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

[Spaceguy55]

I don't think the number of PPH is going to matter other than at park closing. Most people will leave the resorts and parks at different times of the morning and thru the day, I've never waited more than 1 bus to go to Epcot or DHS anytime from POP....maybe 2 for MK.
I've been ki
POP and AOA are not going to empty out all at once to go to the parks.

Just rough math but the system will be running as much as 18-20 hours a day...that's a lot of gondola's thru each station, " I'm sure someone here can come up with that number"... so I would expect to be king of the Gondola during a good part of the day..all you have to do is wait till one comes along when no one else is waiting...they are not going to stop them till they are full....

 

[SgtTibbs]

Any system that would allow for park-to-park transportation without having to re-enter security would be most welcome. Anyone remember the express bus? Dang I miss that thing.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

Any system that would allow for park-to-park transportation without having to re-enter security would be most welcome. Anyone remember the express bus? Dang I miss that thing.

Not really... I paid for it and never rode it because of "lightning in the area"... ... (but if they could have fixed that issue somehow, it would have been great)

 

[rteetz]

Not really... I paid for it and never rode it because of "lightning in the area"... ... (but if they could have fixed that issue somehow, it would have been great)

That’s so weird to me. I don’t get why that stopped due to lightning but regular buses still ran.

I used it and loved it.

 

[The Pho]

Any system that would allow for park-to-park transportation without having to re-enter security would be most welcome. Anyone remember the express bus? Dang I miss that thing.

I miss it more than some extinct attractions. It was awesome.

That’s so weird to me. I don’t get why that stopped due to lightning but regular buses still ran.

I used it and loved it.

The problem was the cast members supporting the bus were outside under only umbrellas. They needed to build something more permanent.

 

[SgtTibbs]

That’s so weird to me. I don’t get why that stopped due to lightning but regular buses still ran.

I used it and loved it.

At the time, one of the cast members running check in said it was because of them. They had to stand outside with naught but an umbrella stand.

And apparently "The Pho" can type faster than I can.

 

[Spaceguy55]

That’s so weird to me. I don’t get why that stopped due to lightning but regular buses still ran.

I used it and loved it.

I used it and wish it would come back ..
I think the lightning problem might have been no covered bus stops at the back stage drop off areas..or no lighting rods nearby.

 

[DBDiz]

I'll concede that.
Of course they could have put the hub at the Riviera though, giving them direct access to both epcot and DHS. If the hub was at the riviera, you could have the direct line from riviera to DHS. A line from riviera to IG including the epcot turn. You then would have the value line, do a midstation style stop at trinidad and then up to Riviera.
Always looking for the conspiracy, I think they had several options to make this work. So I think the current layout tells us something about future layouts(if they ever come to fruition). We just don't know what they are yet. Something akin to the monorail pilings from Epcot towards the boardwalk area.

I think the biggest limitation of making Riviera the central hub would have been land/open space. Although in that case, one could wonder why they didn't build Riviera where the current hub is being built and somehow incorporated the hub into the resort.

And now that I'm thinking of it, they could have easily made an Alpine themed resort with faux mountains that would have made the gondolas even more relevant and an interesting theme for the hub. Although that would have clashed heavily with CBR.

 

[DisneyOma]

I think the biggest limitation of making Riviera the central hub would have been land/open space. Although in that case, one could wonder why they didn't build Riviera where the current hub is being built and somehow incorporated the hub into the resort.

And now that I'm thinking of it, they could have easily made an Alpine themed resort with faux mountains that would have made the gondolas even more relevant and an interesting theme for the hub. Although that would have clashed heavily with CBR.

Well, since they've already gutted CBR and draped a gondola over it, why not put fake mountains around it too, then some fake snow, repaint the whole place and make it a winter themed resort, ala blizzard beach?

The footage of the test run of the gondola has them moving at a snail's pace. Hope they pick up the speed or it's going to take longer to get anywhere than waiting for a bus!

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Well, since they've already gutted CBR and draped a gondola over it, why not put fake mountains around it too, then some fake snow, repaint the whole place and make it a winter themed resort, ala blizzard beach?

The footage of the test run of the gondola has them moving at a snail's pace. Hope they pick up the speed or it's going to take longer to get anywhere than waiting for a bus!

That was definitely slow just do to testing - they are expected to run at about 14 MPH and should get you there faster than buses

 

[Moliphino]

I don't think the number of PPH is going to matter other than at park closing. Most people will leave the resorts and parks at different times of the morning and thru the day, I've never waited more than 1 bus to go to Epcot or DHS anytime from POP....maybe 2 for MK.

