Gondolas...I just can’t figure this out

[bryanb]

No, I don't but I just doubt they will run buses and gondola unless the gondolas are not operating. TBH, it's just my guess.

People with inside knowledge of the project have said that the plan is to completely eliminate bus service between the gondola resorts and parks. Even if they back down on that idea, you can expect that the service will be cut back considerably. It doesn't make sense to spend all this money to build a new transportation system if you can't save money by cutting back on an existing system.

Thanks! It sounds reasonable to me, especially if the gondolas are fully accessible. I can imagine that the gondolas will be an attractive feature to some guests (just like staying on the monorail line), and others might choose to stay elsewhere if they don't like the idea.

At one point, the Peoplemover was envisioned by Walt Disney as a possible way people would get around in major cities. I suppose that the gondolas are a closer realization to that mass transit vision than a fleet of buses would be!

 

[joelkfla]

Thanks! It sounds reasonable to me, especially if the gondolas are fully accessible. I can imagine that the gondolas will be an attractive feature to some guests (just like staying on the monorail line), and others might choose to stay elsewhere if they don't like the idea.

At one point, the Peoplemover was envisioned by Walt Disney as a possible way people would get around in major cities. I suppose that the gondolas are a closer realization to that mass transit vision than a fleet of buses would be!

Yes, a gondola lift and a WEDway People Mover have different means of support and propulsion, but their operating characteristics are strikingly similar:

• Small vehicles carrying a small number of passengers;
• Vehicles are constantly in motion;
• Vehicles slow down and become closer together when entering a station, then speed up and spread apart when leaving it;
• Vehicles can be switched out for maintenance and overnight storage, but typically remain online during normal operation.

 

[tnolan]

People with inside knowledge of the project have said that the plan is to completely eliminate bus service between the gondola resorts and parks. Even if they back down on that idea, you can expect that the service will be cut back considerably. It doesn't make sense to spend all this money to build a new transportation system if you can't save money by cutting back on an existing system.

What about when/if the gondolas are shut down, as mentioned, in case of lightning? With no buses, how would people get back to their resorts?

 

[GrnMtnMan]

What about when/if the gondolas are shut down, as mentioned, in case of lightning? With no buses, how would people get back to their resorts?

They dispatch buses. They do this all the time at the Boardwalk area resorts when the friendship boats have to hold at a dock due to lightning.