Amazing Disney: New Experiences at Disney

Some Disney fans may remember the Skyway that used to transport WDW guests across the Magic Kingdom between Tomorrowland and Fantasyland.  The Skyway was closed in 1999, but rumors have circulated since about February that Disney might be attempting to revive the concept!  This week, we hear news that these rumors have been confirmed but not necessarily in the same way.  

The plans for Disney's new gondola system appears to be a method for transporting guests between Caribbean Beach Resort/Pop Century/Art of Animation to Epcot and Hollywood Studios.  Word on the street suggests that each gondola will have space to carry up to 10 people allowing guests with strollers and scooters access to the gondolas as well.  The gondolas will move continuously allowing a possible transportation for up to 4500 guests per hour.  The detachable gondola lift system was designed by Austrian company, Doppelmayr, who has designed similar gondola systems for various ski resorts worldwide.  According to their website, the gondolas could reach speeds up to 6 miles per hour.  No word on how long construction will take or whether there are plans to expand the gondola system to other reaches of Disney property.  Unlike the Skyway, which was more of an attraction in Magic Kingdom, this does not appear to be a ride, but purely a means of transportation between resorts and parks.  However, between this news and the new inside-the-park express transportation, Disney seems to be attempting to address on-going complaints of Disney internal transportation which doesn't seem to have kept up with Disney's modern-day crowds.  

These signs are starting to pop up in the parks!  Express transportation is now available in the WDW parks.  Guests with park-hopper tickets can pay $15.00/person ($24.00/person for a multi-day ticket, good for 7 days) to use Disney's Express Transportation.  Buses pick up in designated areas inside the park and transport you to other Disney parks using the backstage roads connecting the parks.  Best of all, you get to skip security and the main gates.  Buses run every 30 minutes beginning at 10:00 a.m.  If you want to read a more thorough review of the system, check it out here!










There are BIG things coming to Animal Kingdom in May and the Mermaids are getting really excited!  For many people, AK is viewed as more of a "half-day park" meaning you can experience most of the excitement of Animal Kingdom in a few hours and then hop to another park or head back to your resort.  But that might be changing.  In February, Disney opened Rivers of Light, the first nighttime spectacular for Animal Kingdom.  Now, people have a REAL reason to stay in the park until after dark.  Even more exciting is the upcoming opening of Pandora:  The World of AVATAR based on James Cameron's 2009 film Avatar.  The attraction will bring two new rides, a new quick-service restaurant, and the awe-inspiring floating mountains.  Pandora is set to open on May 27th and to celebrate Disney will extend AK park hours to 11 p.m. with extra magic hours pushing that further to 1 a.m. from May 27th to July 4th.  The Mermaids hope to plan a trip to experience Pandora soon so stay here for more!