Disney Skyliner has undergone routine maintenance at the end of January for the last two years. In 2022, it was down for maintenance from January 23rd through January 28th. In 2023, it was closed from January 22nd through January 29th.

The Disney Skyliner is remarkably reliable, operating with about 99% uptime, but it does experience two types of downtime: planned and weather-related. Every year in late January (typically around Jan 25–31), the system shuts down for a week of scheduled "annual refurbishment" to inspect cables and mechanical parts. On a daily basis, the Skyliner must shut down whenever there is lightning in the area or high winds (usually sustained winds over 30 mph). Because Florida has frequent afternoon thunderstorms, especially in the summer, it is common for the Skyliner to go down for 60 to 90 minutes in the late afternoon. When this happens, Disney immediately deploys "Skyliner Replacement" buses to transport guests between the resorts (Riviera, Caribbean Beach, Pop Century, Art of Animation) and the parks (Epcot, Hollywood Studios). If you see dark clouds or hear thunder, it is wise to head for the bus stop rather than the gondola station to avoid being stuck in a long line when the system pauses.