News New Gondola Transportation - Disney Skyliner -

[joelkfla]

Correct. Just as it is misleading to talk about the numbers moved by the monorail for the very same reason.

The point is that this system will have a significantly higher capacity than the current bus system.

I think that was his point. The monorail quote included all 3 lines so if you combined all 3 gondola lines you get 210,000. What matters for this debate is capacity from IG to CBR since that’s the bottleneck being discussed.

I think I lost track of who was arguing what.

 

[JoeCamel]

There is never that big a crowd at rope drop, even at MK. .

I think you have an imaginary memory. How many years has it been since you did rope drop at the MK?

 

[Goofyernmost]

The discussion is specifically about leaving through IG after Illuminations is over. The rest of the day will be no issue. There could be a wait at that time depending on time of year and crowd levels. It’s not going to be everyone leaving at exactly the same time but since when the show ends and the park usually closes most people will be exiting around the same time depending on how long it takes you to get to the exit from where you were standing.

If you walk out and 500 people are waiting it would take less than 10 minutes to clear so we aren’t talking about long waits but it’s a bottleneck where even a few hundred people gathered could require crowd control which I’m sure they will have.

Yes, I know and if every person that is staying in the Gondola Resorts are there watching Illuminations on the same night, it will be a problem, but, this will be a lot faster then waiting for a bus and the time it takes for the bus to drive through closing traffic to get them back to those resorts. Everyone is imagining things that are either unlikely or making like there never was a bottleneck leaving through the IG. It is just not likely to be any massive delays. No security checks just people doing what has always been the situation for people going to those resorts. Much ado about nothing.

 

[GoofGoof]

Yes, I know and if every person that is staying in the Gondola Resorts are there watching Illuminations on the same night, it will be a problem, but, this will be a lot faster then waiting for a bus and the time it takes for the bus to drive through closing traffic to get them back to those resorts. Everyone is imagining things that are either unlikely or making like there never was a bottleneck leaving through the IG. It is just not likely to be any massive delays. No security checks just people doing what has always been the situation for people going to those resorts. Much ado about nothing.

Yes if everyone staying there was watching Illuminations the same night it would be a big problem. That’s probably close to 20K people. Nobody was saying that will happen. Nobody was saying it would be a longer wait then a bus. It was a simple discussion. If people have to queue up to wait for the gondolas after Illuminations on a busy night Disney will need to organize the line so people don’t completely block the path for those walking to the EPCOT resorts. Not a problem.

 

[GeneralKnowledge]

I’m hoping once this system is up and running, proven successful, and greenlighted for expansion that the infamous Disney bean counters get involved. They will be able to figure out that this entire system could be done slightly cheaper with a significantly lower throughout but with a similar visual presence if they just went with a high speed detachable six pack chairlift.

They could redesign their ECV fleet to allow them to be fitted to a chairlift just like a mono-ski. (which would consequently kill the off property ECV rental money they’ve been hemorrhaging)


It would also eliminate any anti-AC resentment because you can’t AC an open air vehicle anyway.

 

[Goofyernmost]

Yes if everyone staying there was watching Illuminations the same night it would be a big problem. That’s probably close to 20K people. Nobody was saying that will happen. Nobody was saying it would be a longer wait then a bus. It was a simple discussion. If people have to queue up to wait for the gondolas after Illuminations on a busy night Disney will need to organize the line so people don’t completely block the path for those walking to the EPCOT resorts. Not a problem.

OK, but, why do you think that will not be addressed? I feel the number of people that have been on their feet all day (remember the great Disney bench elimination scandal), had been standing watching Illuminations and then walked back up to IG and still want to walk back to their resort is a small number. So in that "simple discussion" I am adding that imagining a problem that doesn't yet exist is no better then my saying it will be fine and certainly no worse then what has been happening anyway. The wait will be minimal and not having to walk all the way through Future World will be a major perk.

 

[OG Runner]

I think you have an imaginary memory. How many years has it been since you did rope drop at the MK?
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I agree, especially since they moved rope drop into the park.

