Disney’s latest transportation innovation, the Skyliner Gondola system, has been in testing mode for several weeks now. Testing appears to be going very well so far. This week marked an exciting step forward for Disney Skyliner testing—more than 50 of the cabins have been unveiled!
It’s a Bird, It’s a Plane, It’s…Mickey Mouse?
For most of the testing we’ve seen so far, Disney has sent the Skyliner gondolas out on the system shrouded in white covers. Briefly we saw some units without the white covers, but the units we saw did not have any character graphics on them yet. Check out this post, Disney Skyliner Update: April 2019 to learn more.
Over the past few days, Disney has uncovered more than fifty of the gondolas, revealing beautiful character graphics on each colorful cabin. The graphics are gorgeous, and there appears to be a wide variety of different character themes.
Disney Skyliner Gondolas: Character Graphics Revealed! (Photo: Disney Parks)
See the Skyliner Gondolas in Action
Disney released a terrific video showing the unveiled gondolas out on the cables. In the video, you can see multicolored cabins, their gorgeous character graphics clearly visible, moving through the Skyliner system. It’s a beautiful sight, and I can’t wait to see them in person.
When Can I Ride a Skyliner Gondola?
The WHEN is still an open question. Disney will not get any more committed than “later this fall”. They are staying pretty cagey about when the Skyliner Gondola system will go live for guests. From a safety perspective, that’s probably a good thing. Disney has an excellent safety record, and are legendary for having very few accidents involving guests on their attractions.
So, I’m guessing they are going to test the HECK out of these things before they let us get near them. Which makes the part of me that is scared of heights very happy.
However, I’m also eager to know an exact date of when guests will be able to ride on the Skyliner system. As I plan trips for my clients and my family, I want to know if I can include Skyliner as a transportation option. I am DYING to ride on this system, and I’m sure a lot of you are as well.
I had thought MAYBE it would be live by the time Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge opens at Hollywood Studios on August 29, but the powers that be seem to be trying to discourage that expectation. That could be because they want Skyliner to have it’s own exciting opening day and subsequent media attention. I could see not wanting to get lost in the excitement of the opening of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. Disney has spent millions of dollars on Skyliner, and I would imagine they want some excitement and attention to accompany it’s opening day.
Disney Skyliner Gondola Testing: Cabins Unveiled (Photo: Disney Parks)
Alternatively, it could simply be that they have a lot of testing to do, and third parties that have to approve the various phases. I suspect Disney is hesitant to put a timeline for Skyliner opening day out there until anything outside their control has finished. So if there are any government bodies or third party agencies that have to review the Skyliner system perhaps, or any tests that have to be approved by parties outside Disney Parks and Resorts, it would make sense that Disney would postpone announcing a “go-live” date until that’s all completed.
I don’t know, but I’m certainly excited to find out!
What do you think? Does seeing Disney testing Skyliner cabins unveiled make you more excited to ride?
Happy Dreaming!
Brooke
Ready to Help Plan Your Next Disney Vacation!
P.S. If you haven’t seen the inside of a Skyliner gondola yet, visit this post.
If you’ve ever stayed at a Walt Disney World Resort hotel, you probably know about Extra Magic Hours. Extra Magic Hours (EMH) are just one of the benefits of staying on Disney property. EMH are a HUGE advantage for guests who want to minimize their time waiting in lines. With regular Extra Magic Hours, there are certain days each week when Disney resort guests can enter the EMH park one hour earlier than all other guests. Alternatively, EMH may mean staying up to three hours later than all non-resort guests at the EMH park.
This fall, Disney is taking Extra Magic Hours to a whole new level with Extra EXTRA Magic Hours!
Photo: Disney Parks
DAILY Extra Magic Hours
Beginning August 29, 2019 and running through November 2, 2019, Disney will begin offering DAILY Extra Extra Magic Hours. Extra Extra Magic Hours (EEMH) will be offered in three of the four theme parks at Walt Disney World.
Magic Kingdom: Extra Extra Magic Hours will happen every day from 7 am to 8 am at the Magic Kingdom for resort guests. Just like with regular Extra Magic Hours, not all attractions are open during Extra Extra Magic Hours. Extra Magic Hours and Extra Extra Magic Hours feature the same attractions–favorite rides in both Tomorrowland and Fantasyland.
It’s a beautiful day to be at the Magic Kingdom! Let’s pretend the crowds will be this light ALL DAY! (Photo: Brooke Hudson)
Animal Kingdom: Extra Extra Magic Hours will happen every day from 7 am to 8 am at the Animal Kingdom. Pandora – The World of Avatar attractions ARE included. Also included are other attractions throughout Animal Kingdom. (The same attractions currently open during regular Extra Magic Hours).
Pandora – World of Avatar at Disney’s Animal Kingdom (Photo: Disney PhotoPass)
Hollywood Studios: Extra Extra Magic Hours will happen every day from 6 am to 9 am (That’s THREE HOURS PEOPLE!!!). The EEMH WILL include Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, Toy Story Land and select other attractions. Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and its experiences are subject to capacity. NOTE: From August 29 – 31, Disney’s Hollywood Studios will open at 6 am to ALL guests, not just resort guests. The Extra Extra Magic Hours for Hollywood Studios for Resort Guests will begin September 1.
Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Millennium Falcon – Smuggler’s Run (Photo: Disney Parks)
Wait, What About Epcot?
Epcot absorbs crowds better than any of the other three theme parks. In addition, Extra Magic Hours are not as necessary or popular at Epcot as they are at the other three parks. Also, at Epcot, Future World opens at 9 am (usually) and then World Showcase opens at 11 am. Morning Extra Magic Hours may frustrate Epcot visitors that wanted to visit World Showcase during EMH but World Showcase is not part of morning EMH.
Epcot will continue to have regular Extra Magic Hours on select days, just like it does now. Epcot will NOT be getting Extra Extra Magic Hours. Note: Of course this policy COULD change later in the summer, but I don’t expect it to.
Also, keep in mind that the popular Epcot Food and Wine Festival will be running during this time, and that’s the big attraction at Epcot in the fall. Opening at 7 am wouldn’t be very beneficial as I don’t think they want to open all those wine and food kiosks that early! 😉
Epcot! (Photo: Disney PhotoPass)
Why?
Disney has introduced these new Extra Extra Magic Hours in anticipation of record crowd levels this fall. With the opening of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Hollywood Studios coming August 29, interest in a Walt Disney World vacation has never been higher! Disney is anticipating very high guest demand for its most popular attractions throughout Walt Disney World, but most especially at Hollywood Studios, for Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.
Disney is trying to ensure the satisfaction of resort guests by guaranteeing them more opportunities to access the parks with smaller crowds, before the parks open to the public each day. Theoretically, if guests are early risers and willing to be up and at the parks early in the morning, they are more likely to be able to visit more of the attractions they’ll want to visit.
This policy also helps add more value to staying on Disney property. Disney is always looking for ways to get more guests to stay on Disney property and these new Extra Extra Magic Hours are a great step in that direction. All those extra available hours EVERY DAY add a lot of value to your theme park tickets!
The Fine Print
Extra Extra Magic Hours require a valid theme park admission and hotel ID. Note: If you are using your Magic Bands as your room keys and your theme park tickets, your Magic Band will serve as both theme park admission and hotel ID.
If you do NOT have the Park Hopper or Park Hopper Plus option on your tickets, you will be spending the day in whichever park you choose for Extra Extra Magic Hours. In other words, if you DON’T have Park Hopper, and start your day at 6 am at Hollywood Studios, you will be in Hollywood Studios for the entire day (unless you leave the park and go back to your resort, of course). You will NOT be able to visit a different park after Extra Extra Magic Hours are over.
If you DO Have Park Hopper, you can “hop” to any other park you choose throughout the day, regardless of where you go for Extra Extra Magic Hours.
All Attractions are NOT Part of Extra Extra Magic
Not all Walt Disney World attractions are available with Extra Magic Hours or Extra Extra Magic Hours. Park hours and participating attractions for Extra Magic Hours or Extra Extra Magic Hours are subject to change without notice. All participating attractions and experiences are subject to capacity limitations and cancellation.
Fast Passes are NOT available during Extra Magic Hours or Extra Extra Magic Hours.
Will Extra Extra Magic Hours Be Extended After November 2?
I don’t know. This is the first time Disney has offered DAILY extended hours for resort guests. Obviously, this will significantly impact Disney’s daily operating costs–a lot will depend on how successful this program is during its initial offering. Guest response and feedback will also significantly impact whether Disney either extends Extra Extra Magic Hours, or ever offers it again during busy periods.
Disney’s Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. Is there anything better than visiting your favorite attractions with lighter crowds and shorter lines? (Photo Credit: Disney Parks)
If it has a major impact on guest satisfaction and crowd flow AND they see profits from people staying longer in the parks and spending more money, I think its very likely that we could see something like this again in the future.
Until Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is actually open, and we see the way Disney manages crowds in and around that new “Land”, it’s difficult to anticipate WHAT will happen from a crowd flow capacity in ALL the parks, once Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is finally open.
What do YOU think?
What do you think of this new policy? As someone who almost always stays on property, I’m pretty excited! We are early risers on vacation, and always take advantage of EMH. However, we often park hop later in the day if the “chosen” park gets too crowded. It will be interesting to see what happens when three parks are the “chosen” park, won’t it?
Please like this post and comment below. Does this new Extra Extra Magic Hours policy have you planning a visit for this fall to take advantage? I can help! brooke@disneycastledreaming.com.
Happy Dreaming!
Brooke
Ready to Help Plan Your Next Disney Vacation!
P.S. There is still time to book reservations for YOUR fall vacation to Disney World. You can check out the amazing new Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and take advantage of all these extra park hours through Extra Extra Magic Hours. Contact me today to get started: brooke@disneycastledreaming.com.
P.P.S If you don’t want to wait for fall, there are still some great promotions running for Summer Vacations. Check out these posts for more information:
Exciting news this week is coming from Disney’s Hollywood Studios. We’ve got a new table service restaurant coming to Toy Story Land!
