Tuesday night at EPCOT ended with a bit more drama than anyone expected—not because of an over-the-top fireworks display, but thanks to the Disney Skyliner grinding to an unexpected halt.
Guests hoping for a breezy ride back to their resorts were met instead with confusion and inconvenience as Disney shut down the Skyliner before its posted closing time. While it’s not unusual for transportation hiccups to happen now and then, this one caught many off guard.
One guest took to social media to describe how the whole experience unfolded. They were waiting patiently in the ever-lengthening line at the International Gateway station when, without much warning, cast members began turning folks away. The reasoning? Vague mechanical issues. That left a sea of tired parkgoers rerouted back through security and hoofing it to the front of the park to join the already jam-packed bus lines.
And that wasn’t the only Skyliner strangeness of the night. Another guest who did manage to board reported a trip filled with those awkward, drawn-out pauses mid-flight—the kind where you find yourself nervously checking your phone and wondering if you’ll need to call for a rescue. While they eventually made it to their hotel, the journey was anything but magical.
The Disney Skyliner, since opening in 2019, has mostly delivered smooth rides with unbeatable views, giving guests a unique (and often faster) way to travel around Walt Disney World. Still, even the most cutting-edge systems can have off nights, and Tuesday was certainly one of them.
While Disney has yet to officially comment on the cause of the issue, the timing couldn’t be more inconvenient for guests. The next scheduled refurbishment isn’t until January 2026, and some are left wondering if the popular system needs a little more TLC before then.
For now, the incident serves as a good reminder to parkgoers—always be ready for a plan B. Because even at Disney, when the Skyliner takes an unexpected turn, your night might end with an extra-long bus ride and some very tired feet.
