The DANGER of Relying on the Skyliner in Disney World

When it comes to modes of transportation in and around Disney World, everyone has their favorite.

A favorite for many visitors is the Skyliner, which allows easy-breezy access to numerous Disney World hotels as well as Disney’s Hollywood Studios and EPCOT. It also allows for a pretty unique view of Disney World property which everyone seems to love. As fun and easy as it is to take the Skyliner whenever you can at Disney World, it’s important that you always have a backup plan. The Skyliner is GREAT the majority of the time, but in some cases, it’s better not to rely on the Skyliner alone.

Of course, with any type of Disney World transportation, we recommend having a backup. However, the Skyliner is probably the most unreliable transportation service out of the ones available at Disney World. This post will cover a few reasons why you shouldn’t rely solely on the Skyliner, so let’s go!

LONG Lines in the Morning

The morning is when everyone typically heads into the parks, so we can’t name many transportation options that won’t have a bit of a line. However, the Skyliner lines in the morning are especially long since those heading to the parks with strollers, wheelchairs, and ECVs need individual gondolas stopped so that they can safely get on the Skyliner.

Of course, there are more of these situations in the mornings since everyone is headed into the parks for the day. If you’re hoping to make it to the parks by a certain time for a reservation or to rope drop, be prepared to wait in line.

Weather

If there is bad weather in the area, the Skyliner will often stop running for safety reasons. Usually, a little rain won’t stop the Skyliner’s service, but strong winds and lightning in the area definitely will.

If the Skyliner stops running, riders may sometimes be stuck aboard one of the gondolas for a prolonged period of time. Luckily, the Skyliner Cast Members will make sure everyone is safely off the gondolas before shutting down due to bad weather.

Technical Difficulties

Similar to bad weather, the Skyliner is also known to stop for technical difficulties. The horror stories you hear about people stranded in gondolas for extended periods of time before having to evacuate while hanging 30 feet in the air are, unfortunately, true. It’s a VERY rare scenario, but it has happened.

In most cases where there have been technical difficulties, guests are instructed to remain seated until Cast Members are able to remedy the situation. Keep in mind, though, that guests may be late to reservations or Lightning Lane return times while they wait. Oh, and there’s no air conditioning (only a window for a breeze), so without the movement of the Skyliner, it can get pretty stuffy.

Motion Sickness

If you’re prone to motion sickness, we do NOT recommend riding the Skyliner. Many of the gondolas have a themed wrap that partially obstructs your view out of the gondola. That, combined with the swaying motion, is known to cause motion sickness for many riders.

You can always ask to wait for a gondola that doesn’t have a wrap on it, but this risks waiting in an even longer line and doesn’t always help. If you’re worried, it’s best not to risk feeling sick and either 1. not ride or 2. take a motion sickness medication beforehand.

If you aren’t in a hurry and it’s a clear day, the Skyliner is a great way to relax and enjoy the scenic view of Disney World property. However, we wouldn’t recommend it to those who experience motion sickness easily.

We’ll be sure to keep you all updated with our best tips, tricks, and recommendations for your next Disney World vacation. Make sure to follow along for more!

Here are some changes we think need to be made to the Skyliner. Click here!  

Do you typically ride the Skyliner everywhere you can? Let us know in the comments!

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