Speedy Disney Gondolas

[RaySharpton]

Speedy Disney Gondolas

The Disney Gondolas seem to be running at full speed for tests.

I also see that they slow down considerably inside the Gondola Station.

I use a lightweight power wheelchair weighing only 55 lbs. I wonder if anyone has seen any written information about the possibility of using gondola transportation.

Maybe a regular, manual wheelchair can be used.

When I was at WDW, I was told that I could only use a manual wheelchair to ride their raft across to the Magic Kingdom's Sawyer Island. I knew that I couldn't see much because of the stairs, wooden barrow and rope water bridge, and other narrow walkways. I used to enjoy going over to the island to relax in the shade for a drink a long time ago. I was disappointed.

I have Googled a lot and I have not found any verifying information about what would be allowed accessible wise.

Just my guess is that they might only allow one manual wheelchair and not a power device like a power wheelchair, and not a mobility scooter. That is just my opinion because I haven't read anything definitive. I did read that there might be two benches inside for guests on each side.

If I can't use the gondola, that is okay with me because Disney makes a lot of things accessible for me. I like using Disney bus and boat transportation and monorail and shows and attractions and Pop Century Resort. The Disney bus is the only transportation that uses a tiedown system for mobility devices. I also miss not sitting outside in the rear of their transportation boats from EPCOT to DHS.

I really don't care if the gondolas have air conditioning or not. I am just happy for the good things that I am allowed to experience and Walt Disney World certainly provides that more than any place that I have ever visited.

I haven't been able to verify this quote at the following link:

https://www.inquisitr.com/5171666/d...ondola-cabins-will-not-have-air-conditioning/

It was also revealed that all of the Disney Skyliner cabins will indeed be wheelchair-accessible. That is something else that had been expected, but never actually announced or confirmed by Disney.

The article doesn't say where the quote came from and I couldn't find another verification. I presume that the article is only talking about manual wheelchairs.

So what have you found out about the new Disney Gondola system?

https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/b...est-in-fall-2019-at-walt-disney-world-resort/

 

[joelkfla]

These systems are marketed as urban transit solutions that can accommodate wheelchairs and strollers. The cabins have a 35" 32.28" door opening and fold-up seats. I can't see any reason that a power chair or scooter would be a problem, as long as it can fit thru the door.

Extensive discussion of the Skyliner is here:
https://www.disboards.com/threads/d...tem-read-post-1-updated-2-8-19.3578988/unread

 

[RaySharpton]

These systems are marketed as urban transit solutions that can accommodate wheelchairs and strollers. The cabins have a 35" door opening and fold-up seats. I can't see any reason that a power chair or scooter would be a problem, as long as it can fit thru the door.

Extensive discussion of the Skyliner is here:
https://www.disboards.com/threads/d...tem-read-post-1-updated-2-8-19.3578988/unread

Hi, joelkfla. I missed that thread when I was looking. Thank you.

 

[RaySharpton]

Thanks again for the link joelkfla for the link. Thirty-five-inch wide doors are really wider than what I would have thought when just looking at the photo/video. I think that visual look of the photo of the width to the height makes the width look smaller to me. I need to measure the monorail ramp and bus ramp next time that I go to WDW to compare because they may be 30-inches wide. I think that it is plenty wide enough for wheelchairs.

 

[joelkfla]

I just found out that this is the previous model cabin, so the door opening is 32.28", not 35" as I had said earlier.

Minimum width for ADA compliance is 32".

 

[RaySharpton]

I just found out that this is the previous model cabin, so the door opening is 32.28", not 35" as I had said earlier.

Minimum width for ADA compliance is 32".

Thanks, Joelkfla. I tried to Google the info about other Disney transportation ramps, but I couldn't find any info. I think the bus and monorail and boat ramps are 32-inches wide too, but I couldn't find that information.

The white painted box at the bus stops for wheelchairs and mobility scooters to fit in are 30-inches wide by 48-inches long measured from the outside part of the white lined box.

32.28-inches is better than 30-inches.

 

[NotUrsula]

According to the Doppelmayr marketing materials, the door opening is designed to be exactly the width of a shipping pallet.

That would be a European shipping pallet, as Doppelmayr is a Swiss company. Standard European shipping pallets are 800mm wide (31.5 inches). The bench length is 2300mm (a smidge over 90 inches). If you look closely at the video, you'll see that the doorway is a tad wider at floor level than it is a little higher up, due to the placement of the hinge bars. Also, FWIW, while Doppelmayr advertises these gondolas as seating 5 on each bench, Disney is assuming a load factor of 4 per bench.

The trick will be backing out of the car at the station. Unlike the monorail, which has doors on both sides, the gondolas only have one, so you'll have to back it out. The benches fold up against the wall, but if you have anyone riding with you, one bench will have to be folded down so that the person can sit (no standees allowed), which means that you'll have to steer to one side when you load and then straighten out again as you back out.

The stations are made with a second load loop next to the main track, so that cars can be shunted onto that section for a slower load. Ramps are not necessary; the platform is raised to the level of the gondola floor so that it is a straight roll-on.

 

[RaySharpton]

According to the Doppelmayr marketing materials, the door opening is designed to be exactly the width of a shipping pallet.

That would be a European shipping pallet, as Doppelmayr is a Swiss company. Standard European shipping pallets are 800mm wide (31.5 inches). The bench length is 2300mm (a smidge over 90 inches). If you look closely at the video, you'll see that the doorway is a tad wider at floor level than it is a little higher up, due to the placement of the hinge bars.) Also, FWIW, while Doppelmayr advertises these gondolas as seating 5 on each bench, Disney is assuming a load factor of 4 per bench.

