This one is a bit wacky, but according to recent permits filed by the Walt Disney World, it seems that a Skyway-type gondola transportation system may be installed to transport guests between Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios (as well as a few resort hotels in between).
If the buildings on the permits are indeed for stations, the system would include stops at Epcot’s International Gateway, Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, a shared station at the Pop Century and Art of Animation Resorts, and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. See our illustration below:
It’s no secret that Disney will not build a monorail expansion for cost and efficiency reasons, so would they build this instead? The timing seems right with the massive expansion work at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and soon-to-commence at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort. The stations and turns are in spaces not currently used by any other structures or infrastructure.
The original Skyway attraction once operated at the Magic Kingdom park from 1971 until 1999. This new system would likely include much larger, enclosed gondolas, however (similar to the New York system pictured at the top of the article). It would be nice to have the Skyway back at Walt Disney World, in name at least. A modern homage to a classic Disney attraction that would now serve a real transportation purpose for many a guest.
We will keep you in the loop as more information on this rumored project becomes available.
Our thanks to the group of Disney World fans who pieced together this information!
Hopefully this is something we can all agree is a terrific idea without the whining and bellyaching that normally goes on in the comment section.
This is a TERRIBLE idea!
And my belly is aching a little bit now that you mention it… Maybe I’ll open this bottle of wine.
Typical nasty Trump voter.
The above comment was not posted by me, but by some dolt pretending to be me.
They’re obviously a typical nasty Trump voter.
Typical left wing liberal. When in doubt resort to name calling
I wish there was a way to get from the current Epcot boat landing area to the monorail without going through the park. That would allow those staying near Epcot or Hollywood Studios to get to the TTC and Magic Kingdom without using a bus.
I dont see them taking this (if it happens) all the way back to the international gateway, it would make more sense to keep it going straight after CBR directly into the epcot transportation hub in the front of the park
There are a couple advantages to stopping at the IG. It would provide access to all the Epcot resorts including the Boardwalk area for people who might want to take advantage of the restaurants there, or people want another transportation option (although round about) to DHS. At will also transfer some of the guest load from the busy front entrance to the usually much less busy IG entrance. If you get to the IG and want to transfer to somewhere else, it’s a short walk to the Yacht/Beach club busses.
This is so unexpected, a really innovative idea. One can’t help but wonder if Disney feels envious of Universal’s Hogwart’s Express and has been exploring the possibility of park-to-park novelty transportation ever since that opened. This would make hopping between Epcot and Hollywood Studios much more convenient and appealing– and help Disney sell more of those expensive park-hopper passes. Rate increases at the hotels where the skyway stops will certainly rise as well. I will be very interested to see how this pans out.
Innovative? I do not think it means what you think it means.
This is a very expensive system ( towers, expense gondolas, stations and has some limitations.
1. Limited capacity, the monorail can carry more, faster.
2. I see strollers and wheel chairs being slow to load.
3. Slow ……
We need more details.
AKK
Adding on to the monorail system would be even more expensive than adding a gondola system. While I agree that the capacity is limited vs. a monorail, this system should be looked at as an additional means of transportation. It will not be replacing bus service between these locations, but enhancing the transportation options and removing some pressure from the current systems in place. Plus Disney has no desire to expand the monorail system when this is a more economical option. Some gondola systems have gondolas that can be detached at the station to facilitate wheelchair and stroller loading in… Read more »
Personally I would mind if this was a slow ride. The views of WDW would be so cool from up above. It’s a wonder Disney would even consider this when you consider how much “behind the scenes” warehouses and stuff would be visible to guests, but most of the journey should be very scenic and beautiful. Of course I might not feel the same way if I was trying to get to Hollywood Studios quickly for Brown Derby reservations– but the time still might be comparable to driving if you factor in having to walk to your car, find a… Read more »
Modern gondola lifts can carry up to 3500 or more people per hour. Can easily handle wheelchairs and the handicap in the stations. Gondolas can carry up to 30 passengers per cabin and be safely carried. Doppelmayr would be the manufacturer
Disney doesn’t even run half their monorails to spare paying people to work them anymore, and the ones they have break. 2017 Disney is toooooooooooooooooooo cheap for this to EVER happen. Maybe in Disney Shangai where Disney has very little say.
