News New Gondola Transportation - Disney Skyliner -

[ewensell3]

Something I probably won't use, but I think it is cool. I wonder though how it could move large masses of people though.

Assuming a 4-person gondola with traditional loading setup, I'd guess between 500 to 1k hourly capacity. Might be able to boost that with some sort of moving load area (turntable or belt), but then the discussion shifts to the maximum number of cars that can be hanging from the cable.

 

[the.dreamfinder]

@marni1971 , was the proposed EPCOT Center/D-MGM monorail line a single rail or a dual rail like the MK line (Express and All Stops)?

 

[CastleBound]

Oh I feel like this will be an even more frustrating transportation system. I'm just envisioning my ski trips and how backed up the gondolas and other lifts get with much less people involved. I've been fairly lucky with the buses and haven't had to sit in giant lines, but I know most do. Honestly I can see the guidebook/websites and such telling travelers "the gondolas may include incredible sight lines, but the buses offer quicker transportation to the parks". If they are too slow, will tourists choose to take them over other options?

 

[marni1971]

@marni1971 , was the proposed EPCOT Center/D-MGM monorail line a single rail or a dual rail like the MK line (Express and All Stops)?

Duel.

 

[marni1971]

Assuming a 4-person gondola with traditional loading setup, I'd guess between 500 to 1k hourly capacity. Might be able to boost that with some sort of moving load area (turntable or belt), but then the discussion shifts to the maximum number of cars that can be hanging from the cable.

Think bigger for the cabins.

 

[Bocabear]

Oh I feel like this will be an even more frustrating transportation system. I'm just envisioning my ski trips and how backed up the gondolas and other lifts get with much less people involved. I've been fairly lucky with the buses and haven't had to sit in giant lines, but I know most do. Honestly I can see the guidebook/websites and such telling travelers "the gondolas may include incredible sight lines, but the buses offer quicker transportation to the parks". If they are too slow, will tourists choose to take them over other options?

the answer is yes... The idea of a skyway transportation system is much more appealing than a bus... in any situation.
I am really surprised they don't circle back around and just do the monorail system... Doesn't have to be the same one they are using currently but there are better options out there...and certainly more magical than a diesel bus...

 

[Coaster Lover]

Assuming a 4-person gondola with traditional loading setup, I'd guess between 500 to 1k hourly capacity. Might be able to boost that with some sort of moving load area (turntable or belt), but then the discussion shifts to the maximum number of cars that can be hanging from the cable.

I doubt they would go for anything that small. The London system utilizes cars that fit 10 at a time and with a dispatch time of every 15 seconds, it achieves a capacity of 2,500 people per hour in each direction (that system utilizes just two stations)

 

[Bocabear]

Oh I feel like this will be an even more frustrating transportation system. I'm just envisioning my ski trips and how backed up the gondolas and other lifts get with much less people involved. I've been fairly lucky with the buses and haven't had to sit in giant lines, but I know most do. Honestly I can see the guidebook/websites and such telling travelers "the gondolas may include incredible sight lines, but the buses offer quicker transportation to the parks". If they are too slow, will tourists choose to take them over other options?

the answer is yes... The idea of a skyway transportation system is much more appealing than a bus... in any situation.
I am really surprised they don't circle back around and just do the monorail system... Doesn't have to be the same one they are using currently but there are better options out there...and certainly more magical than a diesel bus...

 

[Princess Leia]

I will be the first to admit that when I read this, I immediately thought they meant this:

Too bad they can't put those in the Italy pavilion....

 

[djkidkaz]

I would be interested to see if Disney spruces this up somehow. In my opinion I find these pretty ugly with the large cable holders and the cables all over. It would be nice if they could find a way to hide the cables behind something more appealing to the eye which could also help in turn with high winds.

I'm also curious what we would have to look at on this journey? Generally you see these systems with a beautiful backdrop of mountains or something. So would we as guests be looking at swamps with alligators and backstage areas of France pavilion? Maybe they could design some more of those fancy billboards like on world drive for the newer attractions like Star Wars.

 

[flyerjab]

This is why @wdwmagic is THE board for news! What a great thread to be following!

And I think special recognition is due to @danlb_2000, @TiggerDad and @P_Radden. If you go back to page 14 of the DHS Permits thread, they really got the ball rolling on this. What a find! Good thing Walt didn't have these guys to deal with back in the late 60s or the land purchases in the swamps would have been known immediately.

 

[Master Yoda]

I would be interested to see if Disney spruces this up somehow. In my opinion I find these pretty ugly with the large cable holders and the cables all over. It would be nice if they could find a way to hide the cables behind something more appealing to the eye which could also help in turn with high winds.

I'm also curious what we would have to look at on this journey? Generally you see these systems with a beautiful backdrop of mountains or something. So would we as guests be looking at swamps with alligators and backstage areas of France pavilion? Maybe they could design some more of those fancy billboards like on world drive for the newer attractions like Star Wars.

Anything is possible.

 

[lazyboy97o]

Where are the other supports? I'd think you'd need a few between turns/stations and those would need similar permits or to be included in these permits.

Those would not necessarily show up on these permits because they have minimal impact on the water management.

Perhaps it will look like the monorails.

That is a monorail.

Seriously, take a look at the Dopplemayr website and see what is actually possible.

 

[MrPromey]

I'm just... floored. I did not think this management team had this in them. Implementation is much different than conception, as we all here know too well, but this is the most exciting news, IMHO to come out of the World in 2 decades. Well done.

Nice to think we might have reason for optimism again when it comes to the Florida resort, isn't it?

 

[FigmentPigments]

Too bad they can't put those in the Italy pavilion....

My thoughts exactly. That would be so cool!

 

[CastleBound]

the answer is yes... The idea of a skyway transportation system is much more appealing than a bus... in any situation.
I am really surprised they don't circle back around and just do the monorail system... Doesn't have to be the same one they are using currently but there are better options out there...and certainly more magical than a diesel bus...

Yea, I sorta get the appeal, but also not at all.. haha. I'm just speaking from experience, as I've been on a lot of gondolas, whether it was a harsh snowy climate or the heat of South Africa. The only difference is the trajectory. These in Disney wouldn't be shooting for the stars, they'd be going horizontal, so maybe that increases efficiency. But as a rider, they are typically jam packed with people shoulder to shoulder, no seats, and very slow. It would certainly be more efficient for wheel chairs and scooters.

 

[monothingie]

Anything is possible.

Yes, and with great power comes great responsibility, lest we forget some of the less proud moments at WDW...

 

[deeevo]

Those would not necessarily show up on these permits because they have minimal impact on the water management.


That is a monorail.

Seriously, take a look at the Dopplemayr website and see what is actually possible.

That's the old Busch Garden's monorail. I remember riding it as a kid. I miss it.

 

[Master Yoda]

Yes, and with great power comes great responsibility, lest we forget some of the less proud moments at WDW...

No one bats 1000.

 

[monothingie]

No one bats 1000.

I think we'd be just be happy to get hit by a pitch.