Disney Parks Releases Official Statement Addressing Disney Skyliner Accident at Walt Disney World

Jessica Figueroa

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Disney Parks Releases Official Statement Addressing Disney Skyliner Accident at Walt Disney World

Disney Parks has shared an official statement regarding the Disney Skyliner accident that took place last Saturday:

We know many of you have been looking for an update on Disney Skyliner and are glad to share that it has reopened to guests today. Following a complete review with the manufacturer, we’ve made adjustments to our processes and training, and we are improving how we communicate with guests during their flight with Disney Skyliner. We again offer our deepest apologies to the guests impacted by the malfunction that resulted in extended operating delays on Oct. 5.

Similar to ski lift systems, Disney Skyliner may slow or come to some stops during the ride, particularly when we need to accommodate guests who require additional time to load their cabin.  We want to assure you that the comfort of every guest is important to us.

As a reminder, Disney Skyliner connects Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios to four Disney resort hotels: Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, Disney’s Pop Century Resort, Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort (and the forthcoming Disney’s Riviera Resort, a Disney Vacation Club resort set to open Dec. 16, 2019).

We greatly appreciate your ongoing patience and understanding, and we look forward to welcoming you back aboard Disney Skyliner.

In addition to the statement, Disney reiterated the new, altered hours of operation for the Disney Skyliner given that further testing will be taking place later this week.

26 thoughts on “Disney Parks Releases Official Statement Addressing Disney Skyliner Accident at Walt Disney World”

  1. Iim sure a lot of people had “Malfunctions” in their pants when the Skyliner had been stopped for longer than an hour.

  2. No mention of the deficiencies with the evacuation process. It’s pretty obvious that they have not come up with a solution to that aspect…unfortunately, that was actually the only significant issue exposed. I would not recommend using the lift until that process is improved.

    • You do not understand rescue opperations. Also keep in mind it was 300 cars per the report. 300 x 10 people per car, 3000 people if it was full. That does take time to unload each car safely.

  3. Reading between the lines, it sounds like the crash was caused by Guests requiring extended time to load the Gondola, which resulted in additional gondolas coming in from the cable, crashing into each other with no place to go…

    This would imply the load area would require extension in size of que area, but more importantly, the system should automatically slow down the cable speed when load gondolas are backing up, and automatically STOP the cable when there is not enough room for arriving Gondolas.

    I cannot believe the Engineering of this system would not have included these essential monitoring systems for operations,…

    Perhaps the settings were not correctly made, or there was a default in the system.

    Cable transports cannot stop on a dime, as they have momentum which will carry movement as it comes to a stop. A sudden abrupt stop would result in extraordinary stress damaging the system, so anticipated stopping times must be OVER compensated for when designing the Engineering of control systems.

    • This is not what happened according to a guest who claimed to be at the station when it happened. He said that the skyliner had been stopped for about 10 minutes, and when it restarted, the first car failed to latch, rolling backwards and causing the cars behind to pile up.

      • That is exactly what it looked like now that you mention it. I thought they had crashed into the front one. I didn’t think the front one crashed into the rear one. Makes sense why they were stuck together & there was glass on the ground.

    • If a guest needs extra time loading then they can use one of the gondola set aside for wheelchairs and scooters. They already have a system for this eventuality.
      And if people are too slow at loading maybe they shouldn’t try putting so many people into one gondola?

    • Incorrect Randy. Just like a ski resort gondola, an operator in the load tower is supposed to be observing and adjusting speed and stop.

      However, I blame the incredibly insensitive overweight and octogenarians for not using the handicap loading. Seriously folks, if you have to waddle your butt onto something, just stay home. Oh, and stop eating.

      • I believe the Riveria station is the only station that does not have the Handicap bypass track. This is where the pile-up happened.

  4. Disney should bring back a rate special for fla residents to try the new rides.Would love to go ride this with my grandkids.Prices are not competative anymore.

    • Your statement has nothing to do with this article… but an FYI: this is not a “ride” but a mode of transportation and is free to use. You do not need to enter a park to ride it. You can access it from 3 resorts and also Beach/Yacht Club if you walk to the International gateway. You can also access it in the parking area of Hollywood Studios. Of course you need to pay for parking at the park, but a car load for $25 isn’t bad if you really want to take your grandkids for a ride on it.

    • As Recently as May of this year you could purchase a 4 day ticket for $200 as a Fl Resident. which is cheaper than a 2 day pass for other guests. Try and see if the offers come back in January.

    • The “discounts for local residents” ideology is about the dumbest thing ive ever heard of. Either the nonlocals should get discounts or no one should. Discounts for locals is the reason why the park is always overcrowded. They already live there AND get a discount? Might as well waste a nonwork day there and really stick it to the rest of the guests that had to actually book long flights/roadtrips and hotels to visit the parks…

    • They do have special rates for residents. I think it’s like $45 for a park ticket?

      Also, this isn’t really a ride, as I see a lot of people labeling it. It’s a form of transportation to get around the parks and resorts.

    • Good News!! The gondolas are free and are not part of the park. It’s like riding the monorail. Please come back and post your review after you take your grandkids this weekend! Park at downtown Disney. Take bus to Hollywood Studios, then ride away!

  5. I thought handicapped cars exited to a siding and then re-entered the mainline when ready. sounds more like a timing issue.

  6. Please stop blaming the handicapped and overweight people. This was an oversight in engineering and operations. Not the people’s fault who were riding it or using transportation which is a civil right in this country for All! Jeez, I can’t believe I have to say that here.

  7. I was in a automobile malfunction when I was 16. Totaled my car and everything. That’s what the police and everyone else called it – a “malfunction”. 😒

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