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

[DanBoris]

I understand your first point but disagree with the second. I don’t think construction has anything to do with it. If it did the Epcot line wouldn’t open until Spring 2020 when Ratatouille opens.

I agree, the Rat area isn't going to be presentable until well into next year. There is no way they hold off opening the Epcot line that long.

 

[Mikey15]

Pictorial of just how close Skyliner passes to Epcot France construction (thanks Bioreconstruct!)

Station itself is getting closer though. I imagine they'd want it open for Food & Wine even if there's some visible pixie dust nearby.

 

[Spaceguy55]

I'm sure the CM's that will operate the Skyliner from the control rooms have been training for a long time. Maybe why the covers were taken off, might help them identify certain gondola's with the numbers for ECV's. The loading CM's shouldn't take as long to train.

 

[CheeseheadDave]

I imagine that even if they’re still working on the ride, if they at least get the courtyard done, that might be an acceptable sight.

 

[DBDiz]

I'm sure the CM's that will operate the Skyliner from the control rooms have been training for a long time. Maybe why the covers were taken off, might help them identify certain gondola's with the numbers for ECV's. The loading CM's shouldn't take as long to train.

All gondolas will be capable of carrying ECVs. Not sure how they will communicate which cabins are currently holding one, though.

 

[gottalovepluto]

All gondolas will be capable of carrying ECVs. Not sure how they will communicate which cabins are currently holding one, though.

It could be something as simple as a button they hit on the car when people are loading if the CM see they have an ECV. That would allow gondola operations central people to know how many ECVs/wheelchairs are out there and where in case of evacuations.

 

[Spaceguy55]

It's worth posting this video again from earlier in this thread. If you look at the panel control towards the end of it , the control they will have over the system is pretty sophisticated and they should easily be able to identify ecv gondola's and not need much CM help in finding them at any point along the lines.

 

[OKW Lover]

It could be something as simple as a button they hit on the car when people are loading if the CM see they have an ECV. That would allow gondola operations central people to know how many ECVs/wheelchairs are out there and where in case of evacuations.

Could be something simple like a flag/streamer attached to the outside of the car that would be visible when it enters the station. Or it could be all electronic like the system used at DCA for Radiator Springs Racers.

 

[joelkfla]

Could be something simple like a flag/streamer attached to the outside of the car that would be visible when it enters the station. Or it could be all electronic like the system used at DCA for Radiator Springs Racers.

Given the apparent sophistication of the control system, and the fact that cabins bearing wheelchairs need to be diverted to the secondary loading area, I think it's very unlikely that a visual indicator requiring manual intervention will be used.

 

[CheeseheadDave]

It's worth posting this video again from earlier in this thread. If you look at the panel control towards the end of it , the control they will have over the system is pretty sophisticated and they should easily be able to identify ecv gondola's and not need much CM help in finding them at any point along the lines.

I'd imagine with a modern system like this, every gondola is uniquely chipped in some fashion and the system is able to monitor the position of each one. A cast member at one station would punch in that "Car 154 needs assistance" and when it arrives in the unloading station, the crew there would be automatically alerted as it enters, or perhaps it could be automatically routed onto a stationary track for unloading.

 

[DanBoris]

All gondolas will be capable of carrying ECVs. Not sure how they will communicate which cabins are currently holding one, though.

For a car to leave the extended loading area, one must always leave the line to make room for the one re-entering. Also, to give enough time for load and unload there need to be a minimum number of cars that don't need the loop between ones that do. Based on this, it's possible that there will be a pattern to the ones that use the outside loop, for example always every fifth car. If the car isn't needed for an ecv, it will just pass back onto the line empty and non-ecv guest can use it.

 

[scrappinginontario]

For a car to leave the extended loading area, one must always leave the line to make room for the one re-entering. Also, to give enough time for load and unload there need to be a minimum number of cars that don't need the loop between ones that do. Based on this, it's possible that there will be a pattern to the ones that use the outside loop, for example always every fifth car. If the car isn't needed for an ecv, it will just pass back onto the line empty and non-ecv guest can use it.

I don’t know how it will actually work but what your described is how I’ve imagined it happening. Much more regulated than just an occasional car leaving when needed that has to be specially marked. A regular pattern makes sense to me also so we’ll see in time how it happens.

 

[The Pho]

For a car to leave the extended loading area, one must always leave the line to make room for the one re-entering

That’s only true if there is no space at all between cabins in the station, which is uncommon. Loading and unloading cabins usually have space between them. The space then typically disappears or shrinks as the cabin prepares to launch by locking into the line itself. A cast member would simply have to ensure there is enough space to move a cabin out into, which would only involve pushing a cabin in the main load zone down the station a few feet. A process that is very common on Gondolas.

