Disney Skyliner Gondola Construction Update March 2019

This is our Disney Skyliner Gondola Construction Update for March 2019 and as always we have lots of new things going on with the project around Disney World. Today we’re going to look at the details being added to the Hollywood Studios Skyliner station, construction updates for the Riviera Resort and a staging area for the Skyliner Gondolas.

If you aren’t familiar with the Disney Skyliner then it’s a new form of elevated cable car transportation coming to Disney World this summer which should help alleviate some of the traffic off the crowded roads going to the parks. Think the old Disney Skyway buckets.

We’re not going to talk about all the details in this post as we want to concentrate more on the construction of the Disney Skyliner and the improvements from month to month. You can read our post about the Skyliner for more general info like which resorts and parks it’s going to, etc.

In our last Disney Skyliner update we saw the gondola cars performing at high speeds and giving us an idea for how fast you might be able to get around property. Since then we’ve seen both covered gondola cars, and uncovered ones, but just the plain colored ones and not character ones that are uncovered.

Before we show you all the Skyliner updates for March, we want to thank as always @bioreconstruct over on Twitter for all the amazing aerial photos, which are the best around property.  Seeing things from above is always eye-opening! Let’s see all the new things so far in March…

I’m constantly updating this post so you can scroll down for the latest pictures:

We start our journey in Epcot at the International Gateway where the north-most Skyliner station is located so far:

Some of the decorative work on this iron frame has been removed since last time, but they may just be fitting it and will put it back up.

Down from the Epcot station is the “turn station” as they are calling it right now:

This station will be used in the future as the connecting point from the current phase one Disney Skyliner locations, to future ones in phase 2, 3 etc. (Why do I feel like Kevin Feige all of a sudden?)

Recently a steel staircase was installed at the turn station, giving easy access to the top for maintenance workers:

There are stairs on both sides and before you could only reach the top level with scaffolding:

Here at the turn station you can see a bright green Skyliner gondola car is parked and waiting to be tested:

It’s hard to make out which characters are under the cover, but someone definitely is! If you can see who they are, write me in the comments section below and tell me:

Where are all the Skyliner gondola cars hiding when not at the station? At one of the staging areas for the tracks for two new roller coasters, you can see Disney is also holding the skyliner buckets:

Probably to wait until they have more room to put them on the track with the others.

Let’s leave the turn station and head down to the next stations on the line:

The Disney Skyliner will stop at the Disney Riviera Resort next which is still under construction, but coming along nicely:

The resort has reached its max height and the roof is even getting put on. This will be a great location as you’ll be able to look right into Epcot and see the fireworks at night, and also from the other side see Hollywood Studios:

Being on the Skyliner line will make travel to and from the Riviera Resort super easy.

Here’s what it will look like when finished:

and here is the concept art for the Disney Skyliner station there:

The Riviera Resort is also going to have a signature rooftop restaurant themed to Mickey Mouse, where you’ll be able to see all those fireworks shows. Read our full breakdown on the Riviera rooms and prices for more details on the resort.

Once you leave the Riviera Resort you head down to the Caribbean Beach station.

This will be the main Disney Skyliner station where you will get out and change gondolas depending on where you would like to go next. Plus most of the Skyliner gondola cars will be kept here.

Look at how many fit back there! It’s close to 200 by my count…

Construction looks good on the station with the exterior pretty much all done and the holding area in the back basically finished too.

From the Caribbean Beach station we take the long line through the trees and over into Hollywood Studios:

Once you clear the trees you’ll have to cross the huge parking lot there. Here we can see some gondola cars being tested as this has been the hotspot for all the testing lately:

Let’s check out the Hollywood Studios station now which sits in the shadow of the Tower of Terror!

The station is starting to look really good and is keeping in theme with the same blue, teal and orange colors of Hollywood Studios:

The style is really similar to and makes you think back to the Art Deco style of the 30’s and 40’s:

Roof details are currently being added to the tops of the columns:

I hear the Galaxy’s Edge money is eating into the budget for the Skyliner and they can only afford to do one side…?

That’s it so far this month, but keep checking back as we’ll be posting more soon…

The Disney Skyliner doesn’t have an exact opening date yet, but it’s now looking like a Summer 2019 date is sure.  Things have to be finished by the time Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge opens up which is August 29. The Disney Skyliner has to open before that and they need some time to get everything right before the masses arrive so I would expect somewhere around June if everything move smoothly.

Be sure to check out our Walt Disney World Construction Updates post for more progress on all the projects going on around Disney World as we continue to bring you the latest!

Other Disney World Construction Updates:

• Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure Construction Update (March 2019) – Work on the Front Facade
• Star Wars Hotel Update (March 2019) – First Foundation Pour for Buildings
• Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge Update (March 2019) – New Spaceship Areas Installed
• TRON Roller Coaster Update (March 2018) – Staging Area for Coaster Track Set Up
• Illuminations Fireworks Replacement Epcot (March 2019) – Construction on Islands and Underwater in World Showcase Lagoon
• Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy (March 2019) – Signs Up and Character Meet Ready

Your Thoughts:

I want to know what you think about the progress on Disney Skyliner Construction for March 2019…

• Are you excited for the Disney Skyliner?
• Which design is your favorite?

Let us know in the comments section below!

If you enjoyed this article, as always I appreciate it if you’d share it with others via social media.  I work hard at making this website into a useful resource for you and your family to plan your visit to the Disney Parks and I hope it can help you! Thanks 🙂

Photos: @Bioreconstruct