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

[lockedoutlogic]

They should have done one from CBR to Epcot.

I absolutely have every right to respond to this...I've earned it.

 

[Madonna3]

Hmmm...

Remember that Epcot involves a transfer station...so there's that.

Maybe they discontinued that...but it wasn't always so.

Perhaps you wouldn't have noticed if you had taken the monorail?

No, when the monorail is up and running there is no bus service to Epcot.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

No, when the monorail is up and running there is no bus service to Epcot.

Hmmm...that sucks for $600 a night

 

[Madonna3]

Hmmm...that sucks for $600 a night

agreed. I said the same thing.

Last year for Mother's Day, we stayed at the Poly. We went to Epcot via the walkway to the TTC and then the monorail. It was incredibly hot and around 2 or 3 we had enough and wanted to go back to our room so we walked out to the bus area. We walk all the way over to the directory just to find out there are NO buses to the Poly. The only way back was to the monorail and then walk from the TTC or hop monorails. We were tired so we opted for walking the monorail ramps vs the TTC walk. It was incredibly hot and I thought I was going to pass out, but that's when I learned the MK and EP resorts rely heavily on the monorails.

 

[danikoski]

agreed. I said the same thing.

Last year for Mother's Day, we stayed at the Poly. We went to Epcot via the walkway to the TTC and then the monorail. It was incredibly hot and around 2 or 3 we had enough and wanted to go back to our room so we walked out to the bus area. We walk all the way over to the directory just to find out there are NO buses to the Poly. The only way back was to the monorail and then walk from the TTC or hop monorails. We were tired so we opted for walking the monorail ramps vs the TTC walk. It was incredibly hot and I thought I was going to pass out, but that's when I learned the MK and EP resorts rely heavily on the monorails.

This is why I really don't have a huge desire to stay at the Poly, GF, or CR. I will stick with WL or one of the Epcot resorts...

 

[Turn the Page]

Has there been any speculation at all about when the gondola system should be online? I can't imagine it would take nearly as long to build as something like a new road or canal but engineering is not my field so who knows.

It would be neat to see the progress when we are there in October.

 

[codylamb18]

Has there been any speculation at all about when the gondola system should be online? I can't imagine it would take nearly as long to build as something like a new road or canal but engineering is not my field so who knows.

It would be neat to see the progress when we are there in October.

I am guessing next year to tie into the hotel construction. Knowing Disney this will be more than wires in the sky. They will theme it up and take there quality time. Think if it was as elaborate as TTC.

 

[Sweettears]

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.

I'm not sure I agree with this. I suppose it depends on your time horizon. Without something to replace it very inexpensively I can't see them abandoning the system. Despite its unreliability it's still a selling point for a lot of visitors probably DVC as well.

 

[stazmatic]

Pssst!!

Little known insider tip: yacht club is directly behind Epcot...and there's a secret gate...just to let you know...

Don't tell anyone

Wait, WHAT? As in there is a gate at the front of Epcot that goes into Yacht Club? More info and and pics would be so appreciated!

 

[DanBoris]

Has there been any speculation at all about when the gondola system should be online? I can't imagine it would take nearly as long to build as something like a new road or canal but engineering is not my field so who knows.

It would be neat to see the progress when we are there in October.

It should definitely be done by the time Star Wars Land opens in 2019. I assume that the gondola systems will be installed in the winter months since the gondola companies are going to be busy at the ski resorts in the summer. So the question is, can they have all the structures ready for the system installation by this winter. I am not sure if that will happen.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

Wait, WHAT? As in there is a gate at the front of Epcot that goes into Yacht Club? More info and and pics would be so appreciated!

There is a gate at the front of Epcot...and one at the back too!

Just gotta use those lower extremities to get between one and the other...eazy peezy

 

[lockedoutlogic]

I'm not sure I agree with this. I suppose it depends on your time horizon. Without something to replace it very inexpensively I can't see them abandoning the system. Despite its unreliability it's still a selling point for a lot of visitors probably DVC as well.

The importance of the monorail itself has always been highly overstated.

I don't see them abandoning them without replacement...but I could the abandonment/demolition of it for a cheaper system...no doubt.

 

[Sweettears]

The importance of the monorail itself has always been highly overstated.

I don't see them abandoning them without replacement...but I could the abandonment/demolition of it for a cheaper system...no doubt.

The importance yes the attraction warranted or not no.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

Wha???!!?

 

[Tall Tom]

I certainly think this is a proof of concept type of installation. They believe it will work. The imagineers have indicated that it will work. The planners believe it will work. The price tag is low enough to allow them to try it.
They just don't know until it's put into service if there are any "gotchas". They'll install this and see how it goes. If it goes reasonably well, I think you will see them starting to advertise it's virtues to everyone. "It's energy efficient, it's good for the environment, it's faster, it's safer" and so on. Get people to love it, then the monorail gets replaced by it.

This will be the working prototype, if successful you'll see it expand. It might evolve after operating it a bit and getting a practical education on daily life with it.

My question is what is next. It's sound like Animal Kingdom Lodge to Animal Kingdom is in consideration for something, maybe not a ropeway, but something. You don't replace the monorail until you HAVE to. I think the Springs area to include saratoga, okw and POR somehow have to fit in at some point.

I feel like the front of epcot really needs to be the hub for future expansion, but maybe it's the TTC.

Absolutely agree. To me, Disney's main focus should be on tying in all of the property in a similar fashion that the monorail provides.

Currently, too much of the world feels disjointed from the heart of WDW.

 

[PACVII]

Still not thinking I want to ride this. Never thought I would say that I will take the bus.

I hope they do not stop running busses in place of this as I don't think I am the only one that would not want to ride this at all.

If they would place something as they had talked about on the podcast (suspended monorail) that would be much better. Just have no desire to be swinging up in the air and no A/C? Hope they have airline bags.

 

[STLstone]

Still not thinking I want to ride this. Never thought I would say that I will take the bus.

I hope they do not stop running busses in place of this as I don't think I am the only one that would not want to ride this at all.

If they would place something as they had talked about on the podcast (suspended monorail) that would be much better. Just have no desire to be swinging up in the air and no A/C? Hope they have airline bags.

I'm going to wait until I see how high off the ground they are. Originally, I was imagining these 100 feet in the air, but that sounds ridiculous, the more I think about it. They could just be 10 to 30 feet off of the ground for most of the trip and only rising higher to pass over roadways or other obstacles.

 

[Turn the Page]

I'm going to wait until I see how high off the ground they are. Originally, I was imagining these 100 feet in the air, but that sounds ridiculous, the more I think about it. They could just be 10 to 30 feet off of the ground for most of the trip and only rising higher to pass over roadways or other obstacles.

And even then it wouldn't have to be all THAT high. It's not like they are building this in the mountains with elevation changes and such. Central Florida is flat. Being from a very hilly area myself it is always a shock to me how flat it is down there.

Does anybody know off hand how high the monorail is off the ground? I bet it isn't all that high.

 

[jknezek]

I know it varies in FL. I think the highest point is 60 feet or so where it enters the Contemporary.

 

[STLstone]

And even then it wouldn't have to be all THAT high. It's not like they are building this in the mountains with elevation changes and such. Central Florida is flat. Being from a very hilly area myself it is always a shock to me how flat it is down there.

Does anybody know off hand how high the monorail is off the ground? I bet it isn't all that high.

I just saw a pic in the "New Security" thread. The portion above the new Contemporary walkway security checkpoint says "15'-4" Clearance." But like the post above me points out, it can vary - just like we imagine the gondola height will vary.