Disney to debut gondola shuttle system in Orlando

[RNCollins]

Disney to debut gondola shuttle system in Orlando
https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel...ey-to-debut-gondola-shuttle-system-in-Orlando

By Jamie Biesiada / Hotels / Travel Weekly / travelweekly.com / Jul 15, 2019

“Walt Disney World Resort's Skyliner, a gondola system connecting several of its theme parks and hotels in Orlando, will open Sept. 29.

The Skyliner will transport guests between the Hollywood Studios and Epcot parks, and four hotels: Art of Animation Resort, Caribbean Beach Resort, Pop Century Resort and the Riviera Resort, which is scheduled to open in December.

Some of the gondolas will feature graphics from Disney films, attractions and characters. The Skyliner joins Walt Disney World Resort's fleet of monorails, watercraft and busses that shuttle guests around the property.“

Photo credit: Travel Weekly

 

[vacationhopeful]

Am I wrong, but wasn't there a gondola over the original Magic Kingdom in the early years?

Dang... I remember a fellow cabin rider (ok, a friend) whose chewing gum fell from their mouth and hit a walker under us on their head. The walker was VERY unhappy.

 

[chalee94]

yes. just a ride in the MK called the skyway.

incidents like you described (plus one employee death during maintenance) prompted them to shut it down...

 

[TheHolleys87]

For more details including photos of the gondolas, check out the first post in this thread from DISboards: https://www.disboards.com/threads/d...n-system-read-post-1-updated-7-15-19.3578988/. I’m looking forward to riding them in October.

 

[Lisa P]

The old Skyway cars were not enclosed, but completely open-air on the top half, with a small rain-roof and no seat belts. Not a good fit with today's litigious society, sorry to say. Riders sat in the direct sun during the hot afternoon. Worse, riders could drop things outside (or spit) on people below. Lines also got long for slow boarding/unloading - this, at a time when crowds were so much smaller than they are today.

Thank you for posting about this. Here's a video with more details about the new Skyliner, including the car interiors. It also shows some of the many Disney character wraps on the new Skyliner cars. Disney fans will love these!

YouTube: Disney Skyliner Gondolas unwrapped

Today's new system is far superior in several ways. It will also serve a better purpose than just a theme park ride. We are very much looking forward to trying it out in the late fall! Exciting news that it opens so soon!

 

[mj2vacation]

We live close by and have watched the construction and testing.

They move pretty quickly. It’s great that they are adding options for transportation.

 

[Jolson]

I wonder if they are air-conditioned? It would be pretty miserable taking a gondola ride in July

 

[TheHolleys87]

I wonder if they are air-conditioned? It would be pretty miserable taking a gondola ride in July

No, they’re not air conditioned. They do have louvered windows on both sides and the end opposite the door as well as vents near the floor to provide air flow through the cabin, and the glass is coated to reflect heat. It’s expected to feel like sitting in the shade with a good breeze blowing. And the rides will be short, just a few minutes.

More details are available via the DISboards link I posted above.

 

[Sandy VDH]

Might consider trying it from Bonnet Creek by either walking or ubering to the gondola entrance location.

I saw a map of future plans and it showed one fly over Bonnet Creek to get to downtown disney and the water park.

Wondering if they have air rights over Bonnet Creek. If they did, I wish they would build a stop there.

 

[mj2vacation]

I wonder if they are air-conditioned? It would be pretty miserable taking a gondola ride in July

While Disney is not perfect, they do typically do quite a bit of research before spending tens of millions of dollars.

After 48 years of operating a theme park on Florida, I’m sure they know it’s hot and have some degree of confidence in their plan.

 

[rickandcindy23]

Might consider trying it from Bonnet Creek by either walking or ubering to the gondola entrance location.

I saw a map of future plans and it showed one fly over Bonnet Creek to get to downtown disney and the water park.

Wondering if they have air rights over Bonnet Creek. If they did, I wish they would build a stop there.

You could take one of the Minnie cars I saw last time we were there. What is the story with those?

 

[Sea Six]

I wonder how long it takes to empty all the cars before a lightning storm. I know the boats between EPCOT and Hollywood Studios will stop running when lightning is approaching, and they can empty the boats about every 3 or 4 minutes. I'm certain they can't run the gondolas during a storm.

 

[TheHolleys87]

You could take one of the Minnie cars I saw last time we were there. What is the story with those?

The Minnie Vans are Disney's solution in place of rideshare/taxi for people who have large groups (the vans seat up to 6) or need car seats (each van has 2 car seats, and the driver is trained to install them properly) and don't want to use free WDW transportation (bus/monorail/boat). The vans are ordered through the Lyft app, and Lyft discounts can be applied, but Lyft doesn't operate the vans - they're owned by Disney and driven by Disney cast members. They're expensive, though - $15 plus $2.75/mile, so $30-50 from place to place on WDW property. However, they can pick up and drop off at the MK bus parking lot instead of TTC and at the Ft. Wilderness Outpost bus stop for Hoop De Doo Revue, so more convenient for some who again don't want to use regular Disney transportation.

 

[TheHolleys87]

I wonder how long it takes to empty all the cars before a lightning storm. I know the boats between EPCOT and Hollywood Studios will stop running when lightning is approaching, and they can empty the boats about every 3 or 4 minutes. I'm certain they can't run the gondolas during a storm.

The gondolas themselves are grounded and could run in lightning, and the same system Disney is installing (Doppelmayer) operates in high winds and thunderstorms/snow storms elsewhere in the world. That said, Disney hasn't announced anything, and the system won't be officially open until September 29, so right now we don't actually know under what conditions they'll shut down. Speculation is that they could clear the lines in just a few minutes, given how short the various segments are, so if a storm is approaching they'll have time to stop boarding and unload any occupied cars before the storm hits, if that's what they want to do.