Paradise Pier's new elevator system

[Disney Rose]

I've just heard that Paradise Pier has implemented a new elevator system and was wondering if anyone has stayed there recently? If so, has it made the elevator situation better or worse? The one negative I've heard about Paradise Pier has been the long elevator wait times, and we're booked to stay there soon so I'm really curious about the change.

 

[mom2rtk]

We are here now and it's awful. After staying here four years in a row we probably won't do it again. We have been using the stairs from the fifth floor. we saw people with a stroller opt for the stairs.

 

[cinder-ellah]

We are here now and it's awful. After staying here four years in a row we probably won't do it again. We have been using the stairs from the fifth floor. we saw people with a stroller opt for the stairs.

Ugh, I'm staying there with my sister & mom (both with scooters) in a couple of weeks. What has made it worse ?

 

[mom2rtk]

It's a new elevator call system. You punch the floor you're going to and it assigns you an elevator shaft. I can't exactly put my finger on what made it worse but It seems to be taking far longer than ever before. Maybe it waits to deploy the elevator until it has more floors assigned to it. All I know is there were lines into the lobby Just to get the elevator.

 

[cinder-ellah]

It's a new elevator call system. You punch the floor you're going to and it assigns you an elevator shaft. I can't exactly put my finger on what made it worse but It seems to be taking far longer than ever before. Maybe it waits to deploy the elevator until it has more floors assigned to it. All I know is there were lines into the lobby Just to get the elevator.

Uh, oh ......

I know having scooters can be a challenge with the elevators & busyness. Stayed at DLH & GC this year. But it was relatively easy. We did one scooter per elevator and then invited others to join. Worked great with alittle bit of patience. I wonder if we can leave the scooters at the check in area and not take them back to the rooms. That would free up more space in the elevator. Less stress with that.

I haven't stayed at PPH for 8 years. Good to know about this new system so hopefully extra time can be planned in and expected.

 

[rentayenta]

Ugh, this is terrible news. I am all about the stairs but wondering if they are fully accessible.

 

[bumbershoot]

It's a new elevator call system. You punch the floor you're going to and it assigns you an elevator shaft. I can't exactly put my finger on what made it worse but It seems to be taking far longer than ever before. Maybe it waits to deploy the elevator until it has more floors assigned to it. All I know is there were lines into the lobby Just to get the elevator.

That works well at the Hyatt Refency in Vancouver BC. But they have something like 8 elevators.

 

[ChloroformSdxn]

I know the one time I stayed at Paradise Pier a couple years ago, it was a ridiculous wait for the elevator every morning. It's something that's mentioned a lot in their reviews (but some people have no problem, so it seems to depend on what floor you're on.) Sorry to hear it's gotten worse.

 

[Reepicheep]

That works well at the Hyatt Refency in Vancouver BC. But they have something like 8 elevators.

The Marriot by the Anaheim Convention Centre also uses this system (with 6 elevators, I believe) and it works very well. If the system at the PP isn't operating very well, then I assume that it is just a matter of a computer program somewhere being tweaked.

Logically speaking, a well programmed "intelligent" elevator system which knows before hand which floor guests want to go to should be more efficient than an "unintelligent" system where the system doesn't know floor destinations until buttons inside the elevator are pushed.

 

[Darkbeer1]

I think the main issue of the PPH elevators is the design of the shafts and capacity. Even though a new program has been installed, which is designed to bypass certain floors on each shaft, you still have limited shafts and room.

And some folks figured out ways to "help" such as going up first, the new system cuts that back a bit, but hasn't helped capacity per hour at all.

 

[Reepicheep]

I think the main issue of the PPH elevators is the design of the shafts and capacity.

I agree with your observation. Given what they have to work with, it is possible that the PPH elevators will always be relatively slow during peak periods.

During our past stays at the PPH, my possibly faulty memory is telling me that taking an elevator down to the lobby took longer than the trip from the lobby up to our floor. It is possible that the current system has evened this out to an extent (i.e., in the new system, trips to the lobby have been speeded up, but at the expense of trips from the lobby being slower).

