Gondola System at Walt Disney World Confirmed

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Kristen K.'s picture
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Gondola System at Walt Disney World Confirmed

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/travel/attractions/the-daily-disney/os-bz-disney-world-gondolas-cable-cars-plans-20170418-story.html

"Reedy Creek notes refer to six stations with three lines linking Disney's Hollywood Studios, Epcot, Caribbean Beach Resort and the lakeside area between Pop Century and the Art of Animation resorts."

So -- What y'all think? This will certainly be a transportation upgrade for those lower tier resorts. I wonder if their prices will go up to reflect that.

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I'm excited about the new transportation option.

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How many of these things will be running at one time. The article said they will hold 10 people. Will they be able to transport scooters/wheelchairs?

I feel like it is going to be more of a hassle. A bus can pack people in and the lines are still long at these resorts.

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I can't decide how I feel about this...it might be a great way to see the sights on the way from point A to B...but I just don't see this moving people very efficiently..hope I'm wrong! confused

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So - obviously I don't have inside details. But my guess is that the Disney gondolas are going to be like the closed cab interior models in this video. I may very well be wrong, but they fit with what I have been hearing When you think of how they load, think of the people mover with its continuous motion.

https://

This video is a good representation of loading. The only issue that I see with this mode really is ECVs, unless they can somehow direct a car on and off the main cable to stand still for loading and then easily put it back on the line. Thought I don't know if I'll every ride it (I'm terrified of these things) I'm excited to see the build out.

https://

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I've always said they should string one of those across World Showcase Lagoon at Epcot.

And, while they're at it, string one over to MCO. That'd be good. Then you'd have a constant line of people hanging in the moving buckets with the ones going to Disney smiling and the ones going to the airport crying. Imagine the awkward moments when the buckets pass each other trying not to make eye contact.

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Kristen K. wrote:

Thought I don't know if I'll every ride it (I'm terrified of these things) I'm excited to see the build out.

Oh good, I thought I was the only one!!! I am sure they are perfectly safe but all I think is these huge things are just hanging from a tiny line...

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I just got the time to watch, I wasn't imagining it as a constant line of them... I was thinking of maybe one or 2 at a time.

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JMed wrote:
Kristen K. wrote:

Thought I don't know if I'll every ride it (I'm terrified of these things) I'm excited to see the build out.

Oh good, I thought I was the only one!!! I am sure they are perfectly safe but all I think is these huge things are just hanging from a tiny line...

I am totally the chicken-y kind.

I took the skyway at the San Diego Zoo when I was 42 weeks pregnant with my oldest daughter. I had an all out panic attack; pretty much screamed and cried the entire time. That was my last trip on a gondola of any sort.

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KenJ wrote:
I've always said they should string one of those across World Showcase Lagoon at Epcot.

And, while they're at it, string one over to MCO. That'd be good. Then you'd have a constant line of people hanging in the moving buckets with the ones going to Disney smiling and the ones going to the airport crying. Imagine the awkward moments when the buckets pass each other trying not to make eye contact.

laugh laugh laugh

I already do that at the airport. When I get off the plane and see everyone waiting at the gate to leave I think " haha suckers". Then a week or so later, I'm the one with the pout on waiting at the gate while all those smiling people get off the plane. Another reason I like driving laugh

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I'm terrified of heights so I doubt I'll ride them eek

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KenJ wrote:
I've always said they should string one of those across World Showcase Lagoon at Epcot.

And, while they're at it, string one over to MCO. That'd be good. Then you'd have a constant line of people hanging in the moving buckets with the ones going to Disney smiling and the ones going to the airport crying. Imagine the awkward moments when the buckets pass each other trying not to make eye contact.

This is awesome.

I'm looking forward to more info on this idea. It sounds pretty cool. I would prefer something less "enclosed", more like the skyway system that used to connect Fantasyland and Tomorrowland. That would have continuous movement--very efficient. It could be an omnimover sort of system with a conveyor belt for loading and unloading.

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alicemouse wrote:
I would prefer something less "enclosed", more like the skyway system that used to connect Fantasyland and Tomorrowland.

I don't think Disney will ever do open cars again. In 1994 there was a man who jumped out of a bucket and then tried to sue Disney for damages. While it wasn't the reason that the skyways were closed, I can't imagine the way Disney tries to cover its butt from law suits today that the lawyers would sign off on another.

