LOOK — It’s a bird! It’s a plane! No, it’s just us on the Disney World Skyliner. 🤪 The newest form of transportation at Disney mimics what you might find at a European ski resort, but with the added bonus of Disney characters and warm Florida weather.
Some people might see the Skyliner as a little bonus ride, while others are very much afraid of it. But, there are some issues you can have concerning the Skyliner that you might not be thinking about, so we’re here to break them down for you!
Weather
This probably seems obvious, but the weather can and does affect the Skyliner and how it operates. When it’s raining hard or storming, it can close down completely. This is especially true if there is lightning!
If you were planning on taking the Skyliner and it’s closed for weather, there will be signs outside of the station telling you about or guiding you to alternative forms of transportation, like buses.
Also, know that the Skyliner can close if it’s extremely windy as well. But, the transportation system can still run when there is wind and rain, as long as the conditions aren’t too severe. So, you could be swinging around a bit if there is wind, or getting slightly wet if there is rain!
Click here to see what to do if the Skyliner is closed in Disney World!
Getting Stuck
Yes, the Skyliner has gotten stuck in the past, so it is something that can happen, but long delays aren’t very common. In some cases, when the Skyliner has been stopped before, it was because of a crash — usually, 2 gondolas crashing into each other when coming into the station.
The longest time that guests were stuck was for about 3 hours shortly after the system debuted in 2019. There are emergency packs in the gondolas if this does happen that contain things like a few packets of drinking water, cool packs, a pencil and notepad, a whistle, a glow stick, and a few blue cups.
Other delays have happened where guests were stuck for an hour or 30 minutes. In these situations, some type of compensation is usually offered to guests once the ordeal is over, like park tickets or gift cards.
Also, know that it’s normal for the Skyliner to stop sometimes when you’re on it, but only for a short amount of time.
Click here to see what it’s like to be stuck on the Skyliner for 3 hours
Crowds
Didn’t think you would have to rope drop Disney World transportation in addition to rope dropping the parks, did you? Welp, in some cases, you DO! The Skyliner can be very busy in the morning at the hotels, especially at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, which is also a transfer station.
You might end up having to wait in a line to get on the Skyliner, so factor that into the time it will take you to get where you’re trying to go, OR try to get there really early to beat the rush.
Also, know that there might not be a line when you get on the Skyliner at Hollywood Studios, but then, when you need to transfer to the EPCOT line at Caribbean Beach, you could be met with a crowd of people. So, keep in mind that it might take you a little longer than you think to take the Skyliner if you have to transfer lines at any point!
And, when the parks close, there can also be verrrry long lines to get on the Skyliner — especially right after the Harmonious fireworks at EPCOT. The line can stretch all the way back into the walkway to the EPCOT resorts and you might be waiting for a while to get on the Skyliner to get back to your hotel.
One way you can try and avoid this is either leaving DURING the fireworks, or waiting a while after the fireworks end to leave the park. You can go do some shopping in Creations to kill the time if the park has technically closed!
Click here to see just how long the line for the Skyliner can get in Disney World
Strangers
Stranger danger! No, just kidding. It’s not that dramatic — we just mean that you can be placed with other people in a Skyliner cabin unless you have a big group or the Cast Member decides to give you your own cabin.
For some, this might not be a big deal, but this could be an issue for introverts. Being in an enclosed space with people you don’t know can be intimidating for some people, especially if you don’t like small talk!
It’s a bit different than being on the Monorail with other people, because it’s a smaller setting. But, you don’t HAVE to talk to other people who are in your cabin. Just know that there is a strong possibility you could be placed with others when using the Skyliner!
Fear
Ah, yes. Fear. Some people are scared of heights, which is totally understandable! If you are deathly afraid of heights, we’re going to go ahead and suggest that you don’t use the Skyliner, as it does get pretty high up in the air. Just save yourself the stress and hop on a boat or a bus!
One problem you might not expect, though, is being in a Skyliner cabin with someone who is afraid of heights. Maybe they thought they would try it out, then get up there and decide it’s totally not for them and start to freak out a little. This could definitely happen to someone riding in your cabin! Just remember to stay calm and remind the person that the Skyliner is safe and it’s not a very long ride usually, so it will be over before they know it.
Another issue we’ve found is a little less known. Many of the Skyliner gondolas are wrapped in different Disney themes and character designs. This film creates a different effect when you’re inside of the cabin that can trigger anxiety in some people. If this happens to you (or you think that it will) you can request a clear gondola that is not wrapped!
And, this has a little less to do with fear, but it is something we’re don’t want to happen to us — motion sickness. The swaying of the gondolas in combination with being high up can cause some people to feel woozy, so be aware of that when deciding if the Skyliner is the right mode of transportation for you.
And, remember that a windier day will be worse for motion sickness, too!
Dropping Something
When loading onto the Skyliner, it’s definitely possible to drop something in the area underneath the gondolas, like a stuffed animal that your kiddo is holding. Unfortunately, the Skyliner cannot be stopped for a Cast Member to retrieve your dropped item.
The only way you can get it back is at the end of the night once the Skyliner has closed — that’s when a maintenance Cast Member can look for your item. If you are unable to wait around and see if your item is found, the only other option is to look in lost in found the next day.
This might not be a HUGE issue if you drop something unimportant, but could be very bad if you drop something like your phone or your wallet, so make sure you hold on to your belongings!
Overall, the Skyliner is a breezy, efficient way to travel between certain Disney World hotels, EPCOT, and Hollywood Studios. But, you should for sure keep these potential problems in mind when deciding if it is the mode of transportation that you want to use! and Stay tuned to DFB for more Disney World info and tips.
Click here to see what happens when things go WRONG in Disney World
Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe!
Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun!
Order Your Copy of the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today!

