Nightmare experience on Skyliner

[puckdog47]

Thanks for all the sympathy. I’ll also add that the most terrifying thought running through my head was that it was going to last 3 hours and that we would have to be evacuated from the gondola on a ladder or maybe in an even more terrifying way. I guess the previous ordeals have exacerbated my fears and left my imagination running wild. And yes, I understand that these things happen with public transport, but the lack of communication is what was most frustrating.

 

[Mome Rath]

Love the gondolas and glad they are there as a choice. I don't think it would be a good choice if you are scared of heights. As to the waiting... sitting on the Gondola for 30 min. is still better than standing in line for an hour trying to leave EPCOT after fireworks, IMHO, but that's up for everyone to decide on their own.

 

[Searc]

Love the gondolas and glad they are there as a choice. I don't think it would be a good choice if you are scared of heights. As to the waiting... sitting on the Gondola for 30 min. is still better than standing in line for an hour trying to leave EPCOT after fireworks, IMHO, but that's up for everyone to decide on their own.

Yes, swinging high above the ground for half an hour with zero communication from anyone sounds delightful.

No communication is shameful and inexcusable.

Make sure you email Disney detailing your experience.

 

[Dsny4fun]

Love the gondolas and glad they are there as a choice. I don't think it would be a good choice if you are scared of heights. As to the waiting... sitting on the Gondola for 30 min. is still better than standing in line for an hour trying to leave EPCOT after fireworks, IMHO, but that's up for everyone to decide on their own.

I don't think the issue is so much the 30min as it was that it was so windy and the abrupt stopping were making the gondola's sway a lot....that I'm sure can be pretty scary

 

[Brett Wyman]

Love the gondolas and glad they are there as a choice. I don't think it would be a good choice if you are scared of heights. As to the waiting... sitting on the Gondola for 30 min. is still better than standing in line for an hour trying to leave EPCOT after fireworks, IMHO, but that's up for everyone to decide on their own.

The problem is the fear people will be there much longer. I felt it too after being stuck for just 10 minutes because of its history. Not "Im scared fear", but "Oh crap I'm going to be stuck dangling in the heat for 3 hours fear." Clearly the systems isn't ready for prime time yet and it's making people worry as Disney hasn't been able to establish the public's confidence in the Skyliner yet.

 

[gwynne]

JMO-I rather doubt that the communications system is already broken.
So is there some odd corporate reason for no communications, no response to guests pushing the emergency button?

 

[Mome Rath]

I guess it's one of those things that people need to think about ahead of time... they do sway some and they do "come in hot" into the terminals (that was eyeopening), and they do have the capacity to be stuck. I'm not making light of it, I'm just pointing out these are all possibilities that you need to weigh before getting on. I weighed them, and still do. Thus far, as I've said on other threads, the only thing that will keep me off of them is if I'm trying to head back to my hotel to get to an ME airport pickup... and that's fooling myself a bit since both the monorail and buses can have problems.

If I had a health condition that warranted caution I probably wouldn't get on them either, but I very much enjoy them as a form of transport, and I'm willing to "risk" and evac scenario.

 

[snappy]

Yea, I don’t plan to get in the gondolas and volunteer to be guinea pig. I believe they rushed this thing.

The 45 minute wait that the OP experienced may have been initiated by an ADA car delay but there’s more going on here.

I appreciate this thread exactly where it is on the resorts board. People are making decisions about where to stay based on the gondolas and paying a premium for that. Disney isn’t going to disclose the issues, so it’s very helpful that guests report experiences.

 

[chris benton]

JMO-I rather doubt that the communications system is already broken.
So is there some odd corporate reason for no communications, no response to guests pushing the emergency button?

My guess would be that it would take quite some time to respond to everyone hitting the emergency button. That's just a guess.
As for no mass announcement, that sounds like an easy win for corp to mandate, UNLESS they have already heard otherwise. My ASSUMPTION is that if enough ppl complain about, or suggest a mass communication after x minutes of stoppage, then a mass announcement will happen. Seems pretty simple. They may have planned the announcement, but the need for the announcement was "cleared," because the op says there was stopping and starting several times.

OTOH, they may have already researched this extensively, and they know that a mass announcement before x minutes will cause people to freak out even more.

It SEEMS, on the surface, that after every few minutes, a mass announcement of: "Experiencing a delay, please stand by..." and then maybe a few stupid Disney facts or jokes would suffice for me, BUT, it might also make some ppl lose their marbles, I don't know. I'm not freaked out by heights, too much. I mean, I am to a point, but I also LIKE that scared feeling - it's a rush.

