Walt Disney World Skyliner Gondola cabin video, photos, info.

[RaySharpton]

Hi, Weedy. Thank you for the photo. That is one thing that I will enjoy is visiting the two other resorts using the monorail instead of having to transfer via a bus.

Here is some more good video.
It’s from Rob at Passport to the parks.
He’s at the Caribbean Beach. At the beginning of the video you can see the Gondolas going in two different directions. It’s a long video. At 38:23 there is a great shot of the Station at Riviera Resort.

 

[DisneyOma]

Are they the Doppelmayr gondolas? Even the videos showing the Disney ones coming into the DHS station don't show a lot of swing. These gondolas are designed for mass commuting, and although they come in at an angle, the bar is hinged to keep them level. The only jar really would most likely be when detaching and reattaching the gondola on the cable because of slow down and speed up. The small amount of swing that might be associated with that isn't going to be enough to drastically move wheelchairs and strollers, let alone ECVs or electric wheelchairs.

They were videos of WDW gondolas in action. Even the last video posted here says "there's a little kick from it" and you can see a tip in the angle when one approaches the loading area/turn.

 

[lanejudy]

WDW is testing the gondolas at various speeds -- likely both faster and slower than what will be the "usual" speed. One video RaySharpton posted shows both a fast run with considerably swing at the beginning of the video and then towards the end of the same video is an obviously much slower run with very little if any swing noticeable. I don't know that we can rely on videos of the test runs to be indicative of swing during actual use with guests. There is also recent discussion taking place on the Rumors & News board that gets into the mathematics of calculating the estimated swing. General consensus seems to be the amount of swing felt in the gondola car may be similar to an elevator.

 

[SueM in MN]

They are also testing things besides speed - like load and weight.

 

[mamabunny]

They are also testing things besides speed - like load and weight.

And the weight *distribution* within each gondola will presumably affect how much (if at all) it "tips".

 

[RaySharpton]

I saw another BlogMickey photo of the Pop Century Resort Skyliner Gondola Station with a photo looking head on into the station, but I can't determine if there is a second row in the rear like people have been mentioning for loading wheelchairs. These photos appeared 4/16/2019 and are recent.

http://blogmickey.com/2019/04/disney-skyliner-gondola-testing-over-hourglass-lake/

We made it out to Disney’s Art of Animation Resort recently and found that the Disney Skyliner gondola system was testing over hourglass lake that day. While we’ve extensively covered testing at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, this was our first time watching the gondola cabins hover over the lake.

First, we’ll take a look at the station, where the finishing details are being applied. Here’s a look at it from across the water. The station is connected to the Generation Gap bridge that connects Disney’s Art of Animation Resort and Pop Century. That will allow guests from both resorts to access the Disney Skyliner gondola system towards Disney’s Hollywood Studios and on to Epcot.

Side view of the station with white walls blocking the view of where the second row may be located.

Long distance photo of a head-on view of the gondola station view toward the bridge connecting Pop and Animator resorts. I see the two white walls on either side and behind the scaffolding two gondolas, but since it is head-on I can't tell if there is a second row.

Side view of the station with a partial view of the white wall to the left. This is what most photos show. Maybe I can get a better view when I visit WDW in a few weeks.

Another head-on view toward the bridge connecting Pop and Animator resorts

 

[kaytieeldr]

Long distance photo of head-on view of the gondola station. I see the two white walls on either side and behind the scaffolding two gondolas, but since it is head-on I can't tell if there is a second row.

I don't see anywhere there could be an additional track. If you look at the heasld-on picture, therr are two cars on the left, one behind the other, with a gray or blue wall behind the second one, parallel to the white walls. It sort of looks like a bank of lockers (which I know it's not ). To the right of that wall at the far end of the platform is another car. The area between each line and its adjacent white wall is the boarding queue.

 

[RaySharpton]

I don't see anywhere there could be an additional track. If you look at the heasld-on picture, therr are two cars on the left, one behind the other, with a gray or blue wall behind the second one, parallel to the white walls. It sort of looks like a bank of lockers (which I know it's not ). To the right of that wall at the far end of the platform is another car. The area between each line and its adjacent white wall is the boarding queue.

I know, right. I couldn't tell either. But it is difficult to tell with a head-on view.

