Tag: #disneyskylinertesting

Disney Skyliner Takes Flight!

It’s hard to believe, but after more than two years of construction, Disney Skyliner is ready for take off!  Disney Skyliner officially takes flight for Walt Disney World park and resort guests on Sunday, September 29, 2019.  However, Disney Skyliner has been taking special guests and members of the press on test “flights” all week.

Early reports are VERY positive, and I cannot WAIT for my first ride!

Disney Skyliner Takes Flight

I am so excited to check out this latest mode of transportation at Walt Disney World!  Take a look at the latest video of Disney Skyliner, released by Disney earlier this week:

Partly a means of transportation from one park or resort to another, Disney Skyliner also looks like one heck of an attraction!  The views from the Skyliner gondolas look amazing!

Skyliner visits both Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Disney’s Epcot theme parks.  In addition, Skyliner visits four resorts: Disney’s Caribbean Resort, Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, Disney’s Pop Century Resort, and the NEW Disney’s Riviera Resort (opening in December).

Skyliner Merchandise

Perhaps most exciting for the shoppers among us, there is LOTS of new merchandise available at Walt Disney World starring Disney Skyliner!

Disney Skyliner Ready for Take Off Merchandise
Photo: Disney Parks

You’ll be able to find Skyliner merchandise in select locations; predominantly at resorts and theme parks on the Skyliner line.  Merchandise will be available at the International Gateway at Epcot, Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, Disney’s Pop Century Resort and Disney’s Riviera Resort, when it opens in December.  There is no official mention of Skyliner merchandise being featured at the World of Disney Store in Disney Springs, but I have a hard time believing we won’t be able to find SOMETHING Skyliner themed there, don’t you?

Check out these ADORABLE Christmas ornaments.  Has a Disney attraction ever been MORE perfect for an ornament?

Photo: Disney Parks
Photo: Disney Parks
Photo: Disney Parks

Similar to the ornaments are these models.  If you want to have your very own Skyliner gondola in your home, one of these might be for you!

Photo: Disney Parks
Photo: Disney Parks

But wait, there’s more!  (Shocking, I know!)  Check out some of these options:

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Annual Passholders, do not fear!  There is (of course!!!) special Disney Skyliner merchandise just for you.  Take a look:

Photo: Disney Parks
Photo: Disney Parks
Photo: Disney Parks

And, of course, because this is Disney and we know they want ALL our money, I feel fairly confident in assuring you that there is much, much more in the Disney Skyliner merchandise line.  And certainly, some holiday themed Skyliner merchandise will be coming.  I don’t know that for sure, but I feel reasonably confident, don’t you?

Are You Ready To Take Flight on Skyliner?

I love how colorful the gondolas (also called cabins) are.  Featuring eight colors and a TON of graphics featuring characters from Disney movies, theme park attractions and traditional cartoons, I think watching Skyliner from the ground is going to be almost as much fun as riding it.

Each Disney Skyliner cabin can handle up to 10 guests, including those traveling in wheelchairs or with strollers.  The gondolas are NOT air conditioned; however, they are vented, and Disney assures us that the cabins will be comfortable as air moves through them as the cabins move through the system.

#DisneyTransportationGoals

I think an excellent adventure plan for Disney guests looking for a challenge will be to plan to enjoy all FOUR methods of official Disney transportation on a given day. For example, you could start your day via bus and head to Hollywood Studios to start your day.  From there, you could take the Skyliner to Epcot, and then travel by monorail to the Magic Kingdom.  From Magic Kingdom, you could take a boat to the Ticket and Transport Center or one of the nearby resorts, and have dinner or drinks to celebrate your success.  Even more fun would be to plan stops along both the monorail lines and the Skyliner lines.  Lots of terrific options for Walt Disney World Resort guests!

Are you looking forward to your first ride on Disney Skyliner?  Please like this post and comment below!

Happy Dreaming,

Brooke

Brooke Hudson Disney Travel Agent
Ready to Help Plan Your Next Disney Vacation!

P.S. To learn more about Skyliner, please check out these previous posts:

 

Skyliner Gondolas Open September 29!

Great news!  Disney has announced that the new Skyliner Transportation system will officially open for Disney World guests on September 29!  Testing has been going on for several months now, and I don’t know about you, but I have been DYING for the official announcement of WHEN the Skyliner gondolas would be ready for passengers.  And finally, we have our answer!  The Skyliner gondolas will be ready for YOU to ride on September 29, 2019.  Whooooooo Hoooooo!

Disney released this happy video along with the announcement:

Surprised?

