News New Gondola Transportation - Disney Skyliner

[Maeryk]

None of that is relevant because aggregated statistics ignore the characteristics of the individuals. WDW has some city-like needs in its infrastructure but you can't expect city-like savvy on the part of the guests. That's the difference. Disney can run itself like a city but it can't expect its guests to behave like citizens of a city.

Which they are attempting to fix with the app, among other things. Point to point from everywhere is never going to be a reality. It's just not feasible, especially as they expand how many points they have. You will always have a transfer of some sort, especially resort to resort.

hub and spoke is the most efficient way to deal with that, and it makes more sense if you view the available transpo options at each hub as spokes. Your example, AKL to Hoop De Do.. bus to MK, boat or bus to FW.. MK is a hub at that point. Now, renaming the bus depot in front of MK something different might alleviate confusion a bit for a guest who has no idea that "MK" means, alternately, a park, a bus depot, a monorail, and a boat, and a walkway to Contemporary, but that's easily remedied.

 

[EPCOTCenterLover]

I've been to some pretty poor countries- and even a couple of their cities have gondola systems like these. So they must be relatively inexpensive to run as well as dependable.

 

[Skyman1971]

I've been to some pretty poor countries- and even a couple of their cities have gondola systems like these. So they must be relatively inexpensive to run as well as dependable.

Here's an article about the gondolas you mentioned from NPR. This system in La Paz moved 50 million people around in its first 2 years
http://www.npr.org/sections/paralle...-bolivias-gondolas-in-the-sky-ease-congestion

 

[Maeryk]

i really question this diagram

why would they connect the skyway or whatever is seculated, to the CBR, instead of connecting to the Station by the swolphin?

that route is over water and would have a direct view into the entrance of the park, rather than across the middle of the parking lot
View attachment 190171

The reason, I suspect, is that that puts the transfer station (where the three come together) at the resort hub, and gives people the choice of whether they want to head to epcot or DHS there. I'd assume the information from the surveys (where are you staying, what park are you in today, etc) has been taken into account to figure out the most common movement patterns, and that is being factored into the layout.

But if I were designing it, I'd totally put the decision between parks on the shortest leg, thus reducing the travel time (and the load on the system) for the people coming from the mid resort hub, rather than midpoint in the system as you have it, where you end up with everyone being forced into that station regardless of which park they want to end up at.

 

[Ripken10]

This is all the solid info from all the posts in the last 3-4 pages... At least the thread made it 30+ pages before getting derailed. Martin thanks for coming back in here and dropping some knowledge to get this baby back on track.

This was great...anybody have the time and desire to compile the insiders comments again. Even in just 20 pages we have had a lot of info passed on by them.

 

[MisterPenguin]

i really question this diagram

why would they connect the skyway or whatever is seculated, to the CBR, instead of connecting to the Station by the swolphin?

that route is over water and would have a direct view into the entrance of the park, rather than across the middle of the parking lot
View attachment 190171

Consider the traffic heading to the parks in the morning...

Your path would take everyone from AoA/POP and CBR and put them all on the CBR-BW leg as they go to either DHS or Epcot and then split at BW.

The 'original' plan never puts everyone on the same leg of the journey in the same direction at the same time, distributing crowds better.

 

[rael ramone]

The reason, I suspect, is that that puts the transfer station (where the three come together) at the resort hub, and gives people the choice of whether they want to head to epcot or DHS there. I'd assume the information from the surveys (where are you staying, what park are you in today, etc) has been taken into account to figure out the most common movement patterns, and that is being factored into the layout.

But if I were designing it, I'd totally put the decision between parks on the shortest leg, thus reducing the travel time (and the load on the system) for the people coming from the mid resort hub, rather than midpoint in the system as you have it, where you end up with everyone being forced into that station regardless of which park they want to end up at.

I think a big part of it is making Pop/AoS more 'desired' as a destination resort, not by plussing the amenities, but by giving it a direct link to the future home of SWL. @WDW1974 said they want to price things in the future by location, not by resort classification.

