Have you been hearing about the Disney Skyliner?
If you’ve been on property in the last year, you have probably seen signs of this new transportation system, currently under construction.
Announced last summer, construction got started right away, and has continued pretty aggressively ever since. Disney still hasn’t announced a completion date, or a date when this new system is expected to be LIVE for us to try…but they have announced that they are starting to run the cable for the new system, and most of the stations and support structures are either already in place or pretty far along in the construction process.
Check out this cute video that Disney released a few days ago to get people excited about the Skyliner:
Doesn’t that look like fun? Well, I’m afraid of heights so it looks a little terrifying…but also fun.
For decades, may people have mourned that the Monorail system was never beyond the original two lines for the Magic Kingdom and Epcot. I think the Disney Skyliner is Disney’s 21st century way to address this issue, as well as bring something new and exciting to resort guests.
While of course the bus system serves every park and every resort, and will continue to do so, the Skyliner will offer guests an alternative and unforgettable high-flying mode of transportation that will feel like an attraction, add value to your resort stay and make your visit feel even more magical.
The new gondola system will conveniently connect Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Epcot to four resort hotels – Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, Disney’s Pop Century Resort and Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort as well as the planned 15th Disney Vacation Club property, Disney’s Riviera Resort.
Some Disney Skyliner cabins will have iconic Disney characters incorporated into their exterior design to give the appearance that a Disney pal is riding along with guests, such as characters from the ‘Fab Five,’ figures from Disney attractions, fan favorites from movies, and more.
I think this will be a super fun addition, and I can envision special wraps to promote coming attractions—do any of you remember stalking the Avengers monorail a few years to try and get pictures of it? I followed that quest through TWO separate vacations!
According to Disney, the design of the Disney Skyliner station at International Gateway at Epcot will be inspired by the park’s nearby European Pavilions, and will be covered with metal and glass canopies, hand-painted murals and ornamental steel structures that harken back to the early Art Nouveau style. Guests traveling to Epcot via the Disney Skyliner will be welcomed to the park with a rare birds-eye view of World Showcase.
The Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort station will be the hub of activity for Disney Skyliner. This station is inspired by the open-air village marketplaces of the Caribbean and will showcase the nearby resort’s architectural detailing and color schemes. At this station, passengers will be able to transfer gondola routes to reach their destination, or are invited to sit and admire the waterfront resort setting.
The design style of the station at Disney’s Hollywood Studios will fit with that of the park’s main entrance and bus stations. Passengers traveling here from the Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort station can expect a new aerial perspective of the park’s iconic attractions, like The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror.
Disney’s Pop Century Resort and Disney’s Art of Animation Resort will share a Disney Skyliner station that feels whimsical and contextual with both resorts. Upon departing the gondola station, Skyliner passengers will ascend over Hourglass Lake and enjoy a panoramic view of these two colorful resorts.
Finally, cabins will slow down at the Disney Skyliner turn-station along Buena Vista Drive, where guests can see the mechanical and aerial components that make up the Disney Skyliner.
I’m really looking forward to this particular “Coming Attraction”. Are you planning to check it out once it opens?
I’ll keep you posted as I learn more.
Happy Dreaming!
Brooke