News New Gondola Transportation - Disney Skyliner

[BrianLo]

I don’t know about these problems and inefficiencies at all. Is this documented/ well-known?

I understand the backup bus fleet issue but it’s same with boats/monorails.

I think this is one of those hearsay/wishful thinking things. It’s certainly not an ideal transit solution for the entire resort nor ever scenario, but the grief this system gets is baffling.

 

[MisterPenguin]

Scooters at Riviera slows the CBR- EPCOT leg.

Not having a pull-off solution at this station was a huge mistake.

Otherwise I enjoy the Skyliner. I'm almost always staying at Pop.

 

[UNCgolf]

I don’t know about these problems and inefficiencies at all. Is this documented/ well-known?

I understand the backup bus fleet issue but it’s same with boats/monorails.

Some of the issues compared to other forms of transit are that they go down more far more often because of weather problems, they can only go in straight lines and require turn stations for anything else, and they move slowly (turn stations are part of the problem here, but the max speed is slow regardless).

We've had insiders say Disney has internally decided it's not worth it to build new lines partially because of those factors, so I'm not sure it's really debatable.

 

[UNCgolf]

I think this is one of those hearsay/wishful thinking things. It’s certainly not an ideal transit solution for the entire resort nor ever scenario, but the grief this system gets is baffling.

Martin said Disney came to that conclusion, so I'm not sure why people are acting like it's something being pulled out of thin air. This feels like a "I really like them so I'm going to stick my head in the sand and ignore what insiders have said" situation.

I don't think anyone is suggesting Disney regrets building what exists. Just that they're not interested in building new lines for the reasons mentioned (among others).

 

[BrianLo]

Martin said Disney came to that conclusion, so I'm not sure why people are acting like it's something being pulled out of thin air. This feels like a "I really like them so I'm going to stick my head in the sand and ignore what insiders have said" situation.

I don't think anyone is suggesting Disney regrets building what exists. Just that they're not interested in building new lines for the reasons mentioned (among others).

I’ll get spanked for saying so, but that goes both ways. I really need it from a second source. If Len or Steve have the same info, I’ll believe it.

I find Martin isn’t always an infallible source when it comes to interpreting matters of opinions when I know what his predetermined stance was. It’s fair to say he’s been opposed to the Skyliner from the moment “go”, out of principle to monorails and WED ways and peoplemovers.

 

[UNCgolf]

I’ll get spanked for saying so, but that goes both ways. I really need it from a second source. If Len or Steve have the same info, I’ll believe it.

I find Martin isn’t always an infallible source when it comes to interpreting matters of opinions when I know what his predetermined stance was. It’s fair to say he’s been opposed to the Skyliner from the moment “go”, out of principle to monorails and WED ways and peoplemovers.

I'm pretty sure others backed him up. IIRC, he drew a map of where they had originally considered building other routes before pulling the plug. I also think it's a stretch to call it a matter of opinion for him to outright say "Disney decided they didn't want to do this"; it's not like he was calling it a failure.

Regardless, I don't think it's hard to believe that Disney has decided a form of transit that can't run for significant portions of many days during spring and summer isn't the best option for expansion.

But maybe I'm misremembering what Martin even said; it was a while ago. @marni1971 @wdwmagic @lentesta -- am I off-base here?

 

[BrianLo]

I'm pretty sure others backed him up. IIRC, he drew a map of where they had originally considered building other routes before pulling the plug. I also think it's a stretch to call it a matter of opinion for him to outright say "Disney decided they didn't want to do this"; it's not like he was calling it a failure.

Regardless, I don't think it's hard to believe that Disney has decided a form of transit that can't run for significant portions of many days during spring and summer isn't the best option for expansion.

But maybe I'm misremembering what Martin even said; it was a while ago. @marni1971 @wdwmagic @lentesta -- am I off-base here?

I'm not trying to cast doubts or cause credibility concerns, it's more that I'm not sure if we're conflating a statement made as the final internal view(s) on the system. That it doesn't work efficiently and missed their expectations, versus they are just not proceeding with a second phase.

I worry it's one of those I asked my EPCOT-discipled old Imagineers their thoughts on the gondola and of course they were very negative... but is the system truly negative in the companies eyes?

There's the operation weighting, ROI, GSATs that I feel like Len would be more privy to. As well as hotel performances. Not proceeding with a phase 2 is not a sign of failure as it can be presented. Otherwise we'd say the monorail is a failure since it was never expanded.

There's a lot more grey there, is it a failure, or are they just not progressing with a phase 2 because they never were going to anyways? Light rail seems as equally off the table. Not because it's a bad solution, but because they were unlikely to ever try to begin with.

