Zao snow monsters

Hi,
I would like to go to Zao to see the snow monsters illumination in Feb 2014.
(1) It says in the website a ticket for the gondola is 2500yen. Suppose I'm using the full day/half day/nighter ticket and already at the top of the mountain before the light-up starts, would I still need to purchase the gondola ticket?

(2) I can't seem to figure out where to take the gondola from the following map.
http://www.zao-spa.or.jp/english/img/slopemap.pdf
After arriving at the Zao Bus terminal, do I walk to the Sanroku Station? After the line terminates, do I go on to take another gondola from the Juhyo Kogen Station to the Jizo Sancho station? Does the ticket price 2500 yen cover all the way from Sanroku Station to the top Jizo Sancho Station?

(3) How far is Sanroku Station from the Zao Bus terminal? Is it within walking distance?

(4) Is it possible to walk to the Family Snow Park area without using lifts?

Thank you.

It says in the website a ticket for the gondola is 2500yen. Suppose I'm using the full day/half day/nighter ticket and already at the top of the mountain before the light-up starts, would I still need to purchase the gondola ticket?

The ski tickets are generally not valid during the light up because it is dark and you cannot ski down anymore. In particular, the nighter is not valid on the ropeway. You may be able to use the full day and half day tickets to get to the summit before 5pm, but not on the way down.

(2) I can't seem to figure out where to take the gondola from the following map.
http://www.zao-spa.or.jp/english/img/slopemap.pdf
After arriving at the Zao Bus terminal, do I walk to the Sanroku Station?

Yes.

After the line terminates, do I go on to take another gondola from the Juhyo Kogen Station to the Jizo Sancho station?

Yes, exactly.

Does the ticket price 2500 yen cover all the way from Sanroku Station to the top Jizo Sancho Station?

Yes.

(3) How far is Sanroku Station from the Zao Bus terminal? Is it within walking distance?

A 10 minute walk:
https://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=%E8%94%B5%E7%8E%8B%E3%83%A9%E3%82%A...

(4) Is it possible to walk to the Family Snow Park area without using lifts?

Yes, it would be an additional 20 minute walk along the road from the ropeway station.