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Kristen K. wrote:
alicemouse wrote:
I would prefer something less "enclosed", more like the skyway system that used to connect Fantasyland and Tomorrowland.

I don't think Disney will ever do open cars again. In 1994 there was a man who jumped out of a bucket and then tried to sue Disney for damages. While it wasn't the reason that the skyways were closed, I can't imagine the way Disney tries to cover its butt from law suits today that the lawyers would sign off on another.

You're probably right Kristen. It's sad though... frivolous lawsuits have really ruined the enjoyment of so many things. It's too bad there isn't the will or the way to just throw out most of these ridiculous claims. If someone jumps out of a bucket, they shouldn't be able to launch a suit IMO. As a result we all must do without.

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Kristen K. wrote:
In 1994 there was a man who jumped out of a bucket and then tried to sue Disney for damages.

sarcastic What an idiot.

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JMed wrote:
Kristen K. wrote:

Thought I don't know if I'll every ride it (I'm terrified of these things) I'm excited to see the build out.

Oh good, I thought I was the only one!!! I am sure they are perfectly safe but all I think is these huge things are just hanging from a tiny line...

Yep, that's me too. No way am I hanging from a string. They look like so much fun, but I rode one when my daughter was young, and I was frozen and in tears with panic. Makes no sense- I love coasters, but I can't ride those.

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I can't really see Disney doing a gondola system again, They are too subject to the weather. Can you imagine a lightening strike knocking out power and having all those people stranded or just a sudden thunder storm and the winds. I'll believe it when I see it.

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Maybe it will clear the bus crowds for me. I am terrified of heights...like can't get on a second rung of a ladder without having a panic attack terrified. The gondola is out for me.

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Well, I have my doubts about how practical a gondola system would be as a form of transportation. However, after reading this linked article, I'm doubting my doubts. The article mentions that these things are capable of moving upwards of 3,800 people per hour per direction and are very different than the Skyway ride of old.

This article also makes some great comparisons to the bus system for both capacity and operating costs...

http://wdwnt.com/blog/2017/04/depth-speculation-disney-world-gondola-project-will-take-shape/

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KenJ wrote:
Well, I have my doubts about how practical a gondola system would be as a form of transportation. However, after reading this linked article, I'm doubting my doubts. The article mentions that these things are capable of moving upwards of 3,800 people per hour and are very different than the Skyway ride of old.

http://wdwnt.com/blog/2017/04/depth-speculation-disney-world-gondola-project-will-take-shape/

Does look interesting!

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If they wanted to go really big, they could model it after the Roosevelt Island Tramway in New York City. Those gondolas can sit up to 110 people and they are wheelchair accessible.

Though it is true that Disney World is twice the size of Manhattan, are 100+ passengers gondolas needed? Highly unlikely in my opinion. Obviously, there will need to be a limitation as to how many gondolas can be on the cables at a time and the climate will definitely need to be taken into account because of the humid and scorching weather and even the wind speed, as well.

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Wow you had a long pregnancy! Typically only 40 weeks

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disneydoc wrote:
Wow you had a long pregnancy! Typically only 40 weeks

Yea - you can imagine how happy I was about that. Tori just did not want to come out, we had hoped the trip to the Zoo with all the walking would help me go into labor.

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jw24 wrote:
If they wanted to go really big, they could model it after the Roosevelt Island Tramway in New York City. Those gondolas can sit up to 110 people and they are wheelchair accessible.

Though it is true that Disney World is twice the size of Manhattan, are 100+ passengers gondolas needed? Highly unlikely in my opinion. Obviously, there will need to be a limitation as to how many gondolas can be on the cables at a time and the climate will definitely need to be taken into account because of the humid and scorching weather and even the wind speed, as well.

I doubt that weather would be an issue... from the looks of these things in the videos... they are built to work at mountain ski resorts... and if we think logically about mountain climates, they have lots of heavy snow (precipitation) and plenty of wind too.

As for need... as someone who has waited with tired feet in line at park close for 3 buses to fill and leave for an "all star" resort, and even waited 2 or 3 buses -from- an all star resort to get to the parks.... My sense is if Disney can figure out the drop-off points, the system would be used, especially if (perhaps and per chance the transport time might be shorter than the bus route???)