Riviera question

[southerngirl528]

"and then we're all gonna die!"

???????

 

[Dean]

As I just returned from central Florida last week, I’ve been pondering the Riviera.
What happens to the coming Gondolas during the daily storm? They’ll have to shut them down, right? And will that make staying at the Rivera a complete pain? I worry about this with flooding the market with points no one will have a desire to use and make that 7 month booking insane.

I don't think we know for sure about a number of issues. Will it be more deluxe or more moderate like SSR or OKW? How well will the gondola system work and how will it be perceived. How will it affect demand. But from a 7 month standpoint I doubt it's going to make much difference unless it's demand is down to the level of OKW/SSR. As long as it's at or above that of AKV, it is unlikely to affect the system overall.

 

[disneynutz]

No, literally you would die.
https://globalnews.ca/news/2142475/heres-what-happens-to-your-body-when-youre-left-in-a-hot-car/

This won't happen because Disney is too smart to allow that to, but your body cannot survive in an enclosed glass capsule for more than a couple of minutes. That's why people get arrested for leaving their kids in their cars for "just a minute, while I ran it to the store".

Yes, but it would have to have many openings, as well as most likely multiple fans to encourage air flow.

Bill

 

[Ben E N]

Yes, but it would have to have many openings, as well as most likely multiple fans to encourage air flow.

Bill

Yes, that's why I wrote that.

Yes, it would have to have many openings, as well as most likely multiple fans to encourage air flow. Otherwise the greenhouse effect within the pods would literally kill people in 80+ degree weather.

I'm pretty sure they will go this route. Air conditioners do suck up a ton of power, and with the pods being opened every 10 minutes or less, they would have to pump in a lot of wasted air in order to keep them cool enough. Fans, while not being super comfortable, do the trick. Whenever I am in line for the Safari at AK or Jungle Cruise, the fans they position throughout feel like little spots of heaven just because the air they are moving is not stagnant and humid.

 

[sky2823]

Not sure if this is accurate/dated and possibly already discussed


“The cabins are not expected to have air conditioning (it will have air vents that provide passive cooling), but will have wifi (so you can make that dinner reservation, naturally).“


http://thedisneyblog.com/2017/07/24/wdw-gondola-project-now-official-meet-disney-skyliner/

 

[sky2823]

And even more recent

https://m.orlandoweekly.com/Blogs/a...gondola-system-just-took-a-major-step-forward

“With an expecting opening about a year away we still have few details on the system, most importantly whether or not the new system will include air conditioning.

The Omega IV-10 SI D cabins are currently only in use in much cooler regions, such as Austria, though other systems, like the used Sentosa Cable Car in Singapore, have remained comfortable without an air conditioning system thanks to passive ventilation. The gondola cabin photographed on property looks like it has a similar passive ventilation system.

• Photo via Disney
• The Caribbean Beach station of the Disney Skyliner

Disney’s system, likely to be one of the most recognizable in the world, features custom-built stations that are unlike anything else Doppelmayr offers. This may point to other custom features, such as the aforementioned air conditioning. Some may object to the passive cooling system, but it does seem like a better option than guests being forced to remove windows on the system when the AC breaks, as was the case recently on the monorails. “

 

[_auroraborealis_]

The thing about wi-fi is it doesn't have to be powered from the gondola itself. It can be done via the support towers, with no need for any power-using object associated with the gondola proper. Your device will need power, but that's on you and having charged it. Don't expect USB charger ports on board.

AC has to come from on-board power, and that's a bigger challenge. As I said, one of the only systems in the world to do AC with the gondolas was London. It was expensive and the AC is not all that reliable, apparently. AC is a huge power drain.

 

[sky2823]

The thing about wi-fi is it doesn't have to be powered from the gondola itself. It can be done via the support towers, with no need for any power-using object associated with the gondola proper. Your device will need power, but that's on you and having charged it. Don't expect USB charger ports on board.

