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

[TheMaxRebo]

This is from the first page of this thread, which is supposed to contain all the latest on the Skyliner. I sincerely hope this is not true because there are still going to be a lot of people (my DH included) who would rather ride the bus than the Skyliner.

that was what the insider reports were saying - and also just what would make the most logical and fiscal sense - that if a higher % of people are using the skyliner you don't need the same level of bus service. Initially the thinking was the buses would be elimiated entirely for those resorts to DHS and EPCOT (similar to how the Monorail resorts only have the monorail to get to EPCOT) but then it seems to be more that bus service would be reduced but still present. What that means is still unclear - maybe less frequent, maybe one bus picks up from multiple resorts, etc.

I am sure they will adjust over time too as they see how it goes - maybe have them to start as people still might not be comfortable riding the "unknown" but then over time phase the buses out.

Personally so much of what Disney (and any corporation) does has the bottom line as a factor so to continue with the same level of bus service (other than maybe just for the very initial period) doesn't make sense ... but what the end result will be remains to be seen

 

[OSUZorba]

Everyone at the Skyliner Resorts we have talked to recently are now saying bus service to Epcot and DHS will continue as normal.

So it looks like they will just raise prices at the Skyliner Resorts enough to cover both bus service and the cost of the Skyliner!lol

I'm sure this is the official stance. But once the Skyliner opens, bus ridership will tank and they will start "right-sizing" bus capacity to demand. I'm sure they'll do it slowly over a few months, but no way they are going to match today's capacity with probably less than 10% of the demand.

This will likely put the bus service into a death spiral where as it becomes less and less convenient to ride the bus more people opt for the gondola, leading to even fewer buses. Until they hit the minimum level of service or eliminate buses all together.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

So you can't just stay in your Gondola? You have to get out and re-enter? That seems cumbersome and having to get in another line.

I’m guessing it’s possible to stay in your gondola if the lines are non existent.
That said, I’m guessing that it will just bring you back to where you came from.

 

[Sandiz08]

Carribean beach/ riviera looks to be the main hub for both holly wood studios and Epcot. if you don’t want to have to transfer, book carribean beach or riviera.

 

[FinnsMom7]

Couldn't one option be, once Skyliner is up and moving, something similar to what they do for the water parks - take a bus to point A then change for point B? Possibly getting the MK bus to use monorail for Epcot? Or even possibly combining the bus to Epcot/DHS making it a multi stop route?

 

[scrappinginontario]

Carribean beach/ riviera looks to be the main hub for both holly wood studios and Epcot. if you don’t want to have to transfer, book carribean beach or riviera.

This would only work for Caribbean Beach. Riviera would still require a change at CB for those guests travelling to DHS.

Couldn't one option be, once Skyliner is up and moving, something similar to what they do for the water parks - take a bus to point A then change for point B? Possibly getting the MK bus to use monorail for Epcot? Or even possibly combining the bus to Epcot/DHS making it a multi stop route?

The transportation to the water parks has changed again and resorts now have bus service that goes directly from the resorts to the water parks. There is no longer a need to change buses at Animal Kingdom or Disney Springs.

 

[FinnsMom7]

This would only work for Caribbean Beach. Riviera would still require a change at CB for those guests travelling to DHS.
The transportation to the water parks has changed again and resorts now have bus service that goes directly from the resorts to the water parks. There is no longer a need to change buses at Animal Kingdom or Disney Springs.

is this just for the summer season though? I never travel during summer my last trip was Sept 2018 so with all things Disney plenty of time for changes

 

[scrappinginontario]

is this just for the summer season though? I never travel during summer my last trip was Sept 2018 so with all things Disney plenty of time for changes

Sorry, I'm not sure I understand your question. Are you asking about the Skyliner or the Water Park buses?

 

[FinnsMom7]

Sorry, I'm not sure I understand your question. Are you asking about the Skyliner or the Water Park buses?

I was referring to the water park buses - I wondered if the change was strictly due to being summer time or if that is across the board now for when they are open.

 

[Scalemaster34]

is this just for the summer season though? I never travel during summer my last trip was Sept 2018 so with all things Disney plenty of time for changes

I expect the Gondola to end up having a summer season too...

