Walt Disney World will shut the Skyliner gondola system for routine upkeep in 2027. This submit covers refurbishment dates and particulars, why we wouldn’t guide an impacted lodge, really helpful resort alternate options–plus why it’s nice to see Disney “repair” the shortage of discover offered previously.
We need to begin with kudos to Walt Disney World for offering ample advance discover of this routine refurbishment. The 2026 Skyliner closure was introduced again in mid-April of this 12 months. Now, the 2027 closure is being scheduled a full sixteen (16) months upfront. That is the way it must be completed.
Notably, this stands in sharp distinction to final 12 months’s closure, which was introduced on October 25, 2023–lower than 3 months upfront and lengthy after most company had booked lodge reservations. That last-minute closure brought about frustration amongst Walt Disney World trip planners, a lot of whom premium pricing to remain at Skyliner resorts…to make use of the Skyliner. Clearly!
It’s nice to see the corporate announce this Skyliner refurbishment comparatively early, lengthy earlier than 2027 Walt Disney World trip packages are even out there for reserving. Kudos to Disney on listening to visitor suggestions and shifting this announcement ahead.
The final closure by no means ought to’ve been introduced as late as October within the first place. Nonetheless, we had been extremely crucial of that tardy discover, so it’s solely acceptable to supply reward after they hearken to visitor suggestions and repair points.
This routine downtime of the “Most Magical Flight on Earth” impacts all the Skyliner routes and resorts in January 2027.
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) through 5 stations.
The Skyliner will get preventative upkeep nearly yearly at about the identical time nearly yearly, the length of which and method (all strains directly or in phases) has assorted from 12 months to 12 months. The excellent news is that the 2027 closure is as soon as once more comparatively temporary–it’s one of many shortest closures that Disney and Doppelmayr have completed because the Skyliner gondolas opened.
Right here’s the announcement from Walt Disney World:
Sometimes, sure upkeep is required to maintain our facilities and choices up to date. As a part of these efforts, from January 24, 2027, by way of January 30, 2027, Disney Skyliner will likely be closed for refurbishment. Complimentary bus service will likely be out there.
Throughout the Skyliner refurbishment, Walt Disney World will supply bus service between the impacted inns and the parks. Hopefully, this implies elevated frequency, as our previous expertise utilizing and testing bus routes between the Skyliner resorts and parks left rather a lot to be desired.
Trying ahead to early 2028, an identical Skyliner closure throughout roughly the identical date vary is feasible–maybe possible. However as this 12 months demonstrates, there’s no assure of that. It’s additionally potential that Disney and Doppelmayr will be capable of do preventative upkeep after hours.
Since previous precedent suggests that is annual preventative upkeep for the Skyliner, listed here are historic dates for the gondolas refurbishment:
- Winter 2027: Skyliner system-wide closure January 24-30, 2027
- Winter 2026: Skyliner system-wide closure January 25-31, 2026
- 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 response to the DTB Archives, the 2021-2023 closures had been all introduced between early Might and mid-August. However our view is that 2026-2027 have established precedent, which is to announce dates earlier than the annual product launch. So not essentially ~10-16 months, however greater than 3-6 months!
Our sturdy advice could be to not keep in a Skyliner resort through the late January refurbishment in 2026 or 2027. The explanation for that is fairly easy: all the Skyliner resorts have a major pricing premium because of the gondola service.
That week tends to be a slower time at Walt Disney World for crowds, so we’re not suggesting that you just keep away from touring that week (on the contrary, the dates in query come shut to creating our record of the Greatest Weeks to Go to Walt Disney World in 2026 & 2027). Simply that you just keep away from staying in Skyliner resorts throughout these dates.
One other factor to notice is that though crowds are usually low to average in late January, lodge occupancy is excessive. In truth, this has turn out to be some of the widespread instances of the 12 months for on-site resorts, which is mirrored in availability. Clearly, you could have loads of time to get your geese in a row for 2027 (clearly, since bookings aren’t even open), however we’d advocate reserving Winter 2026 ASAP. Ideally, earlier than the following spherical of particular presents is launched.
When you would possibly assume it’s inconceivable to quantify what every amenity truly contributes to the rack charges at every resort, this isn’t merely conjecture on our half. Except for Riviera, all the different inns pre-date the Skyliner, so it’s completely potential to trace their pricing each earlier than and after the Skyliner.
Each single lodge has gone up in worth since 2019. That is true each by way of rack charges and in relation to efficient pricing after reductions. The 2 largest ‘offenders’ in all of Walt Disney World by way of share price will increase are Pop Century and Caribbean Seaside. That is notably pronounced at Caribbean Seaside, which went from being certainly one of Walt Disney World’s extra aggressively discounted resorts to being some of the widespread.
