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

[rteetz]

We will have testing beginning in January 2019.

According to Martin, gondolas will be running on the lines in April.

Guests will be riding the gondolas by September at the latest.

 

[sachilles]

This is more wishcasting than anything. What if there is another phase of the project that hasn't been announced yet, or sniffed out by our bloodhounds.
As quick as it's been moving, it's conceivable another line could be constructed in that time frame. We did have that rumor from the less than reliable source.

Perhaps its production issue with the Gondola cars, we haven't seen a stockpile of them yet, just a random one or two.

 

[rteetz]

This is more wishcasting than anything. What if there is another phase of the project that hasn't been announced yet, or sniffed out by our bloodhounds.
As quick as it's been moving, it's conceivable another line could be constructed in that time frame. We did have that rumor from the less than reliable source.

Perhaps its production issue with the Gondola cars, we haven't seen a stockpile of them yet, just a random one or two.

No to the first part.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

This is more wishcasting than anything. What if there is another phase of the project that hasn't been announced yet, or sniffed out by our bloodhounds.
As quick as it's been moving, it's conceivable another line could be constructed in that time frame. We did have that rumor from the less than reliable source.

Perhaps its production issue with the Gondola cars, we haven't seen a stockpile of them yet, just a random one or two.

I don't think it would be the first part - I think they really want to see this in action before adding more lines

To the second, I suppose that is possible - I would think the production of cars has been focused on development for systems to be used at ski resorts this winter so that could push back the WDW - but still, I don't see why that would take until next fall

 

[OSUZorba]

I don't think it would be the first part - I think they really want to see this in action before adding more lines

To the second, I suppose that is possible - I would think the production of cars has been focused on development for systems to be used at ski resorts this winter so that could push back the WDW - but still, I don't see why that would take until next fall

I guess depending on how the contract was done, Doppelmayr might be rushing construction even though they know the gondolas won't be ready until later. I'm guessing there are milestone payments, so they could probably get the majority of the money months early by pushing up construction. This is done all the time on contracts with milestone payments.

At this point the gondolas are probably the best guess for the delay*.

*Probably not actually a delay vs the contracted schedule.

 

[hakepb]

We will have testing beginning in January 2019.

According to Martin, gondolas will be running on the lines in April.

Guests will be riding the gondolas by September at the latest.

Almost seems like they want to wait and open during a season that is not summer, just to get better 1st impressions if there is any heat issue?

 

[rteetz]

Almost seems like they want to wait and open during a season that is not summer, just to get better 1st impressions if there is any heat issue?

Heat is not the concern. If it was they would open in January. September is still very hot.

 

[Turn the Page]

This doesn't make any sense to me. Why on earth would they string the haul cable and then leave it sitting there for 9 months? Or any time at all really? It's not like they would have trouble scheduling people with the specialized skills needed in the winter time. I don't know what in the world they would be thinking unless they are trying to throw everyone off and open it months early. Who knows.

 

[scrappinginontario]

This doesn't make any sense to me. Why on earth would they string the haul cable and then leave it sitting there for 9 months? Or any time at all really? It's not like they would have trouble scheduling people with the specialized skills needed in the winter time. I don't know what in the world they would be thinking unless they are trying to throw everyone off and open it months early. Who knows.

The towers are up and the wires are going in but to my knowledge other than one or 2 cars seen recently, there hasn't been any sighting of the cars. Possibly they are waiting for those?

I don't think we'll really ever know. What I do know is that in the past when Disney has officially announced something will open at X time that that normally ends up being the case.

Can others think of times when Disney announced an opening of something and then changed their dates greatly, especially to the early side? I can't but maybe others can?

 

[STLstone]

I guess depending on how the contract was done, Doppelmayr might be rushing construction even though they know the gondolas won't be ready until later. I'm guessing there are milestone payments, so they could probably get the majority of the money months early by pushing up construction. This is done all the time on contracts with milestone payments.

At this point the gondolas are probably the best guess for the delay*.

*Probably not actually a delay vs the contracted schedule.

I would have assumed that Doppelmayr would have always planned to be long gone by Spring - because that will be getting into the ski lift construction season.

