Tag Archives: Walt Disney World Transportation

Walt Disney World Skyliner – Taking Flight!

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We didn’t know what to expect. For sure, I had my doubts. Would we even find Disney World’s newest form of transportation convenient? We hopped on the Skyliner and were surprised by what happened next!

Walt Disney World Skyliner – Taking Flight!

After the infamous Skyliner breakdown during its first week of operation, there was lots of chatter about Disney’s gondola system. Positives and negatives crowded social media as Walt Disney World guests took to the sky for the first time. According to many, fear of heights, motion-sickness, and concern about overheating were top reasons for avoiding the Skyliner. Raymond, Joseph and I weren’t worried about any of those things. We simply thought the Skyliner wouldn’t be a necessary option for us. We could travel between Epcot and the Studios by our customary Friendship Boat. The boats provide reliable, relaxing transport and we enjoy taking in the sights along the way.

When the time came for us to leave Disney’s Hollywood Studios, we exited the park and started walking towards the boat ramp. We noticed the Skyliner had absolutely no crowd. No wait at all! A number of signs provided instructions and other information about the gondola system. Curiosity got the best of us and we hopped right on!

Up, up and away!

What a fantastic experience! We (meaning mostly me) had fun checking out the huge variety of characters on many of the gondolas. I called out the character names as they went by (which I’m sure made Raymond and Joseph glad we had the gondolas to ourselves). We could see far in every direction as the Skyliner moved quickly along towards the transfer station. The gondolas were so well ventilated that my hair blew everywhere – swirling around my head the entire time. I promptly discovered #gondolahair and realized that if one wants to look presentable for a special dinner or other event, the Skyliner isn’t coif-friendly in any way.

We transferred gondolas to continue our trip to Epcot which was a quick and easy process. Before long we touched down outside the International Gateway and were headed for the World Showcase and those Food & Wine Festival booths. My hair may have been a bit messier than usual, but the Walt Disney World Skyliner was a pleasant surprise and a super fun mode of transportation. We can’t wait to ride it again.

Have you been on the Skyliner? What did you think about the ride? How was your hair?

Walt Disney World Skyliner Exhaustion

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Disclaimer: This post is about the Disney Skyliner gondola system at Walt Disney World. If you’re an average person, you might not have even heard about it. If you’re a Walt Disney World fan, you’ve likely heard nothing but Skyliner news for days on end and this post is for you.

I haven’t even ridden the darn thing and I’m exhausted by it! So much speculation among my fellow Disney fans from the very first announcement. Some people were excited, some afraid, some so negative that they predicted those gondolas doomed from the get-go. Then? The mishap and holy guacamole, everyone went completely nuts! Let’s talk about…

Walt Disney World Skyliner Exhaustion

Back when Disney made their intentions clear about a new-ish mode of transportation for Walt Disney World resort guests, my initial reaction was excitement. I loved the gondolas in Magic Kingdom and only got to ride them on one visit before they were gone. I thought the Skyliner sounded like a fantastic alternative to a crowded Disney bus.

Then I saw a map of where the Skyliner routes would be located and my excitement dimmed a bit. We typically stay at resorts that aren’t reachable by the Skyliner. I realized we probably wouldn’t be riding the gondolas unless we just wanted to check out the experience and take in the scenery. I knew the views would be amazing and contrary to many, we aren’t worried about the interiors being too hot. We don’t fear heights and motion sickness isn’t a problem. The only drawback is that it seems to me (I could be mistaken) that the Skyliner will simply not be the most efficient way to get between the Studios and Epcot when we could walk or take a boat.

Then, The Mishap

What an explosion! Nope, I’m not talking about the Skyliner incident itself, it’s the aftermath that wore me out! Twitter and Facebook were overrun with rumors, stories, speculation, and too many “I told you so’s” to count. From the “I will never ride the Skyliner now” people to the “I wonder how many law suits will be filed” folks and everything in between. I avoided social media for big swaths of time and still, it went on for days. I found it all a bit overblown. It got old in a hurry.

