Disney Skyliner (Gondola Transportation System) Read Post 1 Now Open!

[ELLH]

Disney Skyliner Travel Times Between Resorts and Theme Parks Revealed

So, assuming no delays at CBR, travel times from POP/AoA to
HS = ~12-13 minutes
Epcot IG = ~21 minutes


Google results generally indicate travel time via Disney bus is about 15-25 minutes to either park from AoA depending on traffic. (Note: this is not accounting for load/unload or waiting for transportation to arrive times).

So, as far as actual travel time goes from AoA/POP the gondolas' times are in line with what you would expect of the buses. But, based on what folks are saying about the quick loading nature of the gondolas, you'd save that 0-20 minute bus-wait time which is a nice chunk of time both ways. Now, where the gondolas drop you off vs the bus drop off would be a factor, too... I actually like that they drop you off at IG in Epcot; but that may change when everyone else is going that direction, too. Still, there's only a handful of resorts that will have these gondolas so all the others' are dumping attendees at the main security. I guess this really all is to say: time will tell how much more efficient and faster the gondolas are vs the bus system from a travel perspective.

 

[CarolynFH]

Regardless of what level of comfort the cabins provide, I'm positive that some people will ride these and say it's perfectly fine and others will ride these and say it was unbearable and they were lucky to escape with their lives.

Based on past experiences with uncomfortable transportation, I'm expecting these to be more comfortable than a parking tram ride or the Kilimanjaro Safari - neither of which have air conditioning, but I have survived several rides.

I also think just the continuous nature of them will have a big positive impact on people. Nothing worse than at at long day at the parks to have to wait in the heat and humidity for severla buses to come and go before you get on one

Liking y’all’s posts wasn’t enough. I have to say I fully agree with both of you.

 

[Firebird060]

All i know is that it will prob be the same time frame to walk to Hollywood Studios from IG as it is to ride get off and transfer to the Hollywood studios line.

 

[Weedy]

I was just on a Dopplemayr system 300 feet high over open ocean with waves big enough to be visibly rocking the freighter ships anchored near by. The system is open to people in wheelchairs and I saw a group of about 100 senior citizens getting on it. There is literally no part of Disney's system that is new or challenging from a evac point of view. Of course, you have to train and certify people locally and get the equipment, but that shouldn't take an additional 6 months on top of the two years this thing has been in construction.

Where were you? Any pictures??

 

[Mikey15]

All i know is that it will prob be the same time frame to walk to Hollywood Studios from IG as it is to ride get off and transfer to the Hollywood studios line.

Ballpark, yes. Basically comes down to how fast you walk. It's almost exactly 1 mile even cutting through Boardwalk, so to get down under 20 minutes, you're walking >3mph. If Skyliner comes in closer to 15 minutes, you'd have to walk ~4mph to beat it. In my experience, the way most people walk around Disney, they wouldn't even average the 3mph.

 

[Dr.Mickey]

Where were you? Any pictures??

So, here is a screenshot of my phone and a rather interesting ad placement, LOL.

You said, “Any Pictures?”, and this is what I saw. Wow, that is an awesome gondola right there!

 

[NotUrsula]

If this was already posted, please forgive me, but this closeup series of photos of the cabin ventilation was posted on WDWNT yesterday:

https://wdwnt.com/2019/04/photos-di...dola-interior-passive-ventilation-technology/

 

[Firebird060]

Ballpark, yes. Basically comes down to how fast you walk. It's almost exactly 1 mile even cutting through Boardwalk, so to get down under 20 minutes, you're walking >3mph. If Skyliner comes in closer to 15 minutes, you'd have to walk ~4mph to beat it. In my experience, the way most people walk around Disney, they wouldn't even average the 3mph.

Its already a 21 Minute ride on the gondola not counting transfer times, I do understand it is supposed to be a constantly moving system but there will be at least a small wait or walk to transfer from one line to another. In saying that although I am quite tall and have a longer stride than most and move at a good clip in the parks, I will still prob take the water taxi to HS just because I enjoy the ride.