I’m a teensy surprised that the Gondolas won’t be “LIVE” before Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge opens at Hollywood Studios on August 29.  I had thought Disney would try and open the Skyliner Transporation System before that deadline to provide additional transportation options for guests, PLUS provide another “attraction” to absorb guests.  My thought was Skyliner Gondolas could help with crowd management.  However, it makes sense that it opens a month later.  I suspect Disney has their hands full already with making sure they are ready for Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge when it opens.

Disney Skyliner to Open September 29
Photo: Disney Parks

How gorgeous does that look?  I mean, seriously!  I am SUPER excited to ride one of these Gondolas through the whole route.  Remember: The Skyliner Transportation System will visit four resorts, plus Epcot and Hollywood Studios.  Here are the four resorts:

      • Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
      • Disney’s Pop Century Resort
      • Disney’s Art of Animation Resort
      • Disney’s NEW Riviera Resort (opens in December)

Just the Facts, Ma’m.

TECHNICALLY, Disney’s Pop Century Resort and Disney’s Art of Animation Resort are sharing one Skyliner Station.  The Station is located on the lake between the two resorts and is a short walk from either resort.  So, one stop on the Skyliner Transportation System, but TWO resorts served.  More bang for the buck, I guess.  But it sounds like the line goes further than it does when I say it goes to four resorts and two theme parks, so I wanted to clarify.

Disney Skyliner Station Pop Century Art of Animation
Skyliner Station Pop Century/Art of Animation                   Photo Credit: Amy Micari

There are more than 300 gondolas on the Skyliner Transportation line.  Each gondola (also being called “cabins”) can seat up to ten guests.  All gondolas are wheelchair accessible, according to Disney.

I’ve done several articles about the Skyliner system previously.  If you’d like to check those out, please go to any of the links below:

Excited Yet?

So, does knowing Skyliner Gondolas will officially open on September 29 have any impact on your vacation plans for this year?  If you’ve been on the fence about a Fall 2019 visit to Disney World, does this push you over the edge?  What about Holiday 2019 planning?  Does the official opening of the Skyliner system make you MORE eager to visit Disney World for the Holidays this year?

There are still some great packages available for fall, and I’m expecting holiday 2019 packages to be released any day now.  If you’re thinking about visiting Disney in 2019, NOW is the time to plan.  Email brooke@disneycastledreaming.com for more information or to get started!

Happy Dreaming!

Brooke

Brooke Hudson Disney Travel Agent
Ready to Help Plan Your Next Disney Vacation!

 

Disney Skyliner Testing: Cabins Unveiled!

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 Testing Character Graphics Revealed
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
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

Brooke Hudson Disney Travel Agent
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.

Skyliner Update: Look Inside Disney Skyliner Cabins

Disney Skyliner testing continues, and appears to be going very well, as we discussed in our last Skyliner update post.  In this week’s Disney Skyliner Update, we get an up close and personal look at the gondolas themselves.  Disney is now calling the gondolas “guest cabins”, and this week, we get to look inside a Disney Skyliner Guest Cabin!

Up Close with a Skyliner Guest Cabin

Disney Skyliner Update Close Up Look
Disney Skyliner Guest Cabin                                                                   Photo Credit: Disney Parks

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As I mentioned last week, Disney is now sending a few guest cabins through the Skyliner system uncovered.  A few cabins have been seen in the testing without their off-white protective coverings.  So far, we haven’t seen any cabins actually decked out with the promised Disney characters out on the lines testing.

This week, Disney has more information about the guest cabins themselves.  For the first time, Disney is taking us INSIDE a Skyliner guest cabin and answering some of the questions we’ve all been asking.  Here’s what we know now, based on this latest information.

  • Guest cabins will have a maximum guest capacity of 10 guests per cabin
  • Cabins feature bench seating for guests, similar to what we’re used to on the monorail, the Walt Disney World Railroad, and other similar transportation options
  • Guest cabins are wheelchair accessible
  • Cabins do NOT have in cabin air conditioning or heating
  • Guest cabins do have small windows that open to let air circulate and provide cross ventilation
  • All guest cabins will feature Disney characters in specially shaded and reflective graphics to help protect the cabins from direct sunlight
  • Disney is confident that the cabins will be comfortable, even on very hot Florida days
  • Guest cabins will be eight different colors
  • Guest cabins will feature character graphics from all Disney owned properties, including classic Disney favorites, Marvel Studios and LucasFilm, including the Star Wars characters
  • The Skyliner system is intended to be constantly moving
  • There will be approximately 300 cabins in the Skyliner system

Look Inside a Disney Skyliner Guest Cabin

Disney has released a video giving you an inside look at the Skyliner guest cabins.  Take a tour:

Transit Time on Disney Skyliner System

While of course we don’t have any actual riders in the system yet, we do have some idea on transit times using the Skyliner System.

