Walt Disney World will as soon as once more shut the Skyliner gondola system for upkeep in 2026. This submit covers refurbishment dates and particulars, why we wouldn’t e book an impacted lodge, really useful resort options–plus why this strongly suggests there’ll not be scheduled downtime in 2025.
This routine downtime of the “Most Magical Flight on Earth” impacts the entire Skyliner routes and resorts. These gondolas service two Walt Disney World theme parks (Hollywood Studios and Epcot) plus 4 resorts (Artwork of Animation & Pop Century, Caribbean Seaside, plus Riviera Resort & Caribbean Seaside once more) by way of 5 stations.
The Skyliner will get preventative upkeep virtually yearly at about the identical time virtually yearly, the length of which and method (all strains without delay or in phases) has diverse from yr to yr. The excellent news is that the 2026 closure is the downtime is comparatively transient–it’s one of many shortest closures that Disney and Doppelmayr have executed because the Skyliner gondolas opened.
Right here’s the announcement from Walt Disney World:
Occasionally, sure upkeep is required to maintain our facilities and choices up to date. As a part of these efforts, from January 25, 2026 by way of January 31, 2026, Disney Skyliner will probably be closed for refurbishment.
Throughout the Skyliner refurbishment, Walt Disney World will supply bus service between the impacted motels and the parks. Hopefully, this implies elevated frequency, as our previous expertise utilizing and testing bus routes between the Skyliner resorts and parks left loads to be desired.
Wanting ahead to early 2027, an identical Skyliner closure throughout roughly the identical date vary is feasible–maybe possible. However as this yr demonstrates, there’s no assure of that. It’s additionally attainable that Disney and Doppelmayr will have the ability to do preventative upkeep after hours.
Since previous precedent suggests that is annual preventative upkeep for the Skyliner, listed below are historic dates for the gondolas refurbishment:
- Winter 2025: No closure
- Winter 2024: Routes in phases from January 16-26.
- Winter 2023: Skyliner system-wide closure January 22-29.
- Winter 2022: Skyliner system-wide closure January 23-28.
- Winter 2021: Skyliner particular person routes closed for single-day downtime between January 24 and 28.
- Winter 2020: No Skyliner closure–it was only some months previous!
In keeping with the DTB Archives, the 2021-2023 closures have been all introduced between early Might and mid-August. The 2024 closure was introduced on October 25, 2023.
That late closure announcement triggered a whole lot of frustration amongst Walt Disney World trip planners, so it’s nice to see Walt Disney World announce this Skyliner refurbishment comparatively early, earlier than 2026 trip packages are even accessible for reserving. Kudos to Disney on listening to visitor suggestions and transferring this announcement ahead. (Though it by no means ought to’ve been as late as October within the first place.)
The late discover additionally triggered trepidation with 2025 trip planners, which led to us providing a heads up final summer season in regards to the possible winter refurbishment in mild of historic precedent. As you’ll be able to see from the above, this was flawed–there was no refurbishment. Though we offered an replace in November suggesting that it was too late for one to be scheduled and upkeep downtime was unlikely to be wanted in 2025, some Walt Disney World planners anxious it had been pushed to August, September, or another slower time of yr.
This could supply pretty definitive affirmation (or at the least, pretty much as good as we’re going to get) that Walt Disney World will NOT shut the Skyliner for refurbishment at any level in 2025.
Clearly, unplanned downtime remains to be attainable–as is pressing upkeep that will get added to the schedule on the final minute. However neither of these are possible or something that may be deliberate round. A scheduled week-long refurbishment is unlikely for the straightforward cause that it might’ve been added to the calendar earlier than the 2026 closure. So that you’re within the clear if you wish to e book a Skyliner resort throughout storm season for some cause!
To every their very own, however our suggestion could be to not keep in a Skyliner resort throughout the refurbishment. The rationale for that is fairly easy: the entire Skyliner resorts have a major pricing premium because of the gondola service.
That week tends to be a gradual time at Walt Disney World, so we’re not suggesting that you simply keep away from touring that week (on the contrary, the dates in query come shut to creating our record of the Finest Weeks to Go to Walt Disney World in 2026). Simply that you simply keep away from staying in Skyliner resorts throughout these dates.
Whilst you may suppose it’s unimaginable to quantify what every amenity truly contributes to the rack charges at every resort, this isn’t merely conjecture on our half. Except Riviera, the entire different motels pre-date the Skyliner, so it’s completely attainable to trace their pricing each earlier than and after the Skyliner.
Each single lodge has gone up in value since 2019. That is true each when it comes to rack charges and on the subject of efficient pricing after reductions. Nonetheless, not all resorts have gone up by equal increments.
The 2 largest ‘offenders’ in all of Walt Disney World when it comes to share price will increase are Pop Century and Caribbean Seaside. That is significantly pronounced at Caribbean Seaside, which went from being considered one of Walt Disney World’s extra aggressively discounted resorts to at least one that’s usually excluded from particular provides or in one of many lower-tiers of financial savings.
