Well, we’ve officially taken to the sky with Disney World’s new Skyliner Gondola System.
Skyliner over Riviera Resort
And while there were a bunch of things we really enjoyed about the Disney Skyliner, there were also a few things that we think you should know about before taking to the Disney skies when the new transportation system officially opens on September 29th.
See our FULL PHOTO TOUR of the Skyliner Ride HERE!
Check out our Disney World Skyliner PRO TIPS Here!
Disney Skyliner Gondola Pros
It’s a FUN Way to Travel
Probably the biggest thing going for the Skyliner is how fun it is to travel by sky. Sure, many of the Disney World buses have gotten a facelift (which we’re SUPER thankful for!) and the Silver Monorail has received an upgrade as well, but people ride buses all the time, and even monorails are a little more common than GONDOLAS FLYING THROUGH THE SKY! This mode of transport is just really FUN. They move at 11 miles per hour and transport you from place to place in mere minutes, AND in some parts of the world, people pay extra to just take a ride on systems like this — and you get to do it for free!
Board your gondola at Hollywood Studios!
Several of the gondolas are decorated with popular Disney characters, but we actually preferred riding in the gondolas without character decoration. (We’ll talk a bit about this in our cons section.)
Skyliner and Riviera Views
You’ll See Disney World in a New Way
Speaking of Skyliner views, riding on the new transportation system provides a unique vantage point of the Walt Disney World resort. You’re soaring above the Disney parks and resorts, and the views are pretty awesome (as long as you aren’t afraid of heights).
Riviera Resort View
You Can GET MORE PLACES FASTER
OK, this might seem obvious, but it IS a pro of the system. With the skyliner, you can simply get to more places, faster — especially if you’re staying at particular hotels.
Mickey and Minnie showcasing the skyliner!
Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort will soon be a hot spot, as you’re able to board there to get to both Hollywood Studios and Epcot in just a few minutes (versus the wait-20-minutes-for-a-bus-and-then-it-still-takes-you-20-minutes-to-get-there travel plan previously).
Route info at Caribbean Beach Resort Skyliner Station
Those staying at Disney’s Art of Animation and Pop Century Resorts will also have their very own Skyliner stop, and so will those at the Riviera Resort. That means quick access for those guests to Hollywood Studios and Epcot as well (though they’ll need to transfer to different lines depending on where they’re going.)
Overall, lots of folks at Disney World will cut their transportation wait time significantly most likely, and that’s a good thing.
Disney Skyliner Gondola Cons
Some Gondolas Have Obstructed Views
As we mentioned above, the Skyliner gondolas with character wraps on the outside create obstructed views of the Most Magical Place on Earth. This was our view from a character gondola…
Views from a Stopped Gondola over Hourglass Lake
…while this was our view from a standard gondola. Much better right?
View Through Standard Skyliner Window
In addition to the character obstructions, the other passengers on your gondola could potentially spoil your view as well. Depending on where you’re sitting, you may not have this problem, but sitting in the middle of the gondola won’t provide the best view.
The System Slows and Stops
While our Skyliner carried us along, there were moments when the line stopped unexpectedly. That’s because much like Spaceship Earth or Haunted Mansion, Disney’s Skyliner is Omnimover-esque; and if you know anything about these classic attractions then you know that when something unexpected happens, the whole ride slows and possibly stops.
Art of Animation and Pop Century Skyliner Station
This will likely happen while you’re riding, but don’t panic. Nothing’s wrong, but some folks may not enjoy the sensation, especially when you’re so high up. (Also, if your gondola stops, it can get pretty warm in there.) You might not be a fan of the Skyliner’s launch and re-entry either.
Quick Launch and Re-Entry
Since that 11 mile-per-hour pace of the Skyliner Gondolas is quick, and they’ve gotta push off with some serious steam to build that up on such a short journey. When you “launch” upward, you’ll feel it!
Epcot’s International Gateway Skyliner Station
And when you’re coming back into a Skyliner station…well, you may freak out a little bit at just how quickly you’re approaching the gondola in front of you! It was a little alarming to us because we didn’t know what to expect, but armed with this information, we’re sure you’ll handle your first Skyliner ride like a pro!
Views of Hidden Construction If You’re On The Skyliner…and Marring Sight Lines if You’re Not
Now, this one is totally a matter of opinion, but you’ll certainly see some construction thanks to your bird’s eye view from the Skyliner. While it may be exciting to view the World’s construction as it progresses, it might take away a bit of the Disney magic.
Skyliner International Gateway
And, if you happen to be on the ground, you may be disenchanted with the look of the skyliner. We’ve heard from some readers that they don’t like how the skyliner messes with the forced perspective Disney uses to trick the eye into believe that, say, the Eiffel Tower on top of the France Pavilion actually is as large as it’s supposed to be — just further in the distance. With a skyliner gondola next to it, it’s pretty obvious that it’s just…well…a teeny tiny Eiffel Tower on top of a building.
For even more Skyliner info, check out our Disney Skyliner Gondola System FAQ by clicking here!
If you want to see the Skyliner in action, check out our video below!
Here’s What Really SURPRISED Us About The Disney World Skyliner On Our First Flight!
Are you ready to hop on the Skyliner Gondolas? Let us know in the comments below!
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We noticed the “wraps” on the monorail and how it distorted or view. What gives?
Yes also better for the environment.
Nope- not for me! And especially not over water! We stay at POP century quite often and the Hourglass lake is huge! Being stranded over that lake is pretty scary. I know they have the barge, but who wants to have to go through the experience of trying to get out of the gondola and get onto a barge over a lake that possibly has alligators in it?? Disney is a master at telling you only the good things about what they do, but never the downside. So no thanks – I’ll stick with the bus!
We got to ride three different gondolas today. Two without a character wrap. The one with the wrap was a totally different experience. And was frustrating to not see clearly out the windows. It was not a small difference.
The breeze was impressive!! As long as it was moving. It did indeed warm up fast when it stopped… which it did multiple times.
We were impressed with how smooth and quiet they were. Even from the ground, you could not hear them sailing right over your head! Also noticed the teeny Eiffel Tower!
Loved how quickly we got around though!
One line was down this morning… we were told they were “sensitive”. Hmmmm….
Curious to see how these do over time.
Where do you park to use the gondolas at the Resort if you are not staying at the resort.. ?
Lea, you would want to let security know when you enter the Resort that you want to ride Skyliner. Sometimes mileage varies on this, but they will typically allow you to come in and park (they might tell you where).
Funny story about the ruining forced perspective of the Eiffel Tower when viewed from the wrong place. On our first trip to WDW, our 8 years old son broke down crying as we were leaving France at EPCOT. We had no idea what was wrong. It seems all day as we circled WS he was looking forward to seeing the Eiffel Tower in France, but we never did. So we back and explored every alley looking for the tower but never found it. When were in the last shop at the back of the France we asked a CM where it was. She led us out a door too the back lot and there it was, on the roof above us looking very unimpressive, but our son was happy.