In case you missed it, allow us to give you a recap of the Disney Skyliner’s opening back in 2019: Disney Skyliner opens (yaaaay!). Disney Skyliner breaks (oh nooooo!).
Re-creation of the Skyliner Incident 😉
Now that we’re all up to speed, we gotta have some real talk here. The Skyliner stranded guests mid-air for 3 hours. It has remained closed since Saturday evening and Disney has released a statement about the incident, but there’s one thing we still just can’t get off our minds. Those emergency kits!
A couple hours into the “situation,” guests reported hearing over the speakers in their gondolas that they could now open their emergency kits under their seats. Um…1) SRSLY there are EMERGENCY KITS?! then 2) GIMME!!! WHAT THE WHAT is in there?? Water? Blankets? Stale Mickey pretzels?? Our eyes were glued to Instagram waiting to see what the elusive kits contained! And the result??
Well here’s a look inside the emergency kit on the #Skyliner. We were just told we could open it. There’s water inside, a note pad, cups (possibly in case nature calls), light stick … hitting 90+ min @WaltDisneyWorld @WFTV pic.twitter.com/3xyvrHGyUO
— Cierra Putman WFTV (@CPutman_WFTV) October 6, 2019
Weeeeell…not exactly going to be saving lives with these kits! They contained a few packets of drinking water, cool packs, a pencil and notepad (that ironically was labeled “Universal”…oh Disney.), a whistle, a glow stick, and a few blue cups. (Yes.)
Disney’s Skyliner
There’s got to be a better way! No snacks? No way to keep warm? No toilet paper??!!! (For real guys…if nature calls, even stuck in mid-air…you’re not gonna want to be scrambling to find that old guide map in your pocket out of desperation!)
This Doesn’t Count as Toilet Paper
What would we have done better? Include a rope for lasso-ing the pizza from the delivery guy on the ground after we order some pies for the hungry gondola? A folding ladder so we could all, awkwardly, try descending to safety in the night? A parachute (do those even work that low?!)?
We pulled together our ideas and came up with what WE would want to find in our kits if we were stuck in the Skyliner for 3 hours:
The “OMG I’m stuck 60 Feet in the Air” De-Stress Kit
We don’t know about you, but if we were cruising the skies to Epcot and suddenly found ourselves dangling for who-knows-how-long from an oversized telephone line with no help in sight, the anxiety is gonna get REAL up in that gondola!
Disney Skyliner
One complaint we saw from many guests stuck on the Skyliner was the LOUD recorded message apologizing for the delay playing every minute or so the entire. time. Nope. We’ve got a solution for that.
- iPod and Headphones with super-zen nature sounds: No more scary loudspeaker messages. Instead, sway in the air to the calming sounds of a babbling brook or ocean waves. Aaaaahhhhhh.
- Lavender-scented de-stress aromatherapy lotion: Align your chakras with calming scents.
- Earplugs to further find tranquility in the skies.
- A soothing eye mask provided by Disney to help the terrifying reality that you’re dangling in a giant Christmas ornament melt away!
Yeah…we know. Dare to dream.
The “I’m Stuck in a Box With My Kid(s) For How Long?!” Emergency Kit
We can’t imagine being stuck dangling for 3 hours with a child on the Skyliner. Kids at Disney World are already easily overstimulated, overly tired, sugared-up, and just generally maxed out! If you’ve been anywhere with a kiddo in tow, you likely know all too well the shiver down your spine when you hear those 4 dreaded words: “I gotta go potty!”
Sorry, You Won’t be Finding This in Your Skyliner Gondola
So how would we suggest Disney help those frazzled parents? An emergency “In case of angry toddler, break glass” type option!
- Food (Duh. Kids are tiny always-hungry vacuums.) like Fruit Loops, granola bars, fruit roll-ups, or crackers.
- A board game option would be well received (nothing says “We’re gonna be ok on the Skyliner” like watching your 4-year-old stomp and shake the dangling gondola because they didn’t win at Candy Land!).
- Coloring Books and crayons are always a hit with the younger set, so long as the crayons weren’t subjected to that famous Florida heat and morphed into one melted mega-crayon.
- An emergency iPad with unlimited youTube access. Welcome to Ryan Toys Review.
