Aerial Images of Disney theme parks

[vacationer1954]

Someone suggested earlier that the Epcot terminal is close enough to be put within security if security was reconfigured, but that didn't sound like it made any sense to me, since it would block off bathroom access to those waiting for the Friendship boats.

 

[han22735]

I'm pretty sure I read that people will be screened prior to getting on the Gondola just like the Monorails.

 

[skier_pete]

I'm pretty sure I read that people will be screened prior to getting on the Gondola just like the Monorails.

I think any of that is conjecture, but based on the location of the stations at both DHS and Epcot, I would say that they will NOT pre-screen entering the gondolas.

 

[STLstone]

Possible - but then the terminals would need to be inside the security check points but it doesn't appear to be the case at DHS or EPCOT

I wasn't thinking about DHS. That would be a problem. It seems like Epcot could be handled with a walkway pretty easily - or the security checkpoint could be moved farther back to land the gondolas behind security.

In fact they could even rework DHS security to accommodate the same type of thing. They have shown a willingness to redo the security checkpoints in the past.

 

[STLstone]

I think any of that is conjecture, but based on the location of the stations at both DHS and Epcot, I would say that they will NOT pre-screen entering the gondolas.

Definitely conjecture, but a year ago, the monorail exits at Magic Kingdom were not behind security. They just moved security.

 

[vacationer1954]

Again, at the International Gateway that would cut off access to restrooms for the Friendship boat dock. It makes no sense to do that.

 

[STLstone]

Again, at the International Gateway that would cut off access to restrooms for the Friendship boat dock. It makes no sense to do that.

The sense comes from preventing an over-crowded International Gateway.

Having to go through security is not the same thing as being "cut-off." There is no ticket required.

People exiting the boat could have their own small checkpoint as they exit the dock.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

The sense comes from preventing an over-crowded International Gateway.

Having to go through security is not the same thing as being "cut-off." There is no ticket required.

People exiting the boat could have their own small checkpoint as they exit the dock.

I guess I just don't see the issue - the gondola's are much more of a continual load vs like a bus or boat dropping off a bunch of people, and while there are a lot of rooms connected by the gondola, what % is going to EPCOT and at the same time? I could see a bit of crowds right at rope drop, but you can add a lane or 2 and have it staffed for that first couple of hours to handle things vs having to completely redo areas

 

[DanBoris]

What if, like the monorail resorts do for the monorails, they just have people go through security before they get on the gondolas? Then the gondola exit could just have a walkway that bypasses security.

I believe this is the intention, to have security before the board the gondola. I would not be hard to have the DHS and Epcot stations brought inside the security perimeter.

 

[vacationer1954]

Well I suppose time will tell whether this speculation is true.

 

[skier_pete]

People exiting the boat could have their own small checkpoint as they exit the dock.

I guess I just don't see the issue - the gondola's are much more of a continual load vs like a bus or boat dropping off a bunch of people.

Remember, there are 3 sources coming in, two of which already exist:

1) The Boat, which drops off 200 people all at once every 15 minutes. Or 800 people per hour.
2) The Gondola, which is going to drop off a steady stream of people - if we assume maximum being 1,500 per hour, that's 25 people per minute constantly. (In reality other than for periods in the morning this will not be this high.)
3) Walk-ups. Quite a few people walk from Boardwalk and Beach Club - but how many is this. Again, other than rope drop, we are talking 300 at most.

So, IF they move the gondola within the security, they have to leave security set-up such that it can handle both the boat and the walk-ups. This is likely quite doable. We've been through this security many times, and it's rare that you wait for more to 2 or 3 people in front of you.

However, they could also keep security where it is, it wouldn't be THAT much of a strain to add 4 more security checkpoints. Currently handle around 1,000 people per hour with essentially no waits, increase that to 2,500 per hour is not that bad.

 

[Q-man]

Couldn't you just have the gondola's path into the park on the other side of the IGW gift shop?

 

[rteetz]

Couldn't you just have the gondolas path into the park on the other side of the IGW gift shop?

They won't do that. Everyone will use International Gateway. Security will change a bit yes but I believe the Gondola will still be outside the security buffer zone.

 

[STLstone]

I guess I just don't see the issue - the gondola's are much more of a continual load vs like a bus or boat dropping off a bunch of people, and while there are a lot of rooms connected by the gondola, what % is going to EPCOT and at the same time? I could see a bit of crowds right at rope drop, but you can add a lane or 2 and have it staffed for that first couple of hours to handle things vs having to completely redo areas

Remember, there are 3 sources coming in, two of which already exist:

1) The Boat, which drops off 200 people all at once every 15 minutes. Or 800 people per hour.
2) The Gondola, which is going to drop off a steady stream of people - if we assume maximum being 1,500 per hour, that's 25 people per minute constantly. (In reality other than for periods in the morning this will not be this high.)
3) Walk-ups. Quite a few people walk from Boardwalk and Beach Club - but how many is this. Again, other than rope drop, we are talking 300 at most.

So, IF they move the gondola within the security, they have to leave security set-up such that it can handle both the boat and the walk-ups. This is likely quite doable. We've been through this security many times, and it's rare that you wait for more to 2 or 3 people in front of you.

However, they could also keep security where it is, it wouldn't be THAT much of a strain to add 4 more security checkpoints. Currently handle around 1,000 people per hour with essentially no waits, increase that to 2,500 per hour is not that bad.

I really wasn't envisioning much of a problem at IG security with the new gondola traffic - until this morning when someone pointed out that 7,000 rooms have access to the gondolas. Then I started to wonder...

 

[Q-man]

Again, at the International Gateway that would cut off access to restrooms for the Friendship boat dock. It makes no sense to do that.

Building new bathrooms would be the least of the gondolas' costs. They are going to need more anyway to handle the extra load on the IGW.

 

[skier_pete]

I really wasn't envisioning much of a problem at IG security with the new gondola traffic - until this morning when someone pointed out that 7,000 rooms have access to the gondolas. Then I started to wonder...

Right - but this is what I keep point out - Pop Century may have 2000 rooms and 8000 guests at any one time, but they STILL only send 4 buses an hour full of people to Epcot every morning - meaning there are < 400 people an hour coming from Pop Century to Epcot between say 8 AM and 9 AM every day. Will the gondola all of sudden raise that to 1000 per hour? No it won't.

The thing to remember is that not everyone goes to the parks at the same time, not everyone goes to the same park every day, and for that matter not everyone goes to ANY park every day. Is the fact the Gondola is there going to make more people go to Epcot? At most 20% of Pop Century will head to Epcot on any given day, probably less. Some will leave at 8 AM, some will leave at 10 AM, some will leave at noon.

The biggest issues the Gondola is likely to see is park closing, when 1,000+ people from those 4 resorts are all leaving at once.

 

[rteetz]

Can we take this discussion to the gondola thread please

 

[Clare Voince]

Remember, there are 3 sources coming in, two of which already exist:

1) The Boat, which drops off 200 people all at once every 15 minutes. Or 800 people per hour.

The Friendships don't hold 200 people! I think you got your numbers crossed. They drop off more like 50, or 200 per hour.

 

[rteetz]

The Friendships don't hold 200 people! I think you got your numbers crossed. They drop off more like 50, or 200 per hour.

According to this they fit 100 people.

http://www.disneybythenumbers.com/wdw/WDWTransportation.html

 

[Clare Voince]

According to this they fit 100 people.

http://www.disneybythenumbers.com/wdw/WDWTransportation.html

After I posted, I realized I didn't take into consideration the standing room. 100 makes sense.