News New Gondola Transportation - Disney Skyliner -

[GoofGoof]

In my stay at POP it was always Three MK buses or two AK buses per one
DHS or Epcot. Not going to let two buses stop and switchback sit empty. not going to give it to Disney Spring, ESPN, or water park. Disney is always pushing family to MK than other parks. I think we gonna see lower wait times for buses to MK.

Why wouldn’t they just keep the same number of buses for MK, AK and DS/waterparks? Then eliminate the EPCOT and DHS ones completely.

I have no idea how they will do this in practice, but since they are shifting operating costs from buses to the gondolas for EPCOT and DHS I don’t think they will want to increase bus expenses for the other parks.

 

[NormC]

I watched the whole thing. Starting at the 8:40 mark, Rob discusses the “vent screens” and their need for cooling the batteries that will run the “on-board fans, audio/music, and lighting”. He uses the word “definitely” multiple times.

Perhaps I’ve missed it, but this is the first I recall hearing about on-board fans, and for sure he is the the first I've heard say that there will “definitely” be audio, music, announcements, and lighting in the actual gondolas.

His comments about “maybe” adding AC in the future is sure to trigger another 600 pages of debate.

All very unlikely.

 

[dvitali]

Why wouldn’t they just keep the same number of buses for MK, AK and DS/waterparks? Then eliminate the EPCOT and DHS ones completely.

I have no idea how they will do this in practice, but since they are shifting operating costs from buses to the gondolas for EPCOT and DHS I don’t think they will want to increase bus expenses for the other parks.

In the 8 AM morning rush at POP there been at least three MK buses per one DHS or Epcot in a twenty minutes wait line. Each fighting to get in that first bus stop slot and switchback slot. If they eliminate DHS and Epcot buses they can load more peoples faster to MK. Disney Spring, ESPN, and water Parks start later in the day and share the fifth buses stop. Very few family get on those buses in the morning. Disney in the last few year just re-did all the buses stop for the buses no need now to redo it again. Also I notice two AK buses in a twenty minutes span compare to one DHS or Epcot getting in the number four slot.
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[joelkfla]

In the 8 AM morning rush at POP there been at least three MK buses per one DHS or Epcot in a twenty minutes wait line. Each fighting to get in that first bus stop slot and switchback slot. If they eliminate DHS and Epcot buses they can load more peoples faster to MK. Disney Spring, ESPN, and water Parks start later in the day and share the fifth buses stop. Very few family get on those buses in the morning. Disney in the last few year just re-did all the buses stop for the buses no need now to redo it again. Also I notice two AK buses in a twenty minutes span compare to one DHS or Epcot getting in the number four slot.
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Yes, they could allocate an additional load zone to MK at Pop & AoA. They'd probably want to reconfigure the queues to make a single queue with 2 load gates.

There are no longer buses to water parks from the resorts. All Guests traveling to a water park must transfer at DAK or DS.

 

[flyerjab]

Was at DHS this morning and snapped some gondola construction photos.

This last one was from the bus back to our resort.

Once this is up and running, it is really going to change the look of this side of the greater resort. The gondola towers are all over the place. It should really create this kinetic feel that should really be neat to see with all of the different-colored gondola cars.

 

[Grimley1968]

Was at DHS this morning and snapped some gondola construction photos.
View attachment 328401View attachment 328402View attachment 328403View attachment 328404
This last one was from the bus back to our resort.
View attachment 328405
Once this is up and running, it is really going to change the look of this side of the greater resort. The gondola towers are all over the place. It should really create this kinetic feel that should really be neat to see with all of the different-colored gondola cars.

Thank you for this. A) It's been a while since any photo updates have been on here and I get antsy without them and B) It's about 35 degrees with 30 MPH wind gusts where I am, so it's nice to live vicariously through photos of at least one place I wouldn't need my coat and a jar of Carmex just to step outside.

 

[Frontierland's Finest]

It's not a Doppelmayr, but still would be really scary if this ever happens on the Skyliner. No one was hurt, but still really sketchy.
https://www.9news.com/article/money...from-new-lift-at-copper-mountain/73-617806868

 

[joelkfla]

It's not a Doppelmayr, but still would be really scary if this ever happens on the Skyliner. No one was hurt, but still really sketchy.
https://www.9news.com/article/money...from-new-lift-at-copper-mountain/73-617806868

Quote from the item:
"The safety of our employees, contractors and guests is our number one priority. Copper is working closely with the Leitner-Poma team and the Colorado Passenger Tramway Safety Board to ensure that, once completed, the American Eagle lift will operate safely and reliably. "

I hope the Florida Passenger Tramway Safety Board will be inspecting the Skyliner.