Detailed aerial view of the landing of the Disney Skyliner's DHS line, in the Caribbean Beach station.
by bioreconstruct on 7:15 PM - May 4, 2018

I googled again and found this photo during construction before roofs and side were installed showing the gondola path.

It appears to have two sections. To the right of the yellow crane, I can see two curved paths. Maybe the first path is the regular path and the second is the second row where gondolas can be pulled off for wheelchairs, mobility scooters, and strollers.

I am looking at the little blue things along the gondola path.

This is just a guess on my part.

I don't know.

 

[Weedy]

The Orlando paper got a peak of the inside of a cabin.
So exciting!!
https://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/os-bz-gondolas-disney-sneak-preview-20190416-story.html

 

[RaySharpton]

Hi, Weedy. You are the very first one to post a video with photos of the interior of the real Disney Skyliner Gondola with benches and the Disney spokesman actually saying that it is "Wheelchair Accessible".

Thank you, Weedy.

The Orlando paper got a peak of the inside of a cabin.
So exciting!!
https://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/os-bz-gondolas-disney-sneak-preview-20190416-story.html

 

[Weedy]

One annoying thing. The Orlando Sentinel site will only let you login their site 3 or 4 times a month and then it locks you out Grrrr.
But you can go on a different device and see the article

 

[RaySharpton]

Thanks to Weedy and the Orlando Sentinal by Gabrielle RussonContact Reporter, today, Dean Huspen, a principal architect with Walt Disney Imagineering, announced that the Disney Skyliner Gondolas will be wheelchair accessible. See the video below to hear him.

http://pvp.trb.com/media/3690581442001/2019/04/3690581442001_6026820838001_6026802548001.mp4

Soon the Disney Skyliner system of 300 gondolas, opening to the public later this fall, will carry enough Disney-goers to roughly match the capacity of its monorail trains, company officials said.

Inside a gondola, twin wooden benches can carry up to 10 people.
On social media, some theme park followers have criticized the lack of air conditioning in the gondolas.
But Mazloum argued the ride is “absolutely comfortable.”

“We have specifically designed them with the Florida climate in mind,” he said, pointing to reflective windows that block out the sunlight and the mesh screens on both sides to bring in a breeze.

“Our vision is, this is the most magical flight on Earth,” said Dean Huspen, a principal architect with Walt Disney Imagineering.

Disney leaders gave a construction update Tuesday on the gondolas, which are in testing. All but one was covered in plastic, protecting them like a new car. They will gradually be unveiled starting around May to show off the eight bright colors and 22 Disney characters themes.

But don’t expect to catch a ride anytime soon.

By August, Disney employees could be among the first passengers during the testing process that will run for months around-the-clock.

Running on more than six miles of cable, the gondolas will travel about 11 mph, giving passengers a bird’s eye view of Walt Disney World Resort’s lakes, roads, woods and into Epcot and Hollywood Studios. The typical ride will last between five to 15 minutes as gondolas fly from 15 feet up to about 60 feet in the air.

“They are fabulous views,” said Thomas Mazloum, a Disney senior vice president who oversees transportation and resorts, who said the ride will feel much faster than 11 mph.

At the stations, gondolas will pull in, constantly moving, for guests to climb on. Disney will have the capacity to pause the gondolas for people in wheelchairs and those who need extra time to board.

Some cabins will be decorated in plain colors, like a vibrant teal or purple, while the other gondolas feature characters from Disney movies and attractions.

On Tuesday, Disney showed off a red gondola with images of Pluto and the chipmunks Chip ‘n Dale.

Huspen’s favorite is an orange cabin decorated from characters in the 2017 movie “Coco.”

“They all have their own personality,” he said.

 

[Weedy]

WDW news article
Yes I’m obsessed lol
https://wdwnt.com/2019/04/photos-di...dola-interior-passive-ventilation-technology/

 

[joelkfla]

Long distance photo of a head-on view of the gondola station view toward the bridge connecting Pop and Animator resorts. I see the two white walls on either side and behind the scaffolding two gondolas, but since it is head-on I can't tell if there is a second row.

The nearest gondola cabin is stopped at the bottom of the secondary loop. It is in the wheelchair boarding position. The direction of travel is left to right.

You can see just the edge of another cabin passing behind it on the main loop, partially obscured by a pillar. It is moving between the main unload area on the left and the main load area on the right.

