Originally Posted By RoadTrip <<I think the skyride concept just doesn't seem to fit in an area of the park that is trying to evoke a particular countries ambience>> Yes... you certainly wouldn't want to spoil the mood set by the butt-ugly fireworks barges.
Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom Well, we can still dream can't we. I'm not sure what the "perfect" people mover would be in the world showcase. But I'm sure we can dream up something.
Originally Posted By danyoung >...if they really were intent on keeping the skyway as a "signature" attraction they would have overcome maintenance issues.< Probably true. But sadly they weren't intent on keeping it.
Originally Posted By kpwdwfan I heard that issues surrounding ADA and the lack of accessibility was one major reason they did away with the skyway.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros I'm sure that they could have grandfathered it in, but that would have also limited any potential future changes to it. I know as a fact that there are many automated systems out there that could easily handle wheelchairs, are smoother than the older ones, have higher capacity, are inclosed for saftey reasons, and use far fewer CM's to run. So, basically Disney just doesn't want to build a new one, for some reason other than what everybody has been told.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip I actually think the transportation in Epcot is adequate -- at least until they stop running the Friendships in the evening. At the Magic Kingdom where you spend 3 minutes walking from one attraction to another, then standing in line for 40 minutes, then sitting down for a 2-3 minute ride; you spend about 43 of every 45 minutes on your feet. At Epcot it is more like 5 minutes walking from one attraction to another, then standing in line for 15-20 minutes, then sitting down for a 10-45 minute ride; you spend only 20 - 25 minutes of every 45 minutes on your feet. Epcot attractions provide enough respite from standing and walking that I don’t think additional transportation is really necessary.
Originally Posted By ssWEDguy >> then sitting down for a 10-45 minute ride << You make good points about Epcot. My only question is "What Epcot attraction is 45 minutes?"
Originally Posted By CMM1 RT: You make a good observation that there are a number of EPCOT attractions that provide a long respite from standing: Universe of Energy - 45 min American Adventure - 25 min Spaceship Earh - 10 min Friendship boats - 10 min France film - 10 min Land boat ride - 10 min China film - does it have seats? But still not sure that a transport system of some kind wouldn't be well received by many guests at EPCOT.
Originally Posted By ssWEDguy >> Universe of Energy - 45 min << Not arguing with you CMM1 -- I agree with your points about Epcot. But I think the time given for Energy is a bit high. Yes, it's a good long experience. But not 45 min.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo I don't know ssWEDguy - I think the old guidebooks used to suggest 45 min for UoE, WoM and Horizons.
Originally Posted By CMM1 ss: When I was there a couple of weeks ago they were verbally warning guests at the door that the ride was 45 mins long. The Birnbaum WDW Guide book also lists the attraction at 45 mins.
Originally Posted By ssWEDguy You might be right. I'm wondering if the 45 minutes they suggest includes the wait time between shows? There's that countdown clock out front that shows when the next show will start. Whatever -- it's a good show, and a long one too. I recommend it to families new to the park. "Make sure you go see the dinosaurs!"
Originally Posted By brotherdave Spaceship Earth is longer than 10 minutes. I believe it runs at least 20-25 minutes from boarding to exit. Same with Horizons, World of Motion, and the original Journey Into Imagination. Most of these old 'omnimover'-style attractions lasted about 20 minutes each. Today's Journey into Imagination is just over 10 minutes.
Originally Posted By danyoung I don't have the exact time, but Spaceship Earth feels like a 10 minute ride to me. Certainly not 20 minutes or longer.
Originally Posted By ssWEDguy >> Spaceship Earth feels like a 10 minute ride to me. Certainly not 20 minutes or longer. << Officially, SSE is 12 minutes from boarding to car exit. Times longer than that are probably due to the frontside queue, and what used to be a lengthy hands-on display area at exit.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros I think the UOE time is after you pass the clock. It is about 15 minutes to load the preshow theater and watch the film there, another 15 minutes in the big theater, and then the last 15 minutes is the Dinosaur part and the small theater, finally returning to the main theater. Obviously these are just rough times, but I think that is about what the breakdown is.
Originally Posted By mrkthompsn Having a transporation system in the World Showcase would lessen the potential for guests to stop, browse and spend money at each and every shop along their path. It's a "follow-the-money" rationale.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 they'd just put more shops in the entry and exit area of the transportation...the mouse has plenty of carts
Originally Posted By CMM1 I think the ability of a guest to easily get to any area of the park where they can dine or shop would make up for any purchases that might occur as the guests plod along the shores of the lagoon.
Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom With the Friendship boats in place that means that the countries with the greatest advantage are going to be Mexico and Canada, as they are the closest to the Future World section of EPCOT. After that are Germany and Italy as they both have boat access to the Friendship boats.
