First hand wheelchair review of Skyliner - please *** question/comments here

[RaySharpton]

Yes, there are vents in the floor. Honestly, it was pretty cool in the box. No complaints on that front.

My husband saw the intercom box behind me, but said it was pretty far up in the corner by the door. They put a block brake behind the wheels of the wheelchair, so between that and the height of the box there (as well as my husband being in the way) there is absolutely no way I could have reached it. Again, part of the problem here is that the mobility device is loaded forward so you can't see all the emergency signage behind you.

I wiggled the benches and I think I saw a hinge, but I didn't see a latch. It could have been under the bench.

I took a couple of me and my husband. I'll try to edit this to post them as I took them on my phone.

Thank you, Jessica.

 

[gap2368]

There was just a generic announcement about it being temporarily delayed. It was a little breezy when we were on it. More breezy than on the ground. So there was still a lot of ventilation while the gondolas were stopped and no huge difference in temperature.

I have been hearing the same thing too thst when stoped it really dose not get hotter ( at most one or two degree ) and there is still a nice breeze and with all the vents that would not surprise me. Glade you hear you had the same experience

 

[chicagoshannon]

There were definitely people using the Riviera line including wheelchairs. I'm not sure why they didn't allow you to use it. Maybe the CM was confused. I saw people both in the regular line and the wheelchair line.

 

[photobob]

Do you think if someone who has the ability to transfer out of the wheelchair and walk onto the gondola should go to the "walking line"? We use a transport wheelchair which folds.

 

[married2mm]

Great review thanks.

Shame it took you an hour though.

 

[gap2368]

Do you think if someone who has the ability to transfer out of the wheelchair and walk onto the gondola should go to the "walking line"? We use a transport wheelchair which folds.

I
Am guessing yes since they let strollers on but this is just a guess

 

[Starwind]

Do you think if someone who has the ability to transfer out of the wheelchair and walk onto the gondola should go to the "walking line"? We use a transport wheelchair which folds.

I have seen it reported elsewhere that one of the roving managers explained to a guest that this is what they should do, that they didn't need to wait in the ECV/wheelchair line if they have a wheelchair but can readily walk onto the gondola and the wheelchair easily folds.

However, apparently some of the non-manager CMs are a little confused on the issue and may try to direct you to the mobility device line. This is also the issue apparently with why some CMs are not letting those with mobility devices get off at Riviera. More training of CMs is needed.

SW

 

[Jecca]

Do you think if someone who has the ability to transfer out of the wheelchair and walk onto the gondola should go to the "walking line"? We use a transport wheelchair which folds.

I did see a few people doing this today with no problem.

 

[Jecca]

UPDATE: We ended up riding twice today. The first time was pretty early in the morning to Hollywood Studios and it was smooth sailing. When we got to that station, I saw a Disney suit and approached him. It turns out he works for engineering and loved getting feedback on the direction mobility devices are loaded/unloaded. He and a manager that was called over both looked stunned when I mentioned the emergency details being behind the backs of people using devices. They hadn't thought of that. They also suggested that I try to load backwards next time, so I did. I didn't ask the CM at the station, and just told him I was going to go in backwards. He also looked stunned but didn't say anything.

Speaking of that second ride, it was after the final Illuminations from the Epcot Station to CB. What a disaster for people in the "wheelchair line". The line was backed up beyond the bottom of the ramp up to the station. While that was well and good for the "ambulatory line" because that one moves quickly, the "wheelchair line" took FOREVER. We were once again six from the front and waited 55 minutes just to load. I can't imagine how long the people at the end of the line waited. It's really ridiculous from an efficiency perspective. The 95 seconds to load and unload are way too long. They need to rethink the ratio of mobility device gondolas vs. "regular" gondolas. Thankfully there were a number of suits there who were watching all of this happen. The "ambulatory line" didn't have nearly as many people by the time we left as the "wheelchair line".

 

[RaySharpton]

UPDATE: We ended up riding twice today. The first time was pretty early in the morning to Hollywood Studios and it was smooth sailing. When we got to that station, I saw a Disney suit and approached him. It turns out he works for engineering and loved getting feedback on the direction mobility devices are loaded/unloaded. He and a manager that was called over both looked stunned when I mentioned the emergency details being behind the backs of people using devices. They hadn't thought of that. They also suggested that I try to load backwards next time, so I did. I didn't ask the CM at the station, and just told him I was going to go in backwards. He also looked stunned but didn't say anything.

