Disney World transportation can be scary and overwhelming to think about — but believe it or not, there was a time it was actually SCARIER!
Tower of Terror, Disney’s Hollywood Studio
Disney World offers a ton of different kinds of transportation like bus routes, water taxis, and a monorail system. Perhaps the most famous form of Disney World transportation, however, is the Disney Skyliner. While it’s an incredibly popular way to travel around Disney World these days, that wasn’t always the case.
The Disney Skyliner is a gondola lift system that opened at Disney World in September 2019 and takes passengers to and from Disney’s Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, Disney’s Pop Century Resort, and Disney’s Riviera Resort. Safe to say, this transportation system is a big success, but back in 2019, we were seriously worried.
Skyliner at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
When the Skyliner opened, there were some concerns. Just a few days after its official opening, the Skyliner had its first big incident on October 5th, 2019. A power outage caused a transportation malfunction at the Riviera Resort Skyliner loading station and gondolas started to crash, stranding guests for up to three hours. Not a great first impression.
Skyliner at Riviera
The ride system and travel routes also served as deterrents for many guests when the Skyliner opened. Even to this day, the gondolas come in hot to the stations, which understandably scares away potential passengers.
Another reason people were scared of the Skyliner is its route. The gondolas travel over roads and swamp land and, while they close due to inclement weather, the thought of getting stranded up in the air during a surprise storm is terrifying. While these fears haven’t been totally negated, the Skyliner has been in operation SUCCESSFULLY for nearly five years, and there’s something to be said for that.
Skyliner Turn Station
Today, it seems most Skyliner fears have been quelled and the transportation system is more popular than ever! Many Disney fans decide on resort stays now based on whether or not there is a Skyliner resort — and that has made stays at Pop Century, Art of Animation, Caribbean Beach, and Riviera Resorts more in demand!
It’s worth a Skyliner ride to check out the beautiful mosaics at Riviera Resort!
Even without a resort stay, we love taking the Skyliner between EPCOT and Hollywood Studios, or over to one of the resorts for a drink or snack. It’s fun to see Disney World from the sky — and we know lots of kids who think the Skyliner is the best “ride” in all of Disney World!
The amazing Pineapple Coconut Bread Pudding at Banana Cabana is a reason to take the Skyliner to Caribbean Beach Resort!
If you still don’t ride the Skyliner, let us know why!
Be sure to follow us here at DFB for all the latest Skyliner and Disney World updates, as well as tips and reviews!
How the Disney Skyliner Totally CHANGED This EPCOT Debate
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I love the Skyliner. We stayed at the Caribbean beach resort in 2021 and we all loved riding the Skyliner. I think I like it better than the Monorail – I didn’t think that was possible.
I’ll ride the skyliner even though I feel the same way they describe it when the gondolas are coming into the station. I have to sit facing forward and then use my foot to brace myself when we come to a stop. The actual ride doesn’t bother me, but that stop…yeah.