Why did they get rid of the Peoplemover & Skyway?

[brocklesnar69]

I always thought these were pretty popular? Why did Dinsey do away with them?

I remember riding the Skyway. I miss it.

 

[SilverCeladon]

I did love the Skyway also. I think they took it down because someone fell out of it many years ago.

 

[brocklesnar69]

WHAT!?

Oh my god! That is terrible!

 

[darph nader]

The Skyway was (take your pick)
A. No longer up to code. (for earthquakes) or
B. Too difficult to 'rescue' anyone in case of a major malfunction.
Now the People Mover is a different matter.
Supposedly too 'lame',so they put in a White Elephant. The Rocket Pods.

 

[Albort]

The Skyway was (take your pick)
A. No longer up to code. (for earthquakes) or
B. Too difficult to 'rescue' anyone in case of a major malfunction.
Now the People Mover is a different matter.
Supposedly too 'lame',so they put in a White Elephant. The Rocket Pods.

hmm, accidents...
wikipedia them :|

 

[HydroGuy]

I thought the issues with the Skyway (which I dearly miss) were handicap accessibility and safety regarding people throwing things out of the vehicles and hitting people below.

 

[4bugzinarug]

hmm, accidents...
wikipedia them :|

And here's the link:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skyway_(Disney)

We miss the Skyway I like the one at Sea World San Diego ... but my husband calls them "Buckets of Death" and refuses to ride on them

 

[DLR29]

I think on the Peoplemover some people were trying to jump from car to car and someone was run over or something.

 

[CalGal]

I had also heard that the reason that the Skyway closed was because it was not handicap accessible. However, I did find web sites listing Disney accidents that report an accident in April of 1994 (the year it shut down at Disneyland) where someone fell out of the Skyway ride into a tree. (It didn't sound like the injuries were that serious). I suspect there were a number of contributing factors leading to the decision to close the ride. For example, I've heard stories of some not so Disney behaviors that went on while guests were riding the ride. Indeed, I miss it and the People Mover. There was also a fire on the PeopleMover shortly before it closed, but I think it was closed so that it could be replaced by RocketRods -- which didn't quite live up to its expectations.

 

[arliepooh68]

in the late 70s or early 80s the PM would break down a lot. . my brother and I got stuck on it everytime, we have seen lots of different back areas as a result.

as for the seaworld ones being buckets of death I agree!!! i ride them cuz my kids want on them, but i about have a panic attack everytime. . i think cuz those are roundtrip it freaks me out so bad, cuz disneyland never bothered me.

 

[pixiewings71]

The Rocket Rods were horrible!!!!! Absolutely horrible. I wish they would just bring the People Mover back, that was so much better. I don't miss they Skyway, I have a fear of heights/falling, that was a horrible ride for me.

 

[brocklesnar69]

The peoplemover at WDW (TTA) is pretty popular. So why would they get rid of the DL one (Which looks like it might have been a little longer ride.)?

And how could Disney not be able to keep the Skyway, but Great America can? They still have it (I was there two days ago and rode it). ?


It's too bad.

 

[HydroGuy]

The peoplemover at WDW (TTA) is pretty popular. So why would they get rid of the DL one (Which looks like it might have been a little longer ride.)?

And how could Disney not be able to keep the Skyway, but Great America can? They still have it (I was there two days ago and rode it). ?


It's too bad.

The decisions were made in the 1990's by some executives with no previous theme park experience. These and other decisions, including massive cutbacks on maintenance budgets, had a negative effect at DL and led to the ouster of the executives. But their legacy of an almost destroyed Tomorrowland lives on.

Add to the above list the moving of the Rocket Jets down to the entrance of Tomorrowland where it crowds the walkways and is a major PITA. Plus it is so uninspiring now, whereas when the Rocket Jets flew high above TLand it gave a sense of motion to the whole area there.

FWIW, there are rumors about moving the Rocket Jets back to where they used to be and bringing back the PM in a new form - the current rumor is as transport pods like those in The Incredibles. But no rumors exist AFAIK about my beloved Skyway.

 

[darph nader]

hmm, accidents...
wikipedia them :|

I knew of the fire from one of the drive wheels.To me,that's an accident. Some unfortunate soul getting killed for a foolish stunt,is another story,in my book.

 

[4bugzinarug]

You know what I miss is the Tomorrowland ride where you sat in that egg-shaped pod thingie ... I think it was the ride where supposedly you would shrink As a kid, I thought that was pretty cool! Yes, I am embracing my inner dork

 

[mumchum]

I love the people mover. Never a line up. Always a nice relaxing ride, just to chill out and sit down without being crowded.

The Skyway? I remember getting spat on while on the Alice in Wonderland ride which passed under the Skyway. I was not impressed. It was a neat way to get from one land to another though. Not a huge loss. But I think I'm jaded from the spitting incident.

 

[1Robins]

You know what I miss is the Tomorrowland ride where you sat in that egg-shaped pod thingie ... I think it was the ride where supposedly you would shrink As a kid, I thought that was pretty cool! Yes, I am embracing my inner dork

This ride was called Monsanto (sp??).

 

[darph nader]

This ride was called Monsanto (sp??).

I pretty sure,it was called "Adventure(s) thru Inner Space". Mosanto was the sponsor.

 

[TheTexasKid]

I love the people mover. Never a line up. Always a nice relaxing ride, just to chill out and sit down without being crowded.

The Skyway? I remember getting spat on while on the Alice in Wonderland ride which passed under the Skyway. I was not impressed. It was a neat way to get from one land to another though. Not a huge loss. But I think I'm jaded from the spitting incident.

When I was on my Adventures by Disney tour, one of the other tour members was a ride designer at Disneyland, actually, he helped to design the Nemo ride at Disneyland, and one of the questions that came up was why the Skyway was closed. And his response was that--among the reasons--was people riding on the Skyway spitting on the people on the ground.

And the fellow who fell into the tree, if we are talking about the same fellow, that wasn't accidental, that was deliberate. He deliberately opened the door on the ride and fell or jumped into the tree, with the thought of suing Disney. The reason he didn't sue, was that his actions were videotaped by someone else riding the Skyway, who turned over the tape to Disney.

But seeing the Skyway as a lawsuit waiting to happen, it was taken down.

 

[jemilah]

The people mover was such a great way to rest! There is an online petition to bring it back , serch the archives here for a link to it. I agree moving the rockets was a mistake what a waste of space , and where they were originaly is another wasted space. Adventures theru inner space was where star tours is now. I hope they really do upgrade Star Tours , it needs a facelift !