News New Gondola Transportation - Disney Skyliner -

[tractor tipper]

From Pop get on gondola and get off at CBR hub. Then from CBR hub either board the DHS line or the EPCOT line. For both parks you will have to transfer once at CBR hub. For EPCOT line you will pass through the Riviera station but do not have to get off.

Thank you,

 

[larryz]

And for a slight upcharge you can reserve a Minnie cabin with special wrap and seating for 10....

It also carries fire extinguishers, flotation vests, spray fans and alligator repellent.

 

[Phil12]

It also carries fire extinguishers, flotation vests, spray fans and alligator repellent.

And a copy of "To Serve Man" is included on each gondola.

 

[WDWtraveler]

Photo update as of Saturday, January 5, 2019. Here are close ups of the structure for the decorative arches at the Epcot gondola station. Notice the faux patina on the station roof, simulating the aged roofs found on Parisian buildings.

 

[MisterPenguin]

Notice the faux patina on the station roof, simulating the aged roofs found on Parisian buildings.

Coincidentally, Faux Patina is my drag name.

 

[marni1971]

Has there been any indication yet on how they are going to handle ECVs at the Riviera station? It's been discussed that there will be separate boarding areas at all other stops for ECVs where the cabins are still. However, at the Riviera station, there does not appear to have this option. Are they going to trust that the operator can board a slowly moving car?

This is a good question. In theory they should be able to board a moving car. I can't see them stopping the line each time they need to load an ECV.

Once @Lift Blog had explained the second bullwheel design, I think it was an assumption as to why they would be doing that. It seems a reasonable explanation, and no one has come up with an alternative use. I don’t think Disney would be paying for this petty innovative design for no good reason.

Riviera certainly has an interesting layout but I can’t with certainty explain it.

 

[deeevo]

This morning at AoA/Pop. Not sure if it's the red one or a different one.

 

[GlacierGlacier]

This morning at AoA/Pop. Not sure if it's the red one or a different one.

Looks to be a yellow one, by my eyes

 

[larryz]

Coincidentally, Faux Patina is my drag name.

That's a faux pas, Tina...

 

[Notes from Neverland]

Starting to do some homework to book a trip for Fall 2019. The mysterious Skyliner opening date is making things a bit more complicated. Its opening would make more options for us since we're all about resorts that have transportation options beyond a bus.

 

[GoofGoof]

Starting to do some homework to book a trip for Fall 2019. The mysterious Skyliner opening date is making things a bit more complicated. Its opening would make more options for us since we're all about resorts that have transportation options beyond a bus.

This thing looks pretty close to being done. They still don’t have all of the cabins but I would say it’s a safe bet to be open by fall. I would think they would want it open when Riviera debuts and before SW Land which are both also scheduled for fall.

 

[danlb_2000]

Any true confirmation that the system will be freely available to anyone who wants to use it? I'm guessing due to capacity issues it will be limited to guests staying at the one of the respective hotels and/or WDW resort guests... anyone know more?

All other transportation is free, so there is no reason to believe there will be a charge for this one. Not sure what you mean by "capacity issues" since the gondola will have more then enough capacity to meet the demand.

 

[danlb_2000]

Didn't say charge, I said limit it to guests at the respective hotels (CBR, Riviera, AoA, Pop).... If someone pays a big premium to stay at these resorts and has to wait in a long line at Epcot to get back to their hotel then they won't be happy. Just wondering if Disney has confirmed there will be no limitations as I think demand to ride it will be HUGE (between Epcot and the Studios in particular, but also among people just looking for "free" entertainment at WDW)...

Same answers applies. Other types of transport aren't limited to resort guests so no reason to believe the skyliner will be. The system has very high capacity so waits should be pretty short. It will definitely be better then the boats leaving DHS at the end of the day. As for going between DHS and Epcot, there really won't be times when a huge number of people are doing that route so the skyliner should have more then enough capacity to handle it.

Also, Disney isn't going to want to put limitations on this since part of what pays for this system is a reduction in the busses.

 

[Notes from Neverland]

This thing looks pretty close to being done. They still don’t have all of the cabins but I would say it’s a safe bet to be open by fall. I would think they would want it open when Riviera debuts and before SW Land which are both also scheduled for fall.

My hope is it will be early before early September, as that's the date of our potential trip. That would require more of a late-summer opening.

 

[marni1971]

My hope is it will be early before early September, as that's the date of our potential trip. That would require more of a late-summer opening.

There’s a good chance of that. If not quite a bit earlier.

 

[jt04]

There’s a good chance of that. If not quite a bit earlier.

What changed?

 

[GoofGoof]

Didn't say charge, I said limit it to guests at the respective hotels (CBR, Riviera, AoA, Pop).... If someone pays a big premium to stay at these resorts and has to wait in a long line at Epcot to get back to their hotel then they won't be happy. Just wondering if Disney has confirmed there will be no limitations as I think demand to ride it will be HUGE (between Epcot and the Studios in particular, but also among people just looking for "free" entertainment at WDW)...

The premium is much larger at the monorail resorts but they don’t limit the monorail resort line to people staying there. There is no reason to believe it would be limited in any way.

My hope is it will be early before early September, as that's the date of our potential trip. That would require more of a late-summer opening.

My gut says you will still be OK but SW probably won’t be open yet. Definitely less certain than Oct/Nov timeframe.

 

[jt04]

Photo update as of Saturday, January 5, 2019. Here are close ups of the structure for the decorative arches at the Epcot gondola station. Notice the faux patina on the station roof, simulating the aged roofs found on Parisian buildings.

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Love that mural.

 

[marni1971]

What changed?

Not a lot.

 

[jt04]

Not a lot.

A half a year earlier than conventional wisdom seems significant.