News New Gondola Transportation - Disney Skyliner

[MisterPenguin]

Have these folks never been at WDW on a hot day right after a thunderstorm goes thru? As soon as the sun comes back out, with 95 degrees and 90% humidity, a breeze doesn't do much cooling...

So... Disney shuts down in those conditions because they're intolerable?

 

[jmuboy]

Yes, tests for passenger comfort.

I've ridden gondolas in Hong Kong. It's every bit as humid there. I promise you. AC-less units will not be saunas. It'll be fine.

 

[BlindChow]

Having vents is not the same thing as open air. I've never personally been on a gondola system with a completely closed cabin except at a ski resort in the cold so I can't say whether that ventilation will be better, worse or the same as open air would be. People who have experienced it say it's not an issue. I am choosing to believe them.

I specifically objected to someone the claiming the completely-enclosed gondolas operate on the same principle as the open-air trams and ferries. If you are not claiming this, then we have no beef!

 

[MisterPenguin]

If you're worried about the heat of a gondola, you can carry on an iced drink. Or you can use one of these:

...and charge the other people in the cabin twenty bucks to use it.

Or.. you can refrain from staying at one of the resorts connected to the gondolas, or, if you do, take your own (rental) car to the parks or use Uber/Lyft.

Just like the acrophobes need to do, so, too, you calorophobes.

 

[Creathir]

These systems have no connection to a power source in transit. In order to have AC you would need to have a battery attached to each car that charges at each station. It's unlikely that the battery would last 2 hours or even close to that so if they had onboard AC or even electric fans those systems would fail in your example too.

A 48v or 24v RV air conditioner can run off a few batteries for several hours.

I think it would be fine.

Or even just a simple powered fan would aid in moving the air better than a forced ventilation system.

 

[Creathir]

When you read further down it seems that the company Disney is using didn't bid to build this track as it wasn't suitable. Management also decided to speed up the system beyond normal operating speeds.

Oh I'm sure it was a very extreme circumstance. It also happened outside of normal operating hours.

But there is this bizzare blinds eye that some have to these things, as if they are God's gift to Disney for solving all transportation woes.

So they try and claim they don't have issues whatsoever and those that have natural fears of them are ignorant or some nonsense.

The fact is many have died (as with any form of transportation) some of which happened within the last week alone and the record on these systems is not as blemish free as some would like people to believe.

Is it safer than a car? Of course it is. Is the fear people have of them rational? Of course not. Are they susceptible to failure just like any other system. Of course they are. Are they perfect and accident free? They are not.

 

[BlindChow]

I also can't see Disney investing money in a system that wouldn't work

[BLINDCHOW: *sites Disneyland's Rocket Rods*]

Apples and oranges. Disney isn't designing or building this gondola system.

Were the Rocket Rods a system Disney invested money in, or not? All I'm saying is, they've been known to make a stupid decision to save a buck.

 

[Mr Ferret 75]

Oh I'm sure it was a very extreme circumstance. It also happened outside of normal operating hours.

But there is this bizzare blinds eye that some have to these things, as if they are God's gift to Disney for solving all transportation woes.

So they try and claim they don't have issues whatsoever and those that have natural fears of them are ignorant or some nonsense.

The fact is many have died (as with any form of transportation) some of which happened within the last week alone and the record on these systems is not as blemish free as some would like people to believe.

Is it safer than a car? Of course it is. Is the fear people have of them rational? Of course not. Are they susceptible to failure just like any other system. Of course they are. Are they perfect and accident free? They are not.

Not having a "blind eye" myself and fully understanding that people have worries about this new system I was just saying that maybe your example wasn't the best for putting forward your case. Until they are built and in operation I have no idea how they will cope with the weather. I won't run the idea down as some do or praise it to the moon as others have but sit in the wait and see camp and hope people with more experience designing these systems than myself have got it right.

 

[Ismael Flores]

They run a very efficient Gondola system in Singapore where they have extreme weather and don't see them having issues. I was on one of them and the day looked beautiful within a few minutes the sky's got dark and got hit by monsoon with strong wind and lightning. The gondolas continue to operate with no issues until everyone was off as soon as the storm passes they continued as if nothing had happened.
Bolivia also runs a very efficient Gondola system and continues to expand with eleven lines in the plans to crisscross the mountaines city. Also been there during extreme heat and rain with no issues at all.
Another city that has a multi miles system is Mexico City and also runs with no issues.