 

[joelkfla]

That’s only true if there is no space at all between cabins in the station, which is uncommon. Loading and unloading cabins usually have space between them. The space then typically disappears or shrinks as the cabin prepares to launch by locking into the line itself. A cast member would simply have to ensure there is enough space to move a cabin out into, which would only involve pushing a cabin in the main load zone down the station a few feet. A process that is very common on Gondolas.

There is virtually no space at all between the cabins in the load and unload area -- certainly not enough space to insert another cabin. The cabins speed up slightly as they leave the unload area to open up some space between them thru the turnaround, and decelerate to close up that space as they enter the load area.

The way the 2nd loop works is that there are 3 positions. There are 2 cabins in the loop, at position A (presumably unload) and at position B (load). When loading is complete, those 2 cabins simultaneously move forward to positions B & C. A few seconds later, the next cabin enters the loop from the main unload and stops at position A, creating a gap on the mainline. When the gap reaches the exit from the 2nd loop, the newly loaded cabin leaves position C, filling the gap, and the loop is back to 2 cabins where we started.

BTW, there is no pushing of cabins in regular operations. All cabins in the station are driven by tires above the track which I assume are controlled by the computer.

 

[scrappinginontario]

There is virtually no space at all between the cabins in the load and unload area -- certainly not enough space to insert another cabin. The cabins speed up slightly as they leave the unload area to open up some space between them thru the turnaround, and decelerate to close up that space as they enter the load area.

The way the 2nd loop works is that there are 3 positions. There are 2 cabins in the loop, at position A (presumably unload) and at position B (load). When loading is complete, those 2 cabins simultaneously move forward to positions B & C. A few seconds later, the next cabin enters the loop from the main unload and stops at position A, creating a gap on the mainline. When the gap reaches the exit from the 2nd loop, the newly loaded cabin leaves position C, filling the gap, and the loop is back to 2 cabins where we started.
View attachment 411529
BTW, there is no pushing of cabins in regular operations. All cabins in the station are driven by tires above the track which I assume are controlled by the computer.

In this excellent video which clearly demonstrates the system described above, there are 8 gondolas dispatched between the ones that move to/from the secondary line. I’m not sure if this will be the standard pattern but is as described well by @joelkfla.

 

[The Pho]

There is virtually no space at all between the cabins in the load and unload area -- certainly not enough space to insert another cabin. The cabins speed up slightly as they leave the unload area to open up some space between them thru the turnaround, and decelerate to close up that space as they enter the load area.

The way the 2nd loop works is that there are 3 positions. There are 2 cabins in the loop, at position A (presumably unload) and at position B (load). When loading is complete, those 2 cabins simultaneously move forward to positions B & C. A few seconds later, the next cabin enters the loop from the main unload and stops at position A, creating a gap on the mainline. When the gap reaches the exit from the 2nd loop, the newly loaded cabin leaves position C, filling the gap, and the loop is back to 2 cabins where we started.
View attachment 411529
BTW, there is no pushing of cabins in regular operations. All cabins in the station are driven by tires above the track which I assume are controlled by the computer.

What you’ve described quite well will be how Disney runs their system most of the time. All I was pointing out was that a cabin is fully capable of entering the line without removing another. As the video shows there is indeed space between cabins, and spacing can be manually altered inside the station to make the room if needed. It’s something I’ve seen done hundreds of times on many different systems. Manually altering the spacing is a normal thing to do on a Gondola when adding a cabin, however due to the frequency Disney will be adding, they’ll lean away from that, but it’s still certainly possible. It’ll likely happen most frequently at Carribean Beach where the Gondolas are stored, when they need to pull cabins off and on for unexpected maintenance.

And yes there is an independent electric motor controlled by the computer that propels the cabins within the station.

 

[jade1]

Yikes on those horrible storm/transit stories! Nowadays Minnie Vans must see a heck of a spike for demand when EP resort transportation goes down! I would totally have gone wandering for a bus if I found myself in that situation but after your stories now I know try for a Minnie Van asap.

Agreed, although for the Epcot (Skyliner) comparison-there are no Minnie Vans at IG.

These same issues below, could be happening to Skyliner Resort guests if they choose IG and these types of storms hit.

Making it worse, they can not walk to the room (like DHS to Epcot Resorts) if they even wanted to.

The question/solution as discussed below, is how often the Epcot buses will be going to Skyliner Resorts.

