I have ridden a similar and much shorter gondola at the Texas State Fair. The cars look the same, with no AC. Texas in October can still be very hot. The cars are well ventilated due to the breeze above tree top, but are still hot. With the heat, and no openness to the carriage, I felt claustrophobic. Rode it with mild temperatures, not claustrophobic. Don’t no why this was, just saying this was my experience. I believe a hot day may adversely alter the experience.
Most the time this State Fair gondola has no wait. Most likely due to a $5 per person ride one way. However, during Texas/OU weekend, the line is long, and moves slowly. Seems inefficient, but I must remember that the ride operators are disinterested fair workers. Disney will streamline this process to make it as efficient as possible.
I love that this is coming to WDW, just hope this has been thought through. Despite what some say, this is more than transportation. Descending over the Ratatouille attraction in the France pavilion is going to be way cool. Experiencing the gondola with my family and friends in our private pod is so much more than standing on a crowded bus. Coming into Hollywood Studios over the parking lot, not so much. But the lagoon landing at POP/AoA would entice me to take a ride, especially if the parks get crowded and I wish to take a side trip away from my favorite Wilderness Lodge. I would never take a bus to dine at the reinvented Caribbean Beach. A gondola ride there, heck yeah. This skyway is going to be ridiculously popular. I’ve read the capacity estimates; no one knows the wait time estimates. I’m betting like everything else at Disney, this will be VERY crowded.
