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

[lockedoutlogic]

Just wonder how long the wait will be on these? Think I'll just stick with the buses.

Buses suck...and my bet is you'll convert quickly...or they wouldn't be building it.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

You know-- I just look for the things that are new and different...I will stay at the new dvc...I will adventure into the new (or newly available to me) lounges and restaurants, because of the gondolas, because I have done it all and just want anything new. I will like it because I will be on vacation and i will be buzzed. And it will be 2 hours from my home.

I tend to agree here...
...except I have no interest in caribbean dvc. The place doesn't fit...and it's gonna be okw lite at a higher price and that's not where my interests lie.

 

[beer dave]

I tend to agree here...
...except I have no interest in caribbean dvc. The plaice doesn't fit...and it's gonna be okw lite at a higher price and that's not where my interests lie.

I get that. I guess the difference is my frequency of visits-- Again I will go just because I can. Unless the points are crazy. Especially if they have a nice new exclusive lounge... that's My favorite part....Just did 2 nights in a Akl GV with the pool table in the room... didn't really have to leave..filled the room with friends.. thats my kind of thing.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

I get that. I guess the difference is my frequency of visits-- Again I will go just because I can. Unless the points are crazy. Especially if they have a nice new exclusive lounge... that's My favorite part....Just did 2 nights in a Akl GV with the pool table in the room... didn't really have to leave..filled the room with friends.. thats my kind of thing.

By "friends"...do you mean microbrews?

 

[Spaceguy55]

Watched the video's and can see those type systems working well.
They will need to be cooled and heated and will need to stop for loading and unloading for safety, kinda like the Monorail with the cattle gates.
Distracted people and moving parts with a way to walk off the platform are not compatible

 

[beer dave]

By "friends"...do you mean microbrews?

haha.....Yes-- beer is better than friends-- A beer will never drink the last beer....

 

[sachilles]

haha.....Yes-- beer is better than friends-- A beer will never drink the last beer....

I am going to have to use that. Thank you very much.

I also believe beer is an unofficial currency. So many things in this country involve beer as part of the bartering.

Anyway, back to the skyway.
I really don't think connecting epcot to DHS is a priority in this, if the currently believed route is accurate. It's a resort to parks amenity.
I also believe that line that connects from Trinidad station to DHS will be materially different. Still some sort of cable conveyance, but I think that line might benefit from a different style. It's a very short distance and straight. So a Tram could be the go to solution there. That would make powering a/C and loading ECV's an easier proposition.

 

[skier_pete]

I'm in the boat that is still skeptical if this is being done to be a backbone major transport system...or a gimmick to justify timeshares where they don't belong...we shall see.

I've said all along - it's all about DVC. They are using the link to CBR/AOA/Pop to help justify it, but it's really about "How do we sell this lousy location?"

To me it's just another form of transportation, no better or worse than a bus.

Really? I'll be riding it just because it is there..I jump monorails to get to Epcot when we stay at Bay lake.

I think Pete is riding on a river in Egypt right now...

Look, I'm not suggesting what other people do...I look at forms of transportation as exactly that - what's going to get me there the fastest. When staying at POFQ/POR I quickly learned NEVER to take the boats when we would wait an hour in line to get on the boats, and immediately hop on the bus.

So, what I will be looking at will be how quickly I can move from DHS to Epcot on the rare occasions that I hop between the two. The boat I know takes roughly 30 minutes plus wait time. If the gondolas are faster, then I'll maybe use the gondolas, though it may also depend how tired I am, good chance the gondolas are standing only vehicles. It also depends if there somewhere you would have to get off and switch to a different line. Regardless you will be making three "stops" in your gondolas, so I would estimate that the total transit time for the gondolas will be at LEAST 20 minutes,more if you have to get off and change "lines". (Since there are two lines coming into the CBR station - one from DHS and one from Pop/AOA - someone will have to change lines at the CBR station.) If it's remotely close in time, I'll probably take the boat because I can sit and get off my feet.

So - I should rephrase my initial statement - I'll use it if I need to, I won't ride it for "fun". I don't ride the monorail just to ride it, some trips we never set foot on the monorail.

Though this brings up another point - right now they run the boats every 15 minutes. And as I've previously said, the capacity really isn't that high - maybe 150-200 people per boat, and 4 boats an hour, is only 800 people on the boats. The gondola will easily be twice that. I wonder if they'll reduce the number of boats running during the day. probably for opening and closing, they'll keep them every 15 minutes, but they could easily drop to every 20 minutes or 30 minutes during the day if they have another transportation option.

 

[sachilles]

I'm not sure they'd reduce the boats as they make the other stops. I do wonder if they might eliminate a stop though, as that could speed up the boat transportation loop. That is provided the gondola loading spot is indeed at the IG and in the same security perimeter as the boats. The security perimeter is also a transportation factor, if one form allows you to stay in the security bubble while the other does not, that will affect travel times, and therefore your choice.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

Pete, I don't doubt that you're not gonna get a "thrill" outta this. Nor will I...and Dave won't unless they have a meister installed under the seats...

...but you have to admit nothing on earth sucks more at that property than waiting for buses. The system still sucks more than not even though they have as much gps loaded into it as the CIA and NASA combined...

If the ski system works...it will be a much preferable option from park to park than the boats.

 

[skier_pete]

...but you have to admit nothing on earth sucks more at that property than waiting for buses. The system still sucks more than not even though they have as much gps loaded into it as the CIA and NASA combined...

We have had good fortune of late with buses, and I think don't mind them as much as most. This is part because I HATE self-transportation, so I think more of the buses as a "I don't have to drive" benefit.

