ORLANDO — The first images of Disney World’s new gondolas have been released, and from the looks of it, guests will have a fun, new way of getting around from theme parks to hotels.
Called the Disney Skyliner, the new transportation system, which was first announced on Disney Park’s official blog, will travel from select Disney resorts to Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and will feature iconic Disney characters on its exterior to look like they’re riding along with passengers.
The design of the Disney Skyliner station at International Gateway at Epcot will be inspired by the park’s nearby European Pavilions, and will be hand-painted with murals. While onboard, guests will be treated to a rare bird’s-eye view of World Showcase.
At the Caribbean Beach Resort station, the hub of activity for Disney Skyliner, passengers will feel like they’re at an open-air village marketplace in the Caribbean. Here, they’ll be able to transfer gondola routes to reach their destination.
The station at Disney’s Hollywood Studios will be in line with the park’s main entrance and bus stations. Passengers travelling here from the Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort station can expect a new aerial perspective of the park’s iconic attractions, like The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror.
Disney’s Pop Century Resort and Disney’s Art of Animation Resort will share a Disney Skyliner station where, upon departing, passengers will ascend over Hourglass Lake and enjoy a panoramic view of these two resorts.
Finally, cabins will slow down at the Disney Skyliner turn-station along Buena Vista Drive, where guests can see the mechanical and aerial components that make up the Disney Skyliner.
The opening date of the Disney Skyliner has yet to be announced.
The gondola construction project comes as Disney is expanding by building new lands in Hollywood Studios as well adding more rides in Magic Kingdom and Epcot.
The gondolas had been rumoured for months although Disney brought up the project in July during an event in Anaheim, California.
With file from The Associated Press