One frequent query we get at any time when the subject of the Skyliner refurbishment comes up is whether or not Walt Disney World will supply extra aggressive reductions throughout these dates at impacted resorts. To this point, the reply has been a powerful NO! That is the most affordable rack charge timeframe and highest occupancy season, and people two components colliding imply that these resorts are more likely to promote out with out deeper reductions resulting from Skyliner downtime.
The value distinction between Caribbean Seaside and Coronado Springs or Port Orleans Riverside is typically over $100 per night time. Not normally through the winter charge season, nevertheless it does occur (it’ll most likely be extra like a $30-40/night time distinction after reductions).
This didn’t was the case–one of many causes we began reserving CBR was that it was usually the most affordable Reasonable, with Coronado Springs being priciest as a result of it was the “conference resort.” Now, I’ve been capable of rating Gran Destino Tower once in a while for about the identical quantity as Caribbean Seaside–or the outer buildings for a lot much less.
There are parallels between Caribbean Seaside and Coronado Springs–each added fancy towers and upscale facilities–so the distinction maker appears to be the Skyliner. The outer buildings at Coronado Springs haven’t gone up an excessive amount of in worth and supply nice bang for buck. Not solely that, however they’re regularly deeply discounted and slower to guide up.
Level being, if you happen to’re visiting Walt Disney World through the Skyliner closure, we advocate staying elsewhere. Observe that this advice solely applies to Disney’s Riviera Resort, Caribbean Seaside, Pop Century, and Artwork of Animation.
Disney’s Yacht & Seaside Membership Resorts, BoardWalk Inn, Swan & Dolphin, and Swan Reserve are technically serviced by the Skyliner at EPCOT’s Worldwide Gateway. So you could possibly take that to Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and we all know many company who do.
We’d by no means advocate doing that. Strolling to Worldwide Gateway after which transferring at Caribbean Seaside after which taking the Skyliner to Disney’s Hollywood Studios is normally slower than taking a ship or strolling. Belief us, we’ve completed a head-to-head “race.” Our most well-liked type of transportation is our ft, which tends to be probably the most direct, dependable, and constant–albeit additionally probably the most tiring. Your mileage might range.
The plain various is the lodge we’ve already been discussing all through this submit: Coronado Springs.
The largest draw back of Coronado Springs is the all-bus transportation, and one of many few causes we hesitate to advocate that Reasonable 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 company wanting on the Reasonable Resort tier–pricing–Coronado normally wins handily thanks to raised low cost availability. With the cash saved staying at Coronado Springs, you’ll be able to simply afford a few Ubers or Lyfts per day (or perhaps a Minnie Van!) to get pleasure from actually environment friendly point-to-point transportation.
In terms of different Worth Resorts, the apparent alternate options are the All Stars. Usually, my go-to is All Star Sports activities. Coronado Springs and All Star Sports activities are the inns the place I keep greater than wherever else, largely resulting from 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.
I hesitate a bit to advocate All Star Sports activities as enthusiastically as a result of late January would possibly have some group bookings for ESPN Vast World of Sports activities youth occasions. At present, nothing is on the calendar for 2026 or 2027, nevertheless it’s too early for the latter to have something scheduled. Normally, the massive cheer and dance competitions are a bit later, so that you’re most likely “secure” with these dates in both 12 months.
The purpose is that All Star Music is much less more likely 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 Reasonable Resorts. Discounted charges at one of many Port Orleans Resorts or Coronado Springs are sometimes very enticing, 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 normally among the many final resorts at Walt Disney World to refill (a part of the rationale why I guide 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 12 months. Besides when it’s down for refurbishment or extra more likely 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 essential.
For many who go to Walt Disney World commonly all through or throughout totally different months of the 12 months, our excellent instances to remain at Skyliner resorts are November by way of Might. Clearly, minus this week-long stretch in late 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.
Planning a Walt Disney World journey? Find out about inns on our Walt Disney World Motels Opinions web page. For the place to eat, learn our Walt Disney World Restaurant Opinions. To economize on tickets or decide which kind to purchase, learn our Ideas for Saving Cash on Walt Disney World Tickets submit. Our What to Pack for Disney Journeys submit takes a singular have a look at intelligent objects to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Journey Guides will assist. For complete recommendation, the very best place to begin is our Walt Disney World Journey Planning Information for every thing you have to know!
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 24, 2027 by way of January 30, 2027? Are you a fan of the gondolas, or do you like a special ‘sort’ of resort? What has been the nice, unhealthy, or ugly for you? Any points with Skyliner downtime throughout storm season? What about buses as alternate options from these resorts? Do you agree or disagree with our evaluation? Different ideas or considerations? Any questions we might help you reply? Listening to your suggestions–even if you disagree with us–is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!