In the end though, I agree with you that the gondola will be more pleasant than waiting for a bus, but this only helps if it is going where I want to go. And in this case - it is only helpful if I am (a) staying at one of the 4 resorts being serviced or (b) going directly from DHS to Epcot. The larger capacity of a gondola system may mean that if you are hopping at 4 in the afternoon, the wait for the gondola is virtually zero and it will make everyone very happy to use it. As others have said, if they manage to move it within the "security bubble" that would be an added benefit. (Though with the locations shown I am not sure that this will happen.)

But If I'm staying at AKV or POR...I can prefer a gondola to the buses all I want, but there's a good chance I'll never have use for it. We rarely hop park-to-park, on the rate occasions we hop its often by going back to the hotel mid-day and then heading to a 2nd park at night.

Now - depending on what they build into this DVC tower, maybe there would be a reason to travel there -but I'm never ever going to take a trip to AOA/Pop/CBR just for the ambiance.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

We have had good fortune of late with buses, and I think don't mind them as much as most. This is part because I HATE self-transportation, so I think more of the buses as a "I don't have to drive" benefit.

In the end though, I agree with you that the gondola will be more pleasant than waiting for a bus, but this only helps if it is going where I want to go. And in this case - it is only helpful if I am (a) staying at one of the 4 resorts being serviced or (b) going directly from DHS to Epcot. The larger capacity of a gondola system may mean that if you are hopping at 4 in the afternoon, the wait for the gondola is virtually zero and it will make everyone very happy to use it. As others have said, if they manage to move it within the "security bubble" that would be an added benefit. (Though with the locations shown I am not sure that this will happen.)

But If I'm staying at AKV or POR...I can prefer a gondola to the buses all I want, but there's a good chance I'll never have use for it. We rarely hop park-to-park, on the rate occasions we hop its often by going back to the hotel mid-day and then heading to a 2nd park at night.

Now - depending on what they build into this DVC tower, maybe there would be a reason to travel there -but I'm never ever going to take a trip to AOA/Pop/CBR just for the ambiance.

If it's built with proper capacity and flow...and if it's high enough speed...

...then it can be an effective mgm-Epcot conduit and that will benefit everyone...

Beyond that...I agree. There's no reason to "stop by" pop or animation...caribbean would have to be reconceptualized and basically rebuilt...which it isn't as evidenced by this fly by night, quick cheap food court nonsense starting now...so I'm rolling through that station as well.

Now...better access to Y&B and particularly boardwalk (which I feel is a major reason this got pushed through) would be advantageous and involve more stops.

 

[Tardisblue]

Pete, I don't doubt that you're not gonna get a "thrill" outta this. Nor will I...and Dave won't unless they have a meister installed under the seats...

...but you have to admit nothing on earth sucks more at that property than waiting for buses. The system still sucks more than not even though they have as much gps loaded into it as the CIA and NASA combined...

If the ski system works...it will be a much preferable option from park to park than the boats.

I'll be the jerk to say it: nothing on earth sucks more at that property than waiting for buses at park close and there are 2 or 3 ECVs waiting ahead of you.

I understand the need for them, I understand there are people who are not as mobile. I get all that. It doesn't change the fact that we have ALL rolled our eyes at 11:00 at night after spending the entire day at the parks and just want to go to bed. No, I never say anything and I wait patiently like the rest of us.

 

[OldsDr]

In few years maybe a Gondola system will replace the monorail.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

And what if they don't offer buses from these resorts?

They will because they have to. Fear of heights is one of the most common fears, and many people could not ride these things if they wanted or needed to. Disney knows this and will offer alternative modes of transportation.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

In few years maybe a Gondola system will replace the monorail.

That IS the angle here...those trains will not be retained forever

 

[lockedoutlogic]

They will because they have to. Fear of heights is one of the most common fears, and many people could not ride these things if they wanted or needed to. Disney knows this and will offer alternative modes of transportation.

Agree...though maybe a smaller number from one centralized pickup. Caribbean has needed that forever anyway.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

In few years maybe a Gondola system will replace the monorail.

I think that there is a very real chance that this plays out if it proves more reliable. WDW's monorail system is antiquated and completely unreliable. It really needs to go.

There are reasons that the monorail was never expanded, even in an era in which petroleum fueled transportation's ecologically destructive nature is criticized. It just doesn't make sense. Maybe this will.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

I'll be the jerk to say it: nothing on earth sucks more at that property than waiting for buses at park close and there are 2 or 3 ECVs waiting ahead of you.

I understand the need for them, I understand there are people who are not as mobile. I get all that. It doesn't change the fact that we have ALL rolled our eyes at 11:00 at night after spending the entire day at the parks and just want to go to bed. No, I never say anything and I wait patiently like the rest of us.

I can't "condone" anything you say...

...I just 100% agree with it.

And I'll go down the rabbit hole a little further: at park dump, why do OPTIONAL (don't bs me on this) ECVS get loaded first?!?

The answer is that they can't separate necessary and "lifestyle" versions of them...which is another big part of the problem that makes the bus system difficult because it's tight quarters and single entry doors. And then they go on public roadways. Gondolas don't have any of those dynamics if they don't want them too...

 

[lockedoutlogic]

I think that there is a very real chance that this plays out if it proves more reliable. WDW's monorail system is antiquated and completely unreliable. It really needs to go.

There are reasons that the monorail was never expanded, even in an era in which petroleum fueled transportation's ecologically destructive nature is criticized. It just doesn't make sense. Maybe this will.

Make no mistake...the monorails are on the chopping block...there should be no doubt. Like an outdated pentagon program. It's just a matter of "when"

They are severely out dated, expensive, and cost tons of energy costs.