New Walt Disney World Transportation System?: Updated 4/18/17 with Confirmed Plans

BrerGnat;2497653 wrote: But they WILL raise the prices of those accommodations.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using Tapatalk

I'm pretty sure you're right about that!

BrerGnat;2497653 wrote: I doubt it. But they WILL raise the prices of those accommodations.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using Tapatalk

I wonder about this too. I'm sure the prices will go up but the room sizes, at least at POP, will force it to stay in the value category so they won't have much wiggle room in price.

Dulcee;2497686 wrote: I wonder about this too. I'm sure the prices will go up but the room sizes, at least at POP, will force it to stay in the value category so they won't have much wiggle room in price.

Sure they will. Let's face it, Guests aren't willing to pay $500 and up per night for rooms at Poly, GF and Contemporary resorts (4 to 5 times higher than the values) when the rooms are only about 30% bigger. They're willing to pay 400-500% more because of the location and transportation options (monorail and ferries)(yeah I know there are other amenities like on-site TS dining options, but the big draw is the Monorail and location close to MK).
I'm not saying that Pop will become priced like a deluxe, but they won't be afraid to jack up the price just because the rooms won't be any bigger. They'll charge what they think the market will bear. My guess is that people will be willing to pay a LOT more for a room at Pop than at All-Stars if they have this cool big cable car thing they can ride to Epcot or HS Studios. And if people are willing to pay more, you can bet Disney will charge more. Example: That $200 Ultimate Disney Classics VIP Tour at MK that basically amounts to a super deluxe FP for 10 popular attractions.

I'm sure Disney has looked at the payback on this. Although it's probably big on capital, the payback on labor, maintenance and other operating costs is probably pretty sweet!

baldburke;2497696 wrote: I'm sure Disney has looked at the payback on this. Although it's probably big on capital, the payback on labor, maintenance and other operating costs is probably pretty sweet!

Big yes but not as big as monorail expansion, and it is greener than buses...

**Update**

Diagram Added Above

http://www.syracuse.com/opinion/index.ssf/2017/01/15m_gondola_from_state_fair_to_lakeview_amphitheater_doesnt_add_up_your_letters.html

I think this is probably the same idea

Figment!;2497608 wrote: As noted above, right now there is primarily conjecture based on several otherwise odd placed buildings with permits filed in seemingly related time spans.

The placement of the buildings in what could be a "network" is leading to the speculation of an elevated transportation system.

The buildings in question are placed:

• Near Epcot's International Gateway
• Near the Current Parking Lot for Disney's Boardwalk
• Near the Current Parking Lot of Disney's Hollywood Studios
• In An Existing Parking Lot Between Disney's Art of Animation and Disney's Pop Century Resorts
• In a New Development Near Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort
• Near the Current Parking Lot for Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort Aruba Section

The planned buildings are noted below with the Dark Blue Dots, the Dark Blue Dashed Line represents a theoretical "loop" style transportation line between Buildings, and the Light Blue Solid Line represents a conjectured "spur" style transportation line between Buildings:

Some of these buildings were noted in the other thread regarding the Caribbean Beach construction.

Seeing it on your map really piqued my interest. We really like staying on the MK loop. Say what you will about the monorails but avoiding buses is great. Being able to stay at an Epcot DVC resort and shuttle between two parks (although three if you really wanted) would be awesome! If this thing took off then perhaps it could be a lower cost replacement to the existing monorail at MK and Epcot. Now if only AKL had it's own dedicated transportation line to AK...

I wonder if these resorts will now be removed from Free Dining offerings? If so, I wonder if POR will return?

PopPhan;2497604 wrote: Here is a "report" from another site:

Gondolas are popular in Singapore

Note the "may have" in the first line....

I have taken the ones in Singapore, definitely a little scary, they are very high up... But the view is spectacular.

I would expect this to be approved and built quickly. There will be no fee, but expect the nightly rate at the resorts on the loop to increase by 20-25%. WDW has changed their mindset over the past decade. It is no longer about repeat customers and loyalty. It is now about once-in-a-lifetime family vacations, and squeezing them for every nickel. Instead of charging $150 for Pop, start charging $180, and put them in a gondola that pays for itself in labor savings in ten years.

AndrewJackson;2498104 wrote: I would expect this to be approved and built quickly. There will be no fee, but expect the nightly rate at the resorts on the loop to increase by 20-25%. WDW has changed their mindset over the past decade. It is no longer about repeat customers and loyalty. It is now about once-in-a-lifetime family vacations, and squeezing them for every nickel. Instead of charging $150 for Pop, start charging $180, and put them in a gondola that pays for itself in labor savings in ten years.

I think the gondolas are a great idea. I disagree about your characterization of Disney though. Everything has gone up everywhere. Disney's tickets have increased most years but the percentage of increases over the past few years has actually decreased. I just booked a room at Pop for around $120 a night. This is far cheaper than many Holiday Inn Express hotels across the country. We don't know if the gondola will be open to guests at Pop or restricted to AoA guests but Disney adjusts room rates using sales now based on demand. Food costs are in line with costs for similar items at Zoos, Ball Games... They have added special events, upper end rooms and high end dining because there is demand but there are still value options. Overall a trip to Disney World/Land is still worth the money or we would stop going.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

williamabutler;2498107 wrote: I think the gondolas are a great idea. I disagree about your characterization of Disney though. Everything has gone up everywhere. Disney's tickets have increased most years but the percentage of increases over the past few years has actually decreased. I just booked a room at Pop for around $120 a night. This is far cheaper than many Holiday Inn Express hotels across the country. We don't know if the gondola will be open to guests at Pop or restricted to AoA guests but Disney adjusts room rates using sales now based on demand. Food costs are in line with costs for similar items at Zoos, Ball Games... They have added special events, upper end rooms and high end dining because there is demand but there are still value options. Overall a trip to Disney World/Land is still worth the money or we would stop going.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

While I agree with you in general, Disney is actually marketing to high income guests and "once in a lifetime" visitors as a strategy. They have said so at the corporate level to employees. They actually have shifted their focus. Expect a lot more upsell opportunities and a gradual phasing out of the resort "categories." And continued price increases.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using Tapatalk

williamabutler;2498107 wrote: I think the gondolas are a great idea. I disagree about your characterization of Disney though. Everything has gone up everywhere. Disney's tickets have increased most years but the percentage of increases over the past few years has actually decreased. I just booked a room at Pop for around $120 a night. This is far cheaper than many Holiday Inn Express hotels across the country. We don't know if the gondola will be open to guests at Pop or restricted to AoA guests but Disney adjusts room rates using sales now based on demand. Food costs are in line with costs for similar items at Zoos, Ball Games... They have added special events, upper end rooms and high end dining because there is demand but there are still value options. Overall a trip to Disney World/Land is still worth the money or we would stop going.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

No, AndrewJackson is right... Disney truly detests repeat guests cause they don't spend as much as the first time/once in a lifetime visitor will... And Nat is right too... Say goodbye to resort categories...

I would love to see them do away with resort categories. I think it is degrading and unnecessary. They already are outdated and don't really equal the same product or rates. I think a better solution is to have a range of rates within each resort. Still I doubt you will ever see turndown service or concierge in All Stars. We go every year to WDW and DL most years and spend plenty enough that Disney still sends us plenty of marketing.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk