Skyliner and Crescent Lake

[DebbieB]

The Skyliner is expected to move 5,000 guests per hour. That's 44 WDW articulated buses. If these figures are correct, the cabins would likely be a more efficient way of getting back home after Disney Illuminations.

I can't see how that would be possible. How many will they cram into each one? How fast can they load? I heard no AC. I just got home a week ago, I think the poles are ugly. No thanks.

 

[Jen1995]

I think the Skyliner is an unbelievably stupid idea. And Disney has a history of making such ridiculous mistakes. I am not surprised they didn't plan on an IG expansion because the "demanders" and the "planners" and the "doers" don't often talk to one another. The skyway will essentially ruin one of the major "deluxe" attributes of the epcot hotels and is a major reason this month will be our last on site stay. I truly do not understand why everyone trusts Disney so much to make things ok - they just tried to get rid of Citrus Swirl only just after reviving Orange Bird....there are some serious idiots in major decision-making roles at Disney right now.

 

[cwis]

I can't see how that would be possible. How many will they cram into each one? How fast can they load? I heard no AC. I just got home a week ago, I think the poles are ugly. No thanks.

I am wondering as well, since 5,000 seems quite a large amount of people. Gondolas installed in skiing areas tend to accommodate around 3,000 people per hour, most of which are able to move fully and embark/disembark without assistance, which is not what I would expect from guests visiting WDW.

I'm not sure of the size of skyliner's cabins, let's pretend they can move 8 people: that's one cabin being loaded every 6 seconds, just enough time to sing “its a small world after all”.

 

[Nicnic]

We love the BC and have a stay in 10 days. Thinking of going back next year before the sky thing is complete and we probably wont stay again because of it. I don't want to have to que to get in or out from my resort. That was the appealing factor of staying here that you could easily get to EP. We would just nip in and out for a ride or a bite to eat but it sounds like its going to be busy unless they are putting in resort lanes for entering/exiting?

 

[Disneylover99]

Most definitely! We will get a glass of wine right before Illuminations ends, sit down, relax, and watch the crowds leave before we meander back to Yacht/Beach. Sounds kind of nice actually...

You better get your wine before Illuminations begins or everything will be closed.

 

[OneinThree]

I'm not terribly nervous about the Boardwalk area being crowded but I AM nervous about the potential bottleneck at the IG turnstiles as thousands of people try to leave World Showcase at the end of Illuminations to get back to their Skyliner-linked hotels.

This. IG will become a total cluster. The Boardwalk area isn't likely to see an enormous increase in traffic because the primary cause of lack of activity will remain -there's just not much to do or see. Jelly Rolls is OK, but Atlantic Dance Hall is just a disaster. Beyond that, it can't compete with Disney Springs. As for the IG, I'm going to guess that if Disney doesn't formulate a solution for the traffic, guests typically paying to stay in the deluxe Epcot resorts may think twice about opening up their wallets, to wait in yet another WDW line.

 

[focusondisney]

I think the Skyliner is an unbelievably stupid idea. And Disney has a history of making such ridiculous mistakes. I am not surprised they didn't plan on an IG expansion because the "demanders" and the "planners" and the "doers" don't often talk to one another. The skyway will essentially ruin one of the major "deluxe" attributes of the epcot hotels and is a major reason this month will be our last on site stay. I truly do not understand why everyone trusts Disney so much to make things ok - they just tried to get rid of Citrus Swirl only just after reviving Orange Bird....there are some serious idiots in major decision-making roles at Disney right now.

You hit the nail on the head! Seems like all the decision makers thought about was "less buses to run, less drivers to hire". We love the YC & have stayed there for over 20 years, usually 2 or 3 times a year. I am trying to prepare myself mentally for the coming changes. Also starting to think our frequent Disney vacations will be coming to an end sometime soon. The prices getting way too high to justify. I am in my 60s & I get motion sick pretty easily. Seems like all the new attractions are rides I may not be able to tolerate. If I can't relax & enjoy my favorite resort, I don't think there will be any point to doing Disney. I'm trying to keep an open mind, but I'm not optimistic.

 

[Farro]

You better get your wine before Illuminations begins or everything will be closed.

Then that's what we'll do! We'll buy 2 each.

I'm not overly concerned with this. First, I kind of like the idea of seeing Gondola/ sky-liners. Feels vacationy, like we are at the World's Fair or something.
Second, the only real bottleneck times might be rope-drop and close. Otherwise I doubt there will be an issue - it's not like there is going to be a continuous stream of people coming in on the Gondolas all day.

Rope-drop, we don't really do it much anymore, but regardless, we'll just wait in line with the masses!

Leaving the park, well, you know our plan.

