News New Gondola Transportation - Disney Skyliner -

[DocMcHulk]

I'm pretty sure that has already been thought about.

If the Gondola is a rockin'... avert your children's eyes.

 

[allgiggles]

You're one of those people.

Define *those*.

 

[mm121]

If you look at how the stations are highlighted on the D23 slide, the highlight encompasses the larger area around the building which presumably incorporates landscaping and crowd queues. The CBR highlight covers a very large area surrounding the station that swings into the CBR area. I can't see how that is not a un/loading area.

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dunno why they didnt just connect the international gateway direct to studios, then have the line accross the parking lot of studios over to cbr

that would have enabled all the parks to be mostly directly connected via mass transit, the only link with a gap would be getting off the monorail at the entrance to epcot, and getting from the front of that part to the international gateway (dont think theres sidewalks or anything available to make that connection

 

[Kamikaze]

dunno why they didnt just connect the international gateway direct to studios, then have the line accross the parking lot of studios over to cbr

Because its not meant to be inter-park transport for Epcot/DHS guests. Its meant to be transport for the guests of the 4 affected resorts to Epcot/DHS. Epcot/DHS guests will still have the Friendship boats and the ability to walk. Even with the transfers, Skyliner will probably still be a faster trip from one park to the other.

How would a guest differentiate when they got on at DHS if they were going to CBR/Riviera or Pop/AoA? There would still need to be a station there.
The 'merging' of two lines is not completely impossible, but since the cabins are not in a fixed place on the cables, you would need a system to slow the cabins as they came into the merge point and then fit them together. Basically, you'd still need a station to do it. Much simpler to just make it a transfer point.

 

[mm121]

Because its not meant to be inter-park transport for Epcot/DHS guests. Its meant to be transport for the guests of the 4 affected resorts to Epcot/DHS. Epcot/DHS guests will still have the Friendship boats and the ability to walk. Even with the transfers, Skyliner will probably still be a faster trip from one park to the other.

How would a guest differentiate when they got on at DHS if they were going to CBR/Riviera or Pop/AoA? There would still need to be a station there.
The 'merging' of two lines is not completely impossible, but since the cabins are not in a fixed place on the cables, you would need a system to slow the cabins as they came into the merge point and then fit them together. Basically, you'd still need a station to do it. Much simpler to just make it a transfer point.

Some kind of transponder system perhaps, where the guests select a destination then at the merge point the system knows which direction to send that gondola

its just really too bad that decades ago there wasnt a commitment to a complete mass transit system other than busses, as it seems super inefficient to have a bunch of diffrent modes that some connect together and some dont

i'm sure it causes headaches for new visitors

 

[flynnibus]

Some kind of transponder system perhaps, where the guests select a destination then at the merge point the system knows which direction to send that gondola

Not on a cable system...

 

[Kamikaze]

Some kind of transponder system perhaps, where the guests select a destination then at the merge point the system knows which direction to send that gondola

The cabins would be possible to move to another cable, sure, but the station at the other end would need to move each cabin one by one as they came in. Think of it like a train track, except its on a cable. So you'd need a section of switch that would go back and forth between the two, in an area where the cabins were detached from the main line already. Just another possible problem when you're saying that cabins are going to arrive every 10 seconds or so. Much easier to just have a station and then the guests reboard.

What you're proposing is theoretically possible, but its highly impractical and not worth the potential problems.

During most times you're probably looking at a minute or two tops to reboard during the transfer. Just not worth making it this complicated.

 

[mm121]

The cabins would be possible to move to another cable, sure, but the station at the other end would need to be move cabin one by one as they came in. Think of it like a train track, except its on a cable. So you'd need a section of switch track that would go back and forth between the two. Just another possible problem when you're saying that cabins are going to arrive every 10 seconds or so. Much easier to just have a station and then the guests reboard.

What you're proposing is theoretically possible, but its highly impractical and not worth the potential problems.

that seems really lame to have to exit the gondola cabin then get in line again and reboard

are they maybe doing one securtity station for DHS instead of multiple ones at DRR/pop and just having one at the DHS station and then guest that get off at international gateway would go through the current station

that would make more sense, get off the gondola go through security then get back on

 

[Kamikaze]

that seems really lame to have to exit the gondola cabin then get in line again and reboard

are they maybe doing one securtity station for DHS instead of multiple ones at DRR/pop and just having one at the DHS station and then guest that get off at international gateway would go through the current station

that would make more sense, get off the gondola go through security then get back on

Whether its 'lame' or not, thats what is going to happen. You have to disembark and board another cabin.

From whats been said, the security checkpoint is before you get to the loading area. So you only go through it once from your departure to your destination, even if you transfer. When you transfer, you say within the secured perimeter the whole time. This also means that if you're going from IG to DHS or vice versa, you can do so without going through security at all, since you already did so when you entered the park/perimeter.

 

[danlb_2000]

that seems really lame to have to exit the gondola cabin then get in line again and reboard

are they maybe doing one securtity station for DHS instead of multiple ones at DRR/pop and just having one at the DHS station and then guest that get off at international gateway would go through the current station

that would make more sense, get off the gondola go through security then get back on

If you don't want transfers, buses are pretty much the only option, there are just to many end points for any form of "track" based system to work effectively without having to do a transfer.

 

[becca_]

This might have been mentioned before but I do like this idea of a gondola system. But I think Disney might be relying on these too much as a form of transportation. The severe lightning storms that occur frequently in Florida will have these shut down quite often and for long periods of time. And also I assume they will have air conditioning in each car. Correct??