In December the morning bus lines at Pop were horrendous and overflowing the queues so badly you couldn't tell which was which. We actually took a bus to DHS one morning and walked to Epcot because two Epcot buses had gone by and we still weren't even inside the ropes. They had a lot of buses coming through, but they couldn't keep up.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

In December the morning bus lines at Pop were horrendous and overflowing the queues so badly you couldn't tell which was which. We actually took a bus to DHS one morning and walked to Epcot because two Epcot buses had gone by and we still weren't even inside the ropes. They had a lot of buses coming through, but they couldn't keep up.

That could be another option (and obviously this is all predicated on them seeing how much volume actually moves through the skyliner) but only have bus service at park opening (and maybe closing) as that would be the only time I could see any waits for the Skyliner - so could help with that

 

[scrappinginontario]

In December the morning bus lines at Pop were horrendous and overflowing the queues so badly you couldn't tell which was which. We actually took a bus to DHS one morning and walked to Epcot because two Epcot buses had gone by and we still weren't even inside the ropes. They had a lot of buses coming through, but they couldn't keep up.

We were there the 2nd week of December and found the same thing! Buses arrived often but around park opening the lines were huge, at times all except MK lined up down towards the DS stop! We never waited more than 20 mins to ride but the lines definitely were long!!

That could be another option (and obviously this is all predicated on them seeing how much volume actually moves through the skyliner) but only have bus service at park opening (and maybe closing) as that would be the only time I could see any waits for the Skyliner - so could help with that

I'm not sure this would work. Either they run the buses or they do not. In particular I'm thinking of Epcot as the bus loading is a long distance from the Skyliner station. There is no way they could only run buses part of the time as it would be impossible for guests to know which transportation system to head towards. I understand their may be times that the Skyliner gets shut down due to weather but I'm not anticipating this will be often or for long when it happens.

 

[Iowamomof4]

We were there the 2nd week of December and found the same thing! Buses arrived often but around park opening the lines were huge, at times all except MK lined up down towards the DS stop! We never waited more than 20 mins to ride but the lines definitely were long!!

I'm not sure this would work. Either they run the buses or they do not. In particular I'm thinking of Epcot as the bus loading is a long distance from the Skyliner station. There is no way they could only run buses part of the time as it would be impossible for guests to know which transportation system to head towards. I understand their may be times that the Skyliner gets shut down due to weather but I'm not anticipating this will be often or for long when it happens.

I was thinking the same thing. How would people know where to go?

 

[Tigger's ally]

I was thinking the same thing. How would people know where to go?

I have all kinds of people telling me where to go

 

[TheMaxRebo]

I was thinking the same thing. How would people know where to go?

could have a sign put up that says "buses are not running to POP/CBR/AOA - please use Skyliner"

Guess just thinking about it like mass transit systems that have more trains/buses/etc running a peak times - so at peak times have more options than during the day when you don't need them all. Or maybe it is just buses are more regular at peak times and will still come at other times but much, much less frequently

 

[sachilles]

I think it's as easy as saying the buses run on 15 minute interval times between time X and Y. Outside of those times they run at a 30 minute interval or not at all.
Skyliner could easily have a posted wait time like attractions, and also report as closed if something causes it not to run. Include it on the app and done.

 

[scrappinginontario]

could have a sign put up that says "buses are not running to POP/CBR/AOA - please use Skyliner"

Guess just thinking about it like mass transit systems that have more trains/buses/etc running a peak times - so at peak times have more options than during the day when you don't need them all. Or maybe it is just buses are more regular at peak times and will still come at other times but much, much less frequently

I see this as far more likely to happen as opposed to only running buses at certain times. Add in the complexity of varying open/close times of the parks I see the buses running as they do now but as you say, probably just with less frequency.

 

[Iowamomof4]

Still though, if these have the capacity everyone says they do, I can't see there ever being a need for buses. Yes, you can walk up to very long lines in the mornings at times at the bus stop, but would those lines be so long if groups of 4-10 people were being taken away from the front of the line every several seconds? At a minimum that line would never really stop moving and you would be on your way to the park within 5-10 minutes. I just think we're struggling to comprehend how amazing this could be.

 

[scrappinginontario]

Still though, if these have the capacity everyone says they do, I can't see there ever being a need for buses. Yes, you can walk up to very long lines in the mornings at times at the bus stop, but would those lines be so long if groups of 4-10 people were being taken away from the front of the line every several seconds? At a minimum that line would never really stop moving and you would be on your way to the park within 5-10 minutes. I just think we're struggling to comprehend how amazing this could be.

While I hope this will happen, I can't help to think about Omnimover rides that currently exist at Disney. As wonderful as these are, there are sill lines at this rides, often long lines. I'm thinking of rides like Haunted Mansion, Spaceship Earth, Under the Sea - Journey of the Little Mermaid.

I'm hoping it's a case where people just keep moving but based on experiences in the parks, when they're busy (like the Skyliner will be at park opening and close) I think it's only realistic to be prepared for lines. Probably not 20 or 30 minutes lines but, there will be lines.