- And headphones, obviously. Because you’re stressed out enough and you do NOT need to hear “Baby Shark” for the 100th time trapped in a tiny metal box!
- A blankey is in your kit to wrap up your kiddo and pray sleep comes quickly if all else fails!
Maybe it’ll take the edge off?
The Adult Coping Survival Kit
If you’re more worried about the BIG kids in your gondola, or maybe you were just forced to make some new Disney BFFs in the Skyliner for 3 hours, you’ll want a proper way to cope.
- Emergency Disney issued OTC Painkillers for that tension headache you’ve surely developed by now.
- Booze. Obvi. Emergency vodka or wine for the over 21 crowd brings the party to the skyliner.
- DVD player complete with all 10 seasons of Friends or The West Wing. How thoughtful, Disney!
- Snacks! Each kit will come stocked with plenty of Arendelle Aqua Wintery Whoopie Pies for each guest! (Haha j/k — you though that was a real thing for a second, didn’t you!? Sorry, but there ARE about 2000 other Arendelle Aqua snacks still around the parks if you’re interested!)
Ok, in all seriousness what happened on the Skyliner was horrible. We can’t imagine being stranded in the air for that long with no communication or end in sight. In all truthfulness, what was REALLY missing from the emergency kits?
The Real, Legit, “Here’s What We Need In The Skyliner Emergency Kits, Disney” Emergency Kit
- Food and Water. There was no food in there! Slip a few granola bars or protein bars or dried fruit in the box, Disney!
- Portable fans. Thankfully the malfunction happened in the evening and it’s Fall, but could you imagine if it was mid-day in the dead of summer?! HOT and nasty in the Skyliner, guys. Cooling packs won’t get you that far. Small, battery-powered fans seem like a better solution.
- Batteries. See above.
- Small handwarmers for more chilly days. Each gondola DOES have a small heater, but handwarmers couldn’t hurt.
- Emergency blankets. You know those weirdly cool mylar blankets? They fold to practically nothing and seem like an easy add.
- Crank chargers and smartphone charging cords.
- A diaper and wipes for smaller kids in your group. The adults could certainly use the wipes as well, seeing as no one mentioned actual toilet paper in those kits! Plus, messes happen even in the skies, so having wet wipes on hand could save a lot of headaches.
- A better bathroom solution. This is certainly the dark side of the Skyliner no one wants to talk about. Those blue-lipped cups found in the kits are the same kind issued by Disney’s First Aid Centers if your tummy is in distress. They hold a lot of liquids quite well, but most people don’t want to consider using them when they plan that once in a lifetime Disney trip!
Epcot’s International Gateway Skyliner Station
Give us a second. I’m sure we’ll think of more.
Also, please please don’t go stealing emergency kits now that we all know they’re there. You wouldn’t want to be stuck up there and find NOTHING under your seat in an emergency, so just be cool.
Oh, and what’s in YOUR kit??
Read more about the Skyliner Incident by clicking here
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Ummm, yeah. So I won’t lie – the whole bathroom situation (especially for women) if you were stuck on the Skyliner kinda concerns me. Like – it’s about to get “REAL real” with these strangers in my cabin!! 😉
I don’t need a kit because I won’t be riding any time soon! The thought of dangling in mid-air by a wire, no thank you! Knowing that I had no way out – nope! Give me the good ol’ Disney Bus, Minnie Van, Boat or even the Monorail.
Those are not cups. They’re emesis bags. Normally used for vomit but could double as bathroom bags.
Your last comment hit on exactly what I was worried about… Now that people are award of those emergency kits, there will be numerous instances of idiots grabbing them and opening them up to get a “special free souvenir”. Disney needs to address that before putting them back in there.
