Overnight Disney Skyliner Malfunction Leaves Guests Suspended in the Air
Countless Walt Disney World Resort guests recently spent part of their nights trapped on the Disney Skyliner after the transportation system suddenly broke down. One woman shared her experience after being stuck in the gondola alone, 60 feet up.
The Disney Skyliner opened in September 2019. The newest Walt Disney World Resort transportation system, it takes guests between Disney’s Hollywood Studios, EPCOT International Gateway, Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, Disney’s Riviera Resort, Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, and Disney’s Pop Century Resort. Disney Skyliner Resorts no longer offer bus transportation to Disney’s Hollywood Studios and EPCOT, except when the Skyliner is closed due to inclement weather, technical issues, or scheduled refurbishment.
Some Disney Park guests avoid Disney Skyliner Resorts due to their fear of heights, even though no one has been injured by the five-year-old transportation system. But during a recent breakdown, one Walt Disney World Resort guest admitted that even though she loves the Disney Skyliner, it was “eerie” to be trapped alone on the gondola system at night.
Last week, TikTok user @mcwiththemagic shared this video of herself stuck in a Disney Skyliner gondola when the transportation system abruptly paused operations. “Not me about to have a panic attack while stuck on the skyliner,” the Disney Park guest wrote.
@mcwiththemagic Not me about to have a panic attack while stuck on the skyliner 🚠 #disneyskyliner #disneyworld #disneyadult #disneyvlog #disneymagic
“No one tells you how eerie the Skyliner is until you’re stuck alone sitting at the top at night,” the guest said in the video. “I am a Skyliner girly, but…”
Suddenly, an intercom announcement interrupted the guest: “Thank you for your patience. We are now resuming your journey. We will take flight momentarily.”
“Woo!” the Disney Park guest cheered. “Thank god.”
Occasional stops on the Disney Skyliner are routine, and operations usually resume within a few moments. However, Walt Disney World Resort has policies in place to protect guests when a systemwide failure occurs, including emergency kits in each gondola.
While this pause ended quickly, many Disney Parks fans said they were terrified of being stuck 60 feet up at night.
“Oh nahhhh,” @alexrzarro wrote. “The feeling of being trapped high up would have me panicking in just 30 second.”
“I would have to lay down in the fetal position and take a nap so I forget in dangling in the sky,” said @momsalwaystired.
Still, others said they preferred the gondola system over other Walt Disney World Resort transportation methods.
“Skyliner is probably one of the safest modes of transportation,” @hypepinki argued. “Gondola lifts like that have existed since 1900s all thru Europe. The cable line can be manually cranked so your never actually stuck.”
Have you ever gotten stuck on the Disney Skyliner? Share your experience with Disney Dining in the comments!