Speaking of that second ride, it was after the final Illuminations from the Epcot Station to CB. What a disaster for people in the "wheelchair line". The line was backed up beyond the bottom of the ramp up to the station. While that was well and good for the "ambulatory line" because that one moves quickly, the "wheelchair line" took FOREVER. We were once again six from the front and waited 55 minutes just to load. I can't imagine how long the people at the end of the line waited. It's really ridiculous from an efficiency perspective. The 95 seconds to load and unload are way too long. They need to rethink the ratio of mobility device gondolas vs. "regular" gondolas. Thankfully there were a number of suits there who were watching all of this happen. The "ambulatory line" didn't have nearly as many people by the time we left as the "wheelchair line".

An excellent report of you from your observations. Thank you.

 

[married2mm]

Slightly off topic- but in the Skyliner zone..

Have you visited the restrooms?
Any feedback on those would’ve most appreciated.

As per your other comments;I require full details.

I hope you continue to enjoy your vacation.

 

[firemanx]

for us slower "limpers" how difficult is loading has anyone done this yet?

 

[gap2368]

I would ask on the Skyliner thread or look in the last page or two of the tread for your answer

 

[SueM in MN]

I added the question about boarding new thread to this one.

 

[BabyFu18]

UPDATE: We ended up riding twice today. The first time was pretty early in the morning to Hollywood Studios and it was smooth sailing. When we got to that station, I saw a Disney suit and approached him. It turns out he works for engineering and loved getting feedback on the direction mobility devices are loaded/unloaded. He and a manager that was called over both looked stunned when I mentioned the emergency details being behind the backs of people using devices. They hadn't thought of that. They also suggested that I try to load backwards next time, so I did. I didn't ask the CM at the station, and just told him I was going to go in backwards. He also looked stunned but didn't say anything.

Speaking of that second ride, it was after the final Illuminations from the Epcot Station to CB. What a disaster for people in the "wheelchair line". The line was backed up beyond the bottom of the ramp up to the station. While that was well and good for the "ambulatory line" because that one moves quickly, the "wheelchair line" took FOREVER. We were once again six from the front and waited 55 minutes just to load. I can't imagine how long the people at the end of the line waited. It's really ridiculous from an efficiency perspective. The 95 seconds to load and unload are way too long. They need to rethink the ratio of mobility device gondolas vs. "regular" gondolas. Thankfully there were a number of suits there who were watching all of this happen. The "ambulatory line" didn't have nearly as many people by the time we left as the "wheelchair line".

Wow great report and glad some higher ups were there to take your feedback and to see how the line is or isn’t working. Also nice that you could load backward and that the CM didn’t question you/stop you. I cannot imagine having to wait an hour+ just to board the gondolas, but hopefully that’s just because it’s new and the excitement to ride is pretty high.

 

[persimmondeb]

Were people with canes/walkers/rollators in the regular line or the accessible line? I use a cane and have balance issues and was kind of worried about regular loading for skyliner.

 

[Selket]

UPDATE: of that second ride, it was after the final Illuminations from the Epcot Station to CB. What a disaster for people in the "wheelchair line". The line was backed up beyond the bottom of the ramp up to the station. While that was well and good for the "ambulatory line" because that one moves quickly, the "wheelchair line" took FOREVER.

I was afraid this would happen at the end of the night. It's the same thing with the busses and they also take forever. I pretty much send my family on ahead to the resort while I wait. I wonder if the gondola is freeing up the bus so that the bus would be less time if you had taken it to CBR instead. It would have been an interesting theory to test. Still seems like the gondola should be faster....

 

[mymartianromance]

I was afraid this would happen at the end of the night. It's the same thing with the busses and they also take forever. I pretty much send my family on ahead to the resort while I wait. I wonder if the gondola is freeing up the bus so that the bus would be less time if you had taken it to CBR instead. It would have been an interesting theory to test. Still seems like the gondola should be faster....

Probably a bit of its a newfangled thing so everyone wants to ride it. As time goes on ratio might even out a bit since people would see the line and if it's too long choose to head for the bus instead since they rode it already and the thrill of it wore off.

 

[seashoreCM]

Simple, post a second copy of the procedures and emergency instructions, on the opposite wall of the gondola.

A limit is imposed on how frequently wheelchair riders can board because on average wheelchair riders take longer to board and disembark. In turn the chance of having the system come to a halt because too many gondolas clumped up in one location is greater if wheelchair riders are spaced more closely in the mix of all riders.

When the system came to a halt for up to 10 minutes at a time, those delays are added to each rider's trip time, not just wheelchair riders' trip times.

 

[Weedy]

What took so long for you to get back to your hotel? If you were the 7th person in line and a cabin goes out every 90 seconds you should have been on your way in about 10 or so minute? How long does it take to load and secure a ECV? Do they really dispatch a cabin every 90 seconds?