Disney Skyliner (Gondola Transportation System) Read Post 1 Now Open!

[MissLiss279]

Please excuse this stupid question...we booked the Caribbean Resort for our upcoming November trip and booked a preferred room. The preferred rooms will be close to the Skyliner correct? This will be our first time staying here (since I was a kid) and had major hesitation about booking this based on the negative bus reviews. Since the skyliner is projected to be open when we are there, I figured we would give this a try. We typically stay at BLT and I absolutely love it there, but didn't want to shell out the $$$ since we are going for 8 days this time.

Here’s a picture of the Riviera station from Aruba building 55 (which is about as far as you can get from the main Old Port Royale location, and definitely not preferred). I’m not sure how close the Caribbean Beach Station is to the preferred rooms.

 

[rteetz]

AoA/Pop update

https://wdwnt.com/2019/04/photos-di...animation-resort-construction-update-4-16-19/

 

[DBDiz]

Please excuse this stupid question...we booked the Caribbean Resort for our upcoming November trip and booked a preferred room. The preferred rooms will be close to the Skyliner correct? This will be our first time staying here (since I was a kid) and had major hesitation about booking this based on the negative bus reviews. Since the skyliner is projected to be open when we are there, I figured we would give this a try. We typically stay at BLT and I absolutely love it there, but didn't want to shell out the $$$ since we are going for 8 days this time.

If you do not want to/are not paying for Preferred rooms, there are two buildings generally considered psuedo-Preferred (in that they are the closest non-preferred rooms to Old Port Royale/Centertown; they are no further of a walk than the farthest Preferred rooms to OPR): Aruba 51 and Jamaica 45. Both are right next to the foot bridge that crosses Barefoot Bay via the Castaway Cay island.

If you ARE staying Preferred (and the old way of designating Preferred remains after all the construction is finished), then you would probably want to request Barbados (formerly Trinidad North) 32 or 33 to be closer to the Skyliner.

https://www.wdwinfo.com/resortmaps/cbrmap.htm

 

[rteetz]

Update

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/os-bz-gondolas-disney-sneak-preview-20190416-story.html

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/116338937-132.html

 

[Joe Arkansas]

By August, Disney employees could be among the first passengers during the testing process that will run for months around-the-clock.

Doesn’t sound good for those of us hoping for an early opening in July.

 

[rteetz]

Doesn’t sound good for those of us hoping for an early opening in July.

Yeah I’m a bit unsure on this part of the article. Workers have already been seen inside. These are being installed at a snails pace compared to other systems it seems. I get this is Disney but still.

 

[jhoannam]

Update

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/os-bz-gondolas-disney-sneak-preview-20190416-story.html

CM testing has been pushed back to August?

 

[ToddlerMom311]

Doesn’t sound good for those of us hoping for an early opening in July.

The "months-long" part doesn't bode too well for my mid August trip either

 

[rteetz]

CM testing has been pushed back to August?

Seems strange to me.

 

[STLstone]

Yeah I’m a bit unsure on this part of the article. Workers have already been seen inside. These are being installed at a snails pace compared to other systems it seems. I get this is Disney but still.

If that statement in the article is true, it is effectively an announcement that the gondolas won't be ready in August - which would miss the date Disney announced - which makes me think this is some sort of misunderstanding.

ETA: I guess I imagined the August timeline because I can't find that stated anywhere.

 

[jhoannam]

The "months-long" part doesn't bode too well for my mid August trip either

Did they ask the CM at the popcorn booth for these details?

 

[rteetz]

If that statement in the article is true, it is effectively an announcement that the gondolas won't be ready in August - which would miss the date Disney announced - which makes me think this is some sort of misunderstanding.

ETA: I guess I imagined the August timeline because I can't find that stated anywhere.

Disney has only ever said Fall. I’ve got to think they want these open ASAP for SWGE.

 

[Spridell]

Some new pictures of the inside are starting to pop up over on twitter.

Between the no AC and 10 people inside that thing, ummm

 

[Tigger's ally]

Between the no AC and 10 people inside that thing, ummm

new to this thread, eh?

 

[scrappinginontario]

All

If that statement in the article is true, it is effectively an announcement that the gondolas won't be ready in August - which would miss the date Disney announced - which makes me think this is some sort of misunderstanding.

ETA: I guess I imagined the August timeline because I can't find that stated anywhere.

The only 'date' I've ever heard from Disney is 'Fall 2019.' Technically they have until December 19, 2019 to still hit this target.

I don't want it to be that late by any means but I don't think we can say Disney missed their date unless they're not open by Dec 20, 2019.

 

[Spridell]

new to this thread, eh?

Nope, I have been following along. But now after seeing a close up of the inside, just confirming my original thoughts.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Nope, I have been following along. But now after seeing a close up of the inside, just confirming my original thoughts.

I would be surprised if they cram 10 people in there very often - probably not more than 6-7 adults at a time.

Obviously we won't fully know until they are up and running but I really don't think heat will be an issue given the reflective coating, the passive cooling, and how short the trips are

 

[rteetz]

Some new pictures of the inside are starting to pop up over on twitter.

Between the no AC and 10 people inside that thing, ummm

Like it notes in the article you will be in this for 5-15 minutes not an obscene amount of time. You will get some breeze with the open windows and I am sure you spend much more time outside in the parks than you will in this cabin.

 

[Anthony Vito]

The "months-long" part doesn't bode too well for my mid August trip either

Ditto here - I'd be really bummed. We're going 8/10 - 8/19, and I was really looking forward to riding it - even if it is about the same amount of time, I'd take it from International Gateway to DHS just for the ride since we're staying at Yacht Club. Also, we're actually staying at Pop Century the first night then transferring to Yacht the next day. If this is up and running that would be really convenient for us to take over to Yacht.

 

[Anthony Vito]

Disney has only ever said Fall. I’ve got to think they want these open ASAP for SWGE.

That coupled with Food & Wine starting on the same day SWGE opens means quite an influx of people to the two Skyliner parks, so you would think that would add even more of an impetus to get it running.