Disney's Skyliner

Well, this is tough...do I keep it a secret or let my readers in on this amazing addition to Disney properties? There are virtually no waits with peak season crowds and the transportation was one of our older boy's top four rides and we have taken him to Disney several times! He kept asking if we could ride it again when we didn't even need to go anywhere!

The gondolas (called Skyliners) are only available for use to specific resorts. It is also limited to only carrying its passengers to Hollywood Studios and EPCOT. The resorts included are Pop Century, Art of Animation, Caribbean Beach Resort, and Riviera Resort. This is such a clever addition and riding is so much fun.

Why is it awesome?

• When loading and unloading customers with limited mobility there is a separate track they pull the gondola off to and they don't stop the actual flow of traffic for everyone else. Those in scooters and wheelchairs won't feel rushed or inconvenienced because they are completely pulled out of line.
• Strollers don't have to be collapsed! Can I get a HALLELUJAH?! You just drive straight onto the gondola without removing all your bags and waking up a sleeping child.
• You always have a seat. The gondolas seat up to 10. Our group would all go together when we were down to 9 people but when we reached 11 they divided us up into groups of 5 and 6. When this would happen they didn't even add people to our car, they just let us ride on over alone.  However, one night 4 of us were together and they tossed another family of four in. So it won't always be private if you have a small family.
• It is so fast because you don't have to follow regular traffic patterns.
• Again the nearly 18 year old boy with us declared it his 4th favorite ride, stared out the windows and smiled with delight. It's pretty neat to float above the world.

Drawbacks

• If you are super afraid of heights this might not work for you. My husband does not like to get on our roof but didn't mind this at all. So you will just have to monitor your own level of anxiety. They do not swing around or anything but they are pretty fast.
• They are not required to stay open past park hours like buses. Times are posted each day but they will close and force you onto buses.
• You are loaded on a moving platform so if you are unsure on your feet this could be a difficult one to use but I assume you could go to the wheelchair entrance and wait so your transfer is on a platform that is not moving.

Location

• At Pop Century and Art of Animation it is situated right on a bridge between the properties. We were in building 6 at Pop Century and it was a quick walk.
• At Caribbean Beach  and Riviera, the loading station is located at the rear of the resort.
• At EPCOT you are let out in the back of the World Showcase between England and France. This is a much calmer entrance with little to no wait.
• At Hollywood Studios you are let out near the front of the park and boat launch.