Craig
TS Administrator
There's a few reasons you can't compare the Skyliner setup to Towers. Sadly, the Poma gondolas that Towers have just do not have big enough gaps in the windows to allow any sort of decent ventilation. The tinted windows help to an extent, but the tiny window opens nowhere near enough space to allow heat to properly escape. It might be cooler in the UK temperature wise, but that sun will soon heat things up through glass regardless, especially if that heat can't escape. It wouldn't surprise me to see temperatures in Skyride gondolas get to the mid 40's on some sunny days when the outside temp is just the low-mid 20's.
With Skyliner, Disney had Doppelmayer design the gondolas so they have slatted opening windows on both the left and right hand side of the doors which cover about 40% of the height of the gondola.
Elsewhere, opposite the door I believe there's also a smaller window similar to Towers which gives further airflow. Because the window openings face the direction of travel, this allows air to be pushed through the cabin when they're travelling. Also, Disney's system is fast, REALLY fast in comparison to Alton. The speed will push more fresh air through to keep things relatively cool in there:
Let's also not forget that Alton's gondolas are at a far greater height, and access for evacuation is very difficult with an abseil team required for a large chunk of the ride's route. Aside from a short run over a lake, the majority of Skyliner is over accessible land and no more than about 60ft in the air. They have a dedicated platforms to evacuate guests all in one a gondola at a time. Not to mention a fully equipped fire department to carry out the evacuation, again which Alton do not have nearby. Meanwhile Towers need to rig up each guest individually from each gondola, and it'll be considerably quicker carry out a full evacuation at Disney:
I had my moans about Disney's system and heat when it first came around, but they seem to have any potential issues pretty well covered. Considering the state the old gondolas were in at Towers, I doubt we'll see any further money invested to resolve its summer-based issues anytime soon.
With Skyliner, Disney had Doppelmayer design the gondolas so they have slatted opening windows on both the left and right hand side of the doors which cover about 40% of the height of the gondola.
Elsewhere, opposite the door I believe there's also a smaller window similar to Towers which gives further airflow. Because the window openings face the direction of travel, this allows air to be pushed through the cabin when they're travelling. Also, Disney's system is fast, REALLY fast in comparison to Alton. The speed will push more fresh air through to keep things relatively cool in there:
Let's also not forget that Alton's gondolas are at a far greater height, and access for evacuation is very difficult with an abseil team required for a large chunk of the ride's route. Aside from a short run over a lake, the majority of Skyliner is over accessible land and no more than about 60ft in the air. They have a dedicated platforms to evacuate guests all in one a gondola at a time. Not to mention a fully equipped fire department to carry out the evacuation, again which Alton do not have nearby. Meanwhile Towers need to rig up each guest individually from each gondola, and it'll be considerably quicker carry out a full evacuation at Disney:
I had my moans about Disney's system and heat when it first came around, but they seem to have any potential issues pretty well covered. Considering the state the old gondolas were in at Towers, I doubt we'll see any further money invested to resolve its summer-based issues anytime soon.
