Skyliner - Technical Questions

Nautilus

Nautilus

Member
Original Poster
Not sure of the right place to ask this. I have some questions about the Skyliner and the way the gondolas are set on the cables. We were there a few weeks ago and while having been on the Skyliner in the past, some unsettling things stood out to me this go round.

The day we rode, it was very windy. The gondola was swaying, as expected to an extent, but it would also make these hopping motions when the wind would push under it. Think of the Tigger portion of the Winnie the Pooh ride, where he says, "Come bounce with me!" and the honey pot vehicle makes the bouncing motion on the track. That's what it felt like. Obviously, the wind/air currents can push the gondolas, but given the way it is on the cable, should the rider really be able to feel an upward bounce that seems separate from the cable it is attached to?

During the same ride, I'm noticing that some other gondolas are hanging at a tilt. They aren't really swaying any more or less than we are, but they are tilted, as if loaded up with heavy furniture on one side (that's the best visual I've got). Now, the Skyliner isn't my favorite form of transportation because of the height, but I wasn't looking for there to be issues.
This same line (Epcot) had been down on a previous day when the other line was still running.

Give me all the technical details and reassurances (or not) that you have. This isn't a system I know a lot about, but am guessing there are a least a few folks on here that do.

Thanks!
 
wdwmagic

wdwmagic

Administrator
Moderator
Premium Member
The original thread has a LOT of technical info and discussion about various concerns and issues.

News - New Gondola Transportation - Disney Skyliner -

What we know, based on inform from @MisterPenguin This is verified by around 5 insiders, permits, the beginning of construction, and documents obtained by the Orlando Sentinel. [confirmed at D23 2017] It will connect POP/AoA and Caribbean with DHS/Epcot. And likely raise the prices there...
forums.wdwmagic.com forums.wdwmagic.com
 
OG Runner

OG Runner

Well-Known Member
A few things I have found from riding the Skyliner. (I have stayed at CBR my last few trips.)
They do stop operations if the wind is above a certain level. Rarely is the trip from CBR to
EPCOT a non-stop affair. You will usually have stop, even if for a brief period, where swinging
in the wind is more noticeable. Overall it is a smooth ride, but it can still be a bit nerve wracking
for someone like me, as I really hate heights.
 
Nautilus

Nautilus

Member
Original Poster
Hey OG Runner, I appreciate your reply! I have been stopped on the Skyliner a few times prior to the instance I mentioned, but this particular time the swaying, hopping, etc. was all happening while we were still moving along. Though, yes, it was happening equally when we stopped. It was enough that I was surprised it was still running.
 
OG Runner

OG Runner

Well-Known Member
Nautilus said:
Hey OG Runner, I appreciate your reply! I have been stopped on the Skyliner a few times prior to the instance I mentioned, but this particular time the swaying, hopping, etc. was all happening while we were still moving along. Though, yes, it was happening equally when we stopped. It was enough that I was surprised it was still running.
Click to expand...

Yeah, not enjoyable at times. We stopped over the highway, at night, heading into the Riviera, while it was raining and windy.
Luckily it has never gotten worse than that.
 
Goofyernmost

Goofyernmost

Well-Known Member
Nautilus said:
Not sure of the right place to ask this. I have some questions about the Skyliner and the way the gondolas are set on the cables. We were there a few weeks ago and while having been on the Skyliner in the past, some unsettling things stood out to me this go round.

The day we rode, it was very windy. The gondola was swaying, as expected to an extent, but it would also make these hopping motions when the wind would push under it. Think of the Tigger portion of the Winnie the Pooh ride, where he says, "Come bounce with me!" and the honey pot vehicle makes the bouncing motion on the track. That's what it felt like. Obviously, the wind/air currents can push the gondolas, but given the way it is on the cable, should the rider really be able to feel an upward bounce that seems separate from the cable it is attached to?

During the same ride, I'm noticing that some other gondolas are hanging at a tilt. They aren't really swaying any more or less than we are, but they are tilted, as if loaded up with heavy furniture on one side (that's the best visual I've got). Now, the Skyliner isn't my favorite form of transportation because of the height, but I wasn't looking for there to be issues.
This same line (Epcot) had been down on a previous day when the other line was still running.

Give me all the technical details and reassurances (or not) that you have. This isn't a system I know a lot about, but am guessing there are a least a few folks on here that do.

Thanks!
Click to expand...
The only thing I can think of is when the car rides over the track on top of each supporting pillar. That makes a slight vibrating sound and bumping. Other then that I don't have a clue. If it is a severe upward bumping I still don't think it is anything to worry about. They are clamped pretty tight, it's not just draped over the cable!
 
Nautilus

Nautilus

Member
Original Poster
Goofyernmost said:
The only thing I can think of is when the car rides over the track on top of each supporting pillar. That makes a slight vibrating sound and bumping. Other then that I don't have a clue. If it is a severe upward bumping I still don't think it is anything to worry about. They are clamped pretty tight, it's not just draped over the cable!
Click to expand...
It wasn't on the supporting pillar. I was used to that happening, this was just out on the open part of the line. It was weird.
 
