I’m here at the D23 Destination D: Celebrating Mickey event this weekend, where there has been so much fun, history, nostalgia, news… it’s almost TMI! But not quite — as a Disney fan, there’s no such thing as too much Disney info, is there?
One of the things that we were treated to this weekend is a close-up look at a gondola from the Disney Skyliner, which will open at Walt Disney World in Fall 2019.
Disney Parks, Experiences and Consumer Products Chairman Bob Chapek unveiled the gondola to Disney fans the other day, as you can see in the video below:
Once it opens, the gondola system will connect Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Epcot to four resort hotels: Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, Disney’s Pop Century Resort and Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort as well as the new Disney’s Riviera Resort, which is slated to open next fall, too.
Certain gondolas will have Disney characters from attractions or movies on their exteriors, as you can see above, giving the appearance that a Disney pal is riding along.
Now that you can see the gondola up close, what do you think? Let us know below!
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Such a shame for all the negative comments. I am sure all the worries would have been thought through, they are the experts. I think it will be another exciting way to get from a2b and may even reduce bus/monorail traffic.
Donna. Are these the same experts who thought through the worries of co-mingling children and alligators? The same experts who designed Primeval Whirl that causes more back injuries than a mechanical bull. The same experts that designed Test Track that, in its first year, was broken down more than it was working. (My kids actually thought the ride was a few feet in the vehicle followed by a long walk to the exit.)……and the poor guy killed on the monorail thought he was just taking an exciting way from point a2b.
Yes, we should all be a little less negative about some things. But we also need to take the blinders off and accept that Disney doesn’t always get it right. In fact, sometimes they get it terribly wrong. Also, most of the people posting “negative” comments are just throwing out some “what if’s” and engaging in some entertaining critical thinking and not deserving of “shame”.
What about lightning? I look at those towers and think “lightning rods!” Also they don’t add anything attractive to the skyline – just not magical like the monorail. And we agree – Mickey’s very scary place to get stuck when there are mechanical issues.
Well done Phyllis, you have figured it out. Electrocution. That’s how Disney is going to get rid of all of those penny pinching value resort guests and replace them with the big spending Disney Vacation Club members. But don’t tell anyone or you’ll ruin the plan.
Not to worry, it would act like a Faraday Cage, as does an airplane, your car, or other enclosed vehicles that are conductive.
Great scientific response
Is that you Bill Nye? Sorry about your gig at the Universe of Energy. But since you are not an outdated Disney cartoon character, Disney has no use for you on their rides.
Guests inside the gondala would be safe from a lighting strike as the electrical field would stay outside the cabin (also why you are safe inside an airplane).
Wow so they will jam approximately 16 people in an enclosed box in the hot florida sun with no A/C. I don’t think they thought this one through. I also can imagine when it breaks down and you are stuck dangling in full sun in that sweat box.
Hi Jim,
Having seen the gondola up close, I really don’t think it will accommodate 16 people. I haven’t seen any official press release with specs on the gondola, so I can’t say for sure, though.
The last few times I have been on the monorail it smelled like a locker room after a sumo wrestling tournament. And I can’t count how many time I’ve stepped into a ride vehicle right after some putrid smelling guy wearing a tank top, then gagged the whole ride like I was on Mission:Space Orange team. These entirely enclosed gondola things ought to smell even riper after a long day of hauling a few thousand deodorant resistant sweat hogs. That recent article on the 18 tips to enjoy WDW just got a 19th tip- Bring a can of industrial strength Febreeze and a gas mask.
What about noise going through Jamaica at Caribbean beach, any word on that?
Ok. I’m totally confused on this one. Please explain.
If they want to update the monorail they could have these pods on the monorail track like the future that operate on their own too. Futuristic
Is it free to ride from those resorts? Can others ride it if they don’t stay at those 4 resorts?
Yes it is. Right after you over pay for your room and another $25 for parking.
Someone mentioned the gondolas won’t have air conditioning; do you know anything about this?
No way…….people will melt.
I heard that too!
It has been confirmed by Disney that they will NOT have AC. I think the idea is that since Epcot is removing all of it’s educational elements that this will be able to teach kids about the greenhouse effect.
Hi Ryan,
Can you point me to where you saw that Disney has confirmed the Skyliner will not have A/C? I haven’t seen that anywhere yet. Thanks!
It is from this article.
https://www.orlandosentinel.com/travel/attractions/theme-park-rangers-blog/os-et-disney-skyliner-update-gondola-20181120-story.html
They say confirmed by Disney spokesperson and they have a quote from them about it.
How many people can actually ride in each gondola? I haven’t seen that anywhere. Thanks.
The press release said 16-I just don’t see how that is possible, they look pretty small
Rebecca, is that press release online somewhere? I haven’t seen it and I can’t seem to find it anywhere. Thanks!
I tried to find where I saw it last week, now I’m seeing where they say it holds 10 people. Not sure if it was a typo that’s now been corrected or what. Definitely don’t want to spread misinformation!! I did see this article with more detail https://m.orlandoweekly.com/Blogs/archives/2018/06/25/disneys-new-skyliner-gondola-system-just-took-a-major-step-forward
Thanks, Rebecca. 🙂
The latest figures I have seen say 6-8 ppl. per gondola…
You get 2 families with double strollers and that skyline will be packed.
You’d think the double stroller folks would be courteous enough to stay off the gondolas. But you’re be wrong. The bigger the stroller, the ruder the pusher. On a related note, I sure wish WDW would have an adults only day now and then. Kids just ruin that place.
Are they going to be air conditioned? With the hot Florida sun and enclosed in these “pods” that would make a trip EXTREMELY uncomfortable ??
The press release said they would not be air conditioned, but have a “passive cooling system”, whatever that means
Probably how used to cool the inside of a car if it did not have airconditioning…open the windows.
Passive Coolimg System = Sweat
I LOVE it and it looks AWESOME!!!
It looks AWESOME!!!!!