Disney Skyliner (Gondola Transportation System) Read Post 1 Now Open!

[Q-man]

3000 is Doppelmayr's stated capacity, but Lift Blog has reported that Disney is trying to get to 5000 per hour.

I was under the impression 3K was Disney's estimate of running at 85% of capacity.

Not sure why you would need 5K capacity. That would be the equivalent of a full bus leaving every 40-45 seconds.

 

[Q-man]

It will be about 4 times the current bus capacity to these resorts. Long lines are unlikely even at closing - at least not longer lines than the buses. (Been covered about 60 times in this thread.)

The gondola system can move 3 bus loads of people every 5 minutes. 4 times the capacity seems very conservative.

 

[rteetz]

I was under the impression 3K was with running at 85% of capacity.

Not sure why you would need 5K capacity. That would be the equivalent of a full bus leaving every 40-45 seconds.

Disney likely wants this to be as efficient as possible. Post fireworks at both parks could become an issue if it’s not.

576 rooms at BC + 282 DVC rooms
630 rooms at YC
378 at BWI + 532 DVC rooms
300 rooms at Riviera
2112 rooms Caribbean Beach
1984 rooms at AoA
2880 rooms at Pop

9674 rooms within the realm of the Skyliner not including people who are at DHS and Epcot during the day who park hop.

 

[umichigan10]

Disney likely wants this to be as efficient as possible. Post fireworks at both parks could become an issue if it’s not.

576 rooms at BC + 282 DVC rooms
630 rooms at YC
378 at BWI + 532 DVC rooms
300 rooms at Riviera
2112 rooms Caribbean Beach
1984 rooms at AoA
2880 rooms at Pop

9674 rooms within the realm of the Skyliner not including people who are at DHS and Epcot during the day who park hop.

I’m curious as to why you added boardwalk and Y+B to the equation since they won’t have stations

 

[unbanshee]

I’m curious as to why you added boardwalk and Y+B to the equation since they won’t have stations

They'll use International Gateway

 

[DBDiz]

Essentially, as Epcot area resorts with access to the IG and the accompanying station, they are potential riders for transport to DHS, or dining at Riviera or CBR. It may not be the sole means of transport to these areas, but they certainly must be factored into a total calculation of ridership.

 

[rteetz]

I’m curious as to why you added boardwalk and Y+B to the equation since they won’t have stations

They have international gateway. If I was staying at BC I certainly would use it rather than walking or taking the boat.

 

[dina444444]

I’m curious as to why you added boardwalk and Y+B to the equation since they won’t have stations

If I were staying at Y+B and didn’t want to walk to whole way or wait for the boat when leaving DHS I would likely take the skyliner to IG. Same for the boardwalk.

 

[umichigan10]

They have international gateway. If I was staying at BC I certainly would use it rather than walking or taking the boat.

If I were staying at Y+B and didn’t want to walk to whole way or wait for the boat when leaving DHS I would likely take the skyliner to IG. Same for the boardwalk.

Oh I gotcha. I was thinking an end of the night scenario, not midday park hopping. I’d definitely park hop with that

 

[Q-man]

If I were staying at Y+B and didn’t want to walk to whole way or wait for the boat when leaving DHS I would likely take the skyliner to IG. Same for the boardwalk.

You'd have to take it to the hotel switching station and then catch the other line back to IG. You may also have to go thru security again at the switching station if the IG station is in within the secured area.

 

[joelkfla]

Obviously. hence the load and unload rail.
So I should change "the loaded cars can continue on" to "the cars not loading or unloading" which will be quite a few...but I did specify the one rail will be for "loading and unloading"

There is really no other way to do it-- If there is not a second rail in each direction the lines would all but stop every time someone loads and unloads. Maybe the system will be timed that every fifth (or whatever frequency needed) car travels through the load/unload spur via a simple switch and one from that spur takes it's place in line. Once loaded you would just have to wait your turn for pickup. there could be 4 cars in the L/U spur at any one time....

