News New Gondola Transportation - Disney Skyliner -

[Maeryk]

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

I don't see why this is a concern. They clean the monorails and boats every night once transpo shuts down, they'll do the same with the gondolas.

 

[cosmicgirl]

The absolute best thing about this system is that a new vehicle arrives every x seconds and there is no bus, boat, or monorail that can compete with that. There is no way for the sceptics to argue with that fact. The lower cost and fun factor are nothing but a bonus.

And frankly to the A/C crowd: you're walking around in the open FL air all day, 10 minutes more isn't going to kill you. You go on the railroad, you go on the caroussel, you go on the tea cups, you ride Dumbo, you drive the speedway cars, you sit in a Splash Mountain boat, you go on BTM, all outside without A/C. Or do you go around the parks in an air conditioned clone of the Pope Mobile?
Why is it not an issue on those rides? Relative velocity, my friend. If you are moving you will feel air moving towards you at the same speed in the opposite direction. Aka a breeze. And before someone brings up that you're not moving if you're stuck, so there won't be a breeze... if the system's down there won't be A/C, either.

And specifically to he who does not trust any tests during which he was not present: you're gonna be bored out of your mind at WDW because you can't ride any of the rides that were tested without you. How do you know they're safe?!

 

[Kamikaze]

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.

Because any system that runs constantly is going to be more efficient than a system where you have to wait for a train/bus/boat/whatever. Again, the capacity on this system is unmatched. If a theoretical monorail loop took 15 minutes including stops, it would need to carry 375 people every 5 minutes to match this system. Which, as we know, is higher than a current trains capacity by 15 per train. That means getting another train around the system per hour in addition to one every 5 minutes to match the 4500 number.

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.

You're right there. I'd probably rather see them unthemed. But we're not going to get that, and it doesn't make a difference to me either way in the long run.

 

[Minthorne]

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.

At non peak time arrive just a moment too late for the monorail or a gondola and then decide with is more efficient. The gondola wins as its capacity is steady vs periodic.

 

[Grimley1968]

I don't see why this is a concern. They clean the monorails and boats every night once transpo shuts down, they'll do the same with the gondolas.

I was thinking more of the "whatever else inside" circumstance, when you don't want to be out a car during the day. Sure, routine glass cleaning can occur overnight.

 

[Dapper Dan]

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.

I found it hilariously ironic that at the presentation, Bob was like. "People love our monorails. They are iconic. Some people even consider them their first ride ...so here's this other completely different thing, and vans!" Did he really think that sort of bait and switch would work?

 

[Maeryk]

Because any system that runs constantly is going to be more efficient than a system where you have to wait for a train/bus/boat/whatever. Again, the capacity on this system is unmatched. If a theoretical monorail loop took 15 minutes including stops, it would need to carry 375 people every 5 minutes to match this system. Which, as we know, is higher than a current trains capacity by 15 per train. That means getting around train in addition to one every 5 minutes to match the 4500 number.



You're right there. I'd probably rather see them unthemed. But we're not going to get that, and it doesn't make a difference to me either way in the long run.

Look at it this way: This is an omnimover concept, vs a roller coaster concept, in much larger scale. You have a constant line that never stops moving, rather than a blocked line that stops and starts.

Plus, constant flow works much better for park entrance than dumping 600+ people in a clump every X minutes, making it more efficient to move them through the touchpoints (since security will have happened before you even leave the resort, if I'm reading this right).

 

[Maeryk]

I found it hilariously ironic that at the presentation, Bob was like. "People love our monorails. They are iconic. Some people even consider them their first ride ...so here's this other completely different thing, and vans!" Did he really think that sort of bait and switch would work?

I think his point was they are creating a totally new, iconic concept, like the monorails. (And not mentioning Shelbyville is getting one too)

 

[marni1971]

Look, I know you aren't giving this up, but if you scroll back a page or two, you'll see that Martin just confirmed they did ONSITE testing

Not onsite. But in conditions simulating the real world.

 

[Kamikaze]

I was thinking more of the "whatever else inside" circumstance, when you don't want to be out a car during the day. Sure, routine glass cleaning can occur overnight.

Thats the thing, one cabin can be down without an issue.

And these are very stable. It would easy enough for a custodial CM to climb in and clean it as it operates.

 

[Dapper Dan]

At non peak time arrive just a moment too late for the monorail or a gondola and then decide with is more efficient. The gondola wins as its capacity is steady vs periodic.

Yeah, you may be getting in line to transfer to your next gondola by the time that monorail would have shown up.

 

[Monorail_Orange]

Not onsite. But in conditions simulating the real world.

I see, thank you for the clarification, Martin, when I read testing I assumed it would have needed to be onsite. The point remains that this is not just theory, this was actually tested and results obtained before the decision was made.

 

[Maeryk]

Thats the thing, one cabin can be down without an issue.

And these are very stable. It would easy enough for a custodial CM to climb in and clean it as it operates.

Protein spills would likely be handled the same as they are on any ride or other transpo system.

 

[NormC]

AC is not needed (nice to have but not needed) and raises the cost quite a bit. Each route is less than 5 minutes. Traveling speed of about 13 MPH will provide sufficient air movement through the vents. London Emirates "has" AC on their gondolas and it has proven difficult to maintain and many gondolas have it turned off now. Let it go.

 

[Dave Z]

If it saves Disney money , they will take that over guests complaining any day. Guests complain about things everyday and for the most part are just ignored. Now, I'm sure the Disney attorneys had an insurance actuary run numbers on how many fatalities from heat stroke could be expected per year based on running gondolas without A/C and the price of the resulting lawsuits. If the numbers worked in their favor, no A/C it is. (Anyone remember the Ford Pinto?)

Drove a pinto. hated it.

 

[Kamikaze]

So... can't we skip the AC discussion since there appears to be no agreement, and move on to other gondola discussions?

There doesn't need to be agreement. Its not getting AC.

 

[DisneyJeff]

There doesn't need to be agreement. Its not getting AC.

I agree.

 

[S 2]

Well, the loud ones do, anyway. If they are only on the back of the gondola in front of you, I think they will be cool. If they completely block your view of the landscape.. no thanks.

id like to see classic bright colors as a throwback to the old MK ones, and I don't see these as an eyesore at all, i think they will add to the landscape!

 

[DisneyJeff]

I am curious how they are going to handle the loading of the cars. Will it be one-party-per-car, or will they try to get maximum capacity by filling each car with 8 people? I'm guessing it will be the latter. If this is the case, will there be a single-rider line?

 

[Kamikaze]

... I just meant that those arguing will never be in agreement. I really don't care who is correct.

Well once its open and its plenty cool enough without AC, I'd say that those who are dead set with their 'we need AC' will have to admit they are wrong.