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

[intertile]

We were on property in Orlando this past week. This time of year, it rains every afternoon...and most of those showers involved lightning. Everything outdoors shuts down when there is lightning in the area. Outside rides, waterparks(obviously), fireworks, etc. They even delayed the boarding of my flight home due to a storm within 5 miles of the airport. I can see the skyliner shutting down for long stretches at a time during the rainy months.

 

[DanBoris]

I guess I understand people have fears of heights but I don't understand the "deathtrap" outrage. People use gondola's all the time when skiing at the large resorts and you almost never hear of accidents.

I do understand the concern that it shuts off and you get stuck in the air with Florida heat but I'd assume they have something that will keep them from turning into a furnace such as a fan system that continues to blow air through the gondola.

I for one am planning to go next July to CBR and am just itching for an accurate projection when the system will be up in hopes I'll be able to use it.

From liftblog.com:

"North America's 116 gondola systems have operated without a rider fatality for 41 straight years"

 

[Amanda999]

... The average temperature in Bolivia in July is 86 degrees. ....

I wish WDW was that cool in late August when we go! (The 'real feel' was over 100 for 2 weeks straight last August. Was up to 110 some days.)

 

[The Pho]

From liftblog.com:

"North America's 116 gondola systems have operated without a rider fatality for 41 straight years"

The last Gondola fatality in the US was actually in Disneyland in 1994, but it wasn't a fully enclosed system so it's excluded generally from those statistics. The last enclosed Gondola fatality was in 1978 at Squaw Valley Deemed an act of god (wind related), and Vail had one in 1976 due to a frayed cable from negligence. They are incredibly safe modes of transportation.

 

[circus4u]

I wish WDW was that cool in late August when we go! (The 'real feel' was over 100 for 2 weeks straight last August. Was up to 110 some days.)

Don't know what the "real feel" was here yesterday, but our high was 123 for about 3 hours. The pool water was 94. Guess it's all just a matter of perspective.

 

[OKW Lover]

The last Gondola fatality in the US was actually in Disneyland in 1994,

IIRC, the passenger had to make a real effort to "fall" out.

 

[RRB]

Don't know what the "real feel" was here yesterday, but our high was 123 for about 3 hours. The pool water was 94. Guess it's all just a matter of perspective.

Are you saying that the official temperature at WDW was 123 degrees yesterday? I searched for that on the web and nothing remotely close to that came up.

 

[rteetz]

Are you saying that the official temperature at WDW was 123 degrees yesterday? I searched for that on the web and nothing remotely close to that came up.

The west coast was that hot I believe.

 

[dina444444]

Are you saying that the official temperature at WDW was 123 degrees yesterday? I searched for that on the web and nothing remotely close to that came up.

It was somewhere between 110-120 degrees at Disneyland Friday afternoon and was around 100 yesterday afternoon.

 

[circus4u]

Are you saying that the official temperature at WDW was 123 degrees yesterday? I searched for that on the web and nothing remotely close to that came up.

No, no. I live in the desert of Arizona! Yesterday afternoon, we hit 123. Only got to 108 today.

 

[Iowamomof4]

No, no. I live in the desert of Arizona! Yesterday afternoon, we hit 123. Only got to 108 today.

Yeah, but it's a "dry heat".

 

[OSUZorba]

While I think the heat concerns are overplayed, I am sure there will be people that find them uncomfortable in the middle of the day. Just like some people may find the train uncomfortable in the middle of the day. But the main rushes are early and late, when temperatures are lower and when the sun is down (after fireworks).

Waiting for a bus in the middle of the day can be very uncomfortable too, based on my experience with gondolas elsewhere I doubt it'll be any worse than that.

 

[RRB]

No, no. I live in the desert of Arizona! Yesterday afternoon, we hit 123. Only got to 108 today.

understand now. I did see some crazy temps in the SW

 

[circus4u]

Yeah, but it's a "dry heat".

98 degrees right now, humidity 47%, dewpoint 68. Yeah right, it's a dry heat. I could be at WDW right now and probably be more comfortable.

 

[sachilles]

98 degrees right now, humidity 47%, dewpoint 68. Yeah right, it's a dry heat. I could be at WDW right now and probably be more comfortable.

A dole whip makes any day better.

 

[Rivergirl2005]

question and not sure if it's been answered... for this system say I am staying CBR would we have to get off at each station and reload to get Epcot? Or can we stay on? If we stay on could that be problematic for say the last station trying to get to Epcot in the mornings? Just curious....

 

[TheMaxRebo]

question and not sure if it's been answered... for this system say I am staying CBR would we have to get off at each station and reload to get Epcot? Or can we stay on? If we stay on could that be problematic for say the last station trying to get to Epcot in the mornings? Just curious....

I think that is something that is not fully known. I think the expectation is that everyone will have to change at CBR but not at Riviera and definitely not at the angle turn going to EPCOT.

So if you are at CBR you shouldn't have to change to get to anywhere, but if you are at AoA/POP you would have to change at CBR

 

[WrongLeverrrr]

question and not sure if it's been answered... for this system say I am staying CBR would we have to get off at each station and reload to get Epcot? Or can we stay on? If we stay on could that be problematic for say the last station trying to get to Epcot in the mornings? Just curious....

If you're at CBR you'd possibly only have to disembark and reboard at the new Riviera hotel station before continuing on to the IG. The turning point by the BW is just for turning and no one will be getting on or off there. The only ones that would have to potentially (and I say "potentially" since nothing is for sure yet, but this seems like the most likely scenario) get off twice when going to Epcot are those starting from DHS or from Pop/AOA.

 

[Rivergirl2005]

I think that is something that is not fully known. I think the expectation is that everyone will have to change at CBR but not at Riviera and definitely not at the angle turn going to EPCOT.

So if you are at CBR you shouldn't have to change to get to anywhere, but if you are at AoA/POP you would have to change at CBR

If you're at CBR you'd possibly only have to disembark and reboard at the new Riviera hotel station before continuing on to the IG. The turning point by the BW is just for turning and no one will be getting on or off there. The only ones that would have to potentially (and I say "potentially" since nothing is for sure yet, but this seems like the most likely scenario) get off twice when going to Epcot are those starting from DHS or from Pop/AOA.

Thank you!!! This should be an interesting process to watch unfold....do we know if there will be air conditioning or if it is open windows?

 

[WrongLeverrrr]

Thank you!!! This should be an interesting process to watch unfold....do we know if there will be air conditioning or if it is open windows?

All indications/speculation are that there will be no a/c but some sort of open window ventilation/cross-breeze. I don't blame you not wanting to trudge through nearly 150 pages of discussion here, but the last 4 or 5 have been going through this. A few weeks ago, the first gondola was spotted being brought on property on a flatbed truck and there was no indication of an onboard a/c unit.

It'll be very interesting indeed!