AC has to come from on-board power, and that's a bigger challenge. As I said, one of the only systems in the world to do AC with the gondolas was London. It was expensive and the AC is not all that reliable, apparently. AC is a huge power drain.

Based on the article , you are correct.

Sounds like it will be passive unless they surprise everyone

 

[disneynutz]

My guess is that they will be selling personal themed comfort fans for use by riders.

Bill

 

[sky2823]

Fans will be part of the perks for direct purchase

 

[Disney mac]

Ok, this thread took an interesting turn focusing on air conditioning. I was more concerned about the daily rain storm or break downs discouraging people from wanting to stay at the Riviera, thus further flooding the market with points for a less than desirable resort (in all honesty, it never even dawned on me that they might not be AC...wow). Regardless of whether the gondola is AC, I was thinking about the lack of desire bookings to make this a moderate or deluxe DVC resort. There have been so many conversations here about the 7 month booking window challenges for people the last year.

 

[Ben E N]

Ok, this thread took an interesting turn focusing on air conditioning. I was more concerned about the daily rain storm or break downs discouraging people from wanting to stay at the Riviera, thus further flooding the market with points for a less than desirable resort (in all honesty, it never even dawned on me that they might not be AC...wow). Regardless of whether the gondola is AC, I was thinking about the lack of desire bookings to make this a moderate or deluxe DVC resort. There have been so many conversations here about the 7 month booking window challenges for people the last year.

We are yet to see how premium the rooms are. If they offer deluxe accommodations and 40 extra square feet per room, along with the cool rooftop restaurant and water view, people may be more willing to forgive the bus ride.
It's not the the monorail ride from GFV is super premium when it is filled with guests coming from the T&T center, yet it has no issue being instantly gobbled up at 7 months.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

We are yet to see how premium the rooms are. If they offer deluxe accommodations and 40 extra square feet per room, along with the cool rooftop restaurant and water view, people may be more willing to forgive the bus ride.
It's not the the monorail ride from GFV is super premium when it is filled with guests coming from the T&T center, yet it has no issue being instantly gobbled up at 7 months.

Or the shared buses to DHS and AK, or the nuisance transfer to Epcot.

 

[Disney Dad ADL]

Ok, this thread took an interesting turn focusing on air conditioning. I was more concerned about the daily rain storm or break downs discouraging people from wanting to stay at the Riviera, thus further flooding the market with points for a less than desirable resort (in all honesty, it never even dawned on me that they might not be AC...wow). Regardless of whether the gondola is AC, I was thinking about the lack of desire bookings to make this a moderate or deluxe DVC resort. There have been so many conversations here about the 7 month booking window challenges for people the last year.

Assuming the gondola system is not a total flop, I think the Riveria will be somewhere in the middle in terms of demand. I think overall the gondola system will be a plus for the Rivera resort vs a bus system. I would certainly be interested to give it a try at least. Unless it's just completely a total disaster, I don't think occasional shutdowns due to weather or technical difficulties will affect desirability much (just look at the monorail).

Based on resales prices (from most to least expensive) it goes VGF, Poly, BLT/BCV, BWV, AKV, SSR/BRV, OKW. That's pretty close to the pecking order in terms of difficulty booking, though it depends on which room you want. It will depend on the amenities and point charts as well, but I think Riveria will probably end up near BWV or slightly below in popularity would be my guess.

7 month booking window during peak DVC seasons will pretty much always get worse as they keep adding more DVC resorts IMO, especially at the upper end. There's a chance it could improve peak season availability in SSR/OKW/AKV, but I don't think it will.

 

[DVCPAT]

The gondola in Hong Kong runs without AC. The average daily temperature on Lantau Island is 80+ degrees 6 months of the year. The reviews of this gondola are positive, even in summer. The major complaints are about shutdowns in thunderstorms: https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g294217-d624841-Reviews-Ngong_Ping_360-Hong_Kong.html

There is really only one notable system with AC, and it's considered something of an albatross. While some of the issues with that system (it's London, BTW) would not exist with Disney - basically, it is expensive to ride and mostly touristy, and not a legit form of transport for real Londoners, and one of those residual "we built this for an Olympics!" things most cities come to regret. The expense of building it was kind of extreme even when you take out the right of way acquisition costs.

