Disney World’s newest form of transportation is the Disney Skyliner, a gondola that connects EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios with several Disney Resorts.

Some people like to think of it as a ride in and of itself (remember Disneyland’s Skyway?) and we happen to love using it. But, there are some not-so-stellar aspects to the Skyliner, and we’re filling you in so you can be prepared.

The Skyliner can be an excellent way to get around Disney World. With stops at Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, and multiple different resorts, chances are you might need to use it on your vacation, too! But, not all experiences are created equally, so we’re sharing what Disney doesn’t want you to know about the Skyliner and how you can prepare.

Skyliner Lines

Okay, you’re probably thinking, “This is Disney World we’re talking about, of course there will be lines!” And while you’re right, there’s an extra element of fun that gets added when you’re talking about the Skyliner. You’ve probably seen those long monorail lines at the end of the night when leaving Magic Kingdom, and that can be the case for the Skyliner too — only at Hollywood Studios and EPCOT.

The Skyliner services more hotels than the monorail — Art of Animation and Pop Century, Riviera Resort, and Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, so it’s likely that there are even more folks trying to head back to their hotels at the end of the night. We can’t complain about those stellar nighttime views from the Skyliner though!

Swing, Swing

We often talk about how the weather in Disney World can be unpredictable, and that comes into play with the Skyliner. It does get shut down during particularly bad bouts of storms, but if the skies are clear chances are things are a go! There’s just one problem — even on a clear day, it can be pretty darn windy in Central Florida. And since you’re elevated, it means the gondolas are prone to swaying in the wind.

Even for people who don’t necessarily have a fear of heights, this can be pretty unsettling. The Skyliner is safe (Disney wouldn’t run it if it wasn’t!) but even Disney can’t control the weather. If it’s too windy, Disney could make the call to shut down the system and you’ll have to find another mode of transportation like a bus or Minnie Van.

Looks Matter

When it comes to the actual gondolas, some are wrapped with characters or other Disney-related images — which is super cute! We love seeing all the different ones go by. But, sitting inside a wrapped gondola isn’t always the best. To get the best view possible, we recommend trying to hop into an unwrapped one!

You can still see out of the wrapped gondolas, but your vision is slightly obstructed. Of course, if you don’t care about getting those stellar views this might not be a big deal to you, but if you’re trying to see all the sights — see if you can request to have one without a wrap. Keep in mind that if there are long lines, it might not be the best time to make special requests, but Cast Members usually try to accommodate.

Fly Solo

Skyliner gondolas are made to fit multiple people and even multiple parties if the situation calls for it. If you don’t mind sharing one, you may be seated with strangers! You can request to have a solo gondola for yourself or your party and Cast Members will try to accommodate.

Of course, this may not be an option — especially at the end of the night or in other situations where there may be long lines. The Skyliner is constantly in motion, making it a pretty efficient system, but if too many people are making special requests it can really slow things down.

Feelin’ Hot, Hot, Hot

Want to know a secret? It gets HOT in Florida. Okay, that might not be a secret, but it certainly may be a problem for Skyliner rides during the summer. The gondolas don’t have any sort of air conditioning, but they are vented to allow air to flow through as you’re moving. In our experience, it’s not a huge problem — except if you get stuck.

The occasional temporary stop may come while you’re on the Skyliner for a number of reasons, and when that happens, the airflow is pretty much nonexistent. If you’re moving, you do get a nice little breeze, but when you’ve stopped, the air inside the gondola can get stagnant. And that Florida sun certainly doesn’t help.

But, there are so many reasons why the Skyliner might still be the best option for you! This is especially the case if you’re visiting Hollywood Studios or EPCOT and are staying at one of the hotels on the Skyliner route. Plus, it’s just fun! We’ve hopped on the Skyliner just to ride around, take a break, and take in some incredible views of Disney World (and even did a pub crawl once!)

We’ll be bringing you even more tips and tricks to make your Disney World trip the best it can be, so be sure to stay tuned to DFB for more!

Everything You Need To Know About Transportation at Disney World

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Have you been on the Skyliner? Tell us in the comments. 

The post What Disney World Doesn’t Want You To Know About the Skyliner first appeared on the disney food blog.