Skyliner Gondola Opening Date Announced!
Walt Disney World has announced that the Skyliner gondolas will take flight and officially begin transporting guests between the parks and resorts exactly one month after the official debut of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, on September 29, 2019.
In this post, we’ll offer some thoughts on the official opening date, possibility of soft openings before then, and offer a quick recap about all things Disney Skyliner gondola-related for those who haven’t followed our monthly construction reports on Walt Disney World’s innovative transportation system. (The most recent of which is our Summer 2019 Skyliner Update.)
As we first covered in our Disney Skyliner Gondola Announced for Walt Disney World post almost 2 years ago, the Skyliner connects Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Epcot to four resort hotels: Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, Disney’s Pop Century Resort, Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, and the new Disney’s Riviera Resort, which is a DVC property scheduled to officially open on December 16, 2019.
Somehow, this state of the art Doppelmayr gondola system installed in thousands of other places, including both extreme hot and cold climates, has been an endless well of controversy among Walt Disney World fans.
We’ve used similar gondola systems in a similar range of locales, from the hot and humid Hong Kong to Switzerland. Our experience with them has made us avid gondola enthusiasts. We’ve previously (and repeatedly!) expressed that, along with various defenses of the Skyliner in previous construction reports.
In this update, we addressed potential safety issues. In an even earlier Skyliner progress report, we tackled the topic of (the lack of) air-conditioning. For our thoughts on the impact to sight-lines around Walt Disney World, see last summer’s Skyliner Construction Update. Finally, for a non-controversial look at the 55 character wrapped gondolas, there’s this photo report.
Judging by reader comments to each of those posts, nothing we’ve said has made any difference. Many people are steadfastly against the project and preemptively convinced of its failure. In fairness, we’ve also been pretty unyielding in our opinions. Going forward, we’re also more than willing to admit if we end up being wrong. If somehow this established method of transport ends up being a catastrophe we’ll accept it. (Hey, the new character wrap buses could also be a disaster.)
Anyway, as for the announced opening date of September 29, 2019…this comes as a surprise. Although it really shouldn’t be at this point, given that the Disney Skyliner has moved at an astonishingly lethargic pace throughout this calendar year after going up at a pretty brisk speed prior to 2019.
Before this year, Summer 2019 had been the target date for the Skyliner opening. With pretty much everything ahead of schedule, expectations moved forward to this spring or early summer. Obviously, that didn’t happen (for a variety of reasons, ranging from additional safety modifications needing to be made on the ground around resorts to slower pace of work on a couple stations).
For a while, the assumption has been that the lines of the Skyliner connecting Pop Century and Art of Animation to Caribbean Beach, and that resort to Disney’s Hollywood Studios, would debut in time for the August opening of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.
In that scenario, the Riviera Resort to Epcot line would open later, as both the new Disney Vacation Club resort and expanded International Gateway entrance are both still under construction, and unlikely to wrap up in the next month. We didn’t really have an expectation for that line, but if you told us “after October” it would’ve come as no surprise.
Now, we have an official opening date. This late September date is presumably for the entire transportation network, although it doesn’t expressly state as much, so perhaps not?
The announcement by Walt Disney World also doesn’t state whether a soft opening period will occur with the Disney’s Hollywood Studios line in August, which isn’t particularly surprising, as that’s not how soft openings tend to work.
Given that so much of the Skyliner project has not gone as expected, we are hesitant to make any predictions concerning an early debut of the Disney’s Hollywood Studios line, particularly in time for the opening of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge on August 29.
That would be a full month ahead of schedule, which is a long time for a soft opening. Nevertheless, it certainly doesn’t seem out of line considerably the duration of operational testing/Cast Member training or visible state of the stations at Pop Century/Art of Animation, Caribbean Beach, and Disney’s Hollywood Studios–all of which look like they could drop their remaining construction walls any day now and be ready to go.
It stands to reason that Walt Disney World would want this system ready to go in time for Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge if at all possible. That’d really help alleviate the burden on other forms of transportation. Then again, it’s also possible that Disney doesn’t expect crowds to be bad until October, or anticipates the new infrastructure will handle the influx of crowds with ease. Or that debuting by August 29 simply isn’t possible.
It’s also possible that debuting by then is possible–and the plan–but Walt Disney World doesn’t want to overwhelm the Skyliner during its first few weeks of operations. Having the Skyliner soft open for the grand opening of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge would fulfill the goal of it helping with the transportation burden while also avoiding Cast Members and the system facing a ‘trial by fire’ scenario.
Ultimately, this is a lot of thinking out loud without any definitive predictions as to when the Disney Skyliner gondola will actually open. Admittedly, this is by design. The Skyliner has defied pretty much every timeline prediction to date. All I’ll say is this: we could easily move our resort reservation for the grand opening of Galaxy’s Edge to the Swan & Dolphin (to be within walking distance), which currently has ~$175/night rooms. We’re going to stick with Pop Century.