Because most gondola carriages do not have their own power source, AC has to run off solar and/or batteries. Solar is improving quite a bit, but the systems to operate in that way are pricey. The battery backup is not especially eco-friendly.

We’ll soon find out. Maokong gondolas have many heat related complaints. Concrete and blacktop store and radiate solar heat along with all the man made heat energy from thousands of internal combustion engines, air conditioner condensers and electrical systems. You cant compare massive amounts of man made heat energy combined with solar heat condensed in a small area to a gondola ride in the country side. Air conditioners were invented because moving air (fans) just didn’t work on hot days. Then again, we were a lot thinner and healthier before AC.

 

[Disney mac]

Assuming the gondola system is not a total flop, I think the Riveria will be somewhere in the middle in terms of demand. I think overall the gondola system will be a plus for the Rivera resort vs a bus system. I would certainly be interested to give it a try at least. Unless it's just completely a total disaster, I don't think occasional shutdowns due to weather or technical difficulties will affect desirability much (just look at the monorail).

Based on resales prices (from most to least expensive) it goes VGF, Poly, BLT/BCV, BWV, AKV, SSR/BRV, OKW. That's pretty close to the pecking order in terms of difficulty booking, though it depends on which room you want. It will depend on the amenities and point charts as well, but I think Riveria will probably end up near BWV or slightly below in popularity would be my guess.

7 month booking window during peak DVC seasons will pretty much always get worse as they keep adding more DVC resorts IMO, especially at the upper end. There's a chance it could improve peak season availability in SSR/OKW/AKV, but I don't think it will.

Your order of resorts has me thinking. It’s going to be pretty tough to promote Riviera when the location and transportation won’t be that different than the Carribean Beach it Coronado (which is also getting that new 500 room tower). But the order you have listed is also close to the order of transportation to the parks too. Interesting.
My biggest concern is the ability to be able to book a room at 6-7 months. I’d love to see how many points are starting to get wasted due to lack of ability.

 

[sky2823]

The gondola could be amazing, but if I were Disney I would make the rooms huge and a ton of amenities just in case... (over compensate a bit)

I feel that there are a lot of people who will not ride the gondola even if it is perfect. I’m sure getting stuck on the gondola is no different than being stuck on the monorail, but I feel to a set of people its terrifying dangling in the sky in an 8 person compartment. Also, boats can sink. I get it. But in my opinion (no science behind it) gondola’s strike a different chord with people. I’m not debating the safety. Just the perception (irrational fear)

A one time stay might not be a big deal or a ride at a park, but for people to throwing down 5 figures on a 300 unit home resort it could be an objection for them

I’m hopeful though as a new resort with great transportation to Epcot and DHS would be awesome

 

[disneynutz]

I see it the other way, people will ride and wait in line to do so. If Disney builds it, they will come. We wait in line in the heat for an hour for a 4 minute park attraction, people will ride the gondolas.

Bill

 

[Matty B13]

My mother is afraid of heights and would never get on one of these gondolas, she seems okay on the monorail though. I think there are probably a lot more people like this and won't ride, so it could end up being less congested due to this.

 

[DenLo]

Your order of resorts has me thinking. It’s going to be pretty tough to promote Riviera when the location and transportation won’t be that different than the Carribean Beach it Coronado (which is also getting that new 500 room tower). But the order you have listed is also close to the order of transportation to the parks too. Interesting.
My biggest concern is the ability to be able to book a room at 6-7 months. I’d love to see how many points are starting to get wasted due to lack of ability.

Coronado will only have buses. And nobody cared that you rode a bus and value or moderate guest rode the same bus. Or is that the problem, that the resorts might share the same gondola. Really? I hope that isn't true as it sounds like a class system.