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

[cmwade77]

So I should prolly start to accept it won’t be open beginning of June?

Yeah, it is highly doubtful at this point.

 

[NotUrsula]

Wow. That thing was 350 feet high (enough to clear the shipping channel), with a VERY steep ascent. I’ve ridden Fury 325 roller coaster at Carowinds (which is cleverly 325 feet high), but I don’t think I would ride that gondola. That is pretty scary.

I was a local at the time, and that thing was a menace. For whatever weather reason, it turns out that wind churns pretty hard over NOLA at that height, and they bucked like mad, even fully loaded. For this reason, it also went much more slowly than it was supposed to. (Probably had something to do with the frequent need to clean the cars after riders got sick because they were stifling hot, too.)

As for why it wasn't a success as a commuter route, the main reasons were heat & money. The Algiers ferry was and is free, while there was a charge to ride the uncomfortably-hot gondolas.

 

[Dr.Mickey]

I was a local at the time, and that thing was a menace. For whatever weather reason, it turns out that wind churns pretty hard over NOLA at that height, and they bucked like mad, even fully loaded. For this reason, it also went much more slowly than it was supposed to. (Probably had something to do with the frequent need to clean the cars after riders got sick because they were stifling hot, too.)

As for why it wasn't a success as a commuter route, the main reasons were heat & money. The Algiers ferry was and is free, while there was a charge to ride the uncomfortably-hot gondolas.

Very cool. I lived in New Orleans in the late 70s (K5-2nd grade, so I have fuzzy memories of it). I never saw the gondolas since it was the 80s, but I do know it is a looooooong stretch across the Mississippi around there. That had to be a serious sag between those towers.

 

[Dr.Mickey]

I’ve been thinking about this required change of gondola for those traveling through CBR and all of the consternation. I haven’t seen this comparison yet (at least in the last 30 or so pages of the topic): I think this transfer will be MUCH easier and quicker than the monorail transfer for Contemporary and GF heading to Epcot. In fact, our love of Epcot is the number one reason we avoid those two resorts. It is a slow slog to or from Epcot, especially in the evenings around dinner time...board at the resort, possibly make a couple of slow stops before TTC (it takes a long time to load a 300 seat vehicle), head down the long ramp at TTC and back up to wait for the Epcot line, and then back down the ramp at Epcot. And people pay through the nose for the privilege of being on the monorail line. I think this will be much, much easier. And even if there’s a wait at peak time, it will still be better than the monorail transfer. What do you guys think?

 

[Ensusieasm]

So I should prolly start to accept it won’t be open beginning of June?

Probably not.

 

[Spartan86]

And even if there’s a wait at peak time, it will still be better than the monorail transfer. What do you guys think?

I’ll put my cash, and maybe even odds , on that premise.

 

[gap2368]

As each day passes, reality hits that my secret dream that the Skyliner might be open for our late April trip fades ever faster away.

Next dream....September trip. For sure they should be open by then!! (I hope! )

I hope for April too but I can not see it happing here to August September opening

 

[Wood Nymph]

We were in Steamboat Springs last week and rode their gondolas. Those gondolas look very similar to the new Disney gondolas. It was really interesting to see how the gondolas loaded and unloaded. The gondolas would speed up as they approached the loading area then slow down to load. If you didn’t make it on one gondola then you just waited for the next one. Those gondolas held six people comfortably and eight in a crunch. They had benches to sit on. Once a gondola was loaded it would speed up as it left the loading area until it caught up with the group.

Will this be the way the Disney gondolas will work?

 

[DanBoris]

We were in Steamboat Springs last week and rode their gondolas. Those gondolas look very similar to the new Disney gondolas. It was really interesting to see how the gondolas loaded and unloaded. The gondolas would speed up as they approached the loading area then slow down to load. If you didn’t make it on one gondola then you just waited for the next one. Those gondolas held six people comfortably and eight in a crunch. They had benches to sit on. Once a gondola was loaded it would speed up as it left the loading area until it caught up with the group.

With this be the way the Disney gondolas will work?

Yes, exactly how this system will work. Disney is using 10 person gondolas, although they won't necessarily be filled to capacity all the time.

