Disney Skyliner shutdown and evacuation - October 6 2019

[joelkfla]

How about just putting the cabs on the line in numerical order.
1..2..3..4..5..6..8..9..10

They get shuffled every time a cabin enters and exits the WAV area. And when they're put into storage, each leg comes out LIFO.

 

[wdw71fan]

easiest way to get everyone down fast..

 

[HauntedPirate]

Finally!!! I can understand getting Dis Corp PR to clear your story first on a Saturday night must have been a challenge!

I know, they can be such a pain to deal with, Z in particular (us paid shills get to call her that, everyone else has to call her "Ms. Mucha"). Trying to get my weekly shill payment is like trying to pull teeth without anesthesia. They still owe me years and years of back-shill payments for posting all of my carefully-crafted pro-Disney messages throughout the past 18 years. I could retire and finally buy that private island I've been eyeing with all the money they owe me. But that Chapek, though, he's such a tight-wad, he wants the island for himself. I may march right over to Bob and Willow's place tonight and demand my money, after having a 7-course dinner and exclusive wine pairing at Club 33, of course. Only the best for us paid shills, you know.

 

[George]

that would change too easily as maintenance occurs

However, if each cabin had the same number you'd completely allay any concerns about ordering, etc. when one was pulled off the line etc.

 

[RustySpork]

It's certainly a valid lesson learned. A simpler solution would be to simply put RFID readers on the towers and tag the cabins. The system can simply track the last tower that 'saw' the cabin thus greatly reducing the search radius immediately. Then the cabin side of the system is completely passive and doesn't require power or refreshes.

Also, put some reflective number stickers on the bottom as well to improve visibility at night. Cheap and effective.

ETA: a problem with this system tho is the dependency on power and memory... which is a high probability of 'not being there' in emergency situations. Passive systems always work best in these fault-tolerant situations.

..but what about these!

The opposite. Continuous use would wear out the bushings and bearings early. Electric motors don't suffer the same start/stop concerns that IC engines do. DC electric motors just deal with the additional current needed to get a fan started from zero.

But here, running them continuously would probably be done purely for customer perception.

The fans would definitely be DC brushless if they're running off of DC current, but running them all the time would allow them to cycle the batteries as the sun goes down. As long as they stop them before the battery depletes completely (maybe run them down to 20-30%) it'll help maintain their health.

Hey, you omitted the most important part of the song:

"A THREE HOUR TOUR"

It was in the quote I replied too!

 

[NormC]

Are there any power outlets on the gondolas so that people could charge their phones or medical devices?

No, there is no power source to operate them. There is only a small battery for the LED lights and audio system.

 

[TrojanUSC]

does this thinking change when riviera, a deluxe with skyliner, opens?

DVC, not a deluxe.

 

[flynnibus]

..but what about these!

I did think about them... but imagine trying to read out your email address to the 911 operator and waiting for them to contact someone at disney plus not everyone has them.

 

[MisterPenguin]

The Pop line has been moving for the past hour at half speed. No staff or guests in the station.

 

[RustySpork]

I did think about them... but imagine trying to read out your email address to the 911 operator and waiting for them to contact someone at disney plus not everyone has them.

Well, they'd just need a button on the app, and enough antennas in the surroundings to be able to locate them. If they don't have them, well that's a good point. The same radio tech could be integrated into the cabins I suppose.

 

[Ricky Spanish]

In a release obtained by the Orlando Sentinel, Disney said, “One of the three Disney Skyliner routes experienced an unexpected downtime Saturday evening.” On Sunday, Disney added that they were working with the trapped passengers to rectify their experiences.

I wonder how much more my next visit to WDW will cost after they "rectify their experiences"

 

[PeoplemoverTTA]

My husband called while I was at work. We ended up keeping our reservation to preserve free dining; however, the CM made some interesting statements:

- When my husband expressed concern about guests spending 3 hours in the gondolas, the CM specifically stated “it wasn’t 3 hours, but we took care of everyone.” I find it interesting they’re actively discrediting widely shared reports about what happened to guests.
- The CM also said that the Skyliner “may” not even be up and running for our trip. I’m sure that they don’t have a timeline right now, but it’s strange that the CM would say that at all. To paraphrase what my husband said, the CM told him that it may not be working then anyway, so any concerns we may not even matter.

 

[durangojim]

DVC, not a deluxe.

Disney is definitely marketing this as a Deluxe however, with some calling it Epcot's GF. My family and I were going to stay there in January, but no more. Even without another major issue, having to rely mainly on the Skyline, or buses for transportation is not something my family and I want to do. We're pretty much the ideal demographic for Disney and I have a feeling that many of us will not be staying at the Riviera because of this incident. Much easier to stay at YC/BC or BW and rely on our feet or boats to get to two of the parks without worry of multiple delays. I'm sure at some point the Skyliner will be a hit and was really looking forward to riding it but I have a feeling it's going to take much longer for that to happen, especially if frequent delays become a common occurrence.

 

[flynnibus]

Well, they'd just need a button on the app, and enough antennas in the surroundings to be able to locate them. If they don't have them, well that's a good point. The same radio tech could be integrated into the cabins I suppose.

If you have your app.. you are using your phone... 911 already has location info based on that. Plus, it's data that 911 can use themselves rather than having to contact Disney.

For many reasons... in this application, they are a poor choice.