 

[Lift Blog]

It's not a Doppelmayr, but still would be really scary if this ever happens on the Skyliner. No one was hurt, but still really sketchy.
https://www.9news.com/article/money...from-new-lift-at-copper-mountain/73-617806868

Sounds like a human mistake. Note the grip held on so forcefully that it pulled the haul rope off 10 sheaves before detaching.

 

[nolatron]

It's not a Doppelmayr, but still would be really scary if this ever happens on the Skyliner. No one was hurt, but still really sketchy.
https://www.9news.com/article/money...from-new-lift-at-copper-mountain/73-617806868

According to the article the gondola hit something construction related, causing it to fall.

"Before they could start, one of the empty gondolas malfunctioned. A spokesperson for Leitner-Poma, the company that installed the lift, said the gondola popped off the cable after hitting a piece of construction material."

EDIT: Here's a tweet that says some construction material got caught in grip right as it launched.

 

[MisterPenguin]

Considering Our Insider said they wouldn't even be running the system until May, and it looks like construction will be done way before that, we probably have a very high confidence that all construction will be done and won't get in any gondola's way.

 

[SLUSHIE]

This has always been something I wondered. If there is a really critical grip force fault or similar, you are kinda past the point of no return. I'm sure the lift stopped by itself but I don't think there would have been any way to stop the cabin from falling off with this kind of error.

 

[DisneyCane]

This has always been something I wondered. If there is a really critical grip force fault or similar, you are kinda past the point of no return. I'm sure the lift stopped by itself but I don't think there would have been any way to stop the cabin from falling off with this kind of error.

The grip force is measured by a sensor before the cabin leaves the station. If it falls off before leaving the station there is a rail to catch it.

What appears to have happened in that safety test is some material prevented the grip from holding the cable properly. The force was fine but it wasn't actually holding the cable. This is why there are safely tests and inspections. To make sure that nothing can get in the way during operations with passengers.

 

[SLUSHIE]

OK well I guess I don't so much mean the grip 'force' as much as I do the gate that the grip passes though to make sure it's actually closed.

If it hits the gate that would mean the grip isn't fully closed and its not fully attached to the cable. It may still be on the rail at that exact moment but at speed the lift I don't think the lift would completely stop before its off the rail.

I mean, I don't know the specifics on the incident (I didn't even read the article) but it would have no doubt hit the gate and the cabin still managed to fall off.

That photo is actually the outgoing side, and the gate is actually after the last tire, so if it wasn't attached it would actually be relying on the cable to slow down, which it wouldn't actually be attached to.

Obviously people much smarter than me designed these things, but I used to do the morning checks where you would manually trip all the sensors, and its just something I've notice and always thought it seem weird.

 

[GoofGoof]

In the 8 AM morning rush at POP there been at least three MK buses per one DHS or Epcot in a twenty minutes wait line. Each fighting to get in that first bus stop slot and switchback slot. If they eliminate DHS and Epcot buses they can load more peoples faster to MK. Disney Spring, ESPN, and water Parks start later in the day and share the fifth buses stop. Very few family get on those buses in the morning. Disney in the last few year just re-did all the buses stop for the buses no need now to redo it again. Also I notice two AK buses in a twenty minutes span compare to one DHS or Epcot getting in the number four slot.
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I think I get what you are saying now. Just using the old EPCOT and DHS slots at the bus stops for MK or other destinations now. That probably makes sense. Same number of MK buses just more space to load people.

 

[Lensman]

I think I get what you are saying now. Just using the old EPCOT and DHS slots at the bus stops for MK or other destinations now. That probably makes sense. Same number of MK buses just more space to load people.

You know, this got me thinking about the resorts that are spread out that have multiple stops. The only plus to bus service to those resorts it that they never have this problem of needing more loading space for MK buses. Otherwise people only complain about the long trips to circle the resort before their stop.

 

[cindy_k]

Suddenly getting eaten by Alligators becomes more real.

According to the article the gondola hit something construction related, causing it to fall.

"Before they could start, one of the empty gondolas malfunctioned. A spokesperson for Leitner-Poma, the company that installed the lift, said the gondola popped off the cable after hitting a piece of construction material."

EDIT: Here's a tweet that says some construction material got caught in grip right as it launched.

 

[Driver]

Disney is preparing Cast to start testing and trials of the Gondola's

 

[GoofGoof]

You know, this got me thinking about the resorts that are spread out that have multiple stops. The only plus to bus service to those resorts it that they never have this problem of needing more loading space for MK buses. Otherwise people only complain about the long trips to circle the resort before their stop.

I was wondering if they would run an internal CBR gondola shuttle bus. Some of the rooms are a hike from the gondola station. Maybe change the internal loop for the other parks so that it always exits near the gondola station and people could jump off there.

 

[jt04]

Disney is preparing Cast to start testing and trials of the Gondola's

Weird considering it won't open until the second half of 2019.