18 with Construction Impact Update

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10-19-2018, 08:24 PM
Figment!

Walt Disney World's Skyliner: Updated 11/30/18 with Construction Impact Update

11/30/18

The Walt Disney World resort has abridged the construction impact of the Skyliner from their original announcement:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Walt Disney World Transportation

FriendShip boat service to Epcot will be suspended at 9:30 PM each night until late December 2018. This service connects Epcot with the following Disney Resort hotels:

Disney’s BoardWalk Inn
Disney’s BoardWalk Villas
Disney’s Beach Club Resort
Disney’s Beach Club Villas
Disney’s Yacht Club Resort
Walt Disney World Swan Hotel
Walt Disney World Dolphin Hotel

Bus transportation to Epcot and the pedestrian walkway across the bridge will remain available during this downtime.

11/14/18

As part of a presentation at IAAPA 2018, Disney has set an official opening date for the Skyliner:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Disney Parks & Resorts

Bob Chapek, Chairman of Disney Parks, Experiences and Consumer Products, announced that Disney Skyliner will be ready to begin transporting guests at the Walt Disney World Resort beginning Fall of 2019!

10/19/18

As recent Guests will have likely noticed the visible (and often sight line ruining) construction of the Disney Skyliner around the Walt Disney World resort, a new promotional video has been released:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_c...;v=5vYb3bgIGvo

Of note, the video confirms that there will be three separate lines:

Epcot <=> Disney's Riviera Resort <=> Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort
Disney's Hollywood Studios <=> Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort
Hour Glass Lake <=> Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort

Guests traveling from the Hour Glass Lake station (Art of Animation & Pop Century) will need to change at the Caribbean Beach station to travel on to Epcot or Disney's Hollywood Studios with no "direct" line access to either park.

Although the video remains devoid of a grand opening date, related internal documents are pointing to a Mid-2019 opening date for the Skyliner system.

As part of the continued construction project for the Epcot Skyliner station, FriendSHIP boat service to Epcot's International Gateway has been internally announced to be suspended November 28th through December 18th, 2018.
10-20-2018, 09:43 AM
magicofdisney

Jason,

Is it true that these are not air conditioned?
10-22-2018, 08:42 AM
1DisneyNut

Errrr....I am arriving November 28th and was planning on using the boat to/from international gateway. I guess I better be ready to walk a little more than usual.
10-22-2018, 11:10 AM
Figment!

Quote:

Originally Posted by magicofdisney

Jason,

Is it true that these are not air conditioned?

No official answer from Disney yet, but all indications are point toward no.

The Gondolas are arriving on site and there appears to be no indication of an air conditioning or air tempering unit.

The Gondolas do appear to have ventilation, so that combined with the speed might provide a tempered air effect. The windows themselves also appear to be highly reflective, so this should reduce the amount of radiant heat entering the Gondola.

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1DisneyNut

Errrr....I am arriving November 28th and was planning on using the boat to/from international gateway. I guess I better be ready to walk a little more than usual.

Depending on where you are traveling from, there may be an additional bus. If you are traveling from one of the Crescent Lake Hotels, there will be buses during this time to the main Epcot Entrance.
10-22-2018, 01:18 PM
Simba's Mom

This question may have been answered, but can any guest use the skyliner system? Can someone hop onboard just to go for a ride?
And am I correct that there'll be HA buckets for those using scooters or wheelchairs, or will the individual buckets/cars be large enough for an ECV to drive onto, like the monorail is?
10-22-2018, 01:23 PM
Goofy4TheWorld

Like most people, I was surprised to hear that the Gondolas won't be air conditioned. But after my trip to Disney last week, and specifically after taking the bus to Hollywood Studios and seeing it all in person, I am no longer surprised.

After seeing the Gondola beams up, and seeing the relative short distance they will be traveling, I don't see a non-air conditioned ride in a Gondola any different than riding a Disney parking lot tram, friendship boat, or ferry. They are all without A/C and exposed to the elements, just like the Gondolas will be.

Just my :twocents:.
10-23-2018, 05:44 AM
RunDMV

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1DisneyNut

Errrr....I am arriving November 28th and was planning on using the boat to/from international gateway. I guess I better be ready to walk a little more than usual.