 

[Goofyernmost]

I think you have an imaginary memory. How many years has it been since you did rope drop at the MK?
View attachment 322303View attachment 322305

I agree, especially since they moved rope drop into the park.

Just two points and then I will let it go. First... it is correct that I haven't been to MK rope drop since they moved it inside. And I won't because to me to have the train pull up with all the characters was much more enjoyable then the wide opens spaces of the Hub. So I will never be able to experience the difference because I wasn't all that impressed with the original, but, it was more anticipatory then the current, in my mind.

Second... I/we were discussing rope drop at Epcot and DHS which were always less then impressive compared to MK. Epcot was almost a joke and I don't really remember DHS rope drop. I only went to that once and that was to get in early enough to get my Grandson signed up for Jedi Training and I really don't remember anything about it. To me the only reason that RD got any degree of importance in Epcot was the combination of Frozen and Soarin and at DHS the big reason before was TSMM and the only way to get into it without a FP. Even at that the crowd came from ALL the resorts and ALL the hotels outside of the property. That is a big difference than thinking that the volume of the crowds will be coming in only from the Gondola's.

 

[Horizons '83]

I think you have an imaginary memory. How many years has it been since you did rope drop at the MK?
View attachment 322303View attachment 322305

Depends on when you go. Those look like Christmas crowds. January doesn't look like that.

 

[joelkfla]

I’m hoping once this system is up and running, proven successful, and greenlighted for expansion that the infamous Disney bean counters get involved. They will be able to figure out that this entire system could be done slightly cheaper with a significantly lower throughout but with a similar visual presence if they just went with a high speed detachable six pack chairlift.

They could redesign their ECV fleet to allow them to be fitted to a chairlift just like a mono-ski. (which would consequently kill the off property ECV rental money they’ve been hemorrhaging)


It would also eliminate any anti-AC resentment because you can’t AC an open air vehicle anyway.

Is it April 1st already?

 

[NormC]

Just a reminder these are reported to be Omega IV-10 Si cabins. 10 person cabins.
Seen in old video posted several times:



D-line specs speed is as fast as 15.65 mph but insiders have said it will run at 11 mph.

Here is a new video that came out this month (Oct 11) showing individual seats for 10 instead of a bench style like previous video, notice the ventilation mentioned:

 

[ABQ]

Since when do people hang out at the IG because of how quiet it is... or even at all? Not an issue.


The noise of... ""CROWDS!"" are problematic at WDW: LOL

I'm not going to dispute this, as I agree with you. Though I did make a point that there may be crowds post the Skyway opening at the IG that were not there before. However, and I know this is weird, I do make a habit of going to the IG midday on a visit to Epcot, usually to rent a locker there, this is when I have entered by the front gate. And have found myself hanging around there to relax for a bit as it's quiet and one of the only areas in the dang park that still has benches.

 

[MisterPenguin]

Just a reminder these are reported to be Omega IV-10 Si cabins. 10 person cabins.
Seen in old video posted several times:



D-line specs speed is as fast as 15.65 mph but insiders have said it will run at 11 mph.

Here is a new video that came out this month (Oct 11) showing individual seats for 10 instead of a bench style like previous video, notice the ventilation mentioned:

Seems like that video is a reaction to... us.

 

[joelkfla]

Just a reminder these are reported to be Omega IV-10 Si cabins. 10 person cabins.
Seen in old video posted several times:



D-line specs speed is as fast as 15.65 mph but insiders have said it will run at 11 mph.

Here is a new video that came out this month (Oct 11) showing individual seats for 10 instead of a bench style like previous video, notice the ventilation mentioned:

First video is the Omega-IV; 2nd video is the newer model Omega-V, which I think is actually a bit roomier.

Liftblog has opined that Disney is probably getting the Omega-IV, as the V was not available at the time they speced the purchase.

That's not to say that some subset of the ventilation options wasn't also available on the IV, but just not publicized by Doppelmayr.

