Disney Skyliner (Gondolas) Plus Minnie Vans Announced as New Transportation

We have talking about the gondolas coming to Walt Disney World for months and tonight during the Disney Parks & Resorts panel they were confirmed. The new transportation system will be called the Disney Skyliner.

The new transportation system will as previously reported connect Disney's Art of Animation, Disney's Pop Century, Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort, Disney's Hollywood Studios, and the International Gateway at Epcot. 

As seen in the concept art above, the gondolas will feature many of our favorite Disney characters as we travel around the Walt Disney World Resort. Construction has already begun on the towers at each station location for the Disney Skyliner. It is expected to be completed by 2019. 

This wasn't the only new form of transportation that was announced during the panel as the new Minnie Van Uber-like service was revealed.

“Since we’re all about exceeding guest expectations and making every aspect of your vacation uniquely Disney, we’re creating a new point-to-point transportation service in a way that only Disney can do,” Bob Chapek, President of Walt Disney Parks & Resorts said.

The Minnie vehicles will take you everywhere you want to go at the Walt Disney World Resort, and you’ll ride in Minnie’s classic style, in a Minnie-inspired Chevy Traverse. This new Minnie Van service is expected begin testing later this month at Disney's Boardwalk and Yacht Club Resorts. 

The service will cost $20 per car per trip and once tested will expand to several other locations throughout Walt Disney World.

Source: Disney Parks Blog

Gondola Transportation System Just May be Coming to Walt Disney World

Last month, a well-known Disney news site uncovered what appeared to be a permit filed by Walt Disney Imagineering for a new transportation system. Many laughed it off and said it would just be too expensive for Disney to invest in at Walt Disney World. Then this past Friday, a "Notice of Commencement" was filed for the construction and infrastructure at 6 different locations that would correspond to the gondola's route.

The locations are located at Disney's Hollywood Studios, the International Gateway at Epcot, a station between Art of Animation and Disney's Pop Century, a station at Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort, a turn at the intersection near Buena Vista Dr. and Epcot Resorts Blvd. near the Speedway Gas Station, and a turn near Disney's Caribbean Beach Property. You can see the list hear along with a diagram of the route.

The "Notice of Commencement" is typically means that construction is set to begin soon, the plan Disney has in mind supposedly to have the new transportation system be completed for Magic Kingdom's 50th Anniversary in 4 years in 2021.

We should get a general feel with what they are building in the next few months once construction begins. We also should get an official announcement you would think in the coming weeks. What do you think about the Gondola transportation system that appears to be coming to Walt Disney World.