A family visiting Walt Disney World Resort this week found themselves suspended high above the ground, unable to escape the heat, after the Disney Skyliner transportation system unexpectedly stopped moving.
The incident occurred on Saturday when TikTok user @ftjbyjessie and her family boarded one of the colorful Disney Skyliner gondolas, only for it to come to a complete stop mid-route. The Disney Park guests remained stuck inside for nearly an hour, 60 feet in the air, without air conditioning and with only limited ventilation. The heat quickly became a problem, and two of the three family members were seen lying on the benches inside the gondola in a video shared on social media.
@ftjbyjessie Stuck on the Skyliner #disney #ftjbyjessie #traveladvisor
The Disney Skyliner opened in 2019 and has become a popular mode of transportation around Walt Disney World Resort. The system connects Disney’s Pop Century Resort, Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, and Disney’s Riviera Resort with the EPCOT International Gateway and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. While it’s praised for its efficiency and scenic views of Walt Disney World Resort, it has occasionally experienced delays and operational hiccups—this being one of them.
Each gondola is equipped with an emergency kit, including drinking water and basic First Aid supplies, for situations like this one. In a follow-up video, the TikToker praised Disney’s response: “Disney took care of us. They had cold bottles of water at the bottom…They also had us get the emergency pack out while we were on there and announced, ‘Hey, there’s emergency water and anything you may need will be in there.’”
@ftjbyjessie Replying to @Savvy how long were we stuck on the Skyliner? #skyliner #disney #ftj #ftjbyjessie #fyp #foryoupage #fypシ
According to the guest, the ordeal lasted about 50 minutes. Despite the uncomfortable conditions, she remained positive about the experience. “I know that if we get on the Skyliner, you might get stuck, you might have to sit there,” she said. “But just one more adventure that we learned something from.”
The Disney Skyliner occasionally shuts down due to weather or mechanical issues. While Disney has not made a public statement about this particular incident, delays of this nature are not uncommon. Gondolas are inspected regularly, and Disney cast members are trained to handle situations where guests are delayed or need assistance.
Have you ever gotten stuck on the Disney Skyliner? Share your story with Disney Dining in the comments!
Please note that the story outlined in this article is based on a personal Disney Parks guest experience. No two guest experiences are alike, and this article does not necessarily align with Disney Dining’s personal views on Disney Park operations.