 

[shernernum]

Just two points and then I will let it go. First... it is correct that I haven't been to MK rope drop since they moved it inside. And I won't because to me to have the train pull up with all the characters was much more enjoyable then the wide opens spaces of the Hub. So I will never be able to experience the difference because I wasn't all that impressed with the original, but, it was more anticipatory then the current, in my mind.

Second... I/we were discussing rope drop at Epcot and DHS which were always less then impressive compared to MK. Epcot was almost a joke and I don't really remember DHS rope drop. I only went to that once and that was to get in early enough to get my Grandson signed up for Jedi Training and I really don't remember anything about it. To me the only reason that RD got any degree of importance in Epcot was the combination of Frozen and Soarin and at DHS the big reason before was TSMM and the only way to get into it without a FP. Even at that the crowd came from ALL the resorts and ALL the hotels outside of the property. That is a big difference than thinking that the volume of the crowds will be coming in only from the Gondola's.

Four words for HS rope drop in the next year or two......Star Wars Galaxy's Edge.
Was in Animal Kingdom just a few weeks ago and the rope drop with Pandora is a much different experience than it was last time I was there for a rope drop in 2015. I am sure Guardians and Rat at EPCOT won't hurt either.

 

[OG Runner]

Four words for HS rope drop in the next year or two......Star Wars Galaxy's Edge.
Was in Animal Kingdom just a few weeks ago and the rope drop with Pandora is a much different experience than it was last time I was there for a rope drop in 2015. I am sure Guardians and Rat at EPCOT won't hurt either.

Are you kidding? Did you see the number of people that showed up at rope drop when Toy Story Land opened?
There were people waiting to get into the park, before 5:00am. You are right though that SWGE is going to make it insane.

 

[MisterPenguin]

So mad that Spaceship Earth is ruining the Skyliner line of sight!!!

 

[MisterPenguin]

@bioreconstruct...

 

[GoofGoof]

OK, but, why do you think that will not be addressed? I feel the number of people that have been on their feet all day (remember the great Disney bench elimination scandal), had been standing watching Illuminations and then walked back up to IG and still want to walk back to their resort is a small number. So in that "simple discussion" I am adding that imagining a problem that doesn't yet exist is no better then my saying it will be fine and certainly no worse then what has been happening anyway. The wait will be minimal and not having to walk all the way through Future World will be a major perk.

Last thing I’ll say on this.

1) I said they would address the queue line issue with organized lines and ropes to make sure that if the line gets too big anyone who needs to get through on their way back to their rooms at the EPCOT resorts will get through. So it will be addressed, which is what has been said from the start of this conversation.

2) If you stay at BC, YC, BW or Swan/Dolphin there are no busses from EPCOT so you either walk back from IG or you take the boat from IG. Either way you have to exit at IG. It’s not an imaginary problem, there are 4,000 hotel rooms around Crecent Lake whose guests use that gateway as their primary entrance/exit from EPCOT.

3) In my opinion it’s a valid discussion to talk about potential issues from something that doesn’t yet exist. It’s what we do here. This particular problem has a very simple solution.

 

[Goofyernmost]

Four words for HS rope drop in the next year or two......Star Wars Galaxy's Edge.
Was in Animal Kingdom just a few weeks ago and the rope drop with Pandora is a much different experience than it was last time I was there for a rope drop in 2015. I am sure Guardians and Rat at EPCOT won't hurt either.

Yes, when that opens it will put additional strain on the whole park including the Gondola locations, however, although it will draw in an awful number I don't think that it is going to be all that much different when it comes to people coming from the Gondola Resorts. It will be more in the beginning. But, over the years, this will prove to be a really good decision.

I just don't think that the Star War fanatics for the most part can afford the high price of on site resorts. I know it cuts through every socioeconomic group, I don't see the cos-play groups to be staying on site until the SW Resort is built. Which won't affect the Gondola's at all. I guess we shall see soon enough.