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Your Thoughts
What’s your prediction…will the Disney’s Hollywood Studios Skyliner open before September 29? What about the Riviera to Epcot line…on or after September 29? Do you agree or disagree with our thoughts about the Skyliner? Any questions we can help you answer? Hearing your feedback–even when you disagree with us–is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!
Elizabeth, we’re so upset to learn there not going to run the Skyliner till the end of September. We are booked at CBR in the week of September 6th-13th. We really thought they would be running because of the start date of Star Wars.. don’t understand why they didn’t start at the same time. Not happy about this Disney. We choose that week for that reason
I’m in the same boat. We are at CBR Sept. 20-26. I booked there specifically for the skyliner since it was said to be summer 2019. Now we get no skyliner and big star wars crowds we were not expecting 🙁 I can only hope they offer resort guests a soft opening opportunity on the gondola 🙁
I know, but try telling my fiance’ that!! lol
I’m hoping he will exhaust Galaxy’s Edge to his heart’s content earlier than later. I’ve made it very clear that I want to experience the rest of the park. We have settled on leaving in time for our Sci Fi Diner reservation at 2, then exploring the rest of the park.
Hoping he will get out sooner than that, though!!
we will be there labor day week. with what initially appeared to be rigorous testing when gondolas were first installed, coupled with the 8/29 date of SWGE, i figured for sure these would be up an operational long before that weekend. i am not advocating they rush anything- safety is always top priority- but do we have a case of left hand not knowing what the right hand is doing here? i would think in the overall master planning process that disney would have wanted the skyliner up and full operational late spring/early summer to ensure all kinks were worked out prior to the opening of SWGE (and hoping to hear first hand guests reports of how hot or not they actually area in the summer heat). i know the skyliner serves more than that one area, but that area being what it is projected to be, i would think they would have wanted it ready. to be a month later seems… odd, at best. i know there are always unforeseen delays but it seems like a very strange planned timeline. then again. SWGE wasn’t supposed to be ready until “late fall 2019” so who knows anymore.
personally, i was really hoping to use these labor day week at least once. my primary goal was to ride to the epcot IG entrance to avoid construction up front, especially for a norway breakfast we have one morning, but that dream is dead and we’ll be stuck navigating the construction and the extra walking. there is a rumor, however you feel about it, that someone said skyliner CMs were freely telling people who asked that the studios line would be running by the day before SWGE, so take that for what you will. if that holds true, maybe the 9/29 date is for all lines and maybe they are shooting for earlier for the lines that have been fully tested? cross my fingers i guess, maybe we’ll be able to ride skyliner back to AoA one day from studios. we just wanted to experience it.
I wonder if the weather and internal concerns about lack of AC is causing them to push the opening out past the heat of the summer? Maybe they’re trying to manage the first impressions?
I was really hoping that they would open the Skyliner in the middle of July — let’s face the AC thing once and for all!
I’m disappointed — I moved our Free Dining 8/22-8/27 reservation from All-Star Music to Caribbean Beach Resort in part for the pool but mostly in hopes of using the Skyliner to/from Epcot and Hollywood Studios. We’ll have our car so we do have another alternative to the buses, but I’m now cautiously pessimistic that we won’t get to take the Skyliner at all this trip. Even being able to take it to/from Hollywood Studios would be excellent so I’ll keep hoping for soft openings.
You can probably tell I’m very pro-Skyliner. This is from someone planning their first ever trip to Florida, so maybe I’m not imagining enough heat, but it seems so much more fun than a bus. And potentially way faster, especially from CBR.
The announcement does reassure me though that booking at the Swan for 8/27-8/30 was the right (or at least more certain) call. Being able to walk to both the Star Wars opening and to the first day of Food & Wine (or both!) sounds better and better.
Also, it’s kind of funny how there are a bunch of disappointed people commenting here because it’s opening too late (probably) for our trips, compared to the disappointed comments when the Galaxy’s Edge and Rise of the Resistance opening dates were announced that the dates were too soon/impacting planned trips. Initially I was one of those oh-no-it’s-sooner-than-I-thought-it-would-be commenters about Galaxy’s Edge’s opening but now we’re hoping to be at opening day. I expected more “If those Death Buckets never open it would still be too soon!?” comments here though.
My theory is either
1) Disney can’t win, whatever they announce people will be disappointed
2) The Skyliner is easier to avoid than Galaxy’s Edge’s potential impact on crowds and definite impact on uncertainty.
I think the latter’s more likely though.
