News New Gondola Transportation - Disney Skyliner

[Cesar R M]

Papyrus. It's Disney related.

lol, nothing screams more like "We need a graphic designer" than seeing ads or banners with Papyrus.

 

[Cesar R M]

SKYLINER
Spontaneous Combustion!​

 

[Flalex72]

As far as getting from point A to point B, that's true.

But, if you're trying to compare the size of the doors, the ventilation, window coverings, seats, size of the cabin, all the little details about the experience, then it definitely matters.

A 1980 Ford Pinto, a 2005 Honda Civic, and a 2018 BMW 320i sedan will all get you from point A to point B, probably in the same amount of time too. But, if you're going to compare the comfort during the trip that's another story......

Even at the cabin level, they're all pretty similar though, and all the manufacturers offer a multitiude of options as you mention. A Doppelmayr gondola doesn't by nature have better cabins than a LeitnerPoma gondola, as the purchaser may spec whatever they wish.

Most people wouldn't notice the difference between a CWA Omega cabin, a Sigma Diamond cabin, or a Gangloff Cabin. As noted in the Stowe example, until the market became vertically integrated, Omega cabins were common on MDG systems from multiple manufacturers.

 

[Lift Blog]

I was assuming that they would load from both points, the moving rail, for those able to walk on, and the holding rail, for those that need extra time. I noticed that the station at DHS has a gravity switch between the two lines so all the operator needs to do is push the stationary vehicle into the switch and the computer will release it into the flow when next possible. Just my observation.

This isn’t the Disneyland Skyway. No gravity switches. No pushing of cabins.

 

[TiggerDad]

I would assume the doors would always open since it would be hard to know which people are destined for Riviera and which aren't. I also assume people will load into the moving cars. There will probably be a way for the Riviera station to tell Epcot or CBR to send empty cars when the Riviera line get's to long.

But if the doors open, it would let out all the a/c.....

 

[Jon81uk]

Focusing on the Riviera station: since it also acts as turn station, presumably every gondola will have to detach from the cable, slow down and go through the turn and loading area before reattaching to the cable and moving on. If most gondolas are carrying thru traffic who stay in their cars, do those gondola doors open and then shut in the station, or will the system keep their doors shut somehow? Also, for people at Riviera getting on the gondolas there, will they get on a stationary gondola waiting for them and then get moved to the attachment point, or will they need to wait for an already empty gondola on the route as it enters the station?

Alton Towers Theme Park in the UK has a cable car system that does exactly this, two terminus stations at the ends and one turn station in the middle. https://www.altontowers.com/theme-park/skyride/
Doors open at the turn station no matter what and some people might get off. This can cause long queues to board there as if the cabin holds 12 and there are 10 already on board, if 2 get off but a party of 6 is waiting to board then they can't fit on and the cabin continues with only 8 people. I expect Disney to be more efficient as they are just better at batching on rides anyway.
If a wheelchair needs to get on and off then the whole system slows down or stops to allow the chair to board/unload. Again I expect Disney to have a better solution, particularly as theirs is a longer system.

 

[shernernum]

Nope - the Gondola exit at Riviera will be through a DVC kiosk and no family that accidently disembarked at the Riviera station will be allowed to reboard a gondola until they have signed up to buy 75 Riviera DVC points.

Isn't there a minimum purchase now....more like 100 points

 

[Mr Ferret 75]

This isn’t the Disneyland Skyway. No gravity switches. No pushing of cabins.

I would hope i don't have to get out and push

 

[GotEarsSayCheers]

I'm sure there will be a recorded spiel about doors opening/closing at Riviera that will become famous and that people will quote on their Disney message board profiles.

Please stand clear of the door, your skyliner will slow down and the doors will open. Welcome to disneys riviera resort. If you are traveling to Disneys Hollywood Studios, please remain seated, the doors will close momentarily.


Por favor, aléjese de la puerta, su Skyliner disminuirá la velocidad y las puertas se abrirán. Bienvenido a disneys riviera resort. Si viaja a Disneys Hollywood Studios, por favor permanezca sentado, las puertas se cerrarán momentáneamente.

 

[Lensman]

Alton Towers Theme Park in the UK has a cable car system that does exactly this, two terminus stations at the ends and one turn station in the middle. https://www.altontowers.com/theme-park/skyride/
Doors open at the turn station no matter what and some people might get off. This can cause long queues to board there as if the cabin holds 12 and there are 10 already on board, if 2 get off but a party of 6 is waiting to board then they can't fit on and the cabin continues with only 8 people. I expect Disney to be more efficient as they are just better at batching on rides anyway.
If a wheelchair needs to get on and off then the whole system slows down or stops to allow the chair to board/unload. Again I expect Disney to have a better solution, particularly as theirs is a longer system.

Thanks for another good example of a gondola system in a non-alpine use case. The gondolas were replaced in 2010 with ones from Poma. Maybe @Lift Blog can provide us with more technical details?

This wiki has a funny take on the "upgrades" following incendiary incidents:
https://towersstreet.com/wiki/Skyride
Note: I immediately thought of how we joke about the flaming gondolas on this board when I read about how two of the stations at Alton Towers spontaneously burst into flames and burned to the ground. lol

There are, of course, good youtube videos that people have taken.


There are others of people a little scared as this lift does travel pretty high up over the ground, unlike the Disney Skyliner.

I'm not sure how Disney is going to optimize Riviera station boarding, but I wonder if they will have to? Thinking about it, I think the only time they might have to optimize loading at Riviera is for morning traffic to Epcot. And even at that time I don't think the line will be running at capacity (vs closing after Illuminations). But I'd imagine that the cast members at Riviera will be in contact with the loading station at CBR and will be able to call for a certain percentage of cabins to be sent out empty to allow more guests to board at Riviera.