We don’t have a date yet, so most likely it will be sometime in 2020 or even 2021. However, additional table service restaurants are needed throughout the Parks, and I think a new one themed to Toy Story Land will be a welcome addition!
Rodeo Play Area
Apparently, Andy has decided to set up a new play area in the backyard. This new area will be a rodeo play area, and lots of our favorite toys are very excited to join in the fun!
This new rodeo play area will feature western town and train station playsets, and lots of rodeo themed activities.
Toy Story Land’s Roundup Rodeo BBQ, Artist’s Rendering (Source: Disney Parks)
Of course, this is Toy Story Land, so this may be a really unique rodeo. Lots of toys that we know and love aren’t exactly “western” themed. Mr Potato Head, Buzz Lightyear, Slinky Dog, the green army men and the dinosaur toys are all bound to add some color and very unique elements to the rodeo theme!
We don’t know anything about the food that will be served here yet, but I suspect it will be western themed–perhaps BBQ ribs and chicken? I’m not sure, but I’m really excited to find out!
I think we WILL be able to count on a fun, family friendly atmosphere that will be lots of fun to visit.
Until this new table service restaurant opens, you can still find great food in Toy Story Land. Check out Woody’s Lunch Box, a quick service restaurant that specializes in sandwiches, lunch box tarts and more!
Toy Story Land’s Woody’s Lunch Box (Photo: Disney Parks)Toy Story Land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios (Photo: Destinations in Florida)
I’ll keep you posted as more information becomes available on this latest addition to Toy Story Land.
What do you think? Are you looking forward to a new table service restaurant coming to Toy Story Land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios? Please comment below with your thoughts.
We probably should have expected this, but somehow I didn’t. Disney, Lucasfilm and Coca-Cola have worked together to create specially themed beverage packaging for Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. I have to admit, I really love this. I can’t shake the feeling that the Dark Side is DEEPLY involved, but I still really love this!
Coca-Cola has been partnered with Disney Parks since the grand opening of Disneyland Park in 1955. That partnership has worked really well for both Empires, I mean corporations 😉. Disney and Coca-Cola have both made lots of money from this relationship, and I think we can fully expect that to continue WELL into the future.
Coca Cola Store, Disney Springs (Photo Credit: elisfkc, Orlando, FL)
Total Immersion in EVERY Area
For months we have been talking about Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. We’ve talked at length about how much farther Disney Imagineering is going with Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge in terms of details and guest immersion in the Star Wars experience.
Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Millennium Falcon- Smuggler’s Run (Photo: Disney Parks)
We’ve seen pictures of cast costumes that enable cast members to build characters and make themselves part of the story, and we’ve seen photos and videos that show us that Galaxy’s Edge will truly be unlike anything Disney has done before.
Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Costumes Photo Credit: Disney Parks
We’ve learned there will be beverage stations selling the famed blue milk from Star Wars, and we’ve seen pictures of specially themed drinks and cocktails–all designed to keep guests fully immersed in the Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge experience.
Marketing for a New Galaxy
But the Imagineers and marketing gurus planning all the magic for us in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge knew there was one area that was a glaring “meanwhile, back on earth” disruption. Coca-Cola and other coke products for sale in the parks. Guests want their bottled water and their cokes, but can you imagine those bright red paper cups with the Coca-Cola logo on them? Or all those blue Dasani water bottles everywhere. Not exactly what Resistance fighters would expect to see, that is for sure.
Fortunately for us, Disney, LucasFilm and Coca-Cola were two steps ahead. They worked together to create a solution that fits right in to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. Even better, it WON’T immediately remind you that you’re at a theme park.
Check these out!
Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Coca-Cola Products Photo Credit: Disney Parks
Are these creative or what?? I am honestly blown away with the detail and the look and feel for these. These bottles are PERFECT for Black Spire Outpost merchants to be selling on the streets and in the restaurants. I love that Disney and Coca-Cola planned for this. You just KNOW people are going to be collecting these. I bet there will be special editions for special events or years or something. And of course I noticed that the soft drink bottles look a little on the small side. Which means we will all be buying LOTS of them. Yes, the Empire will be getting ALL our money. But we already knew that, didn’t we?
This is a relatively small detail, but it shows just how far Disney is going to make sure that Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is truly exceptional. Every single piece of information we get just further demonstrates that Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge will be like no other land that Disney has ever given us before.
Disney Imagineering is known for creating magic with details, but with Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge looks like the details are just the beginning. I truly believe that we are all going to absolutely lose our minds when we finally get to be inside Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. At least those of us that are Star Wars fans, that is.
I’d Like to Buy the World a Coke
I know it’s only soft drinks and water. But to me, it feels like really fabulous frosting on a truly amazing chocolate cake. The cake is really, really good, even without the frosting. Oh my goodness, that frosting adds that extra YUM.
What do YOU think? Is this a detail that gets you excited to visit Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge? Or is it one step too far for the Dark Side? Please like this post and comment below. I would LOVE to hear your thoughts!
Happy Dreaming!
Brooke
Ready to Plan Your Disney Vacation!
P.S. If you’d like to check out some of my other Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge updates, here are some links:
