5 Reasons the Disney World Skyliner WON’T Be A Good Fit For Your Vacation

Since its opening in 2019, the Skyliner has become one of the resort’s most used — and most popular — modes of transportation. The gondola system connects EPCOT and Hollywood Studios with the Riviera Resort, the Caribbean Beach Resort, the Pop Century Resort, and the Art of Animation Resort, making it a key piece of Walt Disney World’s infrastructure.

However, using the Skyliner isn’t a perfect fit for every Disney World vacation. Whether due to fears, crowds, or simply trip itineraries, there are some guests who are likely better off steering clear of the system.

You’re Afraid of Heights

Okay, let’s start with the one that’s arguably “common sense.” The Skyliner, as the name implies, soars high above Walt Disney World, with its gondola cars suspended by cables. Suffice to say, we wouldn’t recommend riding to those who don’t like being high up, especially on windier days when the gondolas have a tendency to sway a bit.

You’re Only Visiting Magic Kingdom or Animal Kingdom

From one “common sense” reason to another, the Skyliner isn’t going to be useful to you if you don’t plan on visiting Hollywood Studios or EPCOT — AKA the parks with Skyliner access! While that may sound like a “no duh” thing to say, it is something to seriously take into consideration when deciding what hotel you’re going to book. After all, there’s no reason to count it as a benefit if you’re not going to use it.

You Want to Avoid Lines

While the Skyliner does generally move pretty quickly, there is a tendency for LONG lines and BIG crowds to gather in the morning prior to rope drop and at the parks around closing time. If you don’t want to be crammed into these massive crowds before your park day starts or after it ends, you may want to sidestep the Skyliner.

You Want to Avoid a Stoppage

While the Skyliner is generally reliable, when it does unexpectedly go down — either due to weather or technical issues — things can be a bit of a nightmare as other Disney transportation systems at the Skyliner parks or hotels, like boats or buses, become swamped. After all, according to Disney, the system’s 304 gondolas currently carry over 10x the ridership of New York City’s well-known Roosevelt Island Ariel Tramway annually, which means when it’s down, there’s a lot of people to move.

You’re Traveling in Late January

Even if you have no issue with any of the above reasons, you may simply run into bad scheduling luck. Each January, the Skyliner goes through a scheduled maintenance closure; for example, in 2027, the system will be down from January 24th to January 30th.

Next time you’re planning your Walt Disney World vacation — including which hotel you’re planning to stay at — be sure to take into consideration if the Skyliner is right for you! Stay tuned to AllEar for more on Walt Disney World’s vacation options.

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Are you a Skyliner fan? Let us know in the comments below. 

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