There have been occasions when the value distinction between Caribbean Seaside and Coronado Springs or Port Orleans Riverside is over $100 per evening. This didn’t was once the case–one of many causes we began reserving CBR was that it was usually the most affordable Average, with Coronado Springs being priciest as a result of it was the “conference resort.” Now, I’ve been capable of rating Gran Destino Tower now and again for about the identical quantity as Caribbean Seaside–or the outer buildings for a lot much less.
It’s attainable that this isn’t completely attributable to the Skyliner. Disney’s Caribbean Seaside Resort additionally had a large reimagining previous to the Skyliner’s debut, which doubtless was not totally mirrored in its pricing by late 2019. Possibly the low menu costs for that superb family-style feast at Sebastian’s Bistro are sponsored by increased room charges!
Furthermore, the addition of Disney’s Riviera Resort–whereas arguably including visible blight and lowering the seclusion and ambiance at Caribbean Seaside–expanded the slate of Barefoot Bay facilities and added each Signature and character eating inside strolling distance.
But it surely’s tough to “blame” the value improve on that, as Coronado Springs bought an identical enhance from Gran Destino Tower, and people outer buildings haven’t gone up in value. Not solely that, however they’re ceaselessly deeply discounted and slower to e book up. So in all probability, Caribbean Seaside’s pricing is because of the demand-induced by the Skyliner. Identical goes for Pop Century. (It could be an identical story with Artwork of Animation, however these rooms began from a a lot increased baseline and the household suites have confirmed to be much less common over time.)
Suffice to say, in case you’re visiting Walt Disney World throughout the Skyliner closure, we suggest staying elsewhere. The plain various is the lodge we’ve already been discussing all through this submit: Coronado Springs. That Average Resort added the Deluxe-caliber Gran Destino Tower to its grounds, bringing lots of the similar improved facilities that Caribbean Seaside noticed added with Riviera Resort.
The most important draw back of Coronado Springs is the all-bus transportation, and one of many few causes we hesitate to suggest that Average Resort to these reliant upon Disney transportation to get round. That drawback clearly nonetheless exists, however throughout that timeframe it’ll exist at Caribbean Seaside, too.
In most different regards, Coronado Springs surpasses Caribbean Seaside at this level. The place it actually issues for many friends trying on the Average Resort tier–pricing–Coronado often wins handily thanks to higher low cost availability. With the cash saved staying at Coronado Springs, you’ll be able to simply afford a few rideshares per day–or perhaps a good meal up at Toledo!
In terms of different Worth Resorts, the apparent options are the All Stars. Usually, my go-to is All Star Sports activities. Coronado Springs and All Star Sports activities are the motels the place I keep greater than anyplace else, largely as a consequence of reductions. I’ve been singing the praises of All Star Sports activities for some time, most notably in My Favourite Resort for Low-cost Disney World Weekend Getaways, which covers its strengths. Suffice to say, All Star Sports activities punches above its weight and is a surprisingly well-managed resort.
Nonetheless, I hesitate a bit to suggest All Star Sports activities as enthusiastically as a result of late January may have some group bookings for ESPN Extensive World of Sports activities youth occasions. At the moment, nothing is on the calendar. But it surely’s nonetheless very early. It’s a certain factor that occasions will probably be added for Winter 2026; the one query is whether or not they’ll coincide with these dates. Normally, the massive cheer and dance competitions are a bit later.
The purpose is that All Star Music is much less prone to host these teams than All Star Sports activities, so staying at Music is an efficient hedge towards youth occasions. An alternative choice is upgrading to one of many Average Resorts. Discounted charges at one of many Port Orleans Resorts or Coronado Springs are sometimes very engaging, particularly within the winter months. You possibly can all the time begin out by reserving All Star Music and switching to Sports activities later if there’s no ESPN WWoS occasion. When Sports activities isn’t internet hosting youth groups, it’s often among the many final resorts at Walt Disney World to refill (a part of the explanation why I e book it so usually on the last-minute).
In the end, we nonetheless completely love the gondolas and would select one of many Skyliner resorts over their counterparts nearly any time of yr. Besides when it’s down for refurbishment or extra prone to be impacted by storm season. Even the latter doesn’t make it a non-starter (the monorail additionally isn’t 100% dependable!), it simply makes consciousness of the climate extra vital.
For individuals who go to Walt Disney World usually all through or throughout completely different months of the yr, our excellent occasions to remain at Skyliner resorts are November by way of Might. Clearly, minus this week-long stretch in January. As a matter of private choice, we’d most likely additionally take away the vacation season. Not as a result of there’s any subject with the Skyliner then–on the contrary, that crisp breeze feels even nicer–however as a result of not one of the Skyliner resorts get decked out for Christmas all that impressively.
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YOUR THOUGHTS
Would you pay premium pricing to remain at Caribbean Seaside, Pop Century, Artwork of Animation, or Riviera Resort whereas the Skyliner is closed for refurbishment from January 25, 2026 by way of January 31, 2026? Are you a fan of the gondolas, or do you like a special ‘sort’ of resort? Have you ever used the Skyliners at Walt Disney World lately? What has been the great, dangerous, or ugly for you? Any points with Skyliner downtime throughout storm season? What about buses as options from these resorts? Do you agree or disagree with our evaluation? Different ideas or considerations? Any questions we will help you reply? Listening to your suggestions–even whenever you disagree with us–is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!
