News New Gondola Transportation - Disney Skyliner -

[Progress.City]

We've got to give credit where credit is due. His earliest post about it was in 2008!

No, I actually was the first, actually.

 

[marni1971]

So if eventually all 4 major parks are connected, does the monorail get taken out of service for cost saving/safety measures or do they keep it running for higher transportation capacity? I could never see them getting rid of it, but crazier things have happened...

Monorail is still needed where it is today.

 

[marni1971]

Sorry if I have missed this, but typically how long does it take to build a gondola? I know we're talking Disney speed here... but what's anyone's best guess? 2020? Sooner?

You should be pretending you're flying before SWL opens.

 

[marni1971]

Well it seems like marni was saying there could be a direct line from AKL to AK something along the lines of Harry potter train. If so it will even be better.

Did I?!

 

[rfc0001]

We don't have to imagine where it will end up if you can precisely continue that line down. The only question is whether @P_Radden is right about the bridge in the middle (as I think too) or parking lots on either end of the lake. Since you seem to have the map skills that I lack, I was hoping you could show us exactly where that line would intersect the bridge and the far end of the lake.

Here you go - as accurate as I could draw that bottom leg -- goes directly to the center of the bridge between AoA/Pop Century:

 

[IMFearless]

I'd very very surprised if guests could choose their destination once aboard.

If the gondolas are able to be removed from the wire and moved to ground level vertically and then loaded while stationary what is to stop a multiple gondola loading situation where guests are grouped by desired destination as they arrive at the station. (Similar to the DME loading bay at MCO)

Using magic bands it would be easy to assign destinations to groups of guests as they arrive and then allocate them to a vacant gondola. Once full to capacity, the gondola could be dispatched to the wire, and computer controlled to divert it to its desired destination, bypassing other stations along the way.

It would be simple to group guests and dispatch them once the gondola is full. This would be quick for popular high capacity destinations, but maybe a few minutes to wait for 20 or so guests to fill a gondola, who all want to go to a Waterpark for example.

 

[G00fyDad]

Correct, he didn't say specifically like harry potter but he said it would be not be the gondolas and we all know it won't be a monorail so logic would dictate it would be a light rail of some sort and since not that great a distance costs wouldn't be that bad at all.

We don't know what it could be. It might be a team of guys running rickshaws.

 

[marni1971]

If the gondolas are able to be removed from the wire and moved to ground level vertically and then loaded while stationary..

They will load like a traditional system. As far as I know Trinidad Station (CBR south) will in effect be the terminus of what are three separate cable systems.

For example, going from POP to DHS you'll board at POP, alight at Trinidad and board another gondola heading for DHS. Going from POP to Epcot you'll alight at Trinidad again but this time board another gondola heading for Epcot via the DVC station.

 

[G00fyDad]

I'm all for getting rid of the value resort. I know it won't happen. The all stars will stay around.

Why do they bother you?

 

[IMFearless]

They will load like a traditional system. As far as I know Trinidad Station (CBR south) will in effect be the terminus of what are three separate cable systems.

For example, going from POP to DHS you'll board at POP, alight at Trinidad and board another gondola heading for DHS. Going from POP to Epcot you'll alight at Trinidad again but this time board another gondola heading for Epcot via the DVC station.

That's a shame, as it makes the system much harder to scale, because once it gets to a certain size too many transfers become required, essentially making buses faster.

A smart system that taps into MM+ would make so much sense long term. But not thinking long term is how we arrived in this position to begin with.

 

[xdan0920]

Why do they bother you?

Because they are filled with poor people. DUH!!!

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Well, Disney just announced CSR is getting upgraded to a Deluxe hotel, and CBR presumably will follow suit, so there will be some Moderate-price shoes to fill

Is this real?

 

[IMFearless]

Surely the technology exists to route gondolas from one cable to another at transfer points without the whole group exiting and lining up for another gondola. Smart dispatch makes so much sense long term. I can't imagine travelling to Disney Springs from Epcot for a spot of Shopping if I had to transfer 4 or 5 times, would probably put me off.

 

[marni1971]

Surely the technology exists to route gondolas from one cable to another at transfer points without the whole group exiting..

I'm sure it does.

On a brighter note I don't think you'll take a gondola to the Springs.

 

[Capsin4]

I'm sure this will expand and will eventually include direct park to park service. The express in-park to in-park bus service that was recently rolled out as an add on to park hopper could be a test of guest willingness to pay for this service. They also just rolled the water parks and more option into the new park hopper + which seems like pushing people towards PHs.

 

[Capsin4]

Surely the technology exists to route gondolas from one cable to another at transfer points without the whole group exiting and lining up for another gondola. Smart dispatch makes so much sense long term. I can't imagine travelling to Disney Springs from Epcot for a spot of Shopping if I had to transfer 4 or 5 times, would probably put me off.

I believe some can disconnect from the cables and transit to a new cable on tracks.

 

[TiggerDad]

Here you go - as accurate as I could draw that bottom leg -- goes directly to the center of the bridge between AoA/Pop Century:

View attachment 190105

Thank you. My drawing skills are not up to par.

 

[toolsnspools]

Nothing in the permits indicates that this is in the current plans.

Sorry to kick this back a few pages. I thought this lined up pretty well with the height balloons over Fantasia Gardens and the new hotel at CSR. I can't imagine them adding a new hotel that close to a new transportation system, and not including a station here. Then again, maybe I can.... Did we ever figure out what the new Fantasia Gardens work is going to be?

 

[frankc]

I'm sure it does.

On a brighter note I don't think you'll take a gondola to the Springs.

Are you saying another method of transit other than bus or gondola?

 

[IMFearless]

Interesting. With the central roadway that has been constructed for the resort buses there is potential to automate some of this in the not so distant future. Exciting times indeed.