Disney is still doing their very through testing.  We could see SOME impact on these transit numbers once they start testing with people.  It will be very interesting to see if the system will truly be able to operate continuously, once it starts testing with people.

Disney Skyliner Testing
Disney Skyliner System Testing                 Photo Credit: Amy Micari

Disney says we can expect transit times of five to fifteen minutes on the Skyliner System, depending on our origin and destination points.  The Skyliner Transportation system will transport guests from four Disney Resorts to Epcot and Hollywood Studios.  The four Disney resorts being served are Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, Disney’s Pop Century Resort, Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, and Disney’s new Riviera Resort (opening later this year).

Opening Date?

We still don’t have an official opening date for guests for the Disney Skyliner System.  Disney will have to complete their current round of system and cabin tests, first.  Once this round is over, testing with people will begin.  If those tests go as smoothly as anticipated, I believe it won’t be long before we get some official announcements with actual opening dates, at least for some sections of the system.

Officially, we’re still being told “Fall 2019”; however I’ll be surprised if we don’t see at least some kind of soft open by August.  I believe Disney will want the Skyliner System fully up and running when Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge opens on August 29.

Disney Skyliner Gondolas Disney World Star Wars Toy Story Guardians of the Galaxy
Disney Skyliner Gondola Graphics featuring characters from Toy Story, Star Wars, Guardians of the Galaxy and even fan favorites Donald and Daisy!

What do you think?  Are you getting excited about the Disney Skyliner System?  Please like this post, and comment below with your thoughts about the cabins!

Happy Dreaming!

Brooke

Brooke Hudson Disney Travel Agent
Ready to Help Plan Your Next Disney Vacation!

Disney Skyliner Update: April 2019

Hello everyone!  Lots of updates coming this weekend. I’ve been down with the most awful flu, so I’m a bit behind and I have SO much to tell you guys!!!  First up: Disney Skyliner Updates!  Disney is moving full speed ahead with their Skyliner testing.  Initial tests primarily involved the main line from Caribbean Beach station to Hollywood Studios; however, Skyliner vehicles are now being tested throughout the entire system!

Pop Century/Art of Animation Station

The Skyliner station located between Disney’s Pop Century Resort and Disney’s Art of Animation Resort is looking great.  In even better news, it’s now part of the Skyliner testing, and Skyliner vehicles are moving in and out of the station and along the Skyliner system.

Disney Skyliner Station Pop Century Art of Animation
Skyliner Station Pop Century/Art of Animation                                        Photo Credit: Amy Micari

Here is a short video of Skyliner testing in action at this station:

Here’s a closer look at the Station itself:

Disney Skyliner Station Pop Century Resort Art of Animation Resort
Disney Skyliner Station at Pop Century/Art of Animation                      Photo Credit: Amy Micari

First Look at Gondolas Unveiled!

Last week, Disney started sending a few of the Skyliners through the testing loops without their off-white covers.  The gondolas don’t yet have their “character” window dressings, but it’s fun to see them moving through the air looking like actual vehicles instead of fabric bubbles.

Disney Skyliner Testing Gondolas
Disney Skyliner Gondolas: Testing   Photo Credit: Amy Micari
Disney Skyliner Gondola Live Testing                    Photo Credit: Amy Micari

The gondolas are also moving through the system at their full speed, instead of the very slow speeds they were moving during the initial phase of testing.  Testing seems to be going very well, overall.

Fall 2019?

So the big question remains.  With testing going so well with unmanned gondolas, at what point will Disney begin testing the gondolas with actual victims (I mean people 😉)?  I am sure they have to meet very vigorous safety standards of their own, in addition to those of the state and federal government (in general, Disney’s safety standards are often higher than basic government standards).

Disney has not released an official opening date for the Skyliner transportation system yet.  The only information they have provided so far is “Fall 2019”.  However, with the opening date for Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge bumped up to August 29 from “Late Fall”, I can’t help but wonder if Disney might be REALLY interested in having some additional transportation methods in place when Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge opens, or very shortly thereafter.  Not to mention, many people will (I suspect) view the Skyliner system as an attraction, not just a transportation system, so it will be another “crowd absorbing” measure, and we can never have too many of those!

My personal theory is that Disney is going to try and have testing completed and the Skyliner system ready for at least a soft open by late August.  I have no insider information that makes me think that–they have not released any information to us yet.  That is just my gut feeling, based on everything else that is going on around the opening of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, and increased crowd projections we are seeing for the fourth quarter, based on Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge being open at Hollywood Studios.