Goofyernmost

Goofyernmost

Well-Known Member
Nautilus said:
It wasn't on the supporting pillar. I was used to that happening, this was just out on the open part of the line. It was weird.
Click to expand...
A weight change on any unit, such as jumping up and down will also project through the cable. It isn't solid but it is designed to be affected minimally although even the wind could cause it if it moves another vehicle anywhere on your section of cable. It will cause the cable to move up and down as well and since you are attached to the cable you will feel it too.
 
danlb_2000

danlb_2000

Premium Member
OG Runner said:
A few things I have found from riding the Skyliner. (I have stayed at CBR my last few trips.)
They do stop operations if the wind is above a certain level. Rarely is the trip from CBR to
EPCOT a non-stop affair. You will usually have stop, even if for a brief period, where swinging
in the wind is more noticeable. Overall it is a smooth ride, but it can still be a bit nerve wracking
for someone like me, as I really hate heights.
Click to expand...

This is the problem I had with it. I don't like heights and we stopped at the highest point over CBR. The swaying on the cable gave me an anxiety attack. Probably will never ride it again.
 
OG Runner

OG Runner

Well-Known Member
danlb_2000 said:
This is the problem I had with it. I don't like heights and we stopped at the highest point over CBR. The swaying on the cable gave me an anxiety attack. Probably will never ride it again.
Click to expand...

The only problem is, (when I was there in January), there was no other way to get to Disney Studios or EPCOT unless
you go by Uber or Lyft.
 
Ayla

Ayla

Well-Known Member
The Skyliner "bounces" in one spot, on the Epcot line near Boardwalk, between support pillars. Why, I don't know. It can lean to one side if weight is unevenly distributed or people are jumping around inside.
 
S

Spideyfreak110

Member
First, check out this channel:


As far as attaching to the cables: There's a lot of things going on in the station to make sure the gondolas' grips are attached and detached correctly. The spring force of the grip is incredible.

The bouncing up and down is caused by several things: Speed changes, weight changes, wind, and tension on the rope. There's also a lot going on at each tower to ensure the rope doesn't slip off, and the system can detect if the rope is starting to track off it's normal path at each sheave (pulley).
 
Nautilus

Nautilus

Member
Original Poster
Spideyfreak110 said:
First, check out this channel:


As far as attaching to the cables: There's a lot of things going on in the station to make sure the gondolas' grips are attached and detached correctly. The spring force of the grip is incredible.

The bouncing up and down is caused by several things: Speed changes, weight changes, wind, and tension on the rope. There's also a lot going on at each tower to ensure the rope doesn't slip off, and the system can detect if the rope is starting to track off it's normal path at each sheave (pulley).
Click to expand...
Thanks! I was looking for that kind of insight about how exactly the cars are attached to the cable. I've spent most of my life avoiding gondolas. I don't want to be afraid of it, thus I'd like to understand it.
 
G

GuyFawkes

Active Member
I have been on these things at ski resorts since the late 70's. Yes they blow around and bounce. Is that a problem? No. Can that freak some people out? Yes.

All I know is, I have used every ski resort mode of transportation. The Gondola is the top of the line. I have no problem getting on a chair lift that I can actually lift the bar and jump off if I felt like it. Those bounce more then Gondolas and tend to stop more because people wipe out getting off the lift. For the non skiing crowd this all may be a shock???? I don't know but it is a very safe way to travel.
 
spock8113

spock8113

Well-Known Member
There are two types of cable systems; One where the cable is stationary and the car rolls along the main support cable and is pulled by a secondary cable. The second type is where the car is "quick-latched" over the top of the main cable and that cable is a continuous moving loop, like a fan belt. There are also two types of car-to-cable connections on this second type of continuous loop. There are fixed mounts that basically bolt the car to the cable and then there are "quick latch" set-ups that hook over the cable with a friction lock on the bottom that is continually tightened while rolling under the pressure of those drive wheels. The drive motors are mostly what are called VFD's or variable frequency motors. It's complicated electrically, but through a series of electronic and computer controls, the motors are much more efficient and are variable speed (Predecessors to electric car drive motors). Computerized interlocks and preset parameters allow the speed of the motors to adapt to crowd conditions or malfunctions. In the US we do have these cable gondola systems, however the majority of gondola systems are Europen and in the mountains. That is why a majority of cable car-gondola companies are European.
I've been on a few here in the US - Roosevelt Island in NY (King Kong), Monarch Pass-Colorado, Teton Village-Wyoming, Gatlinburg, Tenn,
Lookout Mountain-Tennesee, Cable cars of San Francisco, Cable Cars in New Orleans, Incline car at Horseshoe Curve Park-Penn, Gondolas at the Bronx Zoo, chair ride at HersheyPark and of course the Disneyland and Disneyworld cross-park gondolas.
Old time ferries were pulled across rivers using a hand or horse drawn cable system like in Jackson Hole.
Think of John Roebling, builder of the Brooklyn Bridge who basically found many uses for cables.
Not a fan heights, none the less!
 
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OG Runner

OG Runner

Well-Known Member
GuyFawkes said:
I have been on these things at ski resorts since the late 70's. Yes they blow around and bounce. Is that a problem? No. Can that freak some people out? Yes.

All I know is, I have used every ski resort mode of transportation. The Gondola is the top of the line. I have no problem getting on a chair lift that I can actually lift the bar and jump off if I felt like it. Those bounce more then Gondolas and tend to stop more because people wipe out getting off the lift. For the non skiing crowd this all may be a shock???? I don't know but it is a very safe way to travel.
Click to expand...

I have always wondered why the ski lifts have to be so high though. I have gone to a number of ski resorts in the Northeast. One one
ski lift you are already about 35 feet in the air and then you travel over a ridge heading to the top of the mountain. I know I probably exaggerate but it feels like you are about 75 to 100 feet in the air. I enjoy skiing, I do not like the chair lift.
 

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