News New Gondola Transportation - Disney Skyliner -

DisneyNeighbor

Well-Known Member
For sure. Distances would be a lot less, though that wouldn’t have solved the real issue, getting large volumes of individuals to HS, that would have needed a more extensive WEDway to do that.

Maybe we’ll see a future WEDway elsewhere?

AKL to AK perhaps?

AKL to AK needs a steam train!

Remove the one that goes to Conservation Station an use it!
 

TiggerDad

Well-Known Member
AKL to AK needs a steam train!

Remove the one that goes to Conservation Station an use it!
No, that route should have something animal-related. I'm thinking something like this:





IMG_0207.JPG
 

bcoachable

Well-Known Member
Marni- you had mentioned that there was some discussion over the akl to ak transit options, but it wasn’t bus, monorail, or gondola- so could people mover version 3 be in the cards as a potential option?
 

Lift Blog

Well-Known Member
I’m thinking Martin was factoring that in with his statement.

He has hinted the cost of the gondola is somewhere north of $200-230 million.

Pretty sure peoplemovers connecting the same resorts could have been built for that price or less.

Doppelmayr builds cable-driven automated people movers. The two station, 3.2 mile line at the Oakland Airport cost $484 million. Its capacity is less than half what the Skyliner will do.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coliseum–Oakland_International_Airport_line
 

Creathir

Premium Member
Doppelmayr builds cable-driven automated people movers. The two station, 3.2 mile line at the Oakland Airport cost $484 million. Its capacity is less than half what the Skyliner will do.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coliseum–Oakland_International_Airport_line
Interesting, had no idea a cable driven system like this was installed in the US.

The WEDWay People Mover which is in TomorrowLand at the Magic Kingdom actually has a pretty surprising thruput of around 3800 guests per hour.l, and this was based on technology from the late 1960s and features an open air design. Modern advancements could certainly safely increase the top speed above its current 6 mph, especially on straightaway sections.

It would only go up in capacity, and modern advancements such as selectable destinations could most certainly be applied, meaning to transfers or additional lines.

Not sure of why Disney did not investigate this more given it could open potential revenue streams as it would be a solid technology to showcase. I could easily see hotel/convention center combos being interested in such a technology.
 

Bender123

Well-Known Member
Interesting, had no idea a cable driven system like this was installed in the US.

The WEDWay People Mover which is in TomorrowLand at the Magic Kingdom actually has a pretty surprising thruput of around 3800 guests per hour.l, and this was based on technology from the late 1960s and features an open air design. Modern advancements could certainly safely increase the top speed above its current 6 mph, especially on straightaway sections.

It would only go up in capacity, and modern advancements such as selectable destinations could most certainly be applied, meaning to transfers or additional lines.

Not sure of why Disney did not investigate this more given it could open potential revenue streams as it would be a solid technology to showcase. I could easily see hotel/convention center combos being interested in such a technology.

They did...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subway_(George_Bush_Intercontinental_Airport)
 

mmssbrg2

Active Member
Oh most certainly there is that one, but the technology is roughly the same as what is at WDW.

Modern day electronics make a system like this much more interesting and efficient.

This basically would be a PRT system. However, most of the prototype systems of 10-15 years ago are nearly obsolete with the advent of self-driving vehicles, eliminating the need for a guideway of any kind.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personal_rapid_transit
 

DisAl

Well-Known Member
You should be able to build a similar size people mover type system for the same price or less. However, you should also be able to build the same gondola type system for less too. Disney finds ways to blow up budgets. That being said, I think a people mover would have been better received.
Gondola system - a few towers and one big drive motor and one cable to transport the gondolas.
Peoplemover system - a precisely aligned concrete support structure and track system, with a linear motor along the whole length of the system. Complex control and safety systems to control each individual ride vehicle.
I would hazard a guess that a peoplemover system would cost 10 times as much to build as a gondola system and be much more complicated to operate.
 

DisneyCane

Well-Known Member
Gondola system - a few towers and one big drive motor and one cable to transport the gondolas.
Peoplemover system - a precisely aligned concrete support structure and track system, with a linear motor along the whole length of the system. Complex control and safety systems to control each individual ride vehicle.
I would hazard a guess that a peoplemover system would cost 10 times as much to build as a gondola system and be much more complicated to operate.

Agree. I can pretty much guarantee you that if a peoplemover system would be cheaper than the gondola system that's what they would have built.

The gondola towers are more widely spaced than any elevated track system would be. If you did a peoplemover (or any transport) at grade, it would require ground prep and base construction for the entire length. A gondola just needs a footing at each tower.
 

GoofGoof

Premium Member
Gondola system - a few towers and one big drive motor and one cable to transport the gondolas.
Peoplemover system - a precisely aligned concrete support structure and track system, with a linear motor along the whole length of the system. Complex control and safety systems to control each individual ride vehicle.
I would hazard a guess that a peoplemover system would cost 10 times as much to build as a gondola system and be much more complicated to operate.
Couldn’t they just build it a ground level with elevated overpasses over roads or parking lots? That should cut the cost significantly. They had to clear land anyway for the gondolas. I would assume the support structure could be built cheaper than a monorail beam especially if the stations are ground level. Still seems more expensive than the gondola but probably not 10X

I agree it’s probably the ride system and controls that would add to costs and possibly increase cost to operate and maintain.
 

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