Disney Skyliner

Disney Skyliner
Concept art
Overview
Status Under construction
Country United States
No. of stations 6
Services Walt Disney World Resort (Epcot Resort Area, ESPN Wide World of Sports Resort Area)
Operation
Owner The Walt Disney Company
Operator Walt Disney Parks, Experiences and Consumer Products
Technical features
Manufactured by Doppelmayr Garaventa Group[1]

Disney Skyliner is an upcoming gondola lift system that will connect Disney's Pop Century Resort, Disney's Art of Animation Resort, Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort, and the new Disney Riviera Resort to Disney's Hollywood Studios and Epcot.[2][3]

Predecessors

Not long after the opening of Disneyland in 1955, a similar gondola system called the Skyway debuted, connecting Fantasyland and Tomorrowland. When Magic Kingdom at the Walt Disney World Resort was opened, the same gondola system was implemented as was at Tokyo Disneyland when it opened to the public in 1983. The Magic Kingdom Skyway closed in 1999, with the station in Tomorrowland demolished in 2009 and the Fantasyland station demolished in 2012.[4]

History

On February 15, 2017, the Reedy Creek Improvement District filed plans with the South Florida Water Management District for "various improvements." Among these plans was a design for a 100-foot-high (30 m) building in the shape of a "V", consistent with a gondola lift changing direction.[5] The blueprints described improvements to the south end of Epcot at the World Showcase, as well as in Disney's BoardWalk Resort and Disney's Hollywood Studios.[5] These V-shaped structures were also planned for Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort and Disney's Art of Animation Resort.[6]

On July 15, 2017, the gondola lift plan was confirmed at the D23 Expo. Bob Chapek, the chairman of Walt Disney Parks, Experiences and Consumer Products, said that the system was going to connect four hotels with Epcot and Disney's Hollywood Studios, affording "a bird's-eye view" of the area.[2] No opening date was announced at the time.[3] The proposal was announced as part of the unveiling of 23 improvements to Disney Parks,[7] including a "makeover" of Epcot[3][8] and carpool-style "Minnie vans".[9] The Skyliner would also connect a new resort called Disney Riviera Resort.[9][10]

By 2018, Disney Skyliner was under construction.[11] The towers and gondola stations were more than halfway completed by summer 2018.[12]

References

  1. ↑ Pedicini, Sandra (April 18, 2017). "Disney World gondolas would connect parks, hotels, documents confirm". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved 12 June 2018.
  2. 1 2 Smith, Thomas. "Disney Skyliner, New Minnie Vehicles to Transport Guests Around Walt Disney World Resort". Disney Parks Blog. Archived from the original on July 16, 2017. Retrieved July 17, 2017.
  3. 1 2 3 Bevil, Dewayne. "Coming to Disney World: Tron, Guardians of the Galaxy ride, 'Star Wars' hotel". OrlandoSentinel.com. Archived from the original on July 16, 2017. Retrieved July 17, 2017.
  4. ↑ "Skyway to Fantasyland". Disney Park History. Archived from the original on April 14, 2016. Retrieved May 15, 2016.
  5. 1 2 Pedicini, Sandra (February 15, 2017). "New cable car system at Disney World? Plans raise the possibility". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved 2017-07-19.
  6. ↑ Bilbao, Richard (February 15, 2017). "Rumor: Disney may be working on a gondola transportation system". Business Journals. Retrieved 2017-07-19. (Subscription required (help)).
  7. ↑ Levine, Arthur (July 18, 2017). "Disney announces 23 wild new developments for its theme parks". USA TODAY. Archived from the original on July 19, 2017. Retrieved July 20, 2017.
  8. ↑ Barnes, Brooks (July 15, 2017). "Disney Vows to Give Epcot a Magical, Long-Overdue Makeover". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on July 15, 2017. Retrieved July 19, 2017.
  9. 1 2 Baran, Michelle (July 16, 2017). "Disney World building club resort, new ways to get around". Travel Weekly. Retrieved July 19, 2017.
  10. ↑ Kubersky, Seth (July 15, 2017). "DVC Disney Riviera Resort and Skyliner gondola transportation announced for Walt Disney World". Attractions Magazine. Archived from the original on July 16, 2017.
  11. ↑ Holmes, Jamie (September 20, 2018). "Walt Disney World Skyliner: Channel 9 gets first look at Gondola". WFTV. Retrieved October 11, 2018.
  12. ↑ Bilbao, Richard (August 28, 2018). "Here's what's up with Disney's future gondola system". Business Journals. Retrieved October 11, 2018. (Subscription required (help)).

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