 

[Farro]

This. IG will become a total cluster. The Boardwalk area isn't likely to see an enormous increase in traffic because the primary cause of lack of activity will remain -there's just not much to do or see. Jelly Rolls is OK, but Atlantic Dance Hall is just a disaster. Beyond that, it can't compete with Disney Springs. As for the IG, I'm going to guess that if Disney doesn't formulate a solution for the traffic, guests typically paying to stay in the deluxe Epcot resorts may think twice about opening up their wallets, to wait in yet another WDW line.

It's still well worth it to us to pop in Epcot for lunch if we have a pool day at Yacht Club. Go to Epcot for dinner after returning from another park. We utilize the IG much more than just opening and close.

 

[piccolopat]

They should have created a new entrance on the far side of WS for the new skyliners. I hope that with this tremendous number of new people entering WS at rope drop that Disney will consider opening WS at the same time as FW. It will help to spread the crowds out and access the new WS offerings earlier in the day.

 

[focusondisney]

They should have created a new entrance on the far side of WS for the new skyliners. I hope that with this tremendous number of new people entering WS at rope drop that Disney will consider opening WS at the same time as FW. It will help to spread the crowds out and access the new WS offerings earlier in the day.

That would be a great idea. It would help if we knew some of the plans I guess.

The other thing that bothers me is the thought of seeing all the back stage areas from the gondolas. Walt Disney was all about the guests seeing the "show" & not the backstage areas. We took a tour at Epcot years ago. The CM explained how everything was geared to keep the guests from seeing any backstage, non themed areas. The gondolas will pass practically right over the backstage area of France. Unless something is being done we don't know about yet, you will see backstage at France & probably Morroco from the gondolas.

 

[2xcited2sleep]

They should have created a new entrance on the far side of WS for the new skyliners. I hope that with this tremendous number of new people entering WS at rope drop that Disney will consider opening WS at the same time as FW. It will help to spread the crowds out and access the new WS offerings earlier in the day.

Oooh, now that (opening WS at 9), I would love! But I doubt they will. Also agree on entrance on the other side. Back maybe a year or more ago now when the first whispers of DVC at Caribbean Beach came out there was speculation there could be a walking trail to an entrance at that back corner. That would have made me consider purchasing. Gondolas not so much.

ETA: this video from DIS contributor Hector shows, around the 12 min mark, the pylon by the International Gateway as well as where the station will be etc. I think it can be easier to get the full scope and context in video vs. pictures.

 

[Spintopbeach]

Can someone tell me where the gondola station will be and when it will open? Never mind, just saw vblog posted above.

 

[Poprivet]

NOT SURE THAT MATH WORKS?
5,000 riders an hour divided by 30 people? per car = 167 cars per hour.
that would be about 1 car every 20 - 25 seconds..???

is that realistic???

pop

 

[LiveToTravelNicely]

Any word yet when they will close the IG completely to put up the cables from tower to tower? I assume they'll have to close IG, even if for a few days. Could be wrong...

 

[2xcited2sleep]

Any word yet when they will close the IG completely to put up the cables from tower to tower? I assume they'll have to close IG, even if for a few days. Could be wrong...

Hadn’t even thought of that. Ugh! I have a couple of upcoming stays and that would really stink.

 

[HopperFan]

NOT SURE THAT MATH WORKS?
5,000 riders an hour divided by 30 people? per car = 167 cars per hour.
that would be about 1 car every 20 - 25 seconds..???

is that realistic???

pop

Most the predictions (guesses) have said 8-10 per car. How's that work in the math?

Any word yet when they will close the IG completely to put up the cables from tower to tower? I assume they'll have to close IG, even if for a few days. Could be wrong...

Hadn’t even thought of that. Ugh! I have a couple of upcoming stays and that would really stink.

They could just work at night, and on non-EMH days that is a good number of hours. Of course that will likely be disturbing to a number of guests in both hotels. OR they could build a scaffolding tunnel like they do around city buildings when working up high on them.

 

[LiveToTravelNicely]

Hadn’t even thought of that. Ugh! I have a couple of upcoming stays and that would really stink.

Yah, I hadn't thought about it either until I watched that video posted above. When I saw the towers and then the construction walls for the IG station it hit me that one day work has to be done to connect A to B. Hopefully HopperFan is correct that they'd do this at night or build some sort of scaffolding to get it done. Of course, if not, I would assume the cables would not be put up until all of the towers and stations are complete.

 

[Spintopbeach]

Yikes, will the boardwalk inn be disturbed? It would probably be a deal breaker for me to have to take a bus to the front of Epcot instead of going through ig. I also would have to rethink it if loud construction was going on. Hopeful that’s not the case.

 

[dansdad]

It would probably be a deal breaker for me to have to take a bus to the front of Epcot instead of going through ig.

There is no bus from BWI to the front of Epcot.