News New Gondola Transportation - Disney Skyliner -

[flynnibus]

More likely its the same 'spread the cost' strategy that they employ on every other project. Have they ever come in more than a small amount ahead of schedule on any project at WDW?

Or...
Don't want to operate before the hotels are ready...
or... don't want to operate until the new FY...
or... maybe the lines are ready 'soon', but other supporting elements or pieces won't be ready till later.

We all see the haul rope and think 'its just about done!' - but there is still alot of other integrated pieces that are part of these projects. Like the DHS re-org.. CBR and Riveria changes/additions.. possible security re-alignments...

I expect the timelines we hear have alot to do with projects that are not just the gondola construction itself.

 

[MisterPenguin]

It really doesn't even make sense to begin operation unless Epcot IG, CBR, and DHS stations and lines are fully functional, and Riviera station is sufficiently complete to allow passthrough traffic. A soft launch without the CBR-Pop/Art line would be possible, but I'd think everything else has to be fully tested and operational before they can carry real passengers.

I would think that there are enough CBR rooms apart from Riviera that are near enough to make Riviera a functioning station even if the tower isn't complete.

 

[joelkfla]

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.

There was already an internal shuttle to get Guests from Customs House to their rooms. I don't know whether it's still running, now that Customs House has been demolished.

That route had one bus running about every 15-20 minutes. They would probably want at least 2 buses on route to get Guests to and from the Skyliner station.

Or they could have park buses come in the new entrance, and stop at the station both on the way in and on the way out to service Guests both arriving & departing via Skyliner. But there will only be 2 parks sending buses, so it could be 20 minutes between arrivals, and buses coming in will be full around park closings.

 

[Kamikaze]

July, Aug, Sept is all in one quarter and the end of the fiscal year, so, I don't think spreading costs come into play.

Yes, but those are summer. (Mostly). If they wait til Oct to open it, they can spread the cost to that quarter as well. Thats how it works.

 

[Kamikaze]

Or...
Don't want to operate before the hotels are ready...
or... don't want to operate until the new FY...
or... maybe the lines are ready 'soon', but other supporting elements or pieces won't be ready till later.

We all see the haul rope and think 'its just about done!' - but there is still alot of other integrated pieces that are part of these projects. Like the DHS re-org.. CBR and Riveria changes/additions.. possible security re-alignments...

I expect the timelines we hear have alot to do with projects that are not just the gondola construction itself.

Right, exactly, because that allows them to spread the cost over more time.

 

[flynnibus]

Right, exactly, because that allows them to spread the cost over more time.

No - that's a different theory in managing finances.

This is about when you add new OpEx... The operating budget for the new facility. You try to not start spending that money until your fiscal plan expects to. If you didn't budget to run operationally in FY2019... so avoid spending that money to do so until your plan accounts for it. AKA don't start spending that money until FY2020.

Things like labor, lifecycles, contracts, etc are all planned ongoing expenses that follow schedules. My point wasn't about 'diffusing money spent' (which is the mindset you highlight) but rather about planning when expenses START and your budgeting for those.

Different topics. Completely separate from the idea about diffusing capital expense to build stuff.

 

[LuvtheGoof]

The announcement of the Skyliner being transporting guests "starting fall of 2019" smells like a classic under-promise-over-deliver strategy. Gives them wiggle room to meet the stated opening if the cabins aren't ready on time, but if they are, they get to crow about it being ready early. Not necessarily faulting them for doing this, but the amount of time they are giving themselves for said "wiggle room" is a bit ludicrous.

Looks like a typical Scotty answer.

 

[mmascari]

I expect the timelines we hear have alot to do with projects that are not just the gondola construction itself.

I would think that there are enough CBR rooms apart from Riviera that are near enough to make Riviera a functioning station even if the tower isn't complete.

Something to remember is that one reason everything takes so long is because the construction areas are surrounded by public areas. Managing that separation and the restrictions it imposes, along with the extra work it creates is part of the time and cost of projects.

Opening the gondola before Riviera is complete requires changing the construction boundaries. The Riviera station would change from construction zone to guest area. The path of the haul line becomes guest area. Construction impacts and restrictions all change.

So, the comparison is the advantage of opening the gondola before the Riviera is complete vs the additional cost and impact to construction on the Riviera because of the change to construction site boundaries and closer guest access.

No idea the exact math, but I'm sure it's not a trivial comparison. That alone would make me think they'll wait until Riviera isn't a full construction site before opening the gondola. Probably still before the hotel opens, but not until after it's no longer an active construction site.

