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

[TheMaxRebo]

I think we will definitely see lines at park opening and closing times, but I also think people will be pleasantly surprised at how quickly the line moves.
They'll be loading quicker than most of the omni mover rides in the parks, with far fewer people lined up than least popular omni mover rides.
I'd bet that will the most poorly timed arrival to the line, will see 10 minutes pass before they are in a cabin. That's factoring in all the nonsense

the moving line is a big thing ... at least for us I know that if a long line continuously moves it feels way shorter/easier to wait than a line that doesn't move or moves in bunches

We were in Toy Story Land and our wait for Sinky Dog and Alien Spinning Saucers was around the same time, but the AS2 line felt like it took twice as long as you would move a chunk and then wait in one spot vs the more continual moving of the SDD line

 

[Weedy]

We rode the Gondolas in Telluride (in the summer) we were 4 adults. Another woman rode with us. She had been on the board that brought the Gondolas to Telluride. It was great talking with her and learning about their Gondolas.

 

[The Pho]

@dclpluto are you thinking “gondola club” akin to “mile high club”?

ETA I find it interesting that the quote from @The Pho that I captured includes a final sentence that wasn’t there when I first read his/her post!

I tend to edit my comments a bit shortly after posting. Sometimes adding an extra line or fixing grammar or spelling.

 

[CarolynFH]

I tend to edit my comments a bit shortly after posting. Sometimes adding an extra line or fixing grammar or spelling.

And obviously I read while you were editing and caught the edit in the quote even though I couldn’t see it when I clicked Quote. Technology is fascinating!

 

[sachilles]

I tend to edit my comments a bit shortly after posting. Sometimes adding an extra line or fixing grammar or spelling.

Me too. I'm awful with that stuff as most of you have surely experienced. I randomly forget words, or substitute words. I go back later and re-read/edit, and just scratch my head.

It's probably just that my keyboard has a mind of its own, and I haven't noticed all these years.

 

[Weedy]

I tend to edit my comments a bit shortly after posting. Sometimes adding an extra line or fixing grammar or spelling.

It always amazes me that there are no spelling errors when I proofread my post but once it “posts” they show up. Lol

 

[Tigger's ally]

It always amazes me that there are no spelling errors when I proofread my post but once it “posts” they show up. Lol

My posts never have sarcasm when i post them but they sure do when I read them!

 

[Iowamomof4]

The only time I really foresee there being a line is perhaps in the morning before they actually begin transporting guests. I mean, we don't know for sure what time they will start the system each day, so I can envision a case where maybe they begin at 7:30 and possibly a line forms around 7:15 with people getting stacked up until they open for the day. The best way to know what kind of line we'll see, is to watch the rate of people approaching the bus stops in the morning. If a group of 30 15s walks up to the bust stop, obviously that same group approaching the gondolas will create a small line. For the most part though, people tend to trickle out to the stops in much smaller groups (2-6 at a time). Since those people will just walk up to the gondola station and board the next gondola, where will be the wait? I just don't think I've ever noticed consistent LARGE groups approaching the bus stops at the exact same moment. I hope I'm making sense.

 

[OSUZorba]

You think there will be a gondola club or will they have video cameras in there?

I think there will be, you can find videos of such clubs on the internet already and those are with ones that don't have highly reflective tint.

Or so I've been told...

 

[OSUZorba]

I think we will definitely see lines at park opening and closing times, but I also think people will be pleasantly surprised at how quickly the line moves.
They'll be loading quicker than most of the omni mover rides in the parks, with far fewer people lined up than least popular omni mover rides.
I'd bet that will the most poorly timed arrival to the line, will see 10 minutes pass before they are in a cabin. That's factoring in all the nonsense

I think worse case in the morning you are looking at something like HM after the stretching room. Looks bad, but really isn't. I also don't think it'll stay that way for hours, I think it'll ebb and flow.

 

[OSUZorba]

Where were you? Any pictures??

It was the Busan Air Cruise in Busan, South Korea. All of my pictures are on my real camera and I've been to lazy to download them and this thread moves so fast I figured they'd just get buried in short order.

Here are a couple of my posts about it:

This one has a video that is in Korean but still really cool: https://www.disboards.com/threads/d...pdated-4-11-19.3578988/page-308#post-60414684

https://www.disboards.com/threads/d...pdated-4-11-19.3578988/page-317#post-60462316

Link to the page on Gondola Project: http://gondolaproject.com/category/installations/busan-air-cruise/

 

[vacationer1954]

And many years down the line, these same people will cry when they are replaced with something new.

Absolutely.

