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Does the Skyliner run in a storm?

Does the Skyliner close if it rains? During storms or high winds, or if lightning has been detected nearby, the Disney Skyliner does close. When that happens, bus transportation will be provided.



No, the Disney Skyliner is strictly grounded during severe weather, specifically when there is lightning in the area or when sustained winds exceed a certain safety threshold (typically 31 mph). Because the gondolas are suspended by a single cable system, they are susceptible to high-wind swaying, which can be dangerous for riders. In 2026, Disney’s weather monitoring systems are highly sensitive; if a thunderstorm is detected within a certain radius, the system will systematically "clear the line" of passengers and close until the storm passes. If the Skyliner is closed, Disney will immediately activate a backup bus service to transport guests between the affected resorts (Riviera, Caribbean Beach, Pop Century, and Art of Animation) and the parks (EPCOT and Hollywood Studios). These closures are common during the Florida summer rainy season. It is always wise to check the "Disney Skyliner" status on the My Disney Experience app or look at the signs at the resort stations before you head out, as a sudden storm can turn your 10-minute "flight" into a 30-minute bus ride.

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Even when there are posted open hours for Skyliner, operations may temporarily cease for weather issues, notably high winds or severe lightning. If the Skyliner is not operating, you can use alternate transportation such as WDW's free bus system.

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This probably seems obvious, but the weather can and does affect the Skyliner and how it operates. When it's raining hard or storming, it can close down completely. This is especially true if there is lightning!

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Disney Skyliner at Walt Disney World will be closing for a brief annual refurbishment in early 2024. The gondola transportation system will be closed January 16 through January 21 2024.

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Like the Disney Skyliner, rain won't necessarily make the boats stop running, but lightning definitely will.

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If you just want to ride the Skyliner for fun, you will have to get off at a destination—you cannot just stay on through a station—but you can usually just walk right back on going the other way. Of course, during peak times (park closing, particularly) this might be a bad idea.

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While the Skyliner is generally a very reliable system, there are a few times it will be closed. First, weather may impact operations of the gondola system. High winds and rain will temporarily suspend travel. And, of course, there have been a few “crashes” of gondola cars at the stations.

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Everywhere You Can Dine on the Skyliner. Just like with the buses, boats, and monorail, anyone visiting Walt Disney World can use the Disney Skyliner. And, you don't have to be staying at one of the Skyliner resorts to ride it, either.

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Once on board, you get pretty high up, and being above the tree line in some cases fools your mind into thinking you're REALLY high up. It's 60 feet up in the air–or about 5 1/2 stories.

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The Water Parks When it Rains at Disney World They will close down the rides for thunder and lightning. The park will still be open so you can shop or eat. You can check out this video of Elsa and I doing the Slush Gusher at Blizzard Beach in a hard downpour.

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The truth is, when it is rainy outside, the parks will be a lot less busy. So if you can handle it, you will often find that you can get a lot done during a storm. But, if you prefer to stay totally out of the rain, there are other things you can do on property that are still a lot of fun.

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Transportation. Avoid Boats and the Skyliner: Stick to buses or the monorail as boat and Skyliner service may be limited or completely unavailable in bad weather. Expect Delays: Inclement weather can slow down all forms of Disney transportation.

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