Columbia, Medellin, London, Tehran, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Alberta and dozens of other cities use gondolas for transportation

I don't see why disney would t be able to run them just as well

Besides gondolas are in the one and two most safe transit Available. The last fatality was in 1976 and that was due to bad maintenance. Funiculars, trolleys, buses and cable cars actually are more likely to cause Injury or death.
There is a bigger chance to get in an accident riding one of the resort buses than riding a gondola

 

[RustySpork]

I guess we'll all just have to defer to the experts here who know everything there is to know about gondolas, thermodynamics, and Florida in August.

 

[ABQ]

...or simply wait for it to be built and ride it yourself in the summer to see either if it's a brutal torture basket in the sky or something else.

 

[jakeman]

torture basket in the sky

Great band name.

 

[Seabasealpha1]

Is it too late to just build a giant slip-n-slide between parks/hotels?

 

[Minthorne]

I guess we'll all just have to defer to the experts here who know everything there is to know about gondolas, thermodynamics, and Florida in August.

I totally though that was you! JK!!

Seriously though - Basically all of us don't really know anything - we are all just conjecturing. We just tend to look down and make sarcastic comments about the conjectures that we don't agree with. It's a human condition- people will defend their position regardless of logic sometimes.

Honestly it will be interesting to see how it turns out and then see who is really right and comes back gloat.

 

[GoofGoof]

I guess we'll all just have to defer to the experts here who know everything there is to know about gondolas, thermodynamics, and Florida in August.

...Says the guy who has never ridden on a similar system but insists people will be passing out due to the heat

I have said numerous times that I have no actual personal experience with enclosed gondolas outside of a ski mountain. So far every person here who has ridden a similar systems around the world has stated that the temperatures were not an issue. I'll defer to them and the liftblog guy since they have actual first hand knowledge.

 

[cindy_k]

The views from the gondolas should be wonderful. I wonder how many people will treat it as a new free ride at Disney and just ride to ride it.

 

[GoofGoof]

Were the Rocket Rods a system Disney invested money in, or not? All I'm saying is, they've been known to make a stupid decision to save a buck.

Yes, they invested money in Rocket Rods, but that doesn't mean everything they invest money in now will fail.

Disney buys buses all the time from a company that specializes in manufacturing buses. That company sells buses to a lot of other people besides Disney too. Disney relies on them to be experts in designing and building buses. The gondolas are a much more similar situation to that. The company they are buying the system from has experience building similar systems around the world. Disney can rely on their experience and expertise to help decide what's the best option.

A 48v or 24v RV air conditioner can run off a few batteries for several hours.

I think it would be fine.

Or even just a simple powered fan would aid in moving the air better than a forced ventilation system.

A fan may be a doable option. The problem with the AC is charging the battery. The gondola is only in the station for a minute or 2 at most which isn't a lot of time to charge the battery. The system in Macau has AC powered that way, but it has had mixed reviews.

 

[Creathir]

Not having a "blind eye" myself and fully understanding that people have worries about this new system I was just saying that maybe your example wasn't the best for putting forward your case. Until they are built and in operation I have no idea how they will cope with the weather. I won't run the idea down as some do or praise it to the moon as others have but sit in the wait and see camp and hope people with more experience designing these systems than myself have got it right.

Oh totally understand what you were saying, the blinds eye comment was definitely not directed at you in any way.

 

[GoofGoof]

The views from the gondolas should be wonderful. I wonder how many people will treat it as a new free ride at Disney and just ride to ride it.

I imagine there will be a lot of people using the gondolas to go from DHS (and Star Wars Land when it opens) to dinner reservations at EPCOT or even the Boardwalk.

 

[Creathir]

Yes, they invested money in Rocket Rods, but that doesn't mean everything they invest money in now will fail.

Disney buys buses all the time from a company that specializes in manufacturing buses. That company sells buses to a lot of other people besides Disney too. Disney relies on them to be experts in designing and building buses. The gondolas are a much more similar situation to that. The company they are buying the system from has experience building similar systems around the world. Disney can rely on their experience and expertise to help decide what's the best option.

A fan may be a doable option. The problem with the AC is charging the battery. The gondola is only in the station for a minute or 2 at most which isn't a lot of time to charge the battery. The system in Macau has AC powered that way, but it has had mixed reviews.

From what I have read, usually onboard systems are powered by ultra capacitors which do charge fully inside the station.

If I was designing it, I would have those and onboard backup batteries in the floor or roof.

Normal usage: the ultracaps
Emergency use: the batteries

Then they can also include other nifty stuff onboard such as infotainment systems, music/communication systems, security cameras, etc. All increasing guest enjoyment while also improving the safety and comfort of the guests.

Instead, we get reports of them cutting corners.