With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you'll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet.
Click here to order your copy of the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2022 to save 25% off the cover price today!
Use code WDW2022 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today!
Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. 🙂
Do you enjoy using the Skyliner? Tell us why or why not in the comments!
TRENDING NOW

Check out one of the strangest Disney items we've seen online!

Disney backed out of a deal to have a Brightline train run from the Orlando...

Guests in Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge can visit Savi's Workshop to customize and build their...

Today we're risking it all and speaking our minds -- on behalf of all Disney...

A new and incredibly luxurious resort is being built next door to Walt Disney World...

We're LIVE from Disney's newest cruise ship, the Disney Wish! Come aboard with us to...

NEW exclusive offerings are coming to Disney World Annual Passholders this summer!

We've got a FIRST LOOK at the menus for some of the dining options on...

From new restaurant hot spots to tried-and-true classics that only get better with age, consider...

We asked our readers to rank Magic Kingdom's quick service restaurants and here's what they...

Headed to Disney World for the 50th Anniversary but feeling overwhelmed by the 150+ NEW...

Disney World's Garden Grill character meal got a big menu change!

Check out which amusement park was picked as the BEST in the United States, because...

EVERYONE makes mistakes in Disney World (including us)! Today we're breaking down the 10 WORST...

Check out all of the NEW food coming to EPCOT's Food & Wine Festival!

The MENUS for the 2022 EPCOT Food and Wine Festival have been announced! Check them...

There's a NEW Disney World souvenir that Haunted Mansion fans won't be able to resist.

There are some BIG dates in 2022 that you'll want to make those Park Passes...

We have a FULL LIST of event dates and prices for Mickey's Very Merry Christmas...

Before you go to Disney World this July, make sure you know what's going to...
You can be surprised that the Skyliner resorts don’t have busses to Epcot and Hollywood Studios. They always tell you to take the Skyliner (or boat if there is one). This is a huge problem for someone who doesn’t want to take the Skyliner or took it to a resort but does not want to take it again to leave the resort (because of one or more of those reasons you listed).
We were stuck on the skyline for 45 minutes our last stay there in May and all we got was “ how was your ride?” Because my dad had a fist trip button on
Can you take a mobility scooter on the Skyliner?
Hi Lisa! Yes, you can! They are pretty roomy.