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

[jade1]

I think they will and think they probably already did with the one that is uncovered. I don't think are going to hold up opening waiting on that, though. They can validate their analysis any day the sun is out.

I also wouldn't be surprised if they did lab testing or field testing in a hot location, maybe the one seen on site early last year. Put on an trailer and drive 14 mph, measure wet bulb globe temperature, done.

Yea sounds right, just conversation that I think at least one person said, "well since we can't be open until mid summer anyway (it's not all complete) we may as well double check some temp readings" kind of thing.

And if they are testing heat already like you say-then there indeed was.

And agreed, just make sure you drive at noon on the hottest most humid day "with" the 14 mph wind so there's minimal airflow. Which I'm sure they did like you say. That's likely why they went with no AC etc.

 

[weidnt]

So is the bridge between Pop and Art of Animation still passable? We are staying at Pop in a few weeks and I prefer to eat at the Art of Animation food court.

 

[rteetz]

So is the bridge between Pop and Art of Animation still passable? We are staying at Pop in a few weeks and I prefer to eat at the Art of Animation food court.

Yes you can still go across the bridge.

 

[NotUrsula]

Obviously, the thing WILL be operating with no A/C for the foreseeable future. That's a dead horse. The only variable in the cars themselves is the optimal window adjustment angle for the best airflow at a particular speed.

What temp testing could do, however, is give a clearer picture of what kind of cooling measures need to exist in the stations in order to optimize comfort. For example: if the floor of the car remains hotter than the rest of it (which means that kids in strollers would deal with higher heat), would that require extra vents to blast cool air in at ground level when the doors are open, in order to move that air upward toward the vents? Does warm air get trapped under the benches? Is the ambient temp enough to cause those boarding to encounter sweaty benches, and if so, can we figure out a way to dry them before they sit? Will it be hot enough to make guests thirsty, and if so, how many bottle-filling stations (or water sale carts) need to be added to the queue?

I think that if the cars are warm, making the queue itself cool is going to be a needed step to compensate a bit. Guests who are already sticky from standing in the line are likely to be more unhappy than guests who have been standing in a line served by A/C ductwork and/or high-powered fans. (The queue for BTMRR comes to mind as a textbook situation NOT to emulate. It depends on warm air rising as you descend to track level, but the enclosed "chute" nature of the queue combined with the number of guests standing in it traps the air and keeps it warm even so. It needs powerful reverse fans to pull that warm air out; downdraft fans are not enough to flush that area.)

 

[vacationer1954]

I think that if the cars are warm, making the queue itself cool is going to be a needed step to compensate a bit.

My understanding is that the opposite is the case. The larger the temperature differential between the queue, if there is one, and the vehicle, the more of a shock to the system it is.

 

[NotUrsula]

My understanding is that the opposite is the case. The larger the temperature differential between the queue, if there is one, and the vehicle, the more of a shock to the system it is.

I don't think that much differential is likely, since the queue is outdoors.

 

[vacationer1954]

Of course, but the point is that Disney doesn't need to make the differential more severe.

 

[ThistleMae]

I think if people feel it's too hot, they won't use them, less of a line for me!

 

[sachilles]

Had a random thought today about the security bubble, and where the skyliner might fit.

What if they did security at the Trinidad station before anyone rides towards DHS? The people already will be bottle necked at that junction, but it would give security a constant flow of people to process. You would then need additional screening at the load area at Riviera towards Epcot.

 

[rteetz]

Had a random thought today about the security bubble, and where the skyliner might fit.

What if they did security at the Trinidad station before anyone rides towards DHS? The people already will be bottle necked at that junction, but it would give security a constant flow of people to process. You would then need additional screening at the load area at Riviera towards Epcot.

Last I heard was Skyliner is not inside the bubble so you will have to get screened after you exit the Skyliner.

 

[RedSonya]

This may have already been addressed already, but will it be faster to walk from the International Gateway to DHS or take the Skyliner, assuming a quick pace. Will we have to exit the Skyliner at Caribbean Beach and go to the back of a queue before we load a new car?

 

[rteetz]

This may have already been addressed already, but will it be faster to walk from the International Gateway to DHS or take the Skyliner, assuming a quick pace. Will we have to exit the Skyliner at Caribbean Beach and go to the back of a queue before we load a new car?

It might be close. It will definitely be quicker than the boat.

You do have to switch lines at the CBR station.

 

[fla4fun]

I'm not quite understanding what doing this type of testing would do. What would you anticipate would happen with the results of the testing?