Let me acknowledge that yes, being stuck in a gondola for 3 hours on vacation would be horrible. That’s time that cannot be recovered. I’d have been extremely disappointed and angry. Would I understand that even after months and months of testing, glitches were likely? Maybe not, to be honest. The gondolas were only in official operation for a week before stranding passengers for an extended period of time. (The Perera family was my favorite story by far.) But is it the worst thing that could happen to a vacation? Not by a long shot. I believe what many are missing is perspective.

Wait and See

That’s where I am now. Social media has calmed down somewhat. Mostly, I suspect, because the Skyliner has yet to reopen as of this moment, but it will. I’m not any more or less likely to ride it than I was before the incident. I’m simply tired of hearing about it. How about you?

Review – Disney’s Magical Express

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WDW-Sign-From-Magical-ExpressIf you’re planning a trip to Walt Disney World, are staying at a Disney resort, and haven’t yet decided how you’d like to reach your resort from the airport, I might be able to help…

Review – Disney’s Magical Express

If you’re not going to rent a car to use during your Disney vacation in Orlando, choosing Disney’s Magic Express might be an excellent option for you and your family.  Knowing what it is and what it’s not is key to getting the most out of the experience.  While it’s only slightly magical and isn’t what many would actually consider express, there are some valid reasons to choose this particular mode of transportation.  Our family has used Disney’s Magical Express many times.

Let’s talk Magical Express Pros and Cons:Orlando-International-Airport-Interior

PRO: Disney’s Magical Express is included in the price of your Disney resort stay.  That means no added expense – there are unexpected costs springing up everywhere on vacation.  This isn’t one of them.

CON: You have to wait for a bus (it may be referred to as a “motor-coach”, but it’s a bus), then once on the bus, wait for it to be considered full enough to go (I have no idea how this is determined).  Then you may sometimes stop at several other resorts first before arriving at your own.  After a long flight, this can seem to take forever…especially with little ones.  For me, I don’t usually mind stopping at other resorts – gives me a chance to see what they look like.Magical-Express-at-Wilderness-Lodge

PRO:  You do not have to retrieve your luggage from the baggage claim area.  That’s right, there will be no waiting by a carousel for your bags to appear.  No schlepping said bags around the airport.  Your luggage will be retrieved for you (you receive special luggage tags in advance) and delivered to your resort room later in the day.Waiting-Area-Disney's-Magical-Express

CON:  You will not have your suitcases for several hours.  The baggage retrieval thing is a bit of a double-edged sword.  Prepare for this in advance & it’s actually a very welcome convenience.  Walk right off the plane and head for the Disney Magical Express area.  Forget to put your Magic Bands or other must-haves in your carryon and you are really going to waste a big bunch of time waiting first at the baggage claim and then again for the bus.  Scan-Magic-Band-to-Board-Disney's-Magical-ExpressYou’ll need at least one member of your group’s Magic Band for scanning to get on the bus.  Good preparation is important here – Magic Bands, swimsuits, sunscreen (travel-sized), lip balm, camera, phone charger, tickets that may not yet be linked to your Magic Bands, credit card, medicines – if you think you might need it, carry it with you (not in your suitcase).Disney's-Magical-Express-Entertainment

PRO:  Onboard entertainment.  There are screens above the seats that show a clever-ish safety video followed by some Disney cartoons.  It at least gives you something to watch besides highway traffic.  Kids generally seem interested in watching the show and it makes the travel time go by faster.On-Disney's-Magical-Express

CON:  The bus drivers can sometimes be a bit much.  Some are friendly and entertaining, with trivia questions to get guests excited about vacation.  Occasionally there’s a driver looking (and asking) for a gratuity that goes a bit overboard or likes to hear themselves talking over the speaker system.  It’s pure luck whether you get a good driver or a not-so-good one.  We’ve never had one that was unsafe or offensive.  As far as tipping – if the driver handles any bags for you, DO tip a couple of dollars per bag.  If they only drive you from the airport to the resort, no tipping is expected.Disney's-Magical-Express-View

Getting back to the airport is just as easy – you can usually check-in for your flight at your resort and leave your suitcases with resort staff for transport to the airport.  You will be picked up and delivered to the airport several hours before your flight – luckily, Orlando International Airport has some great shopping and dining options you can use to kill time.