 

[Maeryk]

I think a big part of it is making Pop/AoS more 'desired' as a destination resort, not by plussing the amenities, but by giving it a direct link to the future home of SWL. @WDW1974 said they want to price things in the future by location, not by resort classification.

Well, from a throughput standpoint, it just makes more sense to have the hub (transfer) station there, by the resorts, than out in the corner of a parking lot. I'm not sure, but from what i've read it looks like there are four stations: AOA/Pop, CBR, Epcot, DHS. The other two just look like turns, as they don't make much sense as a station, placement wise. So you'd put the hub where you see the most traffic, IE: at CBR. That way the people getting on from that resort (which is going to be a lot bigger) have an immediate choice of destination (Epcot or DHS) without having to ride THEN transfer then ride more.

As to the pricing.. I think it's going to have to do with service level, not location. Yes, the monorail resorts are pricier, but they are also high service level. Adding in buildings or rooms/floors with that same level at other resorts, regardless of location, will give people the choice to stay there and pay more, if they want the concierge level service.

I think the transpo system is just Disney returning to belt and suspenders, where you have multiple choices whenever possible, and realizing they have created a bit of a headache for themselves, by having so many resorts which are only serviced by bus.

 

[rfc0001]

i really question this diagram

why would they connect the skyway or whatever is seculated, to the CBR, instead of connecting to the Station by the swolphin?

that route is over water and would have a direct view into the entrance of the park, rather than across the middle of the parking lot
View attachment 190171

This assumes it is being built for park guests to go from Epcot to/from DHS. Given the design, it seems it's actually being built for resort guests (of CBR/AoA/Pop Century) to get to/from these parks. Why only CBR/AoA/Pop Century and why only DHS/Epcot? Because DHS is getting a major overhaul by 2019 and Epcot soon thereafter (Bob Chapek announced "major transformation" at Desination D), so Disney naturally wants to capitalize on the increase in demand for these two parks w nearby resorts (both DVC and hotels). More specifically, the want to sell more DVC (which will also help subsidize the construction and operation of the Gondolas) and raise avg. rates and/or occupancy on these hotels. Also, there are already good transportation options for DHS to/from Epcot.

 

[rael ramone]

I've been to some pretty poor countries- and even a couple of their cities have gondola systems like these. So they must be relatively inexpensive to run as well as dependable.

I spoke to my co-worker from Medellin Colombia this morning. Couldn't get in a question about the maintenance on it, but he said it worked as public transportation that moves people to hard to reach areas (the city is very mountainous) as well as something to attempt to draw tourists - and it's very high off the ground.

My personal experiences on gondolas/trams - on ski mountains they were small with seats. On the Sandia Tramway in New Mexico, it was much larger with standing room only. While standing room on the Sandia Tramway kinda works (one ride up, one ride down), I think it would work less so for guests staying on a multiday trip - it definitely becomes less of an attraction.

Maintenance & Cleanliness has to be considered, and I offer one word as to why: Monorail.

I'm guessing that it would be similar to a regular ride, where they can add and delete vehicles as needed.

 

[threelittlepigs]

Since we are all speculating, we can draw whatever we want. So why the turn at CBR (circled in white)? Why not go straight from the HUB to the turn at Boardwalk parking lot(my line in white)? Obviously there is a lot we do not know, BUT, if this is in fact a Gondola system, the shortest distance between 2 points is a straight line?

 

[rfc0001]

View attachment 190177

Since we are all speculating, we can draw whatever we want. So why the turn at CBR (circled in white)? Why not go straight from the HUB to the turn at Boardwalk parking lot(my line in white)? Obviously there is a lot we do not know, BUT, if this is in fact a Gondola system, the shortest distance between 2 points is a straight line?

The reason probably hints at a stop at the new CBR (DVC) resort.

