everyone else took the boat. We made it to Epcot and had finished beers from Yorkshire before they even got in the park. Granted the boat was not yet at the dock when we started waking, but still.

 

[Mikey15]

As it’s now technically the 29th, hope everyone who’s there enjoys their first trips today!

I’ll see y’all on Friday!

 

[evlaina]

I’m here now! Currently on a gondola to HS. We’re staying at POP so already took that flight. It’s awesome. And fast. And....COLD!! There’s so much wind inside.
My MIL has an ECV so the process is longer but not long, compared to a bus. Maybe 5 minutes between cabins. There was a long line at POP for normal riders but they breezed by super fast. Virtually no wait.

edited to add it seems my photos are upside down or blurry sorry!

 

[vacationer1954]

I don’t think it was a real complaint. I think it was more a tongue in cheek post because so many people have voiced all those same concerns about the gondolas. They would be hot with no AC; they are worried about riding with strangers & how long each trip will take.

Yes, exactly that.

 

[vacationer1954]

But at the same time, there’s nothing wrong with a reminder that the bus is cool and relatively quick.

Moving off the satire for a second - we had friends to meet in France, and my spouse can't walk far so the aim was to have the fewest steps. Since all we were doing was meeting those friends, and ECV or wheelchair wouldn't have made sense. If I knew then what I know now (about the captain not opening the window for airflow, about the line being so long that we had to wait for two boats, etc.) then I would have dropped my spouse at the Beach Club, parked at EPCOT, and caught up with them all in France when I was able.

 

[Disneylover99]

Moving off the satire for a second - we had friends to meet in France, and my spouse can't walk far so the aim was to have the fewest steps. Since all we were doing was meeting those friends, and ECV or wheelchair wouldn't have made sense. If I knew then what I know now (about the captain not opening the window for airflow, about the line being so long that we had to wait for two boats, etc.) then I would have dropped my spouse at the Beach Club, parked at EPCOT, and caught up with them all in France when I was able.

It’s funny. I don’t notice the lack of airflow on those boats. But those lines. And the stops. And the slowness of it all. Drives me insane. Not to mention waiting. Then you realize no boat is coming due to lightning in the vicinity.

 

[scrappinginontario]

Excited for all those riding today!! Thanks for your post and pics @eviane.

Does anyone know what time the Pop/AoA station opens?

 

[evlaina]

One thing for parties with ECV riders. At both POP and CB, they said 6 couldn’t fit (we’re a party of 6 which includes 2 young girls). I noted the sign that says 6 people. The girl at POP was then fine but the guy at CB was almost argumentative about it. I said we just came from riding with 6 and he still said no. There’s lots of suits running around the stations today and while I didn’t want to be “that lady” I was ready to stop one and complain. He let us board together finally.

I will note that 6 adults or larger guests would not fit. My girls could sit by the ECV but an adult couldn’t really.

 

[evlaina]

Excited for all those riding today!! Thanks for your post and pics @eviane.

Does anyone know what time the Pop/AoA station opens?

Online said 5:45am. We heard a round of cheers and applause when walking to the station at 5:46

 

[TheMaxRebo]

I’m here now! Currently on a gondola to HS. We’re staying at POP so already took that flight. It’s awesome. And fast. And....COLD!! There’s so much wind inside.
My MIL has an ECV so the process is longer but not long, compared to a bus. Maybe 5 minutes between cabins. There was a long line at POP for normal riders but they breezed by super fast. Virtually no wait.

edited to add it seems my photos are upside down or blurry sorry!

I can't believe stupid Disney would install these without heaters!!!!

 

[mamaofsix]

I’m here now! Currently on a gondola to HS. We’re staying at POP so already took that flight. It’s awesome. And fast. And....COLD!! There’s so much wind inside.
My MIL has an ECV so the process is longer but not long, compared to a bus. Maybe 5 minutes between cabins. There was a long line at POP for normal riders but they breezed by super fast. Virtually no wait.

edited to add it seems my photos are upside down or blurry sorry!

Were you not able to close the window slats to stop the wind? I've seen several vloggers close them completely. Perhaps cast members should be telling people this information on cooler days...

 

[evlaina]

Were you not able to close the window slats to stop the wind? I've seen several vloggers close them completely. Perhaps cast members should be telling people this information on cooler days...

Oh we liked the wind. I was joking with “it’s so cold!!!!” because of all the people saying they’ll be hot boxes of death. You CAN close the slats.

 

[seashoreCM]

I can't believe stupid Disney would install these without heaters!!!!

Six minutes to Hollywood Studios could seem like a very long time if a fire started on board, sixty feet above the ground.

Do a Google search for "Triangle Shirtwaist Factory."

 

[firefly_ris]

Six minutes to Hollywood Studios could seem like a very long time if a fire started on board.

Do a Google search for "Triangle Shirtwaist Factory."

I'm pretty sure it was a tongue in cheek comment.

 

[Loopster]

I’m here now! Currently on a gondola to HS. We’re staying at POP so already took that flight. It’s awesome. And fast. And....COLD!! There’s so much wind inside.
My MIL has an ECV so the process is longer but not long, compared to a bus. Maybe 5 minutes between cabins. There was a long line at POP for normal riders but they breezed by super fast. Virtually no wait.

edited to add it seems my photos are upside down or blurry sorry!

Thanks for posting @evlaina! What was the total time from lining up at POP to arriving at HS? We are doing the same route a week from today. Wanting to rope drop though so am guessing we will need to catch a bus that morning to be in the front of the pack. Wish they opened 1/2 hour earlier!

 

[focusondisney]

Six minutes to Hollywood Studios could seem like a very long time if a fire started on board, sixty feet above the ground.

Do a Google search for "Triangle Shirtwaist Factory."

It takes longer than 6 minutes to get between MK & Epcot on the monorail. And the 1 CM on board can’t get to passengers either. And yet, thousands of people ride that safely everyday.

Why do people keep looking for the doomsday scenarios??

 

[SgtTibbs]

Watching the Resort TV live stream.
6-min wait going from CBR to Epcot
Walk on everywhere else.
No line for security at IG going into Epcot at 9:30am.

Update:
IG still has no security line at 10:30am
CBR to Epcot - 10-min line at Noon.

 

[dtrain]

Do they have to stop the whole line for every wheelchair / stroller that boards?

 

[SgtTibbs]

Do they have to stop the whole line for every wheelchair / stroller that boards?

Yes and no. All stations except Riviera have separate load/unload area for ECV's that can merge without stopping the line.