lazyboy97o
Well-Known Member
Ownership of the lighting package on the Eiffel Tower is aggressively defended.
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News New Gondola Transportation - Disney Skyliner -
- Thread starter danlb_2000
- Start date
Disneyrailfan1996
Active Member
With this talk about the new skyliner, I'm curious to know if it will be similar in any way - big or small - to the old Magic Kingdom Skyway. Will it use the same rope gauge/size? Same company? Same motor(s)? While I highly doubt it'll be similar, I honestly wonder how this would compare to the old MK skyway in terms of speed, smoothness (ride wise, obviously), and reliability (okay, well for reliability, we'd probably have to wait a year or two after it opens to see just how that is).
lazyboy97o
Well-Known Member
The Skyway was Von Roll Type 101. The Skyliner is a far more modern Doppelmayr system.
Disneyrailfan1996
Active Member
Ah. I've heard of Von Roll, but not of Doppelmayr. From what I just found out from a quick Wikipedia search though, they both are headquartered in Switzerland (Doppelmayr also has Austria HQ, but that's another story). With the six degrees of separation (or in this case similarity), the only thing that is related between the two systems is where the manufacturer is located, so the relationship between the two is VERY distant so far from what I know.
Besides the name of the manufacturer, I'm pretty sure all those other details are somewhere back in the 8,914 prior posts in this thread...
Goofyernmost
Well-Known Member
Well, that and over 50 years of difference. If I were a betting man, I would bet that the technology, equipment and design have probably changed quite significantly over that half century.
DisAl
Well-Known Member
Like comparing a Yugo to a Lexus.
lazyboy97o
Well-Known Member
Doppelmayr is in Switzerland because they bought Von Roll’s aerial cable business.
Disneyrailfan1996
Active Member
Okay, now I'm having WAY too much fun with the six degrees of separation. So the Skyliner and the Skyway are TECHNICALLY made by the same company albeit the Skyway is and was from a time before Doppelmayr took over. I wonder what else I'll find (PLEASE don't feed me more info I'm having too much fun (okay, you can if you want, but I warn you, I MAY geek out!))
HauntedMansionFLA
Well-Known Member
Epcot - 4/17/2108 - It doesn’t look as bad as the DHS parking lot.
Goofyernmost
Well-Known Member
Exactly... a Lexus can't hope to measure up to the magnificent Yugo! Just look around today and everyone that ever owned a Yugo has stored them away knowing that in a few years they will be practically priceless. That's why you don't see any at all anymore. They are storing them out of harms way.
Skyman1971
Member
I've been on both Vail gondolas at night as well as another couple other gondolas that had evening lighting, and it was very subtle. Just a convenience for the guests. It did not spoil the views at all! They also sometimes have an indictor light on top, which is actually a really cool effect going up the mountain at night!
Skyman1971
Member
I have a lot of respect for the original Von Roll type 101's and there is still many out there running. Pretty much all the ones I've ridden in are in great condition. Simple they are, but they serve a purpose. I've ridden San Diego Zoos, Sea world SD, Cedar point and Busch Gardens. I think San Diego Zoos in particular is an excellent ride!
toolsnspools
Well-Known Member
I wonder if Harry's or Dollar Shave Club will be sponsors?
Those Von Roll systems are very antiquated and all mechanical. I'm sure the ones still in operation have been retrofitted with some form of computer control for safety reasons. I remember the Disneyland ones had to be pushed around manually by the operator, and they would open the door and hold it so it didn't swing around while you got in. The rope speed was also fairly slow.
It would be like comparing Autopia to Test Track.
It would be like comparing Autopia to Test Track.
JoeCamel
Well-Known Member
Bush Gardens Tampa is still pushed around by the operator at both end stations and the turn station
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skyride_(Busch_Gardens_Tampa_Bay)
NormC
Well-Known Member
From Wiki:
Von Roll Seilbahnen AG was the aerial tramway and cableway division that was sold to Austrian manufacturer Doppelmayr in 1996.
Von Roll also made Monorails and sold that business to Adtranz which was later bought by Bombardier.
It is cool how everything is connected in some way.
Skyman1971
Member
All the ones I rode are still hand loads. I doubt that has changed. Yes definitely archaic, but still functional and fun to ride.
Sull1102
Member
They're less related than say a 1968 Mustang and a 2019 model, which is to say not at all except in concept. If you go in expecting it to be like the Skyway your jaw will hit the floor. I just rode a 10 passenger gondola in Laax that is slightly smaller than the new model that Disney is getting from Dopp. This particular one was very high end with heated seats and a saddle leather interior nicer than a BMW, just gorgeous. Hopefully Disney gets something very similar to really impress. In addition, some lifts, newer detachables, have a suspension setup similar to a car almost that separates the carrier from the grip and hanger. These lifts we're especially smooth even when going over the sheaves.
As for costs being high, those turn stations are incredibly expensive and complex machines requiring quite a bit of engineering work. Also very few if any ski areas have a lift tower in a pond so there's that. Add in wrapping every cabin instead of the usual resort logo sticker and things are starting to add up quickly.
Sorry, I mentioned something that has been over discussed. The photos in the link to (Tampa) Busch Garden's Skyride speak for themselves re lack of an "amenity." And apparently no one has suffered hyperthermia requiring medical treatment - yet - it's only been around 40ish years. The only injuries have been to an employee "checking" it, and someone claiming injury when another gondola bumped into hers at the station. No one has accidentally fallen out, nor has a cabin fallen from the sky - yet.
I just hope that the newer model has a higher weight limit!
I just hope that the newer model has a higher weight limit!