Aging myself but I'll say the current car I have (while it's a 2007) is the first one I've ever owned with air conditioning. For the first &*^(*&^ years of my life I drove in a car without air conditioning. It gets in the high 90's and over 100 degrees where I live and often with very high humidity. Widows were not tinted in any of our cars. We just rolled them down and handled the heat when driving, stopped at a light or other. I believe this is what the venting will do and the gondolas have excellent tinting based on what's been shared here by those with much more knowledge than I.

I can't help but think Disney has put extensive thought and research into the Skyliner project before pouring millions of dollars into it.

I will take the approach of give it a try! If it's unbearable I'll look for an alternative but I'm confident that won't be the case.

It’s funny how different families are. The first car I remember of my parents was a 1972 Ford Galaxie 500, and it had AC, and every car my parents, myself, or my sister have ever had has had AC. Although I live in Florida now, I grew up in Ohio, so it’s not because I grew up in a tropical climate. I don’t remember it being a big deal that the car had AC, so probably at least the car before that had AC also. I was just too young to remember that car clearly. I can’t imagine not having AC in a car, because we have always had it.

I would think Disney would do heat testing to cover themselves in the event of complaints. Guests typically won’t be traveling with thermometers, and if they get hot would probably be inclined to exaggerate in regards to the actual temperature in the gondola. If Disney does heat testing, even if they wait until the CMs are test riding, they will know exactly what the conditions are. Even if they have done research, they won’t have factual information about conditions in Orlando until it is operational. Disney won’t want to risk any lawsuits as a result of people fainting or suffering heat exhaustion because the gondola is too warm. They will want to confirm for themselves that won’t be a possibility. Whether or not we hear about such testing, I believe it will take place.

 

[Jax1023]

It’s funny how different families are. The first car I remember of my parents was a 1972 Ford Galaxie 500, and it had AC, and every car my parents, myself, or my sister have ever had has had AC. Although I live in Florida now, I grew up in Ohio, so it’s not because I grew up in a tropical climate. I don’t remember it being a big deal that the car had AC, so probably at least the car before that had AC also. I was just too young to remember that car clearly. I can’t imagine not having AC in a car, because we have always had it.

I would think Disney would do heat testing to cover themselves in the event of complaints. Guests typically won’t be traveling with thermometers, and if they get hot would probably be inclined to exaggerate in regards to the actual temperature in the gondola. If Disney does heat testing, even if they wait until the CMs are test riding, they will know exactly what the conditions are. Even if they have done research, they won’t have factual information about conditions in Orlando until it is operational. Disney won’t want to risk any lawsuits as a result of people fainting or suffering heat exhaustion because the gondola is too warm. They will want to confirm for themselves that won’t be a possibility. Whether or not we hear about such testing, I believe it will take place.

I seriously doubt anyone will get hear exhaustion in a 5-7 minute ride. People lived for centuries, millennia even without air conditioning. I think most people can handle it for a few minutes without major health issues. Sweating won’t actually kill you.

 

[Iowamomof4]

Rob with Passport to the Parks was doing a livestream today from Pop Century, showing the gondola testing, and at the end a cm came up to him and said videotaping wasn't allowed ANYWHERE at Disney without an escort! Ugh. Watch the last minute or so if you want to hear how it went down.

 

[fla4fun]

I seriously doubt anyone will get hear exhaustion in a 5-7 minute ride. People lived for centuries, millennia even without air conditioning. I think most people can handle it for a few minutes without major health issues. Sweating won’t actually kill you.

True. It’s when the sweating stops that you need to be concerned. If you are staying hydrated properly you will be gross, but you won’t die. Thing is, there are bound to be a few guests that think they will, and that’s why I think Disney will cover their bases by doing temperature testing, even if they don’t make that information public.

I personally won’t be trying them out until December because I am staying at POFQ in September and won’t be back at Pop until then. I am looking forward to trying them out, but I will admit I am glad my first flights will be in cooler weather.

 

[rteetz]

Rob with Passport to the Parks was doing a livestream today from Pop Century, showing the gondola testing, and at the end a cm came up to him and said videotaping wasn't allowed ANYWHERE at Disney without an escort! Ugh. Watch the last minute or so if you want to hear how it went down.

Yeah that CM is misinformed.

 

[Iowamomof4]

Yeah that CM is misinformed.

Still though, since we have to comply when a cm says we have to do something or not do something (like what happened here, I mean), the end result is that he had to stop his video. So stupid. I hope they find a supervisor and the cm can learn the truth about their video taping policy.

 

[Iowamomof4]

The gondola testing is looking great, btw! That video I posted from today is worth a look.

 

[rteetz]

Still though, since we have to comply when a cm says we have to do something or not do something (like what happened here, I mean), the end result is that he had to stop his video. So stupid. I hope they find a supervisor and the cm can learn the truth about their video taping policy.

Yeah i would've requested to talk to a supervisor.