I don't think you have to worry about your specific example of people getting off and Disney having to optimize filling up the cabins at the Riviera station. In the morning heading to Epcot, practically no one will be going from CBR to Riviera and getting off there.

I still wonder how they're going to do assisted boarding at unloading at Riviera, but I guess we may not know for sure until they open.

 

[note2001]

Alton Towers Theme Park in the UK has a cable car system that does exactly this, two terminus stations at the ends and one turn station in the middle. https://www.altontowers.com/theme-park/skyride/
Doors open at the turn station no matter what and some people might get off. This can cause long queues to board there as if the cabin holds 12 and there are 10 already on board, if 2 get off but a party of 6 is waiting to board then they can't fit on and the cabin continues with only 8 people. I expect Disney to be more efficient as they are just better at batching on rides anyway.
If a wheelchair needs to get on and off then the whole system slows down or stops to allow the chair to board/unload. Again I expect Disney to have a better solution, particularly as theirs is a longer system.

Why is it that practically no one thinks to film the boarding/debarking process of these things?
Found a video in which the camera person gives us a glimpse of boarding, which I assume will be very similar to Disney with it creeping along the platform level to the cabin, and the exit (at around the 3 minute mark) showing how the cabins slow down as they enter the boarding area.

 

[MisterPenguin]

Please stand clear of the door, your skyliner will slow down and the doors will open. Welcome to disneys riviera resort. If you are traveling to Disneys Hollywood Studios, please remain seated, the doors will close momentarily.


Por favor, aléjese de la puerta, su Skyliner disminuirá la velocidad y las puertas se abrirán. Bienvenido a disneys riviera resort. Si viaja a Disneys Hollywood Studios, por favor permanezca sentado, las puertas se cerrarán momentáneamente.

Likely to be no electricity in the gondolas (except during lightning storms), so, no audio announcement within the gondola. It will have to be playing in the station...

Woah, woah, woah! If you're not a Disney Vacation Club member then just sit down, this stop isn't for you. To our Disney Vacation Club members staying at the Riviera... welcome!

¡Basta, basta, basta! Si no eres miembro de Disney Vacation Club, siéntate, esta parada no es para ti. Para nuestros miembros de Disney Vacation Club que se alojen en la Riviera ... ¡bienvenido!

 

[Flalex72]

Likely to be no electricity in the gondolas (except during lightning storms), so, no audio announcement within the gondola. It will have to be playing in the station...

Woah, woah, woah! If you're not a Disney Vacation Club then just sit down, this stop isn't for you. To our Disney Vacation Club members staying at the Riviera... welcome!

¡Basta, basta, basta! Si no eres un Disney Vacation Club, siéntate, esta parada no es para ti. Para nuestros miembros de Disney Vacation Club que se alojen en la Riviera ... ¡bienvenido!

While we've been over (and over, and over) the power requirements for onboard AC, it is possible to have onboard announcements with much lower power requirements. The system runs primarily while in the station, where it can get power from contact rails. Those rails charge a battery, which has enough power to run a spiel should the system stop. There are also systems that use a solar panel to charge the battery and run a small LED for cabin lighting, just a bigger version of the backyard solar lights you can buy. On board announcements are not out of the question.

 

[Lensman]

While we've been over (and over, and over) the power requirements for onboard AC, it is possible to have onboard announcements with much lower power requirements. The system runs primarily while in the station, where it can get power from contact rails. Those rails charge a battery, which has enough power to run a spiel should the system stop. There are also systems that use a solar panel to charge the battery and run a small LED for cabin lighting, just a bigger version of the backyard solar lights you can buy. On board announcements are not out of the question.

Maybe they could put in crystal radios?

 

[MisterPenguin]

While we've been over (and over, and over) the power requirements for onboard AC, it is possible to have onboard announcements with much lower power requirements. The system runs primarily while in the station, where it can get power from contact rails. Those rails charge a battery, which has enough power to run a spiel should the system stop. There are also systems that use a solar panel to charge the battery and run a small LED for cabin lighting, just a bigger version of the backyard solar lights you can buy. On board announcements are not out of the question.

What part of "likely" did you not understand?

 

[OG Runner]

Each gondola will have an individual cast member inside that will explain the operation of the gondolas and to stay away
from the doors, both in English and Spanish.

 

[Nubs70]

Why is it that practically no one thinks to film the boarding/debarking process of these things?
Found a video in which the camera person gives us a glimpse of boarding, which I assume will be very similar to Disney with it creeping along the platform level to the cabin, and the exit (at around the 3 minute mark) showing how the cabins slow down as they enter the boarding area.

The mainline looks to be running quite slow.

 

[Mickthemunch]

Hi, first time here but been watching thread for some time. Interesting video from Youtube showing cable car in London that has onboard power. Link- Emirates cable car. They use supercapacitors which charge in seconds and are much lighter than batteries. The gondolas have audio, visual displays, lighting and ..... air conditioning. Even if Disney have chosen not to do this due to the cost, it is perfectly possible.

 

[DisneyJeff]

Hi, first time here but been watching thread for some time. Interesting video from Youtube showing cable car in London that has onboard power. Link- Emirates cable car. They use supercapacitors which charge in seconds and are much lighter than batteries. The gondolas have audio, visual displays, lighting and ..... air conditioning. Even if Disney have chosen not to do this due to the cost, it is perfectly possible.

Welcome to the boards.

It's been reported that the Emirates line air conditioning doesn't work that well even in London's climate, so it definitely wouldn't work well in Florida.

 

[smile]

Each gondola will have an individual cast member inside that will explain the operation of the gondolas and to stay away
from the doors, both in English and Spanish.

por favor mantengase alejado de las puertas