Who wants to take this one?

 

[disney4life2008]

Whose willing to bet unless you stay at one of the homes resorts it will be a a $10 fee? Lol

 

[gorillaball]

Whose willing to bet unless you stay at one of the homes resorts it will be a a $10 fee? Lol

I'll bet you.

 

[Creathir]

If you don't want transfers, buses are pretty much the only option, there are just to many end points for any form of "track" based system to work effectively without having to do a transfer.

That's not entirely accurate.

Computers and a track which did routing at the CBR south station could easily handle this, via gondola or PRT.

Honestly, if Disney implemented this as a PRT in the sky, it would be a much more amazing system IMHO.

 

[TiggerDad]

Whose willing to bet unless you stay at one of the homes resorts it will be a a $10 fee? Lol

It would cost more in staff to monitor and collect such a fee than you would raise.

 

[MisterPenguin]

that seems really lame to have to exit the gondola cabin then get in line again and reboard

Then I guess it's lame that people at a monorail resort have to exit the monorail at the TTC to take the Epcot monorail. Or people going from one resort to another have to transfer buses.

Whose willing to bet unless you stay at one of the homes resorts it will be a a $10 fee? Lol

Maybe it's time you change your handle to indicate your persistent pessimism towards Disney.

 

[flynnibus]

That's not entirely accurate.

Computers and a track which did routing at the CBR south station could easily handle this, via gondola or PRT.

Do not assume transitioning from the cable to the station is the same thing as transitioning line to line. Such a system would effectively be the same as moving off one line.. into a station.. and moving onto the other line. A system that would be highly inefficient unless you ran the lines at very low density because you can't risk cascading... and wouldn't really work for what you are proposing because of the inequal balance in route demands (in terms of volume for one route verse the other). You'd have to run a fraction of the vehicles you could run if they were just separate lines to start with.

Again because it's a cable system where all vehicles move at the same rate and together, such a random route system isn't really viable. When you have vehicles that can move independently of each other.. then these sort of add/leave notions start to become theory.

 

[SLUSHIE]

If the system was somehow built like that, the whole thing would need to be operated as one system. If one station needed to be stopped for whatever reason, the whole system would need to be stopped.

The way its going to be, you will only transfer at most one time no matter where you are coming from or going. The only thing that concerns be is the DRR station, and how it will impact people trying to board there if cabins are already full, assuming they don't make everyone get off there.

 

[truecoat]

For those concerned about loading/unloading an ECV driven by a first-time ECV driver, I had a thought: remove the driver from the equation.

If the driver is ambulatory enough to transfer from the ECV to the cabin, they can do so with the ECV driving parallel to the cabin. If the guest isn't mobile enough, they transfer to a standard wheelchair, which has been shown can easily be maneuvered into the cabin.
Either way, a CM then drives the ECV into the next (or preceding) cabin and leaves it there by itself. At the other end, a CM backs the ECV out of the cabin and the driver is reunited with it. Yes, it'll ding the throughput by using up an extra cabin for each ECV, but that might be an improvement over any slows or stops they have to make on the line.

Yes, I realize it's not an ideal setup, and it's probably a huge pain when having to transfer between lines at CBR South, but it's an idea they could implement at least for Guests who can't do it themselves.

-Rob

Just a little info for those who don't know. Every ECV or power wheelchair has an automatic braking system. When you aren't moving, it locks up so it doesn't roll down a hill or crash into something. It would be very easy for a CM to release the brake, push the ECV into the gondola and set the brake handle. Wheelchairs are quite maneuverable these days and someone in one usually has lot's of experience using them as opposed to the once in awhile ECV user so I wouldn't see doing it for them.

 

[mm121]

Whose willing to bet unless you stay at one of the homes resorts it will be a a $10 fee? Lol

its not entirely out of the realm of possibilities, it does seem like disney is looking at ways to monetize transportation with the minnie vans

That's not entirely accurate.

Computers and a track which did routing at the CBR south station could easily handle this, via gondola or PRT.

Honestly, if Disney implemented this as a PRT in the sky, it would be a much more amazing system IMHO.

agreed it would be amazing, though i think earlier in this thread we were fed some bad info when someone said these cars weren't fixed to the cables.

since they are most likely fixed to the cables as each car isnt independently powered a PRT in the sky isnt technologically feasible

It would cost more in staff to monitor and collect such a fee than you would raise.

magic bands!!

Then I guess it's lame that people at a monorail resort have to exit the monorail at the TTC to take the Epcot monorail. Or people going from one resort to another have to transfer buses.

thats true, i guess what i meant was things didnt have to be this way if things would have been designed different ages ago
just because transfers are the "norm" doesnt mean thats the way it should be or has to be as tech is different now than it use to be

Do not assume transitioning from the cable to the station is the same thing as transitioning line to line. Such a system would effectively be the same as moving off one line.. into a station.. and moving onto the other line. A system that would be highly inefficient unless you ran the lines at very low density because you can't risk cascading... and wouldn't really work for what you are proposing because of the inequal balance in route demands (in terms of volume for one route verse the other). You'd have to run a fraction of the vehicles you could run if they were just separate lines to start with.

Again because it's a cable system where all vehicles move at the same rate and together, such a random route system isn't really viable. When you have vehicles that can move independently of each other.. then these sort of add/leave notions start to become theory.

I think the PRT idea was started by someone saying the cars weren't attached to the lines, which is apparently false.