Riviera question

[Disney mac]

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.

 

[CarolMN]

We don't know yet, but I'm not particularly worried about it.

Disney knows the gondolas will be operating in Florida weather. I'm sure they wouldn't have purchased the system if it couldn't operate safely in typical Florida weather and they surely also have plans to move guests when the gondolas are not operating.

 

[Ben E N]

I also wonder about that. And especially hot days, with the gondolas having no AC. I am just wondering and waiting, though, and leaving the worrying up to Disney.

 

[disneynutz]

Disney closes down several transportation options when it storms, they have people who monitor the weather and lightning strikes and they issue the close downs.

Bill

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Gondolas are successful in India, Hong Kong and Macau. They will be fine in Florida.

 

[southerngirl528]

I also wonder about that. And especially hot days, with the gondolas having no AC.

I see no way on God's green earth they can run those multi-passenger gondolas WITHOUT air conditioning! I have not read either way, but you wouldn't find me getting in a non-A/C gondola for a sweltering ride! And I live right here close by....

 

[Ben E N]

I see no way on God's green earth they can run those multi-passenger gondolas WITHOUT air conditioning! I have not read either way, but you wouldn't find me getting in a non-A/C gondola for a sweltering ride! And I live right here close by....

I forgot where I read this, or even if I am remembering it correctly, so I may be sharing incorrect information here. I remember reading that they had to cut AC out of their budget due to financial constraints. I'm sure they wouldn't do that unless they had a good plan in place, which I why I said I would let them do the worrying.

 

[southerngirl528]

I forgot where I read this, or even if I am remembering it correctly, so I may be sharing incorrect information here. I remember reading that they had to cut AC out of their budget due to financial constraints. I'm sure they wouldn't do that unless they had a good plan in place, which I why I said I would let them do the worrying.

No worry! I have a lot of people in my inner circle that work for the Mouse, and I have not heard either way, but living right here where it is so blasted hot the majority of the year, I truly cannot imagine those gondolas NOT having A/C. Think about the legal ramifications if someone has a heat stroke and heaven knows lots and lots of WDW visitors have health issues, whether visible or not. It will be interesting to see how it all pans out, won't it?

 

[_auroraborealis_]

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.

 

[wdrl]

For some people, every possible scenario involving the Skyliner system ends with "and then we're all gonna die!"

The Skyliner won't have air conditioning so we'll get overheated . . ."and then we're all gonna die!"

The Skyliner loses power, stranding everyone for hours . . ."and then we're all gonna die!"

The Skyliner is hit by lightning, electrocuting everyone . . . "and then we're all gonna die!"

The Skyliner is hit by high winds, knocking down the gondolas . . ."and then we're all gonna die!"

And one of my favorite scenarios,
The Skyliner unloads so many people at the International Gateway that people will be crushed in the crowds . . ."and then we're all gonna die!"

 

[Ben E N]

For some people, every possible scenario involving the Skyliner system ends with "and then we're all gonna die!"

The Skyliner won't have air conditioning so we'll get overheated . . ."and then we're all gonna die!"

The Skyliner loses power, stranding everyone for hours . . ."and then we're all gonna die!"

The Skyliner is hit by lightning, electrocuting everyone . . . "and then we're all gonna die!"

The Skyliner is hit by high winds, knocking down the gondolas . . ."and then we're all gonna die!"

And one of my favorite scenarios,
The Skyliner unloads so many people at the International Gateway that people will be crushed in the crowds . . ."and then we're all gonna die!"

I'm sure if Disney was building their monorail for the first time right now, there would be plenty of naysayers as well. These gondolas have the potential to not work out, but if there is one thing I believe in with Disney, its that they know how to make things with a quality touch. They may cut a corner here or there, but when introducing a new project, they want to make sure it gets good reviews. I would not buy individual skyliner stock if it were offered, but I also do not feel that the sky will fall on us when it gets released.

 

[ToddyLu]

Surely there will be a vented window and with elevation somewhat of a breeze, maybe not a cool breeze but not a locked baking oven.....I hope...

 

[Ben E N]

Surely there will be a vented window and with elevation somewhat of a breeze, maybe not a cool breeze but not a locked baking oven.....I hope...

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 still bet they have some sort of small-scale air conditioning, whether it is just air moving across cold water or something similar to that.

 

[disneynutz]

For a ride that only lasts a few minutes, I'm sure that we will survive.

Bill

 

[Ben E N]

For a ride that only lasts a few minutes, I'm sure that we will survive.

Bill

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".

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Again: The gondola in Hong Kong, in a place with an average temperature of more than 80 degrees F 6 months of the year? No AC. And they're fine.

The cars are built with venting.

 

[Ben E N]

The cars are built with venting.

Right. The ones at Disney would have to be as well. The only fear I have for them, and I'm sure they are anticipating this as well, is they will have a ton of whiny guests unless those gondolas are completely comfortable. The ones in Hong Kong are needed to take you to a high location. The ones at Disney are intended to be an upgrade over busses, so they have more pressure to be a hit.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Right. The ones at Disney would have to be as well. The only fear I have for them, and I'm sure they are anticipating this as well, is they will have a ton of whiny guests unless those gondolas are completely comfortable. The ones in Hong Kong are needed to take you to a high location. The ones at Disney are intended to be an upgrade over busses, so they have more pressure to be a hit.

On the other hand, the monorail is not reliable, but people think them better than the (more reliable) buses, thanks to a bias against rapid transit that has been developed over decades by various lobbyist groups. Since a gondola won't have the taint of mass transit, people may still view them as a novelty and cut them more of a break.

 

[disneyfantotheend]

Time will tell

 

[Ben E N]

On the other hand, the monorail is not reliable, but people think them better than the (more reliable) buses, thanks to a bias against rapid transit that has been developed over decades by various lobbyist groups. Since a gondola won't have the taint of mass transit, people may still view them as a novelty and cut them more of a break.

Yes, I agree. As I stated earlier in the thread, I trust Disney to make them work, and am sure there would be people skeptical of the monorails if they were being built right now. They always have a ton of pressure to make their new releases the best they can be, and have had very few duds in doing so. I trust that they will be done well, and am just pointing out the potential issues that they will have to overcome.