First Skyliner ride.

On our first Skyliner trip (aka the flying death ovens).

Really, really cool (both meanings).

Steve

Here's my review of our Skyliner adventure (kinda long)

Our evening was purposefully all about the Skyliner today. We rode from DHS to Epcot, entered Epcot (mostly to get another day toward the AP freebie), had fish and chips then took the Skyliner back to DHS to catch a bus to OKW. Important to the story - Patty (Isabella) is using a wheelchair this trip due to a hip issue that makes walking long distances very painful. But she can transfer and walk quickly - just not for extended distances.

Here are my observations: (long)

• We arrived at DHS and got in the Skyliner line at 5:56. The line was out of the station and partway back towards the bus stops. It looked long, but was moving - until the Skyliner stopped. I counted the number of people actually in line - 58. The Skyliner stopped 3 times while we were in that line, but even with the stops, we would've been on a gondola in under 6 minutes if not for...
• CMs that provided incorrect information and insisted that since DW was in the wheelchair, we absolutely had to use the secondary loop. There were 5 other parties in the ECV/Wheelchair line. Apparently, gondolas from the secondary line cannot be dispatched any quicker than 90 seconds apart, and the CM doing the loading there was in no hurry. It took over 20 minutes for us to get on a gondola. This same CM would not let DW get out of the wheelchair and transfer by herself. I had to push her in (no biggie) and then wait for the CM to put chocks behind the wheels.
• The trip from DHS to CBR was 5 mins 30 secs.
• Getting off at CBR took time as well, since CM had to remove the chocks.
• When we said we wanted to go to Epcot, we're were escorted by a very nice CM to the correct line - the ECV line, of course. That line had at least a dozen ECVs in it. The regular line was quite long as well, with maybe 300 people in it.
• It became apparent that not all the CMs know the procedures (no surprise there) when a female suit came over to us and asked DW if she could transfer. We said yes, and she said we could/should go on the regular line and have DW get out of the chair, fold up the chair and just get on as normal. I told her what the CMs at DHS had told us. She sighed a heavy sigh, asked if I remember their names (I did), and then told us that the ECV line can take a very long time and it is not their policy to make everyone in a wheelchair use the ECV loop.
• The Skyliner stopped A LOT while we were going to Epcot. I have to assume it was mostly due to self-absorption and/or general stupidity but guests. I saw 2 instances myself where parents weren't paying attention to where their children were, got separated from them, and then stood inside a gondola yelling at Johnny to hurry up. CM has to stop the line. CMs I talked to were pretty frustrated with how things were going on opening day.
• Talked to lots of people in line - nearly everyone was just making the trip on the Skyliner because it was opening day (like us). I assume that once the members wears off, the crowds will diminish and troops will be much smoother.
• The trip from CBR to Epcot was over 20 minutes due to easy to many stops of the line.
• Left Epcot at 8:10. Skyliner line was not bad - took about 10 min. We were not required to use the ECV line. In fact, we were encouraged not to.
• That ECV line had at least 30 parties in it - and some of those folks were getting a tad belligerent at the wait.
• Way fewer stops going back to CBR - only 1, in fact.
• No queue heading to DHS - walked right on.
• The airflow on the gondolas is quite pleasant - IF the line is moving. When stationary, it gets a tad stuffy, rather than hot. It was very pleasant after the sun went down.
• Gondolas are very quiet. Lots of kids (and a few adults as well) will fall asleep during the trip from Epcot to CBR.

It's apparent to me that there are more than a few kinks yet to be worked out with the Skyliner procedures and CM training. I'm not sure how they're going to cure guest stupidity though.

Steve

You are much braver than I am. Thank you for letting me live vicariously through you.

Thanks for your review. As an ECV user, after reading that the ECV line was long, I'm having second thoughts about riding the Skyway.

Just returned from a surprise impromptu trip to Disney for my son. My mother came with us and she is a ECV user. We stayed at AOA and thereby utilized the Skyliner 2x (once returning from DHS and once going to EPCOT) as our other times were outside the current scope of operating hours. The most annoying thing I found was the lack of consistency bw operators. Most allowed my sons stroller to stay open behind the ECV but several did not sighting thebfavt he was not asleep. The line was not long except for one leg of the journey which had 5 users in the line and that was on the second part of our travel to Epcot. Every other time it was us or only 1 or 2 others. The line for ECV users moves very slow but once loaded it is a easy and quick journey. We all enjoyed the trips and plan to use Skyliner again. Even with a line it was much more efficient than the buses. I think you should give it a try especially if you are traveling to the park at a non peak time (during day and not ar open or close). Enjoy your Disney adventure.

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