Skyliner: a selling feature or deterrent?

[Ross Kratter]

They were still testing the Skyliner that last time we were at Disney so it hadn't yet opened. We wondered how it would go once it got up and running. The fact they are sealed cars and aren't air conditioned seems like it will be a major issue once it gets warmer each year. Florida isn't a ski resort. Air vents will simply be circulating hot air making the cars stuffy/uncomfortable. A few of the mechanical breakdowns when the ride first opened also pointed out the limitations associated with having it travel over water with few options available when cars get stranded.

The cars are not fully sealed; there are vents for air to pass through as the cars move.

 

[_19disnA]

^^ Yes am aware of that. My point is on a hot/humid summer day, the inside of those cars is likely to get hot since they don't have A/C.

 

[kanerf]

I own at RIV. The Skyliner is a great alternative to riding the bus. The fact that you can get to two parks is great. I also like that you get to the International entrance to Epcot. The main entrance right now really sucks with all the construction. When the Skyliner is down, you can still take the buses, so it is not a big deal. I find that when riding it, it will stop momentarily. I think this is because they are loading one of the cabins with people in wheelchairs on on ECVs.

 

[Ross Kratter]

^^ Yes am aware of that. My point is on a hot/humid summer day, the inside of those cars is likely to get hot since they don't have A/C.

From experience, it’s really not too bad at all.

 

[paults]

As long as you don't mind buses the Skyliner is fine until is goes down because of weather.

 

[Frugal Fairy Tales]

^^ Yes am aware of that. My point is on a hot/humid summer day, the inside of those cars is likely to get hot since they don't have A/C.

We rode the skyliner regularly during our trip in late June and although the weather was HOT and HUMID the skyliner was never uncomfortable.

 

[Cheburashka]

It seems to close/breakdown a lot and I am deathly afraid of being stuck in places... not claustrophobia but just anywhere that I don't have an escape route, so the possibility of getting trapped in it, high above the ground is terrifying.

Given your phobia, I can't recommend a Skyliner resort. I don't have a phobia, but I always feel a bit relieved after exiting it. I particularly wouldn't want to be trapped inside of it on a hot summer day, if there was a long shutdown. It does slow down & stop occasionally, probably due to disabled guests getting on or off. If you're riding it and it comes to a halt, remember that and be patient.

 

[HopperFan]

To answer the question direct ...
Skyliner: a selling feature or deterrent?
POP has been a standard for us, likely over 40 stays. Given the Skyliner has eliminated bus service to two parks ... if I were to be staying on property and using Disney transportation .... having to depend totally on the Skyliner for two parks would eliminate that resort for me.

 

[Col. Forbin]

Also love the skyliner.

 

[Wood Nymph]

We're debating between BW, AoA and POR for our June stay. We're a family of 5 so the family suite is appealing. But we could also get BW for about the same price and even though it would be a single room instead of a suite, it's walkable to HS & EPCOT.

I think that a deluxe resort with the ability to walk to two parks beats out a value resort every time when they are just about the same price. The BW pool has a slide and is lots of fun. The Skyliner is a nice ride but I would hate to wait in those super long lines to get to a park to and from AoA.

 

[grahf1234]

I have a love/hate with the skyliner as well. Used it a lot during my last couple of stays at caribbean beach, and it's definitely my favorite mode of transportation as long as I ride it during a time that's not close to park open/close times. It is so quick and efficient, relaxing and enjoyable.
It's also the worst mode of transportation in my experience at park close times, at least in my opinion. The lines to get into a gondola are real. Even worse, once you get in, your trip can be really long due to the loading/unloading of wheelchairs/ECVs. Being suspended midair for the vast majority of the time is not fun. During last trip I routinely bailed out at Riviera and walked back to caribbean due to how long those midflight pauses were taking. Personally, I would much prefer taking a bus if it's available at park close times than ride the skyliner.

Personally, I would pick a walkable room over a skyliner any day. I've definitely been picking those boardwalk studios lately and I have a family of 5 myself (3 little kids). But I do prioritize location over comfort/amenities, so I can see how someone can much prefer the suites at AoA.

 

[brockash]

I own at RIV. The Skyliner is a great alternative to riding the bus. The fact that you can get to two parks is great. I also like that you get to the International entrance to Epcot. The main entrance right now really sucks with all the construction. When the Skyliner is down, you can still take the buses, so it is not a big deal. I find that when riding it, it will stop momentarily. I think this is because they are loading one of the cabins with people in wheelchairs on on ECVs.