Since September 30 is the final day for Illuminations (and October 1 is the start of a new Epcot nighttime show), a lot of people will be using the Disney Skyliner during its first few days. I’m surprised that Tom did not mention that. I wouldn’t be surprised if the gondolas soft-opened a day or two early for this reason.
I am going to Disney on my honeymoon in October. My fiance’ is OBSESSED with Star Wars and is eager to get to the park for the 6AM Extra Magic Hours and spend most of the day in Galaxy’s Edge. We are also staying at Pop Century so I am curious, what do you think would be the best mode of transportation to Hollywood Studios to be there for the 6AM opening??
Uber or Lyft will be the fastest and easiest way to make sure you’re there when you want to be there. As for the free options, I have to think an early morning skyliner ride would beat waiting around for a bus, provided that the skyliner is operating early enough to get you do the park by 6am. It *should* be operating early enough, but keep an eye on things to make sure.
As for spending most of the day in Galaxy’s Edge…you might want to have a backup plan. Galaxy’s Edge is one ride, a bar (with a 2-drink maximum), some food stands, and some gift shops. There are no shows, and unless you build a kightsaber, no experiences over 5 minutes long. What is in SW:GE is great, but it’s nowhere near WWoHP in terms of total offerings. There’s really not enough there to occupy ‘most of the day.’
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Any chance you think they’re delaying so not to open in the hottest part of the year and avoid potential backlash with the lack of AC?
That thought crossed my mind, but if they soft open in August (which I think has at least a 50/50 chance of occurring), it sort of undermines that.
I think the Skyliner won’t be highlighted in any media events until like November for that very reason.
Shoot, we’ll miss it . The Gondolas and Mickeys Run Away Train were the things I was most excited for when we booked back in January for our late Aug/early Sept trip, but solid predictions (and even Disney’s official dates) all around this year were wrong on just about everything.
I am so bummed. We will be there Sept 7-14 and were really hoping to use Skyliner between HS and Epcot (the only way we would ever be likely to use it, even if it’s a bit cumbersome). Next trip won’t be for a few years. Btw, I LOVE AC and have no anxiety about the lack thereof in these. These are used successfully all over the world; I have to figure Disney has done their research.
Same here! Fingers crossed we get a soft opening 🙂
Same here we leave Disney on the 27th so we miss it by 2 days. Hopefully it will be running ahead of schedule.
I will also be at Pop Century 9/7-9/14 and am really bummed the opening date was end of September. I’m sure hoping it gets moved up!!
I’m really bummed. While I was hoping the rumored opening of 8/28 was going to be wrong, I was hoping it would be sooner, since we’ll be there 8/10-8/19. We’re transferring from Pop to Yacht Club after the first night, and the Skyliner would’ve given us a much preferred option for transferring. We also thought it would be a nicer trip to walk over to International Gateway and take the Gondolas to Hollywood Studios. Even if it’s a few minutes longer than walking, I think it’s going to be a nice ride (not worried about the heat – will be cooler than walking or standing on the hot pavement in the sun). The kids would also love it. It’s just really disappointing that it’s taken so long to finish this, particularly given how it seemed like it was getting so close months ago.
These gondolas will have to have some kind of double skin that will provide air flow between the exterior wall and the gondola wall or they’re going to be about as comfortable as driving on the interstate in August in Florida with no air-conditioning.
Any details, Tom on the how the gondola design will defeat the Florida heat, and, at times, horizontal rain?
Staying at Art starting Sept 15 and I was sure, after seeing the testing happening in May, that they would be operational by then. Fingers crossed for soft openings when I’m there. In spite of my fear of heights, I’m actually excited to try this out.
places, including both extreme hot and cold climates, has been an endless well of controversy among Walt Disney World fans.
Tom, What you are not factoring in your theory is location, this is the United States of AMERICA, NOT Switzerland or China, America, b virtue, will not tolerate conditions that others accept, because we are Americans, and hold a higher standard…….Home of the free, Land of the Breave Kind of Thing !
This is a really odd take.
Are you even remotely familiar with Switzerland or Hong Kong?
Clearly AOM has no clue.
Hong Kong & Switzerland are certainly not 3rd World locales, and have very well-heeled & demanding populations.
Do you drive on the roads and bridges in this country? Many are in desperate need of repair. I’d say we tolerate a lot. As Tom said, have you ever been to Switzerland or Hong Kong? From your comment this is clearly a rhetorical question. Also, it’s the land of the free and the home of the brave – you should know that as an “American.”
Jack, you and Tom seem to miss the point! It is the same reason why there is complaints of overcrowding in the Parks and untimely bus service. You think people will happily accept uncomfortable Gondolla conditions? …….. I think Not
BUT…….We will know soon if they actually are comfortable or not.