I don’t know, but some kind of blanket could also double as a privacy screen in the event someone DOES need to go potty while trapped in that tin can on a string. As for most of the other items mentioned, well, I already carry many of those items in my Designated WDW Bag (earbuds, battery pack and charger for my phone, a couple protein bars or fruit snacks or something, Advil, tissue packs that could certainly double as TP in a pinch, a small canister of WetWipes for when I’m Food and Wine Festing something that is finger food and it just isn’t convenient to stop in a restroom before every dish, a light sweatshirt). And no, my bag isn’t heavy. It is very strategically planned out. And I always have my own bottle of water in my bag as well. My Park companions always laugh as they wish aloud for some amenity that I produce from the depths of my Bag which they are convinced is like a clown car since it’s never heavy and doesn’t look all that full. What can I say? Any time I’ve needed something while in the parks and not had it, I add it to the Bag! I made great friends during on FWF when a couple sharing a bench with me had a spill and were fretting over the imminent stain…and I passed over a Shout wipe in a packet. 😉
Those blue “cups” are for vomit. They aren’t cups and can be used if needed for a bathroom situation however good luck with it being so small
Yikes, but feminine hygiene products! Really. Three hours is a long time if planning for a fifteen minute ride. (I’ve taught junior high…)
You state your from Disney and work for Disney.
The DVD’s you mentioned are you not aware they are not owned, made and shown on Disney properties?
The DVD selection is only what you would like to have viewed but not everyone would agree to your selections.
In this case I would lean towards Disney working on a system that would allow guests to drop down a thin rope or wire and pull up a larger appropriate emergency kit. The kit within the vehicle needs to be redesigned as well. This way the crew on the ground can move quickly to each vehicle.
Stranded Skyliner Kit
1). HD Download Code for Disney’s Rescuers Down Under
2) 1000 Shares of Six Flags Stock.
3) Free online Season Pass code for Universal / Islands of Adventure.
So… I wasn’t afraid of heights or claustrophobic until the Skyliner Event…and I was watching it unfold in the comfort of my home! 😶
7, hi! DFB is not affiliated with or employed by Disney. We just like Friends and West Wing. 🙂
What was the note pad and pencil going to help with while stranded? Or was that just Disney’s idea of distraction for people while dangling in the air…doodle scratch pad?
Cups for women be real..disney needs to take stock..and learn from this mess..It’s very hard for women to squat in a swaying gondola with strangers nope…I would b infuriated if that happened..but a blanket is a good idea for a variety of reason snacks is another good idea
Holiday travel in Korea turns the highways into very long, very narrow parking lots. One year, as a major holiday was approaching, they were handing out “oh my god, when will this trip ever end” emergency kits. They included a folded, wax lined cardboard box that was partially filled with the same absorbent material found in diapers — it was an emergency urinal. The top portion was large enough to be used by anyone who doesn’t mind answering the call of nature with an audience. Hopefully you are in a car with family and/or close friends…
I’ve been thinking about this since “the incident” as I am due at Disney on the 29th. Now I need to decide if I will ride (if open) or not, bordering on not at the moment…
But as for what should be in the ekit-a blanket with 2 holes to be hung on the new hooks they need to install so if necessary someone can go behind it to do what they have to do (oh and there needs to be one on each side as climbing over seats would be “not so good.” I agree with the wet wipes they work for anything. Snacks are a must – as there could be diabetics in the car and stress can mess with blood sugar. I did like the note pad because I thought that introducing kids to the old hang word (I went to a very open minded school so man was not allowed in the name of that game) and tic tac toe etc. might buy some time. The water looked awful!
My thoery is this will NEVER happen again, but hopefully Disney will look at our lists – and I know for a fact they do look at sights even if they swear they don’t. There are grest ideas here.
Emergency kits…well, I’ve got to admit that there should really be a solar powered fan option on these things…solar battery on the roof of each gondola so a fan can be switched on in an emergency. Why this isn’t already installed BOGGLES MY MIND!! Air exchange will always help people keep calm in the “trapped in the box situation” and that water tastes great, it’s an awesome “apocalypse” water solution that prepares use and I’ve tasted it – it’s better than most water in Florida 🙂 but honestly, in the reports I’ve read it stated that they didn’t start by fire services for 40+ minutes and THAT is where this is all wrong!! Evac earlier, make the call!! Then, rather than having deluxe emergency packs BUY ANOTHER FIRETRUCK!!!! They should have a faster Evac option. Period. Nothing you put in that box will give back time!! They need to be faster at making the call to evac and they need more vehicles to get the job done!
Previous comments should read preppers use them, not prepares
FYI, those “blue cups” are emesis bags… aka vomit catchers! You could also get creative with those if nature calls.
How about a parachute?
No more sharing a gondola with other parties. Taking into account Covid and now hearing about the potential for moments that could get personal/embarrassing…No. One party per gondola from now on, please.