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

[TheMaxRebo]

Heard on a Podcast over this past weekend: Even though all the information indicated it started at 7:30 am, the actual start up time was 8:00 am. They were the first ones on the Skyliner when it did start. But they said that even though it was a quick ride, there were a ton of people in front of them, almost negating the purpose of rope dropping DHS. Their recommendation (as long as the Skyliner continues to actually start at 8:00 am) was to use alternate transportation for DHS rope drop.

interesting and something I will need to monitor. We don't go until February, and obviously things can (and likely will) change by then, and a big reason we booked staying at Caribbean Beach was to leverage the Skyliner to get to DHS - if other ways are better for Rope Drop that will be a bit of a bummer, but better to know ahead of time vs finding out too late

 

[gorkt]

All lines had posted hours of 7:30am this morning.

The gondolas are now my favorite form of transportation here. We have had many issues with buses and broken monorails compared to the Skyliner which has had no issues whatsoever. The breeze and quiet are so nice, and even nicer is leaving the park and stepping right on a gondola at the end of the night.

 

[dizneefan13]

We have rode the skyliner a few times now and I have to say I love it. Hope I don't jinx anything! LOL

 

[dizneefan13]

I think one of the nicest things about the gondolas is virtually no wait time. You are on it pretty quickly. Having said that, we haven't rode it at park close, or opening either. But still even long lines would move fast, I would think.

 

[ProgressCity]

I finally tried out the Skyliner. It's not for me. It got quite windy while I was riding it and it rocked back and forth a lot, enough to make my knees weak. I was also stressed the whole time that it would stop with it swinging like that. I have a fear of heights that kicks in at weird times and it kicked in here, which I did not expect (I don't get motion sick or scared on rides). I think it was partly the fear of it stopping. I had my phone and ear buds with me figuring that worse case scenario if it stopped I'd listen to an audiobook and relax, but the movement was too much for me to do that. I was also by myself, so that may play a part in it. Conversation with someone might have been a nice distraction. I'd try it again if I was with someone who really wanted to, but it's not for me.

I rode from Epcot to Studios. The Epcot to Caribbean Beach leg of it was the worst and most nerve racking for me. The Caribbean Beach to Studios leg was super fast and for people who enjoy the Skyliner that seems like a big perk. The entire ride took about 15 minutes from getting on at Epcot to getting off at Studios. Other than the swinging in the wind, it was a smooth ride. I thought we had stopped a couple of times only to see a gondola pass. I wish it didn't bother me as much as it does. (ETA: I rode at night and it was too dark to see the landscape passing by, which is why it was easy to think we had stopped until I saw gondolas passing which were visible.)

 

[DISRNR1000]

I know for me on ski lifts, riding by myself can increase the anxiety. Generally I'm fine, but there is this one chair lift at a resort I ski at that is older, rather slow, and in a more isolated part of the resort. Riding alone, especially if it stops, definitely heightens my anxiety. But when riding with others and talking, it helps a lot! Even in enclosed gondolas, when they stop and then start swaying or bouncing, it makes me a bit nervous, even though I know I'm safe.

I'm still looking forward to riding the Slyliner, even with the delays. I miss the old sky ride at the Magic Kingdom too, so this kind of makes up for that.

 

[DL1WDW2]

That is a good suggestion to help . Just keep brain occupied with a different task really does help.

 

[seashoreCM]

... I thought we had stopped a couple of times only to see a gondola pass. ...

Information only. This is technically impossible up in the air. Cables up in the air are long loops. If the cable holding gondolas going in one direction stops, the gondolas going in the other direction will also stop.

 

[joelkfla]

Information only. This is technically impossible up in the air. Cables up in the air are long loops. If the cable holding gondolas going in one direction stops, the gondolas going in the other direction will also stop.

PP is saying he thought the line had stopped, but realized it hadn't when he passed a cabin moving in the opposite direction. Most likely the line was in "creep mode", which they seem to be using more frequently to fend off the need for stops.

 

[ProgressCity]

PP is saying he thought the line had stopped, but realized it hadn't when he passed a cabin moving in the opposite direction. Most likely the line was in "creep mode", which they seem to be using more frequently to fend off the need for stops.

Exactly. I also forgot to mention that I was riding at night and it was impossible to see much as far as landscape passing, but I could see gondolas passing.

 

[L&Lfan]

Rode it for the first time today and absolutely loved it. DHS to CBR and then after a few cocktails at Banana Cabana, CBR to Epcot. I only wish it went to resorts where we actually stay!

 

[TheMaxRebo]

First Skyliner engagement

 

[rteetz]

First Skyliner engagement

View attachment 453510

Interesting choice...

 

[SgtTibbs]

Interesting choice...

I has a nice ring to it.

 

[Bing Showei]

Interesting choice...

Yeah. My wife would’ve roundhoused me in the head, picked up the ring, shoved it back in my pocket and tell me to try again.

Of course I would’ve assumed she just meant to do it on the fancier Epcot line instead. Second roundhouse would do the trick though, I’m sure.

 

[Networth]

That should be a short proposal story.

 

[DGsAtBLT]

Imagine if someone proposed on the skyliner, partner says no, and the skyliner picks that moment to have another 3 hour delay so maybe partner can reconsider.

 

[agavegirl1]

On my late October trip, I found the Skyliner to be a very efficient option between Epcot and Studios. We had no (lengthy) stops. There was no wait. It was relaxing. And when it is 90 degrees in October, the breeze was better than the walk. We took the boat once but didn’t like the location outside DHS as well as the Skyliner station.

 

[RolloTomasi]

So I got a chance to ride the Skyliner and I loved it. It didn't stop at all while we rode it (DHS to CBR to Epcot and then back) and other than the trip from CBR to Epcot, we had a cabin to ourselves (although we did ride in the middle of the day rather than early in the morning or at the end of the day). I did get chilly at a couple of points although I know that won't always be the case, but there was definitely a nice air flow. Our longest wait to get loaded on to a cabin was maybe a minute at DHS. I really would consider staying at CBR just for the skyliner alone lol.

As a side note, I tried to get the two people I was with to have a race from Epcot to DHS - one person walk, one person take the boat, and one person take the skyliner. Even though I volunteered to be the walker, nobody took me up on my offer. So that's still on my list lol.

 

[DGsAtBLT]

So I got a chance to ride the Skyliner and I loved it. It didn't stop at all while we rode it (DHS to CBR to Epcot and then back) and other than the trip from CBR to Epcot, we had a cabin to ourselves (although we did ride in the middle of the day rather than early in the morning or at the end of the day). I did get chilly at a couple of points although I know that won't always be the case, but there was definitely a nice air flow. Our longest wait to get loaded on to a cabin was maybe a minute at DHS. I really would consider staying at CBR just for the skyliner alone lol.

As a side note, I tried to get the two people I was with to have a race from Epcot to DHS - one person walk, one person take the boat, and one person take the skyliner. Even though I volunteered to be the walker, nobody took me up on my offer. So that's still on my list lol.

The race sounds super fun until the walker and skyliner rider are waiting outside DHS for 30 minutes for the boat traveller .

Sorry, those boats are such a pet peeve of mine lol. But a race would actually be really fun! My money is on the skyliner rider.