I'm fairly confident that, overall, the new system should be at least as efficient as the old system. Or, if it isn't, then tweaking over the next few weeks should make it at least as efficient as the old system. But, Darkbeer, you also could very well be right that capacity/hour hasn't really improved that much (during peak periods; the new system should work much better during non-peak periods).

 

[minnieralyks]

I'm trying to figure out how the system works. Is there buttons on the outside where you press which floor you want to go to? I don't think I've ever seen an "intelligent elevator" before, but it sounds cool!

 

[Disney Rose]

We are here now and it's awful. After staying here four years in a row we probably won't do it again. We have been using the stairs from the fifth floor. we saw people with a stroller opt for the stairs.

Oh bother. Thanks for answering though - at least now we can prepare ourselves. I did have a look at what else is available to see if we could change to DH instead but, nope, seems its all booked up now. Maybe its worth paying the extra for concierge just to get access to the extra lift.

 

[ParkHopper1]

I'm trying to figure out how the system works. Is there buttons on the outside where you press which floor you want to go to? I don't think I've ever seen an "intelligent elevator" before, but it sounds cool!

I have not seen the PPH system specifically yet, but I have seen them used successfully at other properties. They are becoming very common in high rise buildings.

You punch in what floor # your want in the elevator lobby of the floor you are currently on then the screen tells you what elevator car to go to and wait. There are then no buttons in the elevator itself and the car then stops at all the assigned floors and only the assigned floors. You can't just hop on the next random car that opens otherwise you can not get to your desired floor unless assigned. I made that mistake first time I ever used one. I had to hop out on a random floor then make a call to my desired floor.

In theory it should be a much more efficient system. I have never had serious problems with the PPH elevators, but we once loaded with a full car at the top and stopped at almost every floor on the way down with others that had called the elevator...the new system should make it MUCH more efficient.

I may not solve the problem completely...but it should vastly improve the efficiency. I am sure they will have some tweaking to get it dialed in to that properties peak times and it will probably be frustrating at first for those that are not used to that type of system.

 

[minnieralyks]

I have not seen the PPH system specifically yet, but I have seen them used successfully at other properties. They are becoming very common in high rise buildings.

You punch in what floor # your want in the elevator lobby of the floor you are currently on then the screen tells you what elevator car to go to and wait. There are then no buttons in the elevator itself and the car then stops at all the assigned floors and only the assigned floors. You can't just hop on the next random car that opens otherwise you can not get to your desired floor unless assigned. I made that mistake first time I ever used one. I had to hop out on a random floor then make a call to my desired floor.

In theory it should be a much more efficient system. I have never had serious problems with the PPH elevators, but we once loaded with a full car at the top and stopped at almost every floor on the way down with others that had called the elevator...the new system should make it MUCH more efficient.

I may not solve the problem completely...but it should vastly improve the efficiency. I am sure they will have some tweaking to get it dialed in to that properties peak times and it will probably be frustrating at first for those that are not used to that type of system.

Interesting! Thanks for taking the time to explain. Hopefully they will get the issues worked out with the system so it runs smoothly.

 

[Darkbeer1]

Well, two comments...

First off, the main issue at the PPH is that the vast majority wants to use their early entry privileges, and all leave their room at about the same time, which causes the issues. Same in the evening with closing time. So capacity is the issue, and has been for decades.

Second, we are talking about mainly families, how many kids want to runs ahead and push the elevator button. I see it all the time, so the person doesn't understand how the system works, and creates false trips, I don't see much change. Might work better in something like a business setting. Add to that strollers, etc....

 

[basketballmom]

What about the glass elevator? Has it changed as well?

 

[arcadiandj]

Fastpass system and single rider lines are coming

 

[ddwlms]

Last time we stayed there, we were on the 14th floor. Every morning, multiple elevators would open for us, already jam packed with people that had learned the "go up to go down" trick. This new system might help alleviate that problem. (maybe)

 

[arcadiandj]

We are just back and didn't find any issues with the system at all. Waits were minimal the entire time. No complaints.