 

[durangojim]

My husband called while I was at work. We ended up keeping our reservation to preserve free dining; however, the CM made some interesting statements:

- When my husband expressed concern about guests spending 3 hours in the gondolas, the CM specifically stated “it wasn’t 3 hours, but we took care of everyone.” I find it interesting they’re actively discrediting widely shared reports about what happened to guests.
- The CM also said that the Skyliner “may” not even be up and running for our trip. I’m sure that they don’t have a timeline right now, but it’s strange that the CM would say that at all. To paraphrase what my husband said, the CM told him that it may not be working then anyway, so any concerns we may not even matter.

This is not a great stance to have from Disney. Don't worry about this marquis thing that we just opened because it might not even be working. I wonder if they're telling prospective Riviera guests that?

 

[Incomudro]

It's a conversation we're having in my house. We are booked in December, and chose CBR specifically for the Skyliner. We also have a 1-year old, and my husband is seriously questioning whether or not we should stay there (although we have free dining and cannot rebook elsewhere now without losing the free dining).

So many of the posts her are extremes -- either the Skyliner is the Disney Death Trap or being trapped up there for 3 hours is an awesome time to hang out and anyone who thinks otherwise is overreacting. The truth for many of us is somewhere in the middle (while we scroll through all of the ridiculous posts to try and find useful information and helpful insights).

We're trying not to overreact in our house, but this situation (and aftermath) has certainly given us a reason to pause and assess. I can't imagine we're the only family doing so. I was speaking with another CEO in the same building as my office this morning. He took his family to WDW in August, and while he isn't a "nerd" like me, he is a casual fan of the parks. He had already heard about the Skyliner incident, and was quick to exclaim that he was glad he wouldn't be staying in a Skyliner resort in the future. I wonder how the phone lines are for CMs this morning, and how they are handling concerned Guests.

Yes, I can relate.
Most of the debate and decision making was my own - with some input from my wife and sons.
We stayed at CB perhaps 8 years ago, and there is a part of me that would like to go back for old times sake.
That, mixed in with the recent update of CB which I like a lot - as well as the idea of riding the gondola's - which despite some of my reservations - I am really interested in.
I was very interested in riding the gondola's from CB into Hollywood Studios with my family to see Galaxies Edge.
Ultimately, just about two weeks ago - I decided upon Dolphin because I rationalized that for roughly the same rate, we'd be in a more upscale hotel - and I wouldn't end up hearing complaints about the Skyliner should that transportation system prove unpopular with the family. (Wife mostly.)
Plus, in the event of heavy rain - at Dolphin, you are in the hotel, and free to go wherever you want indoors 'till the rain passes.
At CB, the whole family is stuck in their room.

 

[larryz]

Shouldn't the computer already know where every cabin is? I thought it was mentioned earlier, that the computer control tracked where on the line every cabin was. You only really need sensors at places cabins can enter or exit the system. Once you're in line, all movement is directly correlated to the line moving. It's not like one cabin can pass another to change places in line. Except for the extra loading loop, switching up the order. However, the computer should know that already. Tracking at station entry, exit, and extra loop should be more than enough. Everything between station exit and station entry is easily calculated.


Something like this addresses the real problem with finding a cabin on the line. The computer knows where it is, and can give its general location, but the team on the ground in the real world is looking up at an object overhead. With a location of "between tower A and B" or "X feet from station", even "X feet from tower A", I can imagine the team looking up and not knowing which of two or three cabins it is.

And you should be able to reserve a room at WDW without seeing a picture of Stitch with his tongue up his nose, too.

 

[RustySpork]

If you have your app.. you are using your phone... 911 already has location info based on that. Plus, it's data that 911 can use themselves rather than having to contact Disney.

For many reasons... in this appliance, they are a poor choice.

See, now you've proven Disney wasted all that money on them! (just kidding)

 

[MisterPenguin]

Please explain how passive “cooling” works when stationary in stagnant air conditions.

Sweat.

It's why you're supposed to hydrate. Without sweating, sitting in the sun waiting for the MK parade in 88 degree weather would literally kill you. Literally. You'd overheat and die.

Most other mammals pant, but humans and a few other animals sweat in order to be active even when it's hot.

If the sun is beating down on a gondola and raises the temperature, the air in the gondola is now warmer than the outside air. That causes it to rise and exhaust out the top vents while being replaced by air coming in from the bottom vents.

That's why those who measured it with a thermometer, and not 'by feel', report only a one degree rise in cabin temperature when it stops. This isn't a car with rolled up windows and no floor vents. It's more like a covered bus stop.

Yes, I've *felt* it get noticeably warmer when the gondola stops. I also feel it getting noticeably warmer at a covered bus stop when the breeze stops. That doesn't mean the temperature shot up or that I'm now in an oven death trap. It shouldn't be surprising to anyone that a breeze feels cooler than no breeze. But even without a breeze, sweating cools one down.

If one doesn't ever want to rely on sweating to survive... I don't know how you make it from your air conditioned car and into the park while walking through ninety degree heat with high humidity and the sun beating down on you and the heat of the cement walkways rise up around you. Apparently, that's a death wish. Well, it is, if you don't hydrate and sweat.

 

[Club Cooloholic]

does this thinking change when riviera, a deluxe with skyliner, opens?

It depends what room you get, some of them don't look all that deluxe to me.