News New Gondola Transportation - Disney Skyliner -

[SLUSHIE]

This isn't like a car merging onto the freeway, its like adding and removing links in a constantly moving chain that needs to remain the same length. As someone that has operated a gondola before, i don't see how that would easily be coordinated by the operators on both sides if they were launched and pulled of the line manually. And if it was.... during high peak times where someone is always waiting it would work itself out to basically be timed anyways so why not have it be timed in the first place.

It's possible this is something that will have to be adjusted over time based on how long people take to load and how backed up the accessible only line gets, but the major issue causing a long line would be how long on average it takes people to load. So adding more cabins and slowing the rest of the line down wouldn't really be a solution, they would probably just have less accessible cabins on the line if they find out people need more time to load.

I would think it's likely that strollers don't have to use the accessible entrance if the kid isn't in the stroller or if they can collapse it and carry it on which may be something they recommend to keep the accessible entrance line down.

 

[danlb_2000]

This isn't like a car merging onto the freeway, its like adding and removing links in a constantly moving chain that needs to remain the same length. As someone that has operated a gondola before, i don't see how that would easily be coordinated by the operators on both sides if they were launched and pulled of the line manually. And if it was.... during high peak times where someone is always waiting it would work itself out to basically be timed anyways so why not have it be timed in the first place.

It's possible this is something that will have to be adjusted over time based on how long people take to load and how backed up the accessible only line gets, but the major issue causing a long line would be how long on average it takes people to load. So adding more cabins and slowing the rest of the line down wouldn't really be a solution, they would probably just have less accessible cabins on the line if they find out people need more time to load.

I would think it's likely that strollers don't have to use the accessible entrance if the kid isn't in the stroller or if they can collapse it and carry it on which may be something they recommend to keep the accessible entrance line down.

If it was fully automated how do you handle the situation where the unloading or loading process on the outside loop takes an excessive amount of time? There would need to be a way for the CM's to know when time is almost up so they can either make sure the loading/unloading is complete, or otherwise E-stop the system so the car doesn't advance.

 

[SLUSHIE]

Some type of countdown timer possibly? Also the operators will get used to it, they will be able to tell ahead of time depending the situation if it will take more time and can act accordingly. They often wont have to stop the line (especially an e-stop) simply just slowing the line would probably more than double the amount of time they would have to load.

 

[Incomudro]

Indeed. The lines will only be inaccessible for the duration that lighting is reported within the defined area. Assuming the wind doesn’t exceed limits, the lines will be open with thunder rumbling and rain still falling.

Sounds much like the way they do things at Typhoon Lagoon.

 

[flynnibus]

I was actually thinking of taking the boat in the opposite direction (from WL to the MK). It was easier to just rope all resorts into one by using the MK as a starting point example, but okay.

besides having to walk back to the front of the resort after trying to goto the dock... the examples are all pretty much equal. The key point being is the boats are always an 'alternative' and are not usually the default or primary form of transport. So when they are not available.. people don't sweat it as much.

 

[flynnibus]

If it was fully automated how do you handle the situation where the unloading or loading process on the outside loop takes an excessive amount of time? There would need to be a way for the CM's to know when time is almost up so they can either make sure the loading/unloading is complete, or otherwise E-stop the system so the car doesn't advance.

That's simply another scenario (having unlimited time) that may or may not be part of the operational plan. If they go on a fixed insertion ratio.. as martin has now eluded to.. Then it simply means the amount of time to unload and load is longer - but still fixed. If you exceed the fixed window, you must slow or stop the full line to account for it. That is required to maintain the right cabin spacing.

This is what would happen if you run a fixed, 'full' density on the line. And simply xth cabin is a 'slow platform' cabin.

To make it more dynamic, you'd have to leave open spaces on the line all the time.. and then have the cabins rotate into those open gaps on demand. You still have the risk of backups tho depending on the rate of incoming slow loading cabins to and your time needed.

Fixed swap in/out is by far the simpliest to implement. Disney could even load those cabins with normal guests on the normal load platform as they pass by if they've been dispatched from the slow loop and no one is in them.

 

[kelknight84]

Those summer storms are fairly predictable, every afternoon for 20 minutes to 2 hours, and the lightning doesn't usually last the entire duration of the storm.
It's like the boat transportation from MK to the resorts. I've never heard anyone complain about those being unreliable due to lightning.

The MK boats have lightning protection. They only close for wind or poor visibility.

