The Disney Skyliner is a gondola lift system, part of the Disney Transport system, that opened on September 29, 2019 at the Walt Disney World Resort in Bay Lake, Florida. The system is composed of five stations that service four resorts and two theme parks, with a fleet of over 250 gondola cabins that can accommodate up to ten guests per cabin, or up to six with an open wheelchair or electric scooter. Guests sit on twin, inward-facing, wooden benches; strollers measuring or smaller are able to roll directly into the gondola without having to be folded.
Predecessors
Almost a year after Disneyland opened in Anaheim, the Skyway, a gondola lift system, opened at the park on June 23, 1956, connecting Fantasyland and Tomorrowland. Magic Kingdom followed suit and implemented the Skyway, connecting the same lands when Walt Disney World opened on October 1, 1971 as well as Tokyo Disneyland on opening day, April 15, 1983.
The Disneyland Skyway closed on November 4, 1994 due to metal fatigue on one of its support towers, located inside the Matterhorn Bobsleds, which could not be repaired unless the latter's enclosed mountain was cut open. The Tomorrowland station was demolished soon after the Skyway closed. However, the Fantasyland station remained abandoned for 22 years until June 11, 2016, when it was demolished in favor of construction for Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge, nearly 60 years after the Skyway's opening day.
The Magic Kingdom Skyway closed on November 10, 1999, with the Tomorrowland station demolished in 2009 and the Fantasyland station demolished in 2012, in which, a Tangled-themed restroom area was built on its former site.
The Tokyo Disneyland Skyway closed on November 3, 1998. The Fantasyland station was replaced by Pooh's Hunny Hunt, while the Tomorrowland station was remodeled as a sweet shop.
History
Construction
On February 15, 2017, the Reedy Creek Improvement District filed plans with the South Florida Water Management District for "various improvements." Among these plans was a design for a building in the shape of a "V," consistent with a gondola lift changing direction. The blueprints described improvements to the south end of Epcot at the World Showcase, as well as in Disney's BoardWalk Resort and Disney's Hollywood Studios. These V-shaped structures were also planned for Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort, Disney's Pop Century Resort and Disney's Art of Animation Resort.
The gondola lift plan was confirmed by Disney Parks, Experiences and Products at the D23 Expo on July 15, 2017, detailing that the system was going to connect four hotels with Epcot and Disney's Hollywood Studios, affording "a bird's-eye view" of the area. The proposal was announced as part of the unveiling of 23 improvements across the Walt Disney World Resort, including a "makeover" of Epcot and carpool-style "Minnie vans." The Disney Skyliner would also connect to the upcoming Disney's Riviera Resort.
By 2018, the Disney Skyliner was already under construction. The towers and stations were more than halfway completed by summer 2018. In November 2018, Disney Parks announced that the Disney Skyliner would open in fall 2019. Testing with passenger cabins began in late January 2019, on the Hollywood Studios line.
Operation
In July 2019, the Disney Skyliner was given a September 29, 2019 opening date and began operations as scheduled.
Select Skyliner cabins feature exterior designs with characters from Mickey Mouse, Disney Animation, Pixar, Star Wars and Guardians of the Galaxy as well as Walt Disney World attractions The Haunted Mansion and Pirates of the Caribbean. With over 250 cabins in operation, each one features onboard audio, which is unique to each of the three routes. Each cabin has wooden bench-style seating that fits a maximum of 10 people, 5 per bench. Operating hours vary depending on park hours and if weather permits, such as wind and lightning, in which case, operation would be suspended and alternate transportation is offered via Disney Transport buses. The Disney Skyliner begins servicing its routes up to an hour prior to each park's earliest opening time, and all routes remain open until an hour and a half after each park closing time.
Routes
The lines for the Disney Skyliner are hubbed from a central terminus at Caribbean Beach Resort.