 

[JETSDAD]

Do we know how far along the stations are? Not just outside but as far as the insides and functionality?

 

[rteetz]

Do we know how far along the stations are? Not just outside but as far as the insides and functionality?

Once the ropes are up and good to go they should be functional. Now the aesthetics and guest areas will take a little longer.

 

[Turn the Page]

The towers are up and the wires are going in but to my knowledge other than one or 2 cars seen recently, there hasn't been any sighting of the cars. Possibly they are waiting for those?

I don't think we'll really ever know. What I do know is that in the past when Disney has officially announced something will open at X time that that normally ends up being the case.

Can others think of times when Disney announced an opening of something and then changed their dates greatly, especially to the early side? I can't but maybe others can?

Well sure but if that is the case why string the haul cable now? I would guess that stringing the cars would take some specialized skill also though I don't know for sure. I doubt they would need specialists to splice the cable while anyone can hang the cars when they arrive though I may be wrong.

 

[scrappinginontario]

Well sure but if that is the case why string the haul cable now? I would guess that stringing the cars would take some specialized skill also though I don't know for sure. I doubt they would need specialists to splice the cable while anyone can hang the cars when they arrive though I may be wrong.

The video posted below yesterday shows that the splicing of the cable appears to be a very specialized skill. If I understood it correctly, the family actually doing the splicing in this case had 3 generations on site while the splicing was taking place. I found it fascinating to watch!

I'm guessing Disney is doing this portion now while the majority of ski resorts have their lifts up and ready for the season to begin. Once the spring arrives their staff could probably be used elsewhere to construct new lifts during the spring and summer months.

While this is a competing lift company. It gives you a good idea of the process. Worth the 4 minutes it takes to watch it.

I got the impression from the video that the splice takes about 2 days total. So the timeline we are seeing seems right on track.

 

[JaxDad]

I'd definitely appreciate the most highly skilled people available to splice the cable and hang the cars!

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Do we know how far along the stations are? Not just outside but as far as the insides and functionality?

Once the ropes are up and good to go they should be functional. Now the aesthetics and guest areas will take a little longer.

i could be wrong but I think they also have work to do on the separate dock at hourglass lake they need to build for the emergency rescue - so one other more "structural" thing .... still doesn't explain another 10-12 months being needed though

 

[Turn the Page]

The video posted below yesterday shows that the splicing of the cable appears to be a very specialized skill. If I understood it correctly, the family actually doing the splicing in this case had 3 generations on site while the splicing was taking place. I found it fascinating to watch!

I'm guessing Disney is doing this portion now while the majority of ski resorts have their lifts up and ready for the season to begin. Once the spring arrives their staff could probably be used elsewhere to construct new lifts during the spring and summer months.

Yes, that is what I said. Splicing the cable is a specialized skill. I'm guessing stringing the cars is not something anyone off the street could do either.

 

[rteetz]

i could be wrong but I think they also have work to do on the separate dock at hourglass lake they need to build for the emergency rescue - so one other more "structural" thing .... still doesn't explain another 10-12 months being needed though

Yeah the dock can be done in a rather short period of time.

 

[OSUZorba]

Well sure but if that is the case why string the haul cable now? I would guess that stringing the cars would take some specialized skill also though I don't know for sure. I doubt they would need specialists to splice the cable while anyone can hang the cars when they arrive though I may be wrong.

I bet they get a major milestone payment after the cable is installed and moving. Hanging the gondolas on the track isn't specialized, splicing is very specialized.

The system automatically puts the gondolas on the cable, they will just need to be loaded into their parking lot. Maintenance crews at resorts and amusement parks can remove and reinstall a gondola on the track.

 

[sachilles]

Yes, that is what I said. Splicing the cable is a specialized skill. I'm guessing stringing the cars is not something anyone off the street could do either.

Actually that part isn't hard at all, anyone here could be trained to do that in an afternoon.
Splicing is specialized, that is correct, but is like a 2+ day process.

The more I think about this, the more I think Disney just doesn't know how to react when they have a vendor/contractor deliver on time and on schedule. They are so used to overuns they just plan for it now.