Or there could be "riviera only" cars that have a different configuration on the attachment point that always sends it to the L/U spur. These cars would have some kind of identifier and only be loaded at the parks for Riviera destination... via a separate line.....

The cables keep running at speed. Cabins entering the station switch off from the cable to a track, and are propelled and decelerated by the tires you see in the close-ups of the DHS station. As the cabins decelerate, the spacing between them naturally shrinks, until they're virtually adjacent. The cabins do not stop (normally), they move thru the load area at crawl speed with constant spacing being maintained. At the end of the load area, the cabins are accelerated back to cable speed and the spacing increases to the on-cable space.

So loading and unloading does not cause the system to slow down, unless a rider has a problem boarding in the time the cabin passes thru the load area and the operator has to manually slow or stop it. Which is why many of us are thinking that the unprecedented 2nd turnaround at the terminal stations is to allow cabins to be stopped offline for extended loading time. But they would only be needed for the few cabins to accommodate wheelchairs or other slow loaders.

So Disney & Doppelmayr may be planning some similar arrangement at Riviera, but it would only be for slow loaders, not for everyone getting on or off there.

 

[joelkfla]

While changing the spacing of the cabins on the line changes the capacity, you must also consider the weight capacity. You might be able to space them closer, but might not be able to get away with the weight. Unsure how having the system on largely level ground affects things. In general with ski area lifts, they tend only load passengers one direction.
Long story short this application has a few minor differences that could affect capacity compared to traditional ski area install.
While you could have 2 separate haul ropes leaving the Riviera Turn/load station, it would appear seamless to a guest and seem like one line. Not certain they'll do that, but it is certainly possible. If they did that it would allow to operate as separate lines if needed for some reason, which is a redundancy I could see Disney welcoming.

Yes, if the frequency of cabins leaving the stations is increased, you might have to also increase the speed of the rope to prevent cabins being too close together and exceeding the weight capacity.

I think it's extremely likely that the cabins will switch ropes at Riviera, just because it's a turn station, and that's how turns are usually handled on bi-directional detachable lifts (according to the Gondola Project blog).

ETA: But to operate BW-Riv & Riv-CBR independently, they would also need to install turnaround tracks and switches on both ends.

 

[dina444444]

Yes, if the frequency of cabins leaving the stations is increased, you might have to also increase the speed of the rope to prevent cabins being too close together and exceeding the weight capacity.

I think it's extremely likely that the cabins will switch ropes at Riviera, just because it's a turn station, and that's how turns are usually handled on bi-directional detachable lifts (according to the Gondola Project blog).

I believe on the CBR to IG route it will detach and switch ropes at both Riviera and the boardwalk turn.

 

[joelkfla]

I believe on the CBR to IG route it will detach and switch ropes at both Riviera and the boardwalk turn.

Yes, which also means there would need to be drive motors and backup generators at one of those 2 to power the BW-Riviera cable.

 

[rteetz]

You'd have to take it to the hotel switching station and then catch the other line back to IG. You may also have to go thru security again at the switching station if the IG station is in within the secured area.

Still should be quicker than the boat.

 

[Ed597]

Disney Skyliner Transportation System

The new gondola based transportation system will transport guests between Epcot, Disney Riviera Resort, Caribbean Beach, Art of Animation, Pop Century, and Hollywood Studios. The gondolas will hold around 8-10 people and is expected to have room for ECVs and strollers.

Each gondola will be themed to Disney characters as evidenced by the concept art below. Each Skyliner station will be themed to its environment as well.

It is expected that bus transportation to the parks and resorts involved in this new transportation system will decrease or go away altogether. Here are some expected capacity numbers.