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Couldn't one option be, once Skyliner is up and moving, something similar to what they do for the water parks - take a bus to point A then change for point B? Possibly getting the MK bus to use monorail for Epcot? Or even possibly combining the bus to Epcot/DHS making it a multi stop route?

definitely possible - or maybe like from POP you can go to DHS or from AoA you can get a bus to EPCOT and have to walk from one to the other

Personally I think what is more likely is you have one bus that stops at AoA then stops at POP and then goes to DHS something like that - so less frequent and multistop busses

but we shall see!

 

[joelkfla]

The transportation to the water parks has changed again and resorts now have bus service that goes directly from the resorts to the water parks. There is no longer a need to change buses at Animal Kingdom or Disney Springs.

However, I've heard that many of the water park buses now serve multiple resorts, which is one other way to reduce bus service. And while they may feel obligated initially to run a bus every 20 minutes to maintain the current minimum level of service, there's nothing to stop them from running fewer buses during the morning and closing rushes, as long as they run every 20 minutes.

 

[OSUZorba]

Couldn't one option be, once Skyliner is up and moving, something similar to what they do for the water parks - take a bus to point A then change for point B? Possibly getting the MK bus to use monorail for Epcot? Or even possibly combining the bus to Epcot/DHS making it a multi stop route?

That is what I think will end up happening. It is what I see as the minimum level of service they will shoot for. Combining routes. It;ll be inconvenient but there will still be an option for people that just refuse to use the gondola.

 

[GAN]

Correct. Its just like the monorail at the TTC. You have to get off and change to go to Epcot.

I can't deny being slightly excited about trying these out in December, but the whole disembarking thing at a hub seems a little underwhelming. While I understand it probably simplified the construction ...It's got me wondering if there wasn't a way to mechanically switch the gondolas to go through to their actual desired destination. It's not like there were dozens of options to deal with.

 

[Weedy]

I’m pretty sure the purpose of building the Skyliner is to reduce the need of buses/traffic why would they continue to run buses?

 

[TheMaxRebo]

I can't deny being slightly excited about trying these out in December, but the whole disembarking thing at a hub seems a little underwhelming. While I understand it probably simplified the construction ...It's got me wondering if there wasn't a way to mechanically switch the gondolas to go through to their actual desired destination. It's not like there were dozens of options to deal with.

not only does it simplify the construction but also the operaiton as you don't have to worry about sending empty gondolas to pick up people at other stations, etc. - just everything is a path and people take the path and then can take another path as a separate trip

I get that it is a little annoying but these will be so continuously moving and efficient I think it is amost going to feel more like when you are at an airport and use a moving walkway and have to get off at the end, walk a bit and then get on the next one.

 

[rteetz]

I’m pretty sure the purpose of building the Skyliner is to reduce the need of buses/traffic why would they continue to run buses?

They will for now. Longterm that will likely change.

 

[joelkfla]

I can't deny being slightly excited about trying these out in December, but the whole disembarking thing at a hub seems a little underwhelming. While I understand it probably simplified the construction ...It's got me wondering if there wasn't a way to mechanically switch the gondolas to go through to their actual desired destination. It's not like there were dozens of options to deal with.

It would be technologically feasible, but very complicated, requiring a new use of technology and more dependence on cm skills. The other option would have been to simply combine 2 of the lines into a single one, so that fewer Guests would need to transfer, but that would have required some transferring Guests to cross over, under, or around the longer line. As it is now, all the lines are on a single level and a short walk apart.

It also eliminates the need to send out some cabins empty to allow space for transfers, since everyone has to transfer.

 

[rteetz]

I can't deny being slightly excited about trying these out in December, but the whole disembarking thing at a hub seems a little underwhelming. While I understand it probably simplified the construction ...It's got me wondering if there wasn't a way to mechanically switch the gondolas to go through to their actual desired destination. It's not like there were dozens of options to deal with.

I am not really sure how much of an option that would be. I am sure they could figure it out but it likely would be a bit more costly too. I think the way they are doing this will be just fine. This is a very efficient system.

 

[DanBoris]

I can't deny being slightly excited about trying these out in December, but the whole disembarking thing at a hub seems a little underwhelming. While I understand it probably simplified the construction ...It's got me wondering if there wasn't a way to mechanically switch the gondolas to go through to their actual desired destination. It's not like there were dozens of options to deal with.

Switching would be tricky since there is a limit to how many cars can be on each line, so to be able to switch cars from one line to another would probably require running the lines well below capacity so there was always room to do the switches.