I don't know any more than the next guy, but the whole "line" should only stop in rare emergency like situations. The cars will come off the cable when they enter the station and move slowly by conveyer.. I believe modern systems can then "shunt" cars off onto a secondary track where a stationary load/unload could take place - scooter? I think the systems move slowly enough in the station that most wheelchairs can safely load even if the car is in motion. But we'll see.If the gondola were in constant motion with a continuous load and unload the movement could perhaps be enough to keep some air flowing. However, it's more likely it will be stopped every couple of cars for those moving slower or wheelchairs or even strollers. It's not going to be like at a ski mountain where able bodied people hop on and off. The idea sounded pretty cool at first (get it?!) but now I'm cooling off to the idea (couldn't help that one!).
I don't get the big deal about AC in the cars, these are basically grown up Von Roll Sky Ride 101 cars (the sky bucket was Von Roll 101, but almost every other theme/amusement park had one back in the 70's), Doppelmayr IS Von Roll. I have ridden dozens of them... there is enough breeze in the air even in the hottest climate to make for a comfortable ride. Also, there is a Von Roll at Stone Mountain in Atlanta Georgia, in fact, it's probably a more comparable experience. The Von Roll at Stone Mountain is a large, glassed enclosed car, that holds probably 30-40 total people. No AC, IN ATLANTA. I rode it in August... no problems. Think about it, are the EPCOT/Hollywood studios boats air conditioned? No. If there is moving air, and shade, you are usually comfortable.
By the way, as someone who goes out of their way to ride Von Rolls whenever I can... I am THRILLED about this. I have yet to stay at CBR (its the last moderate I haven't stayed at...) and I think this might be the driving perk to finally get me there.
Jennifer
I don't know any more than the next guy, but the whole "line" should only stop in rare emergency like situations. The cars will come off the cable when they enter the station and move slowly by conveyer.. I believe modern systems can then "shunt" cars off onto a secondary track where a stationary load/unload could take place - scooter? I think the systems move slowly enough in the station that most wheelchairs can safely load even if the car is in motion. But we'll see.
Power I would say no - Diesel generators. Major mechanical - well that's possible I suppose. But to my knowledge, very rare.I see a power outage or mechanical breakdown and people being stranded up there for 4 hours, little airflow because your not moving and that wonderful Florida sun. If Disney is really considering this, it makes the hotel look cheap.
This type of transportation has been around for 100 years, mostly at state fairs. I guess its good Disney is catching up with the state fairs. Not what I would expect from a premium resort.
I would suggest that they look at the wedway people mover and go with something like that.
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As for the A/C, I don't know why that's even worth debating. Disney must have done some sort of comfort testing both with and without. They aren't naive with regard to Florida weather. Kinda pointless to debate without being privy to such testing...or having any influence over the outcome whatsoever.
Wait, what, they'll have wi-fi but no ac?Per Lift Blog: "I’m told...Cabins will have wi-fi and ample passive ventilation."
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Somewhere in the mega 'Skyway on steroids' thread someone mentioned that evacuations had to be accomplished w/in 12 minutes - I guess because after 12 minutes non moving glass enclosed vehicles aren't compatable with human life in summertime Florida. Personally I don't know how that'd be accomplished unless there's a mechanism for mechanically wheeling the individual gondola cars to the loading station very quickly or rope ladders attached to the cars (kidding.)I see a power outage or mechanical breakdown and people being stranded up there for 4 hours, little airflow because your not moving and that wonderful Florida sun...
Wait, what, they'll have wi-fi but no ac?
Somewhere in the mega 'Skyway on steroids' thread someone mentioned that evacuations had to be accomplished w/in 12 minutes - I guess because after 12 minutes non moving glass enclosed vehicles aren't compatable with human life in summertime Florida. Personally I don't know how that'd be accomplished unless there's a mechanism for mechanically wheeling the individual gondola cars to the loading station very quickly or rope ladders attached to the cars (kidding.)
The real head scratcher for me is the ECV loading. I'm not talking about your adept experienced ECV user, I'm talking about those inexperienced only at WDW users that we've all seen, the ones who take 15 minutes to load onto the bus at closing or accidentally hit fast forward and run into some object, will those people really be able to drive their ECVs through a moving open door? Strollers no problem, experienced ECV pilots good to go, but ECV users like my mom on her last visit = issues.
Nevertheless, I'm excited about this, I used to ride the DL ones all the time & I visit WDW in Dec/Jan thus don't have a dog in the AC/nonAC fight.
The 30 person one sounds like a bus w/out wheels w/ a lot of the bus irritations like waiting to load, waiting while others load, waiting to disembark etc. & hanging out with 30 people in a non air conditioned gondola car sounds less than desirable. At least the buses have that AC cranked up!8-10 person gondola is small. The small size alone will make it difficult to load/unload ECVs.
An unofficial WDW news site mentions the vendor has been busy making 28-30 person gondolas. Larger cabins would be more efficient in every way, but the cost will be the determining factor.
Will the Riviera folks have to change gondolas at the CBR station to go to DHS?
The 30 person one sounds like a bus w/out wheels w/ a lot of the bus irritations like waiting to load, waiting while others load, waiting to disembark etc. & hanging out with 30 people in a non air conditioned gondola car sounds less than desirable. At least the buses have that AC cranked up!
Although you may not get to your destination any faster in a 4-8 person gondola than a 30 person one, since you are constantly moving in the line as people load onto the smaller ones I think it would feel faster than standing/waiting in a line for each gondola to load 30 people, but perhaps people will load gondolas faster than they currently load buses and maybe the gondolas will be close enough together to keep the line moving.
The concept art at D23 definitely looked more like 6-8 people gondolas than 30 people ones.
Will the Riviera folks have to change gondolas at the CBR station to go to DHS?
But buses and gondola cars are not equivalent in the sense of how long you'd wait. Dispatch is marked different.