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

[DGsAtBLT]

Also, is there some specific reason why they couldn't build the Riviera station a little bigger and add the secondary ECV load area? Trying to remember from way back but can't.

My guess would be because it’s a pass through station, just a guess though I didn’t keep up with the news while it was being built.

 

[DGsAtBLT]

Um, hoping this is just a "everyone excited for opening day" line - otherwise I might need to eat some crow over how efficient the system will be

https://twitter.com/x/status/1178416523549069317

I think once the novelty wears off it won’t see excessive waits save for maybe the busiest times of the day like park opening and closing.

Don’t prepare that crow yet!

 

[Turn the Page]

Um, hoping this is just a "everyone excited for opening day" line - otherwise I might need to eat some crow over how efficient the system will be

https://twitter.com/x/status/1178416523549069317

EH, I don't know. I'm sure some of it is opening day excitement and such but I think the big question to ask here is how long did it take people at the end of the line to get on? Because in order to take as long as a bus it would have to take 20 minutes x however many busloads of people are in line. That can't be the case.

 

[sethschroeder]

What would be the motivation to add on at resorts like OKW and SSR when they are sold out DVC only resorts?

Disney bubble and getting those staying at these resorts to expend more money (which DVC members likely have more of that they are willing to spend at Disney) in the parks. Both parks are by far considers the most "offsite" yet onsite DVC resorts.

Otherwise by your idea we shouldn't really expand to any resorts. I can't imagine a day they expand to All Stars before DVR resorts. Which All Stars likely would see the largest $$$ benefit to Disney based on raising room rates and people paying to be on the Skyliner.

 

[DGsAtBLT]

Disney bubble and getting those staying at these resorts to expend more money (which DVC members likely have more of that they are willing to spend at Disney) in the parks. Both parks are by far considers the most "offsite" yet onsite DVC resorts.

Otherwise by your idea we shouldn't really expand to any resorts. I can't imagine a day they expand to All Stars before DVR resorts. Which All Stars likely would see the largest $$$ benefit to Disney based on raising room rates and people paying to be on the Skyliner.

I’m not saying they wouldn’t or shouldn’t. I just think Disney would be more motivated to add more enticing features to resorts that are not already filled, or as part of a larger line. But obviously it’s just my own speculation.

A value and a moderate we’re among the first 3 to get the skyliner. I don’t think it’s farfetched that some of the others could get it before the deluxes and DVCs do.

 

[Moliphino]

They're was a long line leaving Epcot today, too, and the line stopped a few times. We still got back to Pop with plenty of time to catch DME ( ) . No line at all from CBR to Pop.

 

[Brianstl]

I think once the novelty wears off it won’t see excessive waits save for maybe the busiest times of the day like park opening and closing.

Don’t prepare that crow yet!

This. I think a lot of people at non Skyliner resorts are riding each line from one end to the other and then turning around and getting back on it without ever entering DHS or Epcot. That novelty will wear off after a few weeks.

 

[scrappinginontario]

I’m sure this is opening day excitement! Still guessing the transportation time would be faster than a bus but that’s purely my guess.

So excited for those who were able to ride today!! We’ve waited a long time for this and the crowds are excited!

 

[DGsAtBLT]

This. I think a lot of people at non Skyliner resorts are riding each line from one end to the other and then turning around and getting back on they it without ever entering DHS or Epcot. That novelty will wear off after a few weeks.

I think if it were a continuous loop like the monorail and easier to just take a ride on it might last longer, but since it’s not I’m with you. A few weeks sounds about right, give or take.

The stations would IMO have better been able to absorb those people if it was just the sheer number of people traveling to CBR/Pop/AoA and between the two parks creating the lines.

 

[evlaina]

Not sure if anyone posted this, but when we got back to our room at POP, this was waiting for us!

 

[DisLiss]

One thing for parties with ECV riders. At both POP and CB, they said 6 couldn’t fit (we’re a party of 6 which includes 2 young girls). I noted the sign that says 6 people. The girl at POP was then fine but the guy at CB was almost argumentative about it. I said we just came from riding with 6 and he still said no. There’s lots of suits running around the stations today and while I didn’t want to be “that lady” I was ready to stop one and complain. He let us board together finally.

I will note that 6 adults or larger guests would not fit. My girls could sit by the ECV but an adult couldn’t really.

I have a feeling it will take awhile for CMs to get a good eye for how many folks will or will not safely and comfortably fit together in any given situation. Sorry it made things a bit frustrating for your party today.

 

[Bing Showei]

Thought this was an interesting post and showing the "board by this point" red tape on the ground

https://twitter.com/x/status/1178379134919163905

Has anyone said anything about the Skyliner’s impact on the IG? A lot of people are worried about how it would negatively impact the ease of access enjoyed there.

If these are mostly looky loos, maybe IG would reflect lighter traffic?

 

[evlaina]

Has anyone said anything about the Skyliner’s impact on the IG? A lot of people are worried about how it would negatively impact the ease of access enjoyed there.

If these are mostly looky loos, maybe IG would reflect lighter traffic?

We left Epcot around 7:30pm tonight through the IG. No problem or large crowds coming through, until the Skyliner stopped working. We waited a while and the ECV and regular lines grew and grew. We, and some others, turned around and decided to go back in and use the buses. The bag check lines weren’t bad but the ticket readers were backed up.