• 3 busloads = roughly 180 people
• The Gondola system will take that in about 5 minutes
• A full bus is about 60-70 people
• Capacity is rumored to be roughly 4000-5000 people per hour each way
• That's the equivalent of 40 buses worth to Epcot each hour, and 40 buses worth to DHS

http://www.wdwmagic.com/transportat...gondola-system-about-to-become-a-reality-.htm

Edited to add permit photos and more. Thanks to @DanBoris and others on WDWMagic

Skyliner map

View attachment 220395

Permit images

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Area where work will take place at Caribbean Beach.

View attachment 220397


Orlando Sentinel Info from April 18, 2017
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/trav...gondolas-cable-cars-plans-20170418-story.html

Update: Disney annoucnement
https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/b...sport-guests-around-walt-disney-world-resort/

Gondola concept art

View attachment 287621

View attachment 287622

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View attachment 253369

Update: The first gondola "tower" has been topped off.

PHOTOS: First Disney Skyliner Support Beam Topped Off With Cable Mount

PHOTOS: Disney Skyliner Bullwheel Arrives at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

PHOTOS: Disney Skyliner Station Erected at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Am I the only one who thinks a gandola isn’t a good idea ? Are they going to run during a storm ? I think they should of extended the monorail from Epcot to Animal Kingdom Park and they could of put a short run to Hollywood Studios if they thought there was going to be more traffic to Hollywood. Getting rid of busses isn’t a good idea. The bus drivers have a vast knowledge of the parks ! When I was there the resort would tell me where something was at, I would get there on a bus and then find out that’s NOT where I need to be. The bus driver got on the radio and a van took us to the Real location. Happened more than once ! This was of course before I downloaded the Disney app. Why do you think they didn’t extend the monorail?

 

[dina444444]

Am I the only one who thinks a gandola isn’t a good idea ? Are they going to run during a storm ? I think they should of extended the monorail from Epcot to Animal Kingdom Park and they could of put a short run to Hollywood Studios if they thought there was going to be more traffic to Hollywood. Getting rid of busses isn’t a good idea. The bus drivers have a vast knowledge of the parks ! When I was there the resort would tell me where something was at, I would get there on a bus and then find out that’s NOT where I need to be. The bus driver got on the radio and a van took us to the Real location. Happened more than once ! This was of course before I downloaded the Disney app. Why do you think they didn’t extend the monorail?

Because it's been quoted that it costs about $1M for each segment of rail on the monorail. The gondolas should be able to run in weather that the monorail can't since gondolas do run in not so great weather at ski resorts.

 

[The Pho]

Am I the only one who thinks a gandola isn’t a good idea ? Are they going to run during a storm ? I think they should of extended the monorail from Epcot to Animal Kingdom Park and they could of put a short run to Hollywood Studios if they thought there was going to be more traffic to Hollywood. Getting rid of busses isn’t a good idea. The bus drivers have a vast knowledge of the parks ! When I was there the resort would tell me where something was at, I would get there on a bus and then find out that’s NOT where I need to be. The bus driver got on the radio and a van took us to the Real location. Happened more than once ! This was of course before I downloaded the Disney app. Why do you think they didn’t extend the monorail?

Extending the monorail would be a significant expense and gondolas are cheap and move more people. Gondolas can also run in fairly extreme weather. And there will be gondola cast members to help people find where they are going.

 

[RRB]

Extending the monorail would be a significant expense and gondolas are cheap and move more people. Gondolas can also run in fairly extreme weather. And there will be gondola cast members to help people find where they are going.

The gondola system is definitely less costs than the monorail but it won't move more people. The monorail system moves almost 7,000 per hour.

Has anyone estimated the time it will take to get from the IG to DHS including changing lines?

 

[danikoski]

The gondola system is definitely less costs than the monorail but it won't move more people. The monorail system moves almost 7,000 per hour.

Has anyone estimated the time it will take to get from the IG to DHS including changing lines?

The monorail system only moves that many when it's working appropriately, which currently, isn't always a regular occurrence.

The time estimate I've seen is 15 minutes or so. It is anticipated to be faster than the boats.