 

[Brett Wyman]

Last week when we were stopped they definitely had a "The Skyliner will resume shortly" announcement loop running.

 

[puckdog47]

I think I would have actually been fine if we received an announcement that the ride would resume shortly. Even if it’s not under control , it’s nice to hear a ‘comforting’ voice. But we heard nothing, and from other riders’ responses we heard upon getting enough, we were the only ones who heard absolutely nothing. It was gondola 214, a purple one, if anyone wants to avoid that particular gondola.

 

[gwynne]

My guess would be that it would take quite some time to respond to everyone hitting the emergency button. That's just a guess.
As for no mass announcement, that sounds like an easy win for corp to mandate, UNLESS they have already heard otherwise. My ASSUMPTION is that if enough ppl complain about, or suggest a mass communication after x minutes of stoppage, then a mass announcement will happen. Seems pretty simple. They may have planned the announcement, but the need for the announcement was "cleared," because the op says there was stopping and starting several times.

OTOH, they may have already researched this extensively, and they know that a mass announcement before x minutes will cause people to freak out even more.

It SEEMS, on the surface, that after every few minutes, a mass announcement of: "Experiencing a delay, please stand by..." and then maybe a few stupid Disney facts or jokes would suffice for me, BUT, it might also make some ppl lose their marbles, I don't know. I'm not freaked out by heights, too much. I mean, I am to a point, but I also LIKE that scared feeling - it's a rush.

I think most Disney guests are reasonably accustomed to a voice giving them instructions/information. "Please stand clear of the doors" and the like. It would help some if Disney would regularly use the "The Skyliner will resume shortly" loop mentioned below.

And if it turns out we should expect modest to somewhat lengthy delays due to the difficulty of boarding/disembarking for some riders, (and the jerky stop/starts that may come after) then ok.
Some people will board anyway, others will choose another form of transport.

Last week when we were stopped they definitely had a "The Skyliner will resume shortly" announcement loop running.

Good to know.

 

[Hopefully]

It is completely appropriate for where it is.

How so?
it is a Transportation issue, just like all the other Skyliner stories overthere.

 

[DGsAtBLT]

How so?
it is a Transportation issue, just like all the other Skyliner stories overthere.

When there are major monorail issues (and especially when they have scheduled downtime) it usually gets posted here because it’s relevant to those staying at resorts and a lot of people don’t think to check the transportation board regularly or even know it exists.

Skyliner is very relevant to those staying at Pop, AoA, CBR, and eventually Riviera. Also relevant to those looking to book there. It isn’t standalone transportation.

 

[snappy]

I think because Disney is touting the 4 resorts as “Skyliner resorts.”

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/skyliner/

 

[maryj11]

For goodness sake Disney get this skyliner working correctly! I was looking forward to riding it our next trip but now I’m having second thoughts. I have a little bit of fear of heights. As long as I’m moving I’m fine. Sitting still a long time with a swaying gondola would probably freak me out.

 

[Momtomouselover]

We rode it several times on our last trip. Really preferred it over the buses but we never had any long stops. We did have a couple brief stops and at least once I recall the “we will get moving shortly message”. If swaying a bit in the air or coming in fast bothers you then take alternate transportation. I do hope the delays and ADA boarding smooths out though. Long delays are not acceptable on Skyliner or the monorail and there should always be communication if more than a few minute stop. The lack of communication would be something to complain about.

 

[WEDWDW]

Do you think the possibility of other lines being built in the future is now gone because of all the problems.

Is WDW "one and done" as it pertains to the Skyliner business?

 

[Disneylover99]

How so?
it is a Transportation issue, just like all the other Skyliner stories overthere.

Many people who would never consider booking Pop/CBR and AofA are now booking those resorts due to the skyliner. It’s very much a resort issue as well as a transportation issue.

 

[Momtomouselover]

Do you think the possibility of other lines being built in the future is now gone because of all the problems.

Is WDW "one and done" as it pertains to the Skyliner business?

I’m wondering if they just made a mistake with trying for the ADA boarding in all cases. I’m not trying to be mean here because I travel with family that require assistance and I get it that it’s not easy, however, maybe it is just too much? Is it required to make it accessible if you have good alternate transportation (boat, busses)? I would love for it to smooth out and be fully ADA accessible but if that is really the issue then perhaps it requires better tech to do this. Could some lines, sadly, be not accessible to all? Like the RIV line?

ETA- do we know for sure that is the reason and source of the issues? Perhaps Disney and gondola co. will work it out though with time.