 

[Basil of Baker Street]

Some of the issues compared to other forms of transit are that they go down more far more often because of weather problems, they can only go in straight lines and require turn stations for anything else, and they move slowly (turn stations are part of the problem here, but the max speed is slow regardless).

We've had insiders say Disney has internally decided it's not worth it to build new lines partially because of those factors, so I'm not sure it's really debatable.

Guessing Disney knew this going in but did it anyway so they could increase room prices at 4 resorts.

 

[Purduevian]

I wonder what other form of mass transportation Disney will use next. Their bus system is extremely impressive, but I'm sure is a large expenditure they would love to reduce.

 

[Disstevefan1]

I wonder what other form of mass transportation Disney will use next. Their bus system is extremely impressive, but I'm sure is a large expenditure they would love to reduce.

If I had to guess it would be to expand the Skyliner maybe.

But I am also willing to guess WDW transportation will cease to be free in the future.

 

[UNCgolf]

I'm not trying to cast doubts or cause credibility concerns, it's more that I'm not sure if we're conflating a statement made as the final internal view(s) on the system. That it doesn't work efficiently and missed their expectations, versus they are just not proceeding with a second phase.

I worry it's one of those I asked my EPCOT-discipled old Imagineers their thoughts on the gondola and of course they were very negative... but is the system truly negative in the companies eyes?

There's the operation weighting, ROI, GSATs that I feel like Len would be more privy to. As well as hotel performances. Not proceeding with a phase 2 is not a sign of failure as it can be presented. Otherwise we'd say the monorail is a failure since it was never expanded.

There's a lot more grey there, is it a failure, or are they just not progressing with a phase 2 because they never were going to anyways? Light rail seems as equally off the table. Not because it's a bad solution, but because they were unlikely to ever try to begin with.

I don't think anyone is suggesting the current system is a failure, and I would assume guest satisfaction is pretty high -- but I think there's a big gap between "failure" and not worth making major expansions.

 

[Basil of Baker Street]

If it could be done all over again from the beginning, I think an on ground rail system would have been the most efficient. 2 to 3 hub locations with higher end resorts offering direct access to a park.

 

[UNCgolf]

If it could be done all over again from the beginning, I think an on ground rail system would have been the most efficient. 2 to 3 hub locations with higher end resorts offering direct access to a park.

Having some kind of rail system that connects all the parks, Disney Springs, and most or all of the resorts would definitely be ideal.

That was the original idea with the monorail, but obviously they stopped expanding it after EPCOT. I'm also not sure the monorail would be the best solution to connect everything resort-wide.

I don't think they'll ever do that though.

 

[networkpro]

I wonder what other form of mass transportation Disney will use next. Their bus system is extremely impressive, but I'm sure is a large expenditure they would love to reduce.

 

[JoeCamel]

I wonder what other form of mass transportation Disney will use next. Their bus system is extremely impressive, but I'm sure is a large expenditure they would love to reduce.

Personal drones

 

[donaldtoo]

Having some kind of rail system that connects all the parks, Disney Springs, and most or all of the resorts would definitely be ideal.

That was the original idea with the monorail, but obviously they stopped expanding it after EPCOT. I'm also not sure the monorail would be the best solution to connect everything resort-wide.

I don't think they'll ever do that though.

The main problem with the monorail is the huge expense involved in expanding it.
IIRC, it cost about a million dollars a mile to build it initially. I shudder to think what that cost would be today, and I’m thinkin’ with, pretty much, zero ROI, or more likely a huge loss.
As it is, if a monorail train goes down, the whole system gets pretty much mucked up, even with the separate loops.
You take a bus to a specific park or resort, and if one breaks down it doesn’t mess with the whole bus system.
If they expanded the monorail system to go to every park and resort, can you just imagine how long it might take you to get to certain places, with all those stops…?! And the cost of multiple loops to avoid one giant loop is simply beyond mind boggling…!!!!!

 

[IanDLBZF]

Having some kind of rail system that connects all the parks, Disney Springs, and most or all of the resorts would definitely be ideal.

I wish they'd revive that proposed Light Rail plan they had in the 2000s.

 

[ConfettiCupcake]

Am I remembering wrong or was the Skyliner not a big part of the strategy to sell people on what at the time was being questioned as ‘DVC at a moderate resort’ aka Riviera, in addition to increasing demand (and price) at Pop/AoA and CBR?

Would the increase in demand at an existing resort be enough to warrant an expansion, without the motivation of selling contracts at a new DVC resort? I just don’t know why they’d do it at this point. I know it’s always fun to speculate though.

 

[Chef idea Mickey`=]

AKL-AK would be a good fit. Doesn’t have to connect with the current run.

They could include CS, BB too.

What's BB?

 

[wannabeBelle]

What's BB?

Blizzard Beach water park by Coronado Springs. Marie