 

[writerguyfl]

Assuming there is any need for more capacity, I wonder if Disney will crank up the speed as time goes on. This is pretty common in moving assembly lines. You start at a speed you know you can handle, and then you slowly crank up the speed until you hit your goal. Ideally you can crank the speed a little at time that people just naturally start working quicker.

All I could think of when reading this was Lucy and Ethel working in the chocolate factory.

But joking aside, I think you are correct.

 

[Spridell]

Five guests per bench will allow for 18" per person, more then you get on a bus.

right, which are pretty much normal airplane dimension seats. NOW........add your backpacks, your purses, your shopping bags, etc..... All that goes in the overhead on planes. Here it will all be spread out.

Let's also add people of bigger size that will need more than that 18 inches. I will believe it when I see it, but I am skeptical you are fitting 10 people with all their belongings in one of those things.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

right, which are pretty much normal airplane dimension seats. NOW........add your backpacks, your purses, your shopping bags, etc..... All that goes in the overhead on planes. Here it will all be spread out.

Let's also add people of bigger size that will need more than that 18 inches. I will believe it when I see it, but I am skeptical you are fitting 10 people with all their belongings in one of those things.

I don't think you will see 10 adults in there - but I could see 4 adults and 6 kids or something

 

[Spaceguy55]

I'll go out on limb and would be willing to bet a mickey bar that there will never be 10 adults on a gondola except during testing...ever !
..unless it's a party of 10 that just want to be together..

 

[rteetz]

I'll go out on limb and would be willing to bet a mickey bar that there will never be 10 adults on a gondola except during testing...ever !
..unless it's a party of 10 that just want to be together..

I wouldn’t say ever.

 

[Spaceguy55]

Okay it's a bet...1 mickey bar

 

[Spridell]

I don't think you will see 10 adults in there - but I could see 4 adults and 6 kids or something

Yes agreed. I can def see that scenario.

 

[NotUrsula]

right, which are pretty much normal airplane dimension seats. NOW........add your backpacks, your purses, your shopping bags, etc..... All that goes in the overhead on planes. Here it will all be spread out. [snip]

The bolded speaks for itself on the likelihood that every seat space would be filled by an adult. No one voluntarily sits in a chair that size unless they have no other choice, and as I've said before, the only "other choice" once the doors close is standing up for the ride. Disney and Doppelmayr don't want guests doing that, so insisting on putting 10 adults in a gondola would be counterproductive.

I was at DHS 2 weeks ago and spent a bit of time watching the tests. What struck me most about the gondolas is how small they looked, even when passing directly over my head. Essentially, each one is about the size of a smallish elevator car, but they look smaller because they are "naked" -- no elevator shaft to hide the outside dimensions from your eyes. I think that packing people into them is going to seem very counter-intuitive, and I just don't see CM's trying to do it unless they are forced to do so. Some Disney PR materials I have seen refer to the cars as seating 8 guests, and I think that is how the CM's will be trained to normally load them.

 

[rteetz]

 

[firefly_ris]

I like how they went out of their way to say how comfortable they will be a few times. I noticed whenever a Skyliner update or article gets posted on something like the Disboards Facebook group, everyone comes out of the woodwork to moan about how hot they will be, they'll never ride in them, what if they fall in the water and get eaten by gators.... so predictable. So maybe they are trying to put some minds at ease. Based on the amount of "No thanks I'm never riding it" comments I see regularly, there will apparently be no line for these things.

 

[SgtTibbs]

I like how they went out of their way to say how comfortable they will be a few times. I noticed whenever a Skyliner update or article gets posted on something like the Disboards Facebook group, everyone comes out of the woodwork to moan about how hot they will be, they'll never ride in them, what if they fall in the water and get eaten by gators.... so predictable. So maybe they are trying to put some minds at ease. Based on the amount of "No thanks I'm never riding it" comments I see regularly, there will apparently be no line for these things.

And many years down the line, these same people will cry when they are replaced with something new.

 

[WEDWDW]

I don't think you will see 10 adults in there - but I could see 4 adults and 6 kids or something

In July,I could see about 30 of The 15s per Gondola!!!!lol