News New Gondola Transportation - Disney Skyliner -

[Maeryk]

'Not a problem' except that it costs money.

What about the inefficiencies of the boat system (meaning capacity and speed)? They are targeting 4500-5000 riders per hour with this system, according to Lift Blog. Do you know how many Friendship boats that would take? I believe capacity is well less than 50, but lets call it 50, because round numbers = easy math. 4500/50 would mean NINETY Friendship boats. And the trip would take probably ten times as long.

Friendship boat capacity is 100 people.

 

[Kamikaze]

There isn't any A/C in the Friendship boats either. I would rather be in a gondola up in the air that was moving at speed on a hot day than a Friendship boat that I had to wait on a hot dock for 10 minutes or more to board.

I'm pretty sure the Friendship boats with the enclosed interior do actually have AC.

 

[Kamikaze]

Friendship boat capacity is 100 people.

Ok, so change my math to 45 boats.
I'm not sure what the number of boats that usually are on the Epcot - DHS loop is, but it has to be 6 or less.

 

[danlb_2000]

There isn't any A/C in the Friendship boats either. I would rather be in a gondola up in the air that was moving at speed on a hot day than a Friendship boat that I had to wait on a hot dock for 10 minutes or more to board.

I believe the Friendship boats do have AC. Whether it always works or not is another matter.

 

[Monorail_Orange]

I'm pretty sure the Friendship boats with the enclosed interior do actually have AC.

To my recollection, you are correct, they just don't necessarily work all that well. I also recall most of the helms having an electric fan for the comfort of the cast member at the controls.

 

[cindy_k]

I'm pretty sure the Friendship boats with the enclosed interior do actually have AC.

I believe the Friendship boats do have AC. Whether it always works or not is another matter.

of the many numerous times I have gotten in them, in the summer, I have never been treated to A/C.
The door is usually open at the back, the windows are open and we are all hoping for a breeze, if not sitting in the back. Which is in the sun but at least has a breeze. I must be super unlucky.

 

[Maeryk]

Ok, so change my math to 45 boats.
I'm not sure what the number of boats that usually are on the Epcot - DHS loop is, but it has to be 6 or less.

There are 8 in total.. so figure at least two on WSL, that leaves a possible six. when we stayed at Yacht and Beach, we thought there were two doing the park to park loop.

 

[Dapper Dan]

'Not a problem' except that it costs money.

What about the inefficiencies of the boat system (meaning capacity and speed)? They are targeting 4500-5000 riders per hour with this system, according to Lift Blog. Do you know how many Friendship boats that would take? I believe capacity is well less than 50, but lets call it 50, because round numbers = easy math. 4500/50 would mean NINETY Friendship boats. And the trip would take probably ten times as long.

I get that the gondola is the least expensive option. I just find it horribly inelegant and logistically confusing compared to a boat and monorail expansion. I know that would be way more expensive, I just think it would be far more appealing to guests both logistically and experientially.

 

[*Q*]

Oh hey... Universal Studios

 

[Kamikaze]

I get that the gondola is the least expensive option. I just find it horribly inelegant and logistically confusing compared to a boat and monorail expansion. I know that would be way more expensive, I just think it would be far more appealing to guests both logistically and experientially.

I think most guests want to get where they are going as quickly as possible. Since a monorail expansion is not happening (and I argue would still be less efficient) then this is the way to go.

 

[Monorail_Orange]

of the many numerous times I have gotten in them, in the summer, I have never been treated to A/C.
The door is usually open at the back, the windows are open and we are all hoping for a breeze, if not sitting in the back. Which is in the sun but at least has a breeze. I must be super unlucky.

I have had much the same experience, the A/C units are either ill maintained or simply inadequate, so often they must find other sources of...(I hope doubting @thomas998 isn't listening)...ventilation (i.e. those doors and windows). This goes back to the earlier point, if the vehicle is designed to not operate with a/c, then it can be made quite comfortable, unlike a vehicle that relies upon it and having to find an alternate if/when it fails.

 

[danlb_2000]

I get that the gondola is the least expensive option. I just find it horribly inelegant and logistically confusing compared to a boat and monorail expansion. I know that would be way more expensive, I just think it would be far more appealing to guests both logistically and experientially.

I think guests will love this experience, since it's something new. A lot of people have probably never ridden these, or if they did it was way back when Magic Kingdom has a skyway.

 

[cindy_k]

I get that the gondola is the least expensive option. I just find it horribly inelegant and logistically confusing compared to a boat and monorail expansion. I know that would be way more expensive, I just think it would be far more appealing to guests both logistically and experientially.

Most US residents don't get to ride in gondola's. This will be another new cool way to get somewhere. Many will simply ride it as an attraction (like they do the monorail now). I don't think the typical Disney tourist is going to be upset that they get to fly above the trees on their way to a park.

 

[Monorail_Orange]

I think guests will love this experience, since it's something new. A lot of people have probably never ridden these, or if they did it was way back when Magic Kingdom has a skyway.

Agreed wholeheartedly. I also think there will be some great scenery, including views of the parks, both during the day and night.

 

[ᗩLᘿᑕ ✨ ᗩζᗩᗰ]

I'd hate to be the one having to clean the glass on all these gondolas.

 

[Maeryk]

Most US residents don't get to ride in gondola's. This will be another new cool way to get somewhere. Many will simply ride it as an attraction (like they do the monorail now). I don't think the typical Disney tourist is going to be upset that they get to fly above the trees on their way to a park.

I think the mental picture a lot of people get is skyride/skyway/the things hanging under ferris wheel awnings.

Unless you've been to Killington or Whistler or somewhere that has one of these, and watched them operate.. then you get a sense of the scale, speed, and efficiency in with which they run.

The ones at ski slopes work fine.. with people slogging around in ski boots and snow gear, haulling skis. That's easily as flow interrupting as a stroller is.

 

[Dapper Dan]

I think most guests want to get where they are going as quickly as possible. Since a monorail expansion is not happening (and I argue would still be less efficient) then this is the way to go.

I don't see how a monorail would be less efficient, since you wouldn't have to transfer and they could put a station at the main entrance opening up access to the Magic Kingdom as well. It would really come down to how many trains they could run and at what speed.

However, if holding out for a monorail means we get nothing, the gondolas are better than nothing. I'm just really disappointed in the idea of slapping a character sticker on the side and calling it theming. That's some Six Flags level laziness.

 

[Kamikaze]

I'd hate to be the one having to clean the glass on these things.

Not a big deal. They clean them as the run through the station, usually using a squeegee.

 

[Maeryk]

I don't see how a monorail would be less efficient, since you wouldn't have to transfer and they could put a station at the main entrance opening up access to the Magic Kingdom as well. It would really come down to how many trains they could run and at what speed.

However, if holding out for a monorail means we get nothing, the gondolas are better than nothing. I'm just really disappointed in the idea of slapping a character sticker on the side and calling it theming. That's some Six Flags level laziness.

They can't even get the trains they have replaced, and keep up with the maintenance on the beams they have. Let alone build miles of new beams.. all of which must connect to the train shed.. which must _also_ be expanded to handle a bigger fleet.. not to mention the obscene power consumption of a monorail over a system like this.

Forget new monorail lines. Not gonna happen.

 

[Grimley1968]

I'd hate to be the one having to clean the glass on all these gondolas.

Whoever has to clean the inside glass (or whatever else inside) could do it while riding a gondola car while the system runs.