My guess is they will often plan to have buses available those summer months late afternoon, if not always full time.

focusondisney: YEARS ago, we had a similar nightmare at Studios when a storm hit. We were soaked, headed to Friendship boats. NO SIGN, NO CM. We waited and waited, only a few other guests joined us. Finally we headed back, still pouring. (we were staying at BCV and had a dinner reservation that night). We had no idea what to do, where to go. We first went to the outside guest relations window. They had no idea the boats were not running. We asked some random security guards. no idea. Finally one said, "you can walk". I said, along a canal? With lightning dangerous enough to shut down the boats? "Take a cab" he suggested. (this was pre UBER). This went on for at least 45 minutes of chaos. FINALLY we began to join other stranded guests from Epcot resorts. And finally we were pointed to a bus. Of course, it was freezing inside and everyone was drenched. I complained because there was no communication and no system. Security was cIueless on the procedure. And that bus was not dispatched quickly once the boats shut down. And they were down well over an hour. Maybe about 2 hours (which I completely understand).

I drove to Studios as much as possible after this. I would assume because of the volume of guests using the Skyliner, they would have a quicker response to a bad storm, but where would all those drivers and buses come from that would be needed? On short notice.

When I was a driver at DHS several years ago, the main problem was communication. The Friendship Boats were in a separate department, which didn't generally notify the bus managers when they went down. It was usually a driver who happened to notice they weren't running, and told a coordinator.

At that point, the problem was allocating buses and drivers to run the routes. Although there are usually buses parked and available in the afternoon, drivers are another matter. Disney is loathe to keep drivers around who are not driving. So the coordinators had to figure out which routes to delay to serve the Epcot resorts, without incurring the wrath of their managers by getting too far behind on the schedule.

Last December (or maybe it was October) there was something similar. We were at DHS and the line for the Friendship Boats was already spilling out of the queue there. It wasn't raining at the time so no one thought anything of it. Finally after waiting for over 40 minutes I called a number I had for transportation. I was told that the boats were not running. NO SIGN anywhere stating this. I told the people that were in line around us that the boat would not be coming.....I could tell people didn't believe me and my dh said that I had just gotten off the phone and that it was true. We left the line to find a bus (the walk would have been tremendous as all the construction was going on and everything was a mess). Hm......of course there wasn't a bus listing for BW. Finally after close to 1.5 hours we were back, soaking wet by this time. We finally found a CM at the make-shift bus lanes and caught a bus back.

 

[joelkfla]

What you’ve described quite well will be how Disney runs their system most of the time. All I was pointing out was that a cabin is fully capable of entering the line without removing another. As the video shows there is indeed space between cabins, and spacing can be manually altered inside the station to make the room if needed. It’s something I’ve seen done hundreds of times on many different systems. Manually altering the spacing is a normal thing to do on a Gondola when adding a cabin, however due to the frequency Disney will be adding, they’ll lean away from that, but it’s still certainly possible. It’ll likely happen most frequently at Carribean Beach where the Gondolas are stored, when they need to pull cabins off and on for unexpected maintenance.

And yes there is an independent electric motor controlled by the computer that propels the cabins within the station.

Yes, I agree adding cabins to the operating system is a different issue. I was only addressing the routing of cabins into the 2nd loop, which from what I've seen so far is a 1-for-1 swap. Pulling off every nth cabin is the simplest logistically, but it could also be done on an as needed basis, as long as it's ensured that the cabins pulled off are always separated enough to allow time for the 1st cabin in the loop to be loaded and staged for reentry. (That would include delaying reentry of a loaded cabin when a cabin that needs to be unloaded in the 2nd loop is approaching, until that cabin enters the loop.)

There's little space between cabins in the main load and unload areas, but is there enough slack in the station overall to squeeze in another cabin? Perhaps. Lift Blog said the tires in the deceleration and acceleration areas are usually driven off the rope by reduction gears, which seems to leave just the turnaround loop in play. Maybe there's a function on the control console that's programmed to open a gap and insert a cabin.

 

[Ariel484]

I don’t know how to get this image to turn (it’s fine on my phone??) but I took this on Wednesday as I was waiting to turn onto Buena Vista Drive from Epcot Resorts BLVD. Utterly bizarre to see the turn station in the Boardwalk parking lot all week.

They were running the Gondalas a lot, and we saw them just sitting on the cables not running a lot, and we also saw the cables empty a lot. It was interesting to watch throughout our stay. The Epcot and Riviera stations look really nice.

 

[joelkfla]

Rotated ... (might've lost a little resolution in the process )