Be fore warned, the walk from the International Gateway (or the hotels around the lake) to the studios is extended by a significant length. As you get to the sidewalk just past the bridge, the pathway doubles back on itsekf and winds around the construction.
10-23-2018, 09:52 AM
1DisneyNut

Quote:

Originally Posted by RunDMV

Be fore warned, the walk from the International Gateway (or the hotels around the lake) to the studios is extended by a significant length. As you get to the sidewalk just past the bridge, the pathway doubles back on itsekf and winds around the construction.

Thanks for the heads up. We will actually be going from Epcot over to The Boardwalk to watch a football game at The ESPN Club and then back afterwards. We usually take the boat ride when we do this but occasionally walk if the weather is really nice.
10-23-2018, 01:37 PM
ThanxForNoticin

Quote:

Originally Posted by RunDMV

Be fore warned, the walk from the International Gateway (or the hotels around the lake) to the studios is extended by a significant length. As you get to the sidewalk just past the bridge, the pathway doubles back on itsekf and winds around the construction.

Thanks for the info. Just to clarify, please. Is the extended path closer to Studios, or by the International Gateway at EPCOT? Or perhaps both? I assume this is Skyliner construction? Star Wars? There's so much construction going on right now, sometimes it's impossible to tell!
10-23-2018, 07:46 PM
magicofdisney

Quote:

Originally Posted by Goofy4TheWorld

After seeing the Gondola beams up, and seeing the relative short distance they will be traveling, I don't see a non-air conditioned ride in a Gondola any different than riding a Disney parking lot tram, friendship boat, or ferry. They are all without A/C and exposed to the elements, just like the Gondolas will be.

Just my :twocents:.

I hadn't thought of it in those terms. However, those other options are not 90% enclosed. Hopefully the fan circulation system will compensate.
10-24-2018, 04:29 AM
RunDMV

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThanxForNoticin

Thanks for the info. Just to clarify, please. Is the extended path closer to Studios, or by the International Gateway at EPCOT? Or perhaps both? I assume this is Skyliner construction? Star Wars? There's so much construction going on right now, sometimes it's impossible to tell!

It is closer to the studios. If you leave the Epcot area heading over to the Studios, you pss the Swan and Dolphin then end up with the Boardwalk Villas and the pool on your left. You then go under Buena Vista Drive.

At this point, the sidewalk USED to go right past the bus stops and to the gate. At the point, it now doubles back on itself and meanders through the parking lot. It's hard to see exactly where you are heading because there are fabric covered construction fences on both sides.
10-24-2018, 11:09 AM
Crow

hmm so should i walk next week or take the boat..i have done both in the past and cut thru boardwalk past the pool
10-24-2018, 12:07 PM
ThanxForNoticin

Quote:

Originally Posted by RunDMV

It is closer to the studios. If you leave the Epcot area heading over to the Studios, you pss the Swan and Dolphin then end up with the Boardwalk Villas and the pool on your left. You then go under Buena Vista Drive.

At this point, the sidewalk USED to go right past the bus stops and to the gate. At the point, it now doubles back on itself and meanders through the parking lot. It's hard to see exactly where you are heading because there are fabric covered construction fences on both sides.

Thank you for the update. We'll be there in a couple months, and that information is helpful. We usually enjoy the walk from Boardwalk to Studios. We'll see how it goes this trip!

I'm pretty sure that with the exception of the original construction, Hollywood Studios has never been such a mess. Hopefully, that's all done within the next year or two, and will be worth the hassle.
10-24-2018, 03:03 PM
Figment!

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThanxForNoticin

We'll be there in a couple months, and that information is helpful. We usually enjoy the walk from Boardwalk to Studios. We'll see how it goes this trip!

I'll be there the end of next week and will also be checking it out. I'll let you know.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crow

hmm so should i walk next week or take the boat..i have done both in the past and cut thru boardwalk past the pool

Are you joining the ICOT gang for any of the RunCOT or CheerICOT happenings?

The ICOT Crew will be there November 1 - 4.:mickey:
10-25-2018, 01:35 PM
Crow

Quote:

Originally Posted by Figment!

I'll be there the end of next week and will also be checking it out. I'll let you know.

Are you joining the ICOT gang for any of the RunCOT or CheerICOT happenings?

The ICOT Crew will be there November 1 - 4.:mickey:

didnt know that. whats the details
10-25-2018, 10:33 PM
Figment!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crow

didnt know that. whats the details

#CheerICOT spots and times are here.

After the races, informal group park time; but nothing hard scheduled. Likely to be called by (Mickey) Ear.
11-14-2018, 09:01 PM
Figment!

**Update**
11-30-2018, 05:26 PM
Figment!

**Update**