Bottom line:  If you need a ride and are willing to wait for it and share it with a few others, if you like “no added costs” and the idea of bypassing baggage claim, if you want to get to Walt Disney World and head right to the parks after checking in, Disney’s Magical Express may be an excellent choice for you.

Have you used Disney’s Magical Express?  How was your experience?

Walt Disney World Transportation – More than Just a Way to Travel

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The Monorail at EpcotWe once rented a car for our Walt Disney World vacation – once being the important word here.  I’m not counting the time we rented a car for one day so we could run errands and visit Downtown Disney the day before our Disney Cruise departure.  I’m talking about driving to Disney World from the airport and driving from the resort to the parks, restaurants, and so on.  Epic mistake!  Disney transportation is wonderful, convenient and way more than just a mode of travel from points A to B.  In my usual way, I give you…

FIVE great things about Walt Disney World Transportation:

No need to know how to get where you’re going (or remember where you parked) – Once we enter the Disney Bubble, maximizing the magic of the Disney vacation experience is a must.  If we had our own car, every time we got in it, I would feel like I was at home!  NO WAY!  That would interfere terribly with shutting out the rest of the world for the duration of our vacation.  If we had a rental car, we would have to know how to navigate the roads, streets, and avenues of Disney property – we might also (GASP) be tempted to visit Orlando attractions outside the World of Disney – thus diminishing the power of the Bubble.

Cool and comfortable – Think about this:  You’re visiting the World at the peak of the summer.  You want to leave a park and go back to your resort hotel for a rest – the inside of your vehicle Walt Disney World Monorailwill be roughly the same temperature as the surface of the sun.  Seatbelts, car seats, steering wheel – all burning hot.  By the time you get way out into the parking lot, find the car and cool it off, you’d already be on your way (if not arriving at your destination) in the comfortable, refreshing coolness of a Disney bus (or monorail, or boat).

As a form of entertainment – The people-watching opportunities are excellent!  You can see a wide variety of #DisneySide displays in the form of hats, clothing, shoes, even nail polish.  You can check out other travelers’ pin collections and sometimes souvenirs.  On a crowded bus, you can teach your children courtesy and good manners – offer a seat to others who may not be able to stand for the duration of the trip.  Also, just riding the monorail to take a look around or relaxing on a scenic trip aboard the boats that cross Bay Lake can be wonderfully entertaining WDW Bus Transportationjourneys.  Board a boat (Blue Flag Launch) at the Contemporary boat dock and just stay seated when it stops at the Wilderness Lodge and Fort Wilderness – or get off and explore, then catch the boat back to where you started.  Ferry boats will take you from the Magic Kingdom to the Ticket and Transportation Center and there are boat from many resorts to Downtown Disney.

Included in the price of your stay – You are already paying for it, why not use it?  I’m not picking on control freaks, but as our friend Elsa would say, “Let it go!”.  Put yourself in the capable hands of the Disney drivers and let yourself experience Disney’s world class hospitality.  Save the control for when you get back into the real world and just be a kid again on vacation.

Wine and Dine – Enjoy some wine with dinner, make the loop on the monorail pub crawl, enjoy tasting the exotic adult beverages along the World Showcase – I’m not saying you should overindulge, I’m just pointing out how convenient it is that Disney provides a designated driver for you.  So, when dessert has been ordered and the nice Italian server you have at Tutto Italia says, “You look like a limoncello fan to me” – feel free to say, “Yes, indeed!”

Complete, official deets on Disney transportation can be found here.

What do you like most about Disney Transportation?