 

[Doug Means]

I wonder what the longest the ride will be between any load/unload station, if me and the wife are alone in a gondola...maybe we will have time to join the skyliner high club ; ]

 

[larryz]

I wonder what the longest the ride will be between any load/unload station, if me and the wife are alone in a gondola...maybe we will have time to join the skyliner high club ; ]

You'll have plenty of time.

 

[Doug Means]

You'll have plenty of time.

good, i dont want to have to rush it...i want to give her the best 3 minutes of her life

 

[trainplane3]

good, i dont want to have to rush it...i want to give her the best 3 minutes of her life

When you get to the turn station and slow down a bit, make sure to give the passing gondolas a wave!

 

[larryz]

good, i dont want to have to rush it...i want to give her the best 3 minutes of her life

What'll you do for the other minute and a half?

 

[Mainahman]

What'll you do for the other minute and a half?

Cuddle

 

[kateem]

I don't think you need to e-stop or slow the line down. Assuming that the situation is very rare, If the operator hasn't hit "launch" then you send the car that should be continuing on to the slow loop around on the normal loop and back to where it came from, even if it's occupied. If there was targeted audio: "We're sorry, but loading a guest at (target station) has taken a little longer than usual. Because of this, we need to send you quickly back to (origin station), where you will immediately be re-dispatched to (destination station), so please remain seated until we open the doors at (destination station) and we're sorry for the inconvenience".

It seems reasonable for a few people to occasionally take a hit so that everyone else on the line (and waiting in line at the station) isn't negatively impacted. Again, this works only if the slow line can't load in time once every couple of days or whatever. If it's more often, what's the point of a slow line?

 

[flynnibus]

I don't think you need to e-stop or slow the line down. Assuming that the situation is very rare, If the operator hasn't hit "launch" then you send the car that should be continuing on to the slow loop around on the normal loop and back to where it came from, even if it's occupied. If there was targeted audio: "We're sorry, but loading a guest at (target station) has taken a little longer than usual. Because of this, we need to send you quickly back to (origin station), where you will immediately be re-dispatched to (destination station), so please remain seated until we open the doors at (destination station) and we're sorry for the inconvenience".

It seems reasonable for a few people to occasionally take a hit so that everyone else on the line (and waiting in line at the station) isn't negatively impacted. Again, this works only if the slow line can't load in time once every couple of days or whatever. If it's more often, what's the point of a slow line?

Zero chance of that happening... They aren't going to send people out on a full loop again instead of just giving someone the extra 30-60seconds needed.

 

[Nubs70]

I don't think you need to e-stop or slow the line down. Assuming that the situation is very rare, If the operator hasn't hit "launch" then you send the car that should be continuing on to the slow loop around on the normal loop and back to where it came from, even if it's occupied. If there was targeted audio: "We're sorry, but loading a guest at (target station) has taken a little longer than usual. Because of this, we need to send you quickly back to (origin station), where you will immediately be re-dispatched to (destination station), so please remain seated until we open the doors at (destination station) and we're sorry for the inconvenience".

It seems reasonable for a few people to occasionally take a hit so that everyone else on the line (and waiting in line at the station) isn't negatively impacted. Again, this works only if the slow line can't load in time once every couple of days or whatever. If it's more often, what's the point of a slow line?

If you are talking "riding the bullwheel", that is a big no no.

 

[danlb_2000]

Zero chance of that happening... They aren't going to send people out on a full loop again instead of just giving someone the extra 30-60seconds needed.

Also, it doesn't appear that the DHS station has the mechanism to close and re-open the doors as the car goes around the bull wheel so it would probably be dangerous to have people stay in the car.

 

[Nubs70]

S

Also, it doesn't appear that the DHS station has the mechanism to close and re-open the doors as the car goes around the bull wheel so it would probably be dangerous to have people stay in the car.

Seems having additional load of bodies traveling around bullwheel would introduce additional non linear force vectors on the latch mechanism.

 

[danlb_2000]

Seems having additional load of bodies traveling around bullwheel would introduce additional non linear force vectors on the latch mechanism.

The cars do not touch the bullwheel.

 

[JoeCamel]

S

Seems having additional load of bodies traveling around bullwheel would introduce additional non linear force vectors on the latch mechanism.

What Danlb said, the cars disconnect from the rope as they enter the station and are propelled by drive tires through the station where they reconnect to the rope. The drive tires are computer controlled so they can position the cars for unloading and loading.