We’re now boarding a piece of Disney history.

Our newest mode of transportation, Disney Skyliner, glimmers with a fresh coat of color up in the sky, carrying Guests between Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Epcot International Gateway and four resort hotels—Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, Disney’s Pop Century Resort, Disney’s Art of Animation Resort and Disney’s Riviera Resort, opening Dec. 16.

The station at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort connects Guests to all destinations across the map, with three separate lines departing from this hub of activity. While Guests have been anxiously awaiting their first flight as they’ve looked on Disney Skyliner taking shape in the sky, Cast Members have spent months training together and preparing to welcome Guests for departure.

“We want them to have the best experience possible. Relax, enjoy it, have fun, come back and ride it again,” exclaims Disney Skyliner coordinator Cathy Beolet, who came to the team from our highway in the sky—the Walt Disney World Resort Monorail System. “This is going to be another iconic part of our Guests’ Disney vacation experience.”

The aerial gondola system glides among the treetops, continuously flying Guests between each station, all specifically designed to fit the surrounding environment. Architect with Walt Disney Imagineering Jordan Matthews explains, “the Skyliner stations are the preludes for their destinations, serving as an introduction to our parks and resorts and initiating the storytelling experience.”

The cabins act as the connective thread between each station, featuring favorites such as Chewbacca with his porg pals, and the hitchhiking ghosts from The Haunted Mansion. Our Cast Members are delighted by the character-wrapped gondolas, as well the unwrapped cabins that come in iconic colors of Gondola Teal, Gondola Tangerine and Gondola Yellow. But no matter which cabin you board, you have plenty of opportunities to spot every special cabin along the way.

Our Guests are receiving a one-of-a-kind transportation experience, with cabins departing the stations every few seconds to take Guests on a memorable journey. “It’s definitely a breathtaking view, with incredible ambiance when you’re in the cabins,” says Disney Skyliner trainer and coordinator Ponpay Bounsengxay.

Disney Skyliner project manager Cliff Wilkinson—who has spent the majority of his 22 years at Walt Disney World Resort within Transportation Operations—describes his personal connection with our modes. “It’s amazing to see thousands of people coming out of the park or resort, and be able to move them so safely and efficiently to their destination. Sometimes they don’t even remember that they were transported from place to place at all.”

We’re thrilled to welcome Disney Skyliner to the Transportation family and are excited to continue the legacy of magically transporting Guests between their Disney destinations.

This story was published in Eyes & Ears, an internal Disney magazine.

With the phased reopening of our Disney Resort hotels at Walt Disney World Resort, we’re excited to welcome Guests back to the campground with a fresh new barn at Tri-Circle-D Ranch. Our animal care team continues to take great care of our horses, and are thrilled to share this magnificent milestone at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground.

The new stable features larger stalls for the horses, including 10 additional stalls – all equipped with automatic water stations. The barn is more than twice the size of the original barn with two tack rooms, a wedding harness room showcasing tack for Cinderella’s ponies and the return of the museum dedicated to Walt’s love of horses.

Along with the museum, our horses themselves brought an iconic piece of Disney history back to the barn—the 1907 Dragon Calliope. Walt Disney purchased the horse-drawn musical wagon for Disneyland Park in the 1950s, and it is currently on display at the campground.

But that’s not all that’s new at Tri-Circle-D Ranch! Last week, we shared the newest addition to our animal collection, Violet, a pony foal born right here at the new stable. Violet is already finding her independence as she plays around in the new pastures and enjoys running around with her mom, Elsa, for some quality bonding time.

The new ranch is a quick trot away from its original location, just around the corner from the bus loop by Pioneer Hall.

Happy trails!

This story was published on the Disney Parks Blog and the HUB.

From trick-or-treat trails to spooky character greetings, all of our Disney resorts offer frightfully fun activities for Guests staying throughout the Halloween season. Some of our Guests at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground participating in the annual golf cart parade saw the opportunity to draw inspiration from their surroundings for this year’s golf cart parade design. It’s out of this water-world!

“We try to replicate everything we see—try to do something different than everyone else,” Johnny Mack explained as he showed off his intricate ferry boat design. To stay true to the water craft, Johnny installed a smoke machine onto the golf cart and his wife handmade stickers to properly name the cruiser. Johnny’s family and their campground neighbors, John and Detra Tracy, have also designed carts replicating the big pumpkin with Jack Skellington, the food truck at the campground and even a monorail.

Both families, who became close friends after meeting at last year’s golf cart parade, have fond memories of riding the boats, all thanks to our kind Cast Members.

“We love going on the ferry because of the Cast Members. They make the trip,” Detra raved. “You meet so many people—everyone is so nice, Cast and Guests alike.”

We love to see our Guests participate in various resort activities and continue to be inspired by the magical experiences you create for them in the resorts and on our modes of transportation. No witchcraft around here—just lots of pixie dust!

This story was published on the HUB.