 

[MisterPenguin]

Something to remember is that one reason everything takes so long is because the construction areas are surrounded by public areas. Managing that separation and the restrictions it imposes, along with the extra work it creates is part of the time and cost of projects.

Opening the gondola before Riviera is complete requires changing the construction boundaries. The Riviera station would change from construction zone to guest area. The path of the haul line becomes guest area. Construction impacts and restrictions all change.

So, the comparison is the advantage of opening the gondola before the Riviera is complete vs the additional cost and impact to construction on the Riviera because of the change to construction site boundaries and closer guest access.

No idea the exact math, but I'm sure it's not a trivial comparison. That alone would make me think they'll wait until Riviera isn't a full construction site before opening the gondola. Probably still before the hotel opens, but not until after it's no longer an active construction site.

While what you say is true, right now, you can get as close to the Riviera construction than the Riviera station currently is now from the tower. Thus, they could complete the station and the walk way up to the tower and then gate the tower away.

Besides, by the time May comes around, any more Riviera construction will all be internal, I suppose.

 

[Andrew C]

lets hope the cm training doesnt resemble something like this..

haha. I posted this same video today in another thread. Terrifying.

 

[Dunston]

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

 

[Driver]

Do you know if they will be hiring new cm's specifically for the gondolas or if these will be shifting from other areas? Okay if you can't say.

Do you know if they will be hiring new cm's specifically for the gondolas or if these will be shifting from other areas? Okay if you can't say.

Actually both, they are putting the start up team together now. They will have the option to stay or go back to their existing jobs. After that there will be a casting call for more CM's in house. And then they will put it out to the public.

 

[truecoat]

Something to remember is that one reason everything takes so long is because the construction areas are surrounded by public areas. Managing that separation and the restrictions it imposes, along with the extra work it creates is part of the time and cost of projects.

Opening the gondola before Riviera is complete requires changing the construction boundaries. The Riviera station would change from construction zone to guest area. The path of the haul line becomes guest area. Construction impacts and restrictions all change.

So, the comparison is the advantage of opening the gondola before the Riviera is complete vs the additional cost and impact to construction on the Riviera because of the change to construction site boundaries and closer guest access.

No idea the exact math, but I'm sure it's not a trivial comparison. That alone would make me think they'll wait until Riviera isn't a full construction site before opening the gondola. Probably still before the hotel opens, but not until after it's no longer an active construction site.

I would assume the doors will open on the gondolas as they travels through the Riviera station. If so, you'd need CM's to staff this location all day. It seems opening Fall 2019 makes sense as they will wait until Riviera is open.

 

[monothingie]

Looks like a typical Scotty answer.

 

[Flalex72]

I would assume the doors will open on the gondolas as they travels through the Riviera station. If so, you'd need CM's to staff this location all day. It seems opening Fall 2019 makes sense as they will wait until Riviera is open.

They could easily disable the door opening at Riviera until the station is ready. You would still have to staff the station, but this would be 1-2 CMs, instead of a full complement.

 

[Goofyernmost]

I would assume the doors will open on the gondolas as they travels through the Riviera station. If so, you'd need CM's to staff this location all day. It seems opening Fall 2019 makes sense as they will wait until Riviera is open.

I would think that they could just deactivate whatever mechanism that triggers the doors to open until they are ready to actually use the place. However, I don't know if that location will feed from any other resorts that might be using that one as well. I'm sure someone does know, just not myself.

 

[Thebolt]

The Riviera work only affects the Epcot line.
Surely they will still have an option to open the DHS route in isolation. The majority of the CBR to DHS studios traffic would be there, Echo lake would only have 50% of the traffic without Epcot... but that is still a decent amount of traffic with likely only 50% of the gondola vehicles needing to be ready.

Doubtless common sense won"t be the driving factor around opening schedules though :-(

 

[danlb_2000]

The Riviera work only affects the Epcot line.
Surely they will still have an option to open the DHS route in isolation. The majority of the CBR to DHS studios traffic would be there, Echo lake would only have 50% of the traffic without Epcot... but that is still a decent amount of traffic with likely only 50% of the gondola vehicles needing to be ready.

Doubtless common sense won"t be the driving factor around opening schedules though :-(

Insiders have already said that all three lines will open at the same time.

 

[JoeCamel]

Looks like a typical Scotty answer.

Wrong space fantasy......

 

[Lift Blog]

I would assume the doors will open on the gondolas as they travels through the Riviera station. If so, you'd need CM's to staff this location all day. It seems opening Fall 2019 makes sense as they will wait until Riviera is open.

As easy as this to disable door opening...