The "big deal" about the skyliner going down is the lack of communication, delay in getting extra buses running and having to seek out a bus stop. - At Epcot this can be an even bigger hassle. It's a huge inconvenience if your not lucky with it alwats being up and running smoothly.

 

[Mle8308]

Thanks for all the replies! I'm not sure that they've helped me decide, lol, but I've loved reading everyone's opinions and it's gave me a wider variety of things to take into consideration.

I think I can probably manage my anxiety as long as I'm not stuck in one spot for an extended period of time... pauses for ECVs would likely be OK. I do always get a small prescription for Klonopin whenever I travel because extended car travel, airplane travel, and being stuck on rides also causes panic attacks - and it helps quite well.

HOWEVER, this will be our first time going in June (we're typically Jan/Feb people) and from what I'm reading, that's the rainy season. We're not stressed about this mid-day storms ruining our fun but causing closures of the Skyliner with poorly organized and communicated alternate transportation plans sounds TERRIBLE.

We asked the girls where they'd like to stay and they actually all voted for Boardwalk. That's my husband's preference as well but having more space for all of us really appeals to me (especially the bathrooms, lol - last trip I got salmonella and only having one bathroom for all of us when I was suffering with that was hard).

If you choose BW, you can still technically use the Skyliner to go to DHS, it's not a far walk since there is a station at Epcot. It's probably quicker to get to DHS other ways, but you are not far from a station at Boardwalk.

 

[stinkpickle]

To me, the skyliner is like the monorail. It's nice, but I wouldn't want to rely on it.

 

[Moliphino]

I think that a deluxe resort with the ability to walk to two parks beats out a value resort every time when they are just about the same price. The BW pool has a slide and is lots of fun. The Skyliner is a nice ride but I would hate to wait in those super long lines to get to a park to and from AoA.

I love the Skyliner (though I'd say the long Skyliner lines were still better than park opening and end-of-night bus lines), but agree with this. I love the Boardwalk and if money wasn't an issue I'd pick it over Pop/AOA/CBR any day.
But I'm cheap and we usually stay at Pop.

 

[mich7088]

Family loves the skyline but its not my thing at all

 

[CaptainAmerica]

IMO, the Skyliner is a selling feature for Caribbean Beach, less so for Riviera, and not much at all for Pop and DAAR. While it's certainly a more pleasant ride than a bus, with the transfer you have to do at the CBR hub station, it's not really any faster.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

If you choose BW, you can still technically use the Skyliner to go to DHS, it's not a far walk since there is a station at Epcot. It's probably quicker to get to DHS other ways, but you are not far from a station at Boardwalk.

That's not super reliable, especially for rope dropping Hollywood Studios on days when Epcot opens late. Keep in mind that the International Gateway station is not technically for Yacht/Beach/Boardwalk, it's for Epcot, and therefore its operating hours are based on Epcot park hours. If you're trying to get to DHS before opening, there might not be any staff at the IG Skyliner station to get you there.

 

[LarryBoy]

We loved the Skyliner as a mode of transportation when we stayed at the Pop in December 2019 and I would say it has a definite advantage over the other value resorts and even some of the moderates. That being said, Pop is definitely not a Deluxe resort. You technically also have access to the Skyliner at BW but I guess you wouldn't need it.

 

[foodiddiedoo]

I have a fear of open air suspended rides like a Ferris Wheel or the previous "gondola rides" at DW and DL. I thought I was going to be really scared on the Skyliner during our stay at Riviera in December. I was actually quite fine as the bucket itself is large, well ventilated (my dad wanted to close the windows because he was cold on our way in to Hollywood studios), and fully enclosed. I was not scared while traveling. We didn't experience any full stops on the 6 or so times we rode it during the trip, but several slowdowns. The line to get on was never too bad and it was a pleasant way to get to the parks. It helped that our room was very close to a door that took us out right by the Skyliner station at Riviera. I hate riding park buses and avoid them if at all possible (I hate the not knowing if you'll be able to get on a bus, the multiple stops at some resorts, the time you have to wait to board at the end of the day) and always rent a car. Instead of driving to HS or Epcot we happily took the Skyliner. My daughter also loved the skins on the gondolas and pointed out each movie she knew (she was 6 at the time) gleefully.