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The malfunctioned Thursday evening, leaving anxious dangling in the air for half an hour after they were instructed to open their Guest emergency kits.
Credit: Melissa Cannioto
The is a little like the best of both (Disney) Worlds. That’s because most see it as an attraction and a mode of transportation, all in one. The Skyliner makes it easier for to move around certain areas of the .
Currently, the routes simplify travel between EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios and take to and from four Hotels: Disney’s , Disney’s , Disney’s Art of , and Disney’s .
Credit: Disney Parks
But while the offers exciting transportation aboard whimsically designed aerial gondolas, like all attractions and modes of transportation at the Florida parks, the also runs the risk of mechanical failure and other issues that can lead to a cessation of operation, even if only temporarily.
That’s exactly what happened Thursday evening at approximately 8:30 p.m. local time, when boarded the , only to experience its failure. A Guest named Melissa and her husband Mike took their seats in a Skyliner gondola around 8:15 p.m. They were looking forward to enjoying dinner at Sebastian’s Bistro at Disney’s .
According to Melissa, the couple wasn’t too far from their destination when the Skyliner stopped. She says the descent toward the station at Disney’s was all that was left on their journey in the sky, and that’s when the gondola suddenly stopped.
“OMG, so, we are stuck on the Skyliner,” read the message she sent to friends.
Credit: Melissa Cannioto
The had ceased to operate, and Melissa and her husband were stuck in a gondola between Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Disney’s , dangling three to four stories above the ground.
“The gondola came to a sharp stop about 30 to 40 feet in the air,” Melissa recounted. “At first, we assumed it was due to a delayed boarding process down at the station, but after 5 minutes had passed, we started to wonder what was actually happening.”
According to Melissa, Cast Members were at their best, trying to maintain the magic while ensuring the safety of involved in the breakdown. She says that Cast Members regularly updated via announcements over the loudspeaker.
“The Skyliner has been temporarily delayed,” was the announcement. “We will resume your flight as soon as possible. We thank you for your patience. Please remain seated, as we work with our maintenance team to fix the issue.”
Melissa says that every 5 minutes, another announcement was made, noting how long had been stuck in their respective gondolas. But after they’d been dangling for about 20 minutes, a different announcement surely left some feeling a little uneasy.
“We do have a convenience kit for you to use,” said the Cast Member over the loudspeaker. “It can be found in the black box under your seat. Open up that box. Also, press the emergency call button by the door of the cabin if you need further assistance.”
Credit: Melissa Cannioto
Melissa says the experience felt a little like being stuck in a “” escape room. She and her husband opened the black box as instructed and found kits that included emergency purified drinking water pouches, ice compress packs, a whistle, and an emesis bag (otherwise known as a barf bag) for those who struggled with motion sickness.
(Even though the was not in operation, the gondolas were swaying and swinging!)
The ordeal lasted about half an hour before the gondolas began to move forward again. Melissa and her husband disembarked at the station. When they arrived, Melissa and her husband noticed several security vehicles and fire department trucks outside the station, but no one could tell them what had led to the Skyliner’s failure.
Credit: Melissa Cannioto
Melissa says she was happy that she and her husband arrived in time for their dining reservation at Sebastian’s Bistro, and she shared this photo, captioned with the words, “Worth it.”
Credit: Melissa Cannioto
Not only did the couple make it to their dining reservation at Sebastian’s Bistro, but the view of the nighttime spectacular out their window made the experience truly magical after all.