I’m really curious to see how long the commute by gondola is for Pop Century to HS and Epcot. Will it be significantly shorter than taking a bus? If yes, will it be worth the hassle of transferring gondolas 2 or 3 times? I don’t expect anyone to reply to this comment since no one really knows yet; I’m just curious. We won’t be at Pop until February, so I’m sure I’ll have my answers by then.
I think this is the biggest wildcard in terms of the Skyliner’s usability. Potentially far bigger of an issue than no AC or anything else.
Gondolas were running last night , they look great , but there is a lot of work to be done ground work around where you are supposed to go to get into still on bare ground .
i am very disappointed that they have announced nothing in terms of logistics. how long rides to each station will take, how transfers will work, etc. will it be like airport security in that if you have already waited in line at your station of origin, will you be able to transfer to another line without having to wait at a second line, or will you have to debark and wait in another potentially long line? they really need to address this now that a date has been given.
That double transferring makes the Epcot to POP trip look far less inviting. On the other hand if I am having dinner at one of the International pavilions in Epcot and want to go back to POP by bus, I have to walk to the main Epcot entrance rather than the international entrance, which is time consuming in itself (not to mention feet consuming!). So really, which one makes more sense?
Do you know if when you get on the skyliner, does it go to Epcot and HS? Or do you take one for one park and one for the other park. Or do you take the skyliner to Epcot and then transfer if you are going to HS. I guess I am wondering if you have to stay on from the resort while it goes to one park to the other.
Thanks,
The skyliner is composed of four direct, separate lines:
1. Art of Animation & Pop Century to/from Caribbean Beach
2. Caribbean Beach to/from Hollywood Studios
3. Caribbean Beach to/from Riviera
4. Riviera to/from Epcot International Gateway
If you are going from Pop Century to Epcot, you will board and exit three different gondolas, transferring at the CB and Riviera stations.
I was under the impression that you do not transfer at Riviera station. It is a turn station with the vehicles passing directly through. My understanding was you just didn’t get off if you were continuing to Epcot, but I could be wrong
So are you saying you have to transfer a lot? If you leave Epcot to go to HS do you have to transfer at Riviera? Could be a long time on the Skyliner. May be quicker to walk. The diagram that was shown at Disney from the beginning was not very clear. But thanks for the clarification.
It’s actually 3 lines: Epcot to CBR, with a middle of the line station at Riviera (there is also a turn near Boardwalk, but no station); POP/AOA to CBR; CBR to DHS. From any station, the most you’ll have to do is change once, and it would always be at CBR. Disney also posted travel times, although it’s not clear to what degree those times include potential transfers as obviously they can’t account for any lines at CBR when transferring. The posted time for Epcot to DHS was about 21 minutes, I think, but given the speed they travel and that distance, that seemed a little long (based on others calculations I’ve read), so it could be adding a few minutes for time at the stations (it also will obviously slow down significantly at Riviera station and will slow down going through the turn by Boardwalk).
Is there any particular reason you seem to be choosing Pop Century over Caribbean Beach other than price?
It seems that having to switch Skyliner lines will necessitate waiting in at least two queues from Pop Century — one at Pop, one at Beach — for DHS and three queues for Epcot. It seems like that has the potential to really negate the time benefits of the Skyliner, particularly when even if you arrive early at Pop you’ll be ~10-15 minutes farther back in line at Caribbean Beach.
It’s all about price. When we booked, CBR was quite a bit more expensive. Plus, I plan on leaving the room so early in the morning that lines shouldn’t be an issue.
Otherwise, you’re totally right.
Tom, what is your “strategy” for missing the lines coming from Pop? How early will you leave? Planning a trip for next June and I’m scouring your site for tips! I’m also working with Laney at BMG! Thanks for all the info you provide here!
I am at Disney now. They have been running them non stop today testing them. They look really nice but I am worried about no AC in them!!! As I just stepped into my car at the water park and about passed out. The temp on the car said 104! Not sure how comfortable they will be temp wise!
Imagine if your car had fully tinted / sun-reflective windows and had been circling the parking lot at 11 mph with constant air flow when you entered (instead of being parked in the hot sun for hours). It would have been warm but very bearable.
Most people are very willing to sit in the shade on a hot day (particularly in a 10+ mph breeze) for 10 or 15 minutes while waiting for a bus. The only difference is that when using a gondola, after 10-15 min (and usually less than that) you’ll actually BE AT your final destination rather than just stepping onto the bus to start your ride.
This really is a fantastic analogy and demonstrates perfectly why most fears about the lack of ac are overblown.
It’s disappointing how slowly this project has moved since they got the gondolas installed on the line. We had booked a quite trip in mid-August, staying at Pop with the hope these would be open by then. Alas not. There was a Priceline Express Deal for the Swan at only ~$30 more per night (plus Uber to/from the Airport). That might end up being appealing.