Disney Skyliner
Who would’ve ever foreseen that Disney would revive the Skyway?
And yet, that appeared to have been what was announced on July 15, 2017 when the Disney Parks Blog fessed up with what uncovered construction permits had unbelievably suggested: the Disney Skyliner would soon break ground at Walt Disney World.
Officially opened September 27, 2019, Disney’s new aerial gondola ride completes the trifecta of Walt’s transportation trio, finally elevating the Skyway from being merely a ride to being applied for real life use alongside the PeopleMover and Monorail.
The enclosed gondolas are part of an ambitious system connecting three resort hotel stations (Disney’s Caribbean Beach, the new DVC Riviera Resort, and a station shared by Disney’s Pop Century and Art of Animation Resorts) to both Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The gondolas even slow as they pass through the turn-station along Buena Vista Drive en route to and from Epcot, providing an opportunity for riders to view the mechanical equipment that powers the system.
Part of the “Skyway” concept’s elevation from “nice” to “necessary” will be reflected in the Skyliner’s scale. This high-capacity, continuously-loading system holds 8 seated passengers in breezy gondolas, flying at speeds of 11mph (slowing to 1mph for loading and unloading). In fact, the Skyliner appears to be one of Disney’s leading projects in its slow but steady realization that it’s less a resort than a city, and needs a robust transportation infrastructure that’s both resort-wide and attractive.
While naysayers decry the Skyliner as nothing more than a way for Disney to avoid expanding the Monorail, the Disney Skyliner system is actually quite creative in the way that it connects two deceptively close theme parks that otherwise would require a senseless and time-consuming bus ride, and how it elevates some of Disney’s existing hotels to now read as premium, park-connected offerings.
And frankly, it’s wonderful fun, to boot! Since its official “launch” in September 2019, the Skyliner has truly become an attraction in its own right; as iconic and sought-after as a ride on the Monorail. It’s no surprise that entire merchandise collections have sprung up around the ride, from popcorn buckets to Christmas ornaments; t-shirts to Funko Pops.
Disney also took great care to ensure that the stations for this aerial system feel at home in their surroundings… For example, constructing a Pan-Pacific teal art-deco influenced station at Disney’s Hollywood Studios…
… A fittingly fancy, mosaic-emblazoned landing site at Epcot’s International Gateway entrance just outside of World Showcase…
… A breezy central interchange station at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort…
… and a sleek, modern, playful station located on the narrow peninsula bridge of Hourglass Lake between Disney’s Pop Century Resort and Disney’s Art of Animation Resort. (Cleverly, the mid-century stylized design also echoes sheets of animators’ paper, befitting the style of both resorts!)
What’s admittedly a little less exciting is the vinyl sticker appliqué of a Disney character that’s applied to each gondola’s windows. (How much less “timeless” would the Monorail be if its early designers had stuck semi-permanent cartoon character stickers in its windows rather than letting its sleek shape, iconic style, and signature colors and patterns shine?)
Even since it’s opening, it’s clear that the Skyliner will become a timeless and “iconic” aspect of Walt Disney World’s transportation system like the Monorails (and, in their own way, buses) have. Insiders have made no secret that Disney plans for the high-capacity, relatively-low-cost, modular transit system to inevitably expand to far-flung destinations across the resort – first west (connecting Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, Blizzard Beach, Coronado Springs, and Disney’s All-Star Resorts) and eventually east (to Disney Springs and nearby resorts), offering new views of the resort.
Which is another source of contention, of course, because the Skyliner’s “new views” will sometimes be of backstage areas, industrial rooftops, and otherwise off-limits sights, while simultaneously and controversially requiring new, metal, industrial support towers visible from inside the theme parks’ fantasy-enveloped realms.
But then again, that makes the Disney Skyliner a perfect modern incarnation of the old and beloved Skyway that did the same…!
From the sky and back again
The Skyway is perhaps an unusual attraction for our Lost Legends series to highlight.
After all, one may wonder if a seemingly-simple transportation ride that – admittedly – broke most of the modern rules of what Disney Parks should do really deserves to be immortalized among epic, industry-changing fellow Lost Legends. But for generations of Disney’s guests was a treasure; an icon of Disney innovation and style, no less than the Monorail or Peoplemover… and though it took sixty years, it’s finally being elevated to be more than a ride, but a true test of what transportation can be.
Thank you so much for reading. Now, it’s your turn to join the story. If you enjoy spending time falling down the “rabbit hole” of Park Lore’s in-depth, ad-free, member-supported stories, consider becoming a Member for as little as $2 / month.
Members can unlock rare concept art in every tale, reveal attraction audio streams in select stories, gain access to over a hundred exclusive articles in our quick-read Extra Features and in-depth Special Features collections, gain exclusive podcast extras, and receive an annual member card and merch in the mail! (Plus, y’know, supporting research-based, ad-free, clickbait-free, in-depth theme park writing!)
We want to hear from you. Did you experience the Skyway at Disneyland or Walt Disney World? Does this “simple” transportation attraction deserve a spot among our Lost Legends entries? And what do you make of Disney’s attempt – 60 years later – to make this slow-moving, sightseeing sky ride a legitimate means of transportation for its Florida resort? We’ll see you in the comments below!