Recommend visiting on a sunny day in the morning, nice view. Afternoon is usually cloudy. The cost of the tour from the tour operator and on the official website of the cable car is the same, it makes no sense to bother and go there on your own.
I was with my family in this hotel for four years in a row, I will probably come for the fifth : ) The hotel justifies its cost. Every year the hotel tries to update or open something.