I think a couple things had to do with it: 1, the Skyliner was stopped for so long people turned around; 2, it’s opening day, 3, it’s the second the last night of Illuminations.

My husband and I want to stay at Beach Club next spring, I hope it doesn’t effect it too much.

 

[OSUZorba]

Confession: I am more excited to ride this for the first time than visit SWGE. We aren’t even staying at a skyliner resort

I went the week before labor day because I thought for sure the Skyliner would be open and SWGE would NOT be open. I got that wrong. I'm really disappointed after following this for years now that I'll have to wait another year to ride it.

 

[OSUZorba]

Um, hoping this is just a "everyone excited for opening day" line - otherwise I might need to eat some crow over how efficient the system will be

https://twitter.com/x/status/1178416523549069317

I'm shocked by the lines. Considering this was middle of the day I am sure it is a lot of people sight seeing. I'd be interested to know what the cabin time spacing was today, I wonder if they are running it a bit slower now than in testing too.

 

[DGsAtBLT]

I went the week before labor day because I thought for sure the Skyliner would be open and SWGE would NOT be open. I got that wrong. I'm really disappointed after following this for years now that I'll have to wait another year to ride it.

A great excuse to go back! Not like any of us really need one.

 

[Weedy]

I think once the novelty wears off it won’t see excessive waits save for maybe the busiest times of the day like park opening and closing.

Don’t prepare that crow yet!

I was in that line about 5pm. It was long but moved quickly. We waited about 20 minutes

 

[scrappinginontario]

I’m surprised that people are surprised that there are lines. Disney is full of on Omnimover rides (Haunted Mansion, People Mover, Spaceship Earth, etc) and most times these attractions have lines. The Skyliner is open for anyone to ride so I anticipate lines to be the norm.

I don’t think they’ll normally be as long as today and I do anticipate they’ll move quickly but, lines are just part of the Disney experience, including the Skyliner.

 

[FinnsMom7]

Heard 25 mins was the line leaving epcot tonight but personally for someone who sticks to WS I would welcome a wait knowing and seeing my way out of the park then tracking back thru Epcot to buses and sitting there for what could be 20-30 mins
Cannot wait to ride in February

 

[Fangorn]

Our evening was purposefully all about the Skyliner today. We rode from DHS to Epcot, entered Epcot (mostly to get another day toward the AP freebie), had fish and chips then took the Skyliner back to DHS to catch a bus to OKW. DW was using a wheelchair this trip due to a hip issue that makes walking long distances very painful. But she can transfer and walk quickly.

Here are my observations: (long)

• We arrived at DHS and got in the Skyliner line at 5:56. The line was ot of the station and partway back towards the bus stops. It looked long, but was moving - until the Skyliner stopped. I counted the number of people actually in line - 58. The Skyliner stopped 3 times while we were in that line, but even with the stops, we would've been on a gondola in under 6 minutes if not for...
• CMs that provided incorrect information and insisted that since DW was in the wheelchair, we absolutely had to use the secondary loop. There were 5 other parties in the ECV/Wheelchair line. Apparently, gondolas from the secondary line cannot be dispatched any quicker than 90 seconds apart, and the CM doing the loading there was in no hurry. It took over 20 minutes for us to get on a gondola. This same CM would not let DW get out of the wheelchair and transfer by herself. I had to push her in (no biggie) and then wait for the CM to put chocks behind the wheels.
• The trip from DHS to CBR was 5 mins 30 secs.
• Getting off at CBR took time as well, since CM had to remove the chocks.
• When we said we wanted to go to Epcot, we're were escorted by a very nice CM to the correct line - the ECV line, of course. That line had at least a dozen ECVs in it. The regular line was quite long as well, with maybe 300 people in it.
• It became apparent that not all the CMs know the procedures (no surprise there) when a female suit came over to us and asked DW if she could transfer. We said yes, and she said we could/should go on the regular line and have DW get out of the chair, fold up the chair and just get on as normal. I told her what the CMs assay DHS had told us. She sighed a heavy sigh, asked if I remember their names (I did), and then told us that the ECV line can take a very long time and it is not their policy to make everyone in a wheelchair use the ECV loop.
• The Skyliner stopped A LOT while we were on it. I have to assume it was mostly due to self-absorption and/or general stupidity but guests. I saw 2 instances myself where parents weren't paying attention to where the children were, got separated from them, and then stood inside a gondola telling at Johnny to hurry up. CM has to stop the line. CMs I talked to were pretty frustrated with how things were going on opening day.
• Talked to lots of people in line - nearly everyone was just making the trip on the Skyliner because it was opening day (like us)
• The trip from CBR to Epcot was over 20 minutes due to easy to many stops of the line.
• Left Epcot at 8:10. Skyliner line was not bad - took about 10 min. We were not required to use the ECV line. In fact, we were encouraged not to.
• That ECV line had at least 30 parties in it - and some of those folks were getting a tad belligerent at the wait.
• Way fewer stops going back to CBR - only 1, in fact.
• No queue heading to DHS - walked right on.
• The airflow on the gondolas is quite pleasant - IF the line is moving. When stationary, it gets a tad stuffy, rather than hot. It was very pleasant after the sun went down.
• Gondolas are very quiet. Lots of kids (and a few adults as well) will fall asleep during from Epcot to CBR.

It's apparent to me that there are more than a few kinks yet to be worked out with the Skyliner procedures and CM training. I'm not sure how they're going to cure guest stupidity though.

Steve