Obviously the entire system will not be functional at that time: The fourth arm of the system is the new DVC resort, Disney’s Riviera Resort, which is taking reservations for December at this time.  So likely, that station will not be open until the resort actually opens to guests, although I’m sure it will be testing during the Fall.

Disney Skyliner Testing
Disney Skyliner System Testing                  Photo Credit: Amy Micari

Final Thoughts

What do you think? Do you think the Skyliner system will open ahead of schedule?  Are you excited to check it out?  Will you be more likely to stay in a resort that is attached to a Skyliner station to have access to the Skyliner system?

Please comment below.  I’m really curious to know if the Skyliner system will have any impact on where you want to stay.  I’m a pretty die hard Magic Kingdom resort girl, but I’m very intrigued by the Skyliner system.  I think I will plan a visit to a Skyliner based resort, just to see what impact staying at a Skyliner station resort (Disney’s Riviera Resort, Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, Disney’s Pop Century Resort, or Disney’s Art of Animation Resort) has on my experience.  Mainly so I can take lots of pictures and videos and report back to you guys, of course!!

Let me know what you think!

Happy Dreaming!

Brooke

Brooke Hudson Disney Travel Agent
Ready to Help Plan Your Next Disney Vacation!

P.S. If you want to review any of our previous Disney Skyliner System Updates, take a look at these posts:

Top 5 Reasons to Visit Disney World in 2019

Transportation Update: Disney Skyliner

Skyliner Update: Fall 2019 OPEN

Transportation Update: Disney Skyliner Gondolas Revealed!

Skyliner Update: Testing Has BEGUN!

Disney Skyliner Update: Testing Photos!

Disney Skyliner Update: Testing Photos!

Hello everyone!  It’s time for another Disney Skyliner update!

As we discussed last week, the new Disney Skyliner transportation system has begun testing.  I’ve seen pictures posted by guests on Disney property  showing the gondolas in the air.  It’s so exciting to see them up on the steel cables.  But we didn’t have anything official.  Until NOW!

Skyliner Testing: Official Photos Released

Disney has released some official pictures of the gondolas in testing!

Disney Skyliner Testing, Disney Transportation, Disney World Skyliner Gondola
Disney Skyliner Testing

The gondolas are being tested on the lines going from the primary station at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort to the the station at Hollywood Studios.  As you can see, they are keeping the gondolas covered during testing.  They  won’t be “unveiled” in all their colorful and themed glory until opening day (or at least soft-open).  If you remember, we got a “sneak peek” at what a gondola will look like at the D23 event a few months ago:

Disney Skyliner Gondola Update Disney Skyliner Prototype Disney Skyliner Transportation System
Disney Skyliner Gondola Revealed at D23 Event

Previously, Disney has told us that the gondolas will be different colors, and will feature characters from lots of Disney properties.  Gondolas will be themed to classic cartoons, Disney and Pixar movies, Star Wars movies and Marvel movies.  They have released some artist drawings of some sample gondolas:

Disney Skyliner Gondolas Graphics Disney World Star Wars Toy Story Guardians of the Galaxy
Disney Skyliner Gondola Graphics, Updated January 2019. New characters include Woody, Buzz and Jessie from Toy Story, C3P0 and R2D2 from Star Wars, Daisy and Donald, and Starlord and Gamora from Guardians of the Galaxy.
Disney Skyliner Gondola Graphics Disney World Mickey Mouse Gondola
Disney Skyliner Gondola Artist Renderings, showing sample graphics that will appear on some gondolas, including Mickey and Minnie, Donald and Goofy, and some Hitchhiking Ghosts.

Skyliner On Track to Open Fall 2019

We still don’t have an official opening day–but the system is definitely on track to open this fall, barring any unforeseen challenges arising during testing.

Disney Skyliner Testing Hollywood Studios Disney World Transportation Disney Skyliner Tower of Terror
Disney Skyliner Testing: Tower of Terror

So far testing is going great, but I can’t wait to see more!

I’ve got a couple of my clients visiting Disney over the next couple of weeks, so I’m hopeful that I will soon have more photos to share of the gondolas in the air.  I’m also hoping for some photos of the Skyliner stations themselves.  Maybe these will tide us over until I can get down there myself and take some pictures and video specifically for you guys.

Are you getting excited about the Disney Skyliner gondola system?  I can’t wait!  See you soon with another Disney Skyliner update!

If you’d like to check out previous articles on the Disney Skyliner system, please go here, here, here or here.

Happy Dreaming!

Brooke

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