The cabin on the right is in the main boarding area, moving away from the camera.

When loading of the cabin on the secondary loop is complete, it would advance 90 degrees and pause just short of the main loop, waiting for an opening to enter the main loop. It will move thru the main boarding area with its doors closed. At the same time, another cabin would take its place to be ready for the next wheelchair to load.

This video I shot at DHS shows cabins moving thru the secondary loop and rejoining the main line:

 

[kaytieeldr]

Awesome video, @joelkfla!

 

[joelkfla]

Awesome video, @joelkfla!

Thanks, I appreciate it.

 

[RaySharpton]

WDW news article
Yes I’m obsessed lol
https://wdwnt.com/2019/04/photos-di...dola-interior-passive-ventilation-technology/

Hi, Weedy. It looks like that used the same info and photos from the Orlando Sentinel today. Thanks again for the link.

 

[RaySharpton]

Hi, joelkfla. Thank you for the video. As far as I know this is the only video on the internet showing the second row.

It doesn't look like anyone is pushing it, so it must be electronically made to go to enter the second row and then back to the main line. Very cool.

I saw another video of a person pushing the gondola at the Caribbean Resort station.

The nearest gondola cabin is stopped at the bottom of the secondary loop. It is in the wheelchair boarding position. The direction of travel is left to right.

You can see just the edge of another cabin passing behind it on the main loop, partially obscured by a pillar. It is moving between the main unload area on the left and the main load area on the right.

The cabin on the right is in the main boarding area, moving away from the camera.

When loading of the cabin on the secondary loop is complete, it would advance 90 degrees and pause just short of the main loop, waiting for an opening to enter the main loop. It will move thru the main boarding area with its doors closed. At the same time, another cabin would take its place to be ready for the next wheelchair to load.

This video I shot at DHS shows cabins moving thru the secondary loop and rejoining the main line:

Thank you.

 

[joelkfla]

Hi, joelkfla. Thank you for the video. As far as I know this is the only video on the internet showing the second row.

I know. It was something I wanted to see, and I couldn't find, so I went and made it myself. All the vloggers shoot "beauty" shots, but nobody covers the technical stuff that I find fascinating.

It doesn't look like anyone is pushing it, so it must be electronically made to go to enter the second row and then back to the main line. Very cool.

Yes, apparently the drive wheels above the second loop are individually controlled. I believe they would have to be computer controlled to get the timing right of up to 3 cabins on the loop, and move them safely onto the main line.

I saw another video of a person pushing the gondola at the Caribbean Resort station.

I haven't seen that, but it was probably moving a cabin around in the storage area. There don't appear to be drive wheels above the storage rails.

 

[RaySharpton]

http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2019/...accessibility-and-seating-questions-answered/

The food blog also posted info on the Disney Skyliner Gondola from the Orlando Sentenial.

The Orlando Sentinel reported today — with video!! — that the Skyliner system will consist of 300 gondolas in 8 bright colors with 22 character cars and will travel nearly 60 feet in the air over Walt Disney World at the system’s highest point! This will afford riders with one-of-a-kind views overlooking lakes, trees, parks, and more!

And that’s just the system by the numbers! The Sentinel spoke to Thomas Mazloum, the Disney senior vice president who oversees resorts and transportation, who explained that the gondolas will feature thoughtfully designed cross-ventilation crafted with the Florida climate in mind.

Additionally, the windows of the gondolas are designed to reflect sunlight away from the vehicles, maintaining a comfortable temperature inside the cabin.

Disney’s Skyliner with vented, reflecting windows

Seating will consist of wooden benches capable of holding ten passengers, with accessibility for wheelchairs. (ECVs were not specifically mentioned, but we expect they, too, will be accommodated in the cabins.)

As we’ve reported, the gondolas have been in testing for weeks, with guests of the parks looking skyward to take in the new transportation vehicles as they whizz by — as fast as 11mph!! — in their white plastic coverings. Trips from Skyliner resorts and theme parks will take between 5-15 minutes, depending on the distance you’re traveling, and loading is described as continuous in the Skyliner stations, with the capability to pause the system to allow wheelchairs to board.

No opening date has been announced for the Skyliner system (just “fall 2019”), but the Sentinel reports that cast members are expected to begin riding the vehicles in August, and the timeline for testing is described to be “months” long.