 

[doctornick]

Well, from a throughput standpoint, it just makes more sense to have the hub (transfer) station there, by the resorts, than out in the corner of a parking lot. I'm not sure, but from what i've read it looks like there are four stations: AOA/Pop, CBR, Epcot, DHS. The other two just look like turns, as they don't make much sense as a station, placement wise. So you'd put the hub where you see the most traffic, IE: at CBR. That way the people getting on from that resort (which is going to be a lot bigger) have an immediate choice of destination (Epcot or DHS) without having to ride THEN transfer then ride more.

There's five stations. The one in the northwest corner of CBR is both a turn and a station and will service the as yet unbuilt DVC (as well as, I suppose, CBR members who can get to that station easier than the other one). The building in the Boardwalk parking lot is just a turn.

 

[Maeryk]

There's five stations. The one in the northwest corner of CBR is both a turn and a station and will service the as yet unbuilt DVC (as well as, I suppose, CBR members who can get to that station easier than the other one). The building in the Boardwalk parking lot is just a turn.

ahh. That makes even more sense. thanks!

 

[lazyboy97o]

View attachment 190177

Since we are all speculating, we can draw whatever we want. So why the turn at CBR (circled in white)? Why not go straight from the HUB to the turn at Boardwalk parking lot(my line in white)? Obviously there is a lot we do not know, BUT, if this is in fact a Gondola system, the shortest distance between 2 points is a straight line?

It's not wild and random speculation. There are known building footprints.

 

[rael ramone]

As to the pricing.. I think it's going to have to do with service level, not location. Yes, the monorail resorts are pricier, but they are also high service level. Adding in buildings or rooms/floors with that same level at other resorts, regardless of location, will give people the choice to stay there and pay more, if they want the concierge level service.

Here's a quote from @WDW1974 from his thread:

This will also bring about the long planned idea of dropping the 'value', 'moderate' and 'deluxe' categories and allow for them to sell based on location and desire. You want direct transport to that outpost on the edge of space at whatever Disney-MGM's corpse will be called? Well, would you pay $250 a night to stay at Pop Century? $400 for CBR? Yes, this IS the thinking behind this. And it will be property wide. You can already smell those $1200 a night standard rooms at the Poly for Christmas, right?

They seem to think of the resorts primary 'perk' as being the location, not the amenities (otherwise there would be better amenities at the resorts).

 

[marni1971]

i really question this diagram

why would they connect the skyway or whatever is seculated, to the CBR, instead of connecting to the Station by the swolphin?

that route is over water and would have a direct view into the entrance of the park, rather than across the middle of the parking lot

Because perhaps there's other plans for the area you indicated as preferable?

 

[marni1971]

View attachment 190177

Since we are all speculating, we can draw whatever we want. So why the turn at CBR (circled in white)? Why not go straight from the HUB to the turn at Boardwalk parking lot(my line in white)? Obviously there is a lot we do not know, BUT, if this is in fact a Gondola system, the shortest distance between 2 points is a straight line?

There's reasons for everything that may not seem apparent at the moment.

The original plan is mostly accurate.

 

[larryz]

If this works out I think we will eventually see it expanded further. I envision something like this...

View attachment 190045

That opens the path to a new upcharge: "See the Sun Experience" -- for only $49.95 per person (plus tax), you'll be loaded onto a special bus and driven to the edge of the property, where you'll be able to look up into the sky without having a huge cable-carried gondola shush overhead every 10 seconds. (Theme park admission not required, your experience may vary) For $69.99, they'll add a bottle of water and a gondola-shaped cupcake.

 

[Ripken10]

That opens the path to a new upcharge: "See the Sun Experience" -- for only $49.95 per person (plus tax), you'll be loaded onto a special bus and driven to the edge of the property, where you'll be able to look up into the sky without having a huge cable-carried gondola shush overhead every 10 seconds. (Theme park admission not required, your experience may vary) For $69.99, they'll add a bottle of water and a gondola-shaped cupcake.

Do we really need bad, old jokes on this thread? We have been doing so well so far.