 

[joelkfla]

We were in Steamboat Springs last week and rode their gondolas. Those gondolas look very similar to the new Disney gondolas. It was really interesting to see how the gondolas loaded and unloaded. The gondolas would speed up as they approached the loading area then slow down to load. If you didn’t make it on one gondola then you just waited for the next one. Those gondolas held six people comfortably and eight in a crunch. They had benches to sit on. Once a gondola was loaded it would speed up as it left the loading area until it caught up with the group.

With this be the way the Disney gondolas will work?

Yes, but at most stations, Disney has added a second track where some of the gondolas can stop for wheelchair loading. During testing, 11% of the cabins have been stopping on the secondary track, while the rest unload and load as you described.

 

[Calee]

Man, I'm bummed. I just switched from POR to CBR for early August because I for some reason thought this would be open. My mistake, I'm just disappointed!

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Man, I'm bummed. I just switched from POR to CBR for early August because I for some reason thought this would be open. My mistake, I'm just disappointed!

Nothing official but I think there is a good chance it is open by then ... definitely think it will be open before Galaxy’s Edge opens

 

[iujen94]

Most likely but we don't know for sure.

I know you don’t know for sure, @rteetz , but if you were a betting man, would you bet the Skyliner would or would not be open by July 15? Obviously I won’t hold you to your answer!

 

[rteetz]

I know you don’t know for sure, @rteetz , but if you were a betting man, would you bet the Skyliner would or would not be open by July 15? Obviously I won’t hold you to your answer!

Maybe is the best I can say.

 

[peteykirch]

Maybe it's the pessimist in me, but I can't see these cabs being filled to more than 50% occupancy the bulk of the time.

Especially when you factor in ECV's and Strollers. Unless it's a decent sized group of people traveling together, I can't see a lot of people wanting to be stuffed in those gondolas with a bunch of random people.

 

[Farro]

Maybe it's the pessimist in me, but I can't see these cabs being filled to more than 50% occupancy the bulk of the time.

Especially when you factor in ECV's and Strollers. Unless it's a decent sized group of people traveling together, I can't see a lot of people wanting to be stuffed in those gondolas with a bunch of random people.

If that's true, that would be ridiculous.

Hasn't anyone ever taken a bus with people? If I waited to get on the CTA when I wouldn't be squished, cheek to cheek , with strangers, I'd never go anywhere.

 

[peteykirch]

If that's true, that would be ridiculous.

Hasn't anyone ever taken a bus with people? If I waited to get on the CTA when I wouldn't be squished, cheek to cheek , with strangers, I'd never go anywhere.

What you describe is different. When people are shelling out hundreds if not thousands of dollars for a vacation, they don't want to be packed like sardines in a box suspended 50 feet in a air.

 

[Farro]

What you describe is different. When people are shelling out hundreds if not thousands of dollars for a vacation, they don't want to be packed like sardines in a box suspended 50 feet in a air.

It's not different. It's a mode of transportation. It's the same as a monorail or an elevator. If people don't like it, then take an Uber.

If it's empty and you want to ride in your own gondola, fine.

During a time with crowds/lines - that would be absolutely childish, ridiculous and a waste of space/time and everything else if people weren't filling up the gondolas because they don't want to ride with strangers. I hope the CMs don't allow it.

 

[joelkfla]

Maybe it's the pessimist in me, but I can't see these cabs being filled to more than 50% occupancy the bulk of the time.

Especially when you factor in ECV's and Strollers. Unless it's a decent sized group of people traveling together, I can't see a lot of people wanting to be stuffed in those gondolas with a bunch of random people.

It will probably be well below 50% the bulk of the time, because that's all the Guests that will be there to carry.

The only times the full capacity of the system will be needed will be at park closing and an hour or 2 in the morning. 2 parties of 4 will fit easily with each party having their own seat. Even a party of 4 with a party of 2 will be 60% of the nominal capacity of 10, or 75% of what will likely be the practical capacity of 8. Groups larger than 4 will probably get their own cabin, unless there's a single waiting who Disney can squeeze in. Remember that the cabins won't necessarily be filled sequentially; there will be 2 or 3 cabins available for loading at a time.

A lot of couples or small families enjoy meeting other Guests when visiting WDW. Not all, but a fair percentage.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

What you describe is different. When people are shelling out hundreds if not thousands of dollars for a vacation, they don't want to be packed like sardines in a box suspended 50 feet in a air.

I don’t think they will pack people in there like sardines, but if you are a group of two, when crowded they will make other people ride with you - but maybe only 6-8 people, not the main 10 they hold