Combining groups / individuals would be the very rare exception, in my opinion. Mostly due to the liability factor of "IF" something untoward would happen in the cabin between stations Disney would be roped into liability if a CM was directly involved in populating that cabin.

Just like on the individual monorail compartments.

Oh wait.

 

[Weedy]

It was the Busan Air Cruise in Busan, South Korea. All of my pictures are on my real camera and I've been to lazy to download them and this thread moves so fast I figured they'd just get buried in short order.

Here are a couple of my posts about it:

This one has a video that is in Korean but still really cool: https://www.disboards.com/threads/d...pdated-4-11-19.3578988/page-308#post-60414684

https://www.disboards.com/threads/d...pdated-4-11-19.3578988/page-317#post-60462316

Link to the page on Gondola Project: http://gondolaproject.com/category/installations/busan-air-cruise/

Thanks for posting. I’m very excited about the Skyliner but I don’t know if I could ride those

 

[Spaceguy55]

For all those who thought the buses would stop running....Not me...but they don't say if they will be at a reduced rate or not...
From WDW Magic today..
Skyliner gondolas will come in 8 colors, and will feature 22 different graphics, including favorite characters and attractions. In total there are more than 300 gondolas on the system. Seating will be for up to 10 guests on two wooden benches, and they are capable of handling wheelchairs. Buses will continue to be offered on the routes to provide alternative transportation, especially during poor weather when the Skyliner cannot operate.

https://www.wdwmagic.com/transporta...ndola-including-ride-times-for-each-route.htm

 

[OKW Lover]

especially during poor weather when the Skyliner cannot operate.

I wonder what is considered "poor weather"? I'm guessing that light/moderate rain won't be an issue. Perhaps heavy rain too? How about high winds? Perhaps this just refers to thunderstorms in the immediate vicinity?

 

[Dr.Mickey]

I wonder what is considered "poor weather"? I'm guessing that light/moderate rain won't be an issue. Perhaps heavy rain too? How about high winds? Perhaps this just refers to thunderstorms in the immediate vicinity?

I read on this thread (no idea how many pages back) that these will be rated safe for 45mph winds and can still run during thunder storms. It seemed like a credible report. If true, this would likely mean only closing when “severe thunderstorm” warnings or worse. I would love to see that report if anyone has a link to it.

 

[NotUrsula]

I wonder what is considered "poor weather"? I'm guessing that light/moderate rain won't be an issue. Perhaps heavy rain too? How about high winds? Perhaps this just refers to thunderstorms in the immediate vicinity?

I think this is one of those things that testing will tell them. It's really impossible to know in advance with this guest mix what guests will and will not decide to do when the weather isn't optimal. If people start predictably avoiding the Skyliner when the wind is up, then they will know to add in more buses on days like that.

 

[Spaceguy55]

Just because they can operate in poor weather, whatever that will be ...doesn't mean that guests , especially small children, or people with fear of heights..will want to get on them when it's windy. That's why I have always thought the buses will run a regular schedule. They might double up for POP/AOA.
It would be asking a lot for guests that finish their day in Epcot towards the front to then have to hike all the way back to IGW..not a problem for DHS since that will be the closest ride at exit.
Remember, one of the perks to staying on property is convenient free transportation..it's not convenient to force guests to ride in something they are not comfortable with for their family or having to wait an hour or so for a bus.

 

[rteetz]

Just because they can operate in poor weather, whatever that will be ...doesn't mean that guests , especially small children, or people with fear of heights..will want to get on them when it's windy. That's why I have always thought the buses will run a regular schedule. They might double up for POP/AOA.
It would be asking a lot for guests that finish their day in Epcot towards the front to then have to hike all the way back to IGW..not a problem for DHS since that will be the closest ride at exit.
Remember, one of the perks to staying on property is convenient free transportation..it's not convenient to force guests to ride in something they are not comfortable with for their family or having to wait an hour or so for a bus.

What would be the point of building these if buses will continue as is?

 

[Spaceguy55]

What would be the point of building these if buses will continue as is?

I never thought of these as a replacement for the buses but as a supplement form of transportation that will reduce the unsafe overloading of the buses and to encourage guests to not drive their cars. When these are working the buses will be less crowded and those who would drive instead of getting crammed in a bus..especially at close will consider riding the buses again or try the gondola's.
If they are going to have buses as an option it will have to be as they are now, otherwise guests might be missing FP's and ADR's. It's just unrealistic to expect all guests at the Skyliner resorts to give up what has always been advertised and expected..especially if your a DVC owner at Rivera.
The Rivera is expensive and telling potential buyers you can only ride in a non ac gondola is not an easy selling point to overcome.