Why does Disney have very little say at Disney Shanghai?
I’ve always loved the Disney monorail. Going through the Contemporary? Reminds me of being a little girl with my grandfather
love it
Thanks for the information on the rumored Skyway system.
It’s the internet folks, this isn’t journalism, who cares where the info came from. It’s a public forum whether here or on their forums. If it was a sanctioned press release then it needs a source. If they didn’t treat Tom the way they did then there wouldn’t be the tension. They don’t like each other, get it through your head. Coming on here and yelling at Tom for not sighting them as source is a waste of time. You know it, I know it. Not everyone reads both sites, the freedom of being able to choose is up to… Read more »
Who cares who gets the info. first, do you win a prize or something. Grow up readers.
First!
I was wrong about the whining and bellyaching……
Did April Fools Day come early this year?
There is already boat transport from DHS to EPCOT. Wouldn’t it be easier, and probably cheaper, just to dig a new canal from EPCOT to CBR, then connect the lake at CBR to Pop?
I love this idea! I have had an annual pass for years and would love to have another way to get around the parks and this just sounds like a fantastic win for everyone. On a side note, my hope is that they eventually add Star Wars themed areas to multiple parks with Star Wars themed transportion between these areas…like the Hogwarts Express. I know it’s not likely, but imagine a VR equipped rollercoaster that runs from the Star Wars land in the Studios to a future (I wish) Star Wars land in Epcot where you battle the Empire along… Read more »
Cool idea. I put this in category of have to see it to believe it. Huge safety issues, ADA, and it costs money, which Disney doesn’t like to spend.
There are not safety issues or ADA compliance concerns when it’s being done in New York and it carries a good number of people.
Yes there are, when Disney hasn’t even invested YET in mechanisms to reach people on high points of monorail in emergency and break down. You’re looking at 15-20 minute response if smoke or a fire and the bring a tug to pull it to where the Reedy Creek equipment can buy it. they’re gonna be toast. I don’t think you comprehend how much Disney cuts corners. This is just not going to happen.
Do you want to bet on if this project is going to happen or not?
I cannot believe that no one credited the Swiss for the gondolas. Not really sure how it will fix into the theming of Caribbean Beach and Pop. Universal is the gold standard right now for themining. I wonder if they will cut all or some busses from those resorts if this gets built. Polynesian has no bus to Epcot because of the Monorail station next store at TTC. This has to be cheaper then running buses to get built
I can’t wait to hear about this on tonight’s segment of The Wonderful World of Deleted Comments!
Out of curiosity, what are your sources for this information?
Two permits filed with the South Florida Water Management District show a series of unusual buildings be proposed for CBR and around DHS. When you look at the shape, orientation and alignment of these buildings they look exactly like what would be needed for a gondola system. This is coupled with rumblings from various “insiders” saying that this is something that Disney has been considering.
I have always wished for SkyTran to come to the Orlando area. SkyTran could easily cover this area with a large loop as opposed to turns and dead ends. The SkyTran cars would not have to travel at high speed but a good steady monorail speed. Also having on demand pods waiting for guests instead of the guests waiting for a gondola would seem so much more efficient.
http://www.skytran.com/
An ummanned tram service will be much cheaper than a skyway and monorail. It’s odd to see the skyway make 2 turns with no stops. The station before DHS is another time waster. They should just go direct from Epcot and DHS with no stops.
There is already non-bus transportation options from Epcot to DHS, so I think this is more about getting people from CBR directly to both Epcot and DHS since CBR is about to get a big makeover that is likely to include DVC units.
There’s no station at CBR so that isn’t true.
There are two buildings at CBR that could be stations. Both have alignment with other structures that appear to be part of this system. Doesn’t make sense to route the system through CBR if there is not going to be a station there.
[…] WDWNT has what they call a “wacky rumor”, but honestly it’s not that implausible. The new rumor says that Walt Disney World is looking to build a new Skyway Gondola system. In fact there are permits filed for it. The new plans call for a new transportation system using high tension cables and gondolas to transport guests from the resorts to the parks. It could also be used to transport guests from park to park. […]
This idea, to me, is phenomenal.
You are, to me, an idiot.
Bets on how long before Tom deletes this?