The trick will be backing out of the car at the station. Unlike the monorail, which has doors on both sides, the gondolas only have one, so you'll have to back it out. The benches fold up against the wall, but if you have anyone riding with you, one bench will have to be folded down so that the person can sit (no standees allowed), which means that you'll have to steer to one side when you load and then straighten out again as you back out.

The stations are made with a second load loop next to the main track, so that cars can be shunted onto that section for a slower load. Ramps are not necessary; the platform is raised to the level of the gondola floor so that it is a straight roll-on.

Hi, NotUrsula. Thank you for the great video on info. I tried to Google the info, but I couldn't figure out which gondola Disney was going to use. And you explained why some folks say that the benches would hold four versus five people.

I didn't know that they wouldn't allow guests to stand. I think that I can back out of the gondola okay since I use my own electric power wheelchair every day. I can also turn 360 degrees in one spot. I might ask if I can try that, but it isn't important. I am curious to see if they will let me drive on while the gondola is moving slowly.

The pallet use is interesting to me. I guess business' need to use these gondola to haul shipments in Europe

I really like your video. Thank you again.

 

[writerguyfl]

I am curious to see if they will let me drive on while the gondola is moving slowly.

That won't happen. The gondola stations have two loading areas. Most people will enter/exit the gondolas as they slowly move through the station. But, folks like you (in a wheelchair) will use the secondary loading area. There, the gondolas will be completely stopped.

It's tough to see, but check out the second video you posted right around the 0:52 second point. To the left of the moving gondola, you can see a stationary one. That's the secondary loading area. The way the system is set up, once you and your party are safely tucked inside, your gondola will be moved onto the moving line for your journey to the next station.

The set-up is similar to how Toy Story Mania works at Disney's Hollywood Studios. When necessary, Cast Members can flip the track so that guests in wheelchairs can enter/exit the ride vehicles. Once ready, they send those vehicles onto the regular track for the ride.

 

[RaySharpton]

Thanks, writerguyfl. I don't even know what I was thinking when I wrote that sentence.

That won't happen. The gondola stations have two loading areas. Most people will enter/exit the gondolas as they slowly move through the station. But, folks like you (in a wheelchair) will use the secondary loading area. There, the gondolas will be completely stopped.

It's tough to see, but check out the second video you posted right around the 0:52 second point. To the left of the moving gondola, you can see a stationary one. That's the secondary loading area. The way the system is set up, once you and your party are safely tucked inside, your gondola will be moved onto the moving line for your journey to the next station.

The set-up is similar to how Toy Story Mania works at Disney's Hollywood Studios. When necessary, Cast Members can flip the track so that guests in wheelchairs can enter/exit the ride vehicles. Once ready, they send those vehicles onto the regular track for the ride.

 

[NotUrsula]

As a nation, we Americans average a bit wider in the beam than the average Swiss, so 5 abreast wouldn't be as comfortable for us. However, due to the gondolas not stopping on the main platform, I think that a high percentage of the cars will leave with fewer than 8 people on them most of the time. Lollygag and you end up on the next car, and I can definitely see less-than-efficient loading happening when kids want to "sit by the window", or "next to Mommy", etc.

As to the pallets, I suspect that they do get used that way at ski-resort installations on occasion, when someone needs to send a quick delivery up a mountain.

 

[RaySharpton]

How many gondola lines will there be? Do you need to transfer gondolas at the hubs or do they just have stops in the middle of the line?

3 lines, all converging at CBR: Pop/AoA, DHS, & Riviera/Epcot IG. All passengers need to transfer at CBR, unless originating or terminating there. Maximum of 1 transfer required on any trip. All cabins traveling between CBR & Epcot will slow at Riviera for unloading and loading, but thru passengers may remain on.

Hi, joelkfla. I didn't know that. I remember you telling me that with my wheelchair, the gondolas can be pulled off at the stations to a different area to make it easier for wheelchairs and mobility scooters and those having trouble walking an easier access to enter the gondola without the gondola moving.

 

[RaySharpton]

03/06/2019-I wonder if the WDW Skyliner Gondolas will have windows like these? I see slits areas for spaces for windows in the photo. I didn't realize these might be windows. BlogMickey photos show similar gondolas with the windows on both sides, the two benches and one photo with one bench folded up. Some of the photos appear from WDW that are yellow gondolas and some of the photos from a convention setting shows the same type gondola that orange in color. It looks very interesting to me.

.

 

[CarolynFH]

From BlogMickey

From BlogMickey

03/06/2019-I wonder if the WDW Skyliner Gondolas with have windows like these? I see slits for spaces for windows in the second photo.

I don’t think those are slits. I think that’s where the louvre windows close up to the body of the gondola. They open upwards so rain won’t get in but air can still flow through.

 

[RaySharpton]

Hi, CarolynGH. I guess I used a poor choice of a word when I said slits. I guess I mean the spaces look the same size as the windows in the other photos. Spaces is probably not a good word either.

I don’t think those are slits. I think that’s where the louvre windows close up to the body of the gondola. They open upwards so rain won’t get in but air can still flow through.

 

[joelkfla]

Yes, the orange one on static display is actually the newer model, but you can see that the Skyliner has the same window configuration on the ends, except that the Skyliner is believed to have screens on the inside of the opening. The Skyliner also appears to have an additional openable window on the side opposite the door, not present on the orange one.