Anyone else miss Skyway over the Magic Kingdom?

[Sinclare]

I remember riding it when I was a kid with my dad and I was really looking forward to taking my son on it but when I went back last year (first time since I had been with my dad) it was gone.

Anyone know when they took in down and why? That was a really great "ride".

 

[Uncleromulus]

I miss it too. Just the sort of things at WDW they seem to be taking away.
I do recall that a CM was killed after being hit by one of the cars while standing on the platform. Tho it seemed to me to be "human error" I think Disney had it's eye on closing Skyway down all along. The accident hastened the process.

 

[goofyernmost]

I rode skyway once back in 1984 and although interesting wasn't really worth the wait in line.

The big problem, other than safety, (you know it was just a matter of time before some idiot tried to climb out of one and jump into the 20K pool) was that it took away from the magic. From above you could see backstage. This was not always a pleasant sight. My X, who btw held two masters degrees, was shocked to find out that the subs didn't actually submerge. Ruined the whole thing for her. I realize the others, like myself, love to see back stage and see how things work but I'm starting to think that not very many feel that way.

Anyway they are a part of WDW history but there really wasn't a lot of noise made after they disappeared.

 

[Kristi1357]

Last day of operation was 11-9-99. I only know that since we got married that day at WDW. Our reception was held at the California Grill and we have pictures from the observation deck looking down into MK with the ride operating. We went to MK next day and it was closed.

 

[Doug123]

I do believe Disney closed it for liability reasons. We rode it last in '96 (my first time there as an adult). I really liked the overview it gave (one of the reasons I like TTA so much).

Now that it's closed, as with other closed attractions, I just wish they'd do something with the empty buildings associated with it.

 

[liznboys]

I miss it! I think it was relaxing, quiet and a fun way to see MK from above. My dh and I rode it on our honeymoon in May 1998, I'm glad we got to do it one last time before it closed the next year. We have photos of us in it.

BUT, even though I liked it, I do think that there were lots of safety issues with it, so I don't blame them for closing it down. Too bad though.

 

[ktglads]

I rode it in 98 during my first trip and then it was gone before my next one. I do remember however going on it during a freak thunderstorm and being stuck for a couple of minutes due to lightning. That was not nice. I did, however manage to get some really nice pictures from it.

Its a shame they don't do something with that house in Fantasyland. Even if they turned it into a character greeting area, it would be better than the emptiness that is there today.

 

[strawberryblonde]

I loved this ride, sniff! Rode it many times on our honeymoon (94) and took pictures after dark of each other riding in it. I was afraid it would be gone for our next trip (March '99) with our son who had just turned two, as DL had already removed theirs. It was still in operation and I had our group ride it every chance we got that week. We even video taped the entire ride, at dusk, it looks so magical. My kids watch that tape now and ask about that ride, they want to ride it. Wish my son could remember it but at least we have the tape. Wish your son could have ridden it with you.

 

[Terry S]

I also loved this ride and miss it. It is so nice to view everything from up high. They still have a ride just like it at Cedar Point which isn't too far from here, it is fun, but not like viewing the MK.

 

[jmkst58]

Love it. miss is.

 

[meeko_33785]

Sorry to go against the grain here but I never liked the ride. First of all, I don't like heights and second of all I thought it just really clashed with the theming. How does a flying gondola fit into a storybook villiage or a world of the future. I think the theming in both lands are vastly improved with the ride's absence.

 

[NMAmy]

Oh, my gosh, this is my most hated ride! I'm not usually afraid of heights, but we rode a similar ride at Cedar Point last summer and it scared my daughter and I to pieces. And we're both HUGE coaster daredevils. I spent the whole ride with my head in my lap so I couldn't see anything.

 

[CAJUNWDWFAN]

I miss it also. Rode on it may times as a kid.

 

[monarchsfan16]

I loved the ride. It was a nice way to relax and to escape some of the crowds and noise of the park for a few minutes. One of my favorite pictures, was taken while we were in one of the "buckets" (as my sis called them). It's of my grandparents, who were in the one behind us. THat was in 98, the last time we were able to ride it. When we went back in 2000 we were all disappointed that it was no longer there.

 

[Jestocost]

While a CM was killed in February 1999 when the skyway started up unexpectedly while he was cleaning one of its platforms, that accident apparently was incidental to its closing. More likely, the attraction's age and carrying capacity, staffing requirements, maintenance costs, and the expense required to upgrade the Skyway to conform to newer safety and access standards were the primary factors.

The skyway at Disneyland was closed in 1994 (coincidentally not too long after a guest jumped from one if its cars into a tree near the Alice attraction) for similar reasons. The skyway at Six Flags Over MidAmerica was closed a number of years ago too. I expect it was just a ride that's time has come and gone.

Some of the above was borrowed from Snopes.com. You can read their complete report on the Disney Skyway closings here:

http://www.snopes.com/disney/parks/skyway.htm

 

[joshsmom]

I'm a HUGE roller coaster fan and heights don't bother me. I'm in the minority, but that ride scared the stuffin's out of me!!!! I always imagined plunging to the pavement and taking out Pooh or some little kids. Rode it once, don't miss it. Rode the one at Six Flags over Mid America once, don't miss it either!! No offense to those of you who really liked it. It just wasn't for me!

 

[dizagain]

ooohh...glad it's gone! I was at the Six Flags in St. Louis (is that the Mid-America one?) as a child when the ride stalled during a storm and a car fell. They immediately closed the park and gave us rain checks. We watched on tv at the hotel as the people were stuck for hours in storms and finally rescued by helicopter by climbing onto those hanging ladders. I saw a woman hand over her infant. Needless to say, I don't do those rides!! Unfortunately, though, I would like to try skiing, but I can't imagine getting on one of those lifts! It makes my stomach hurt just thinking of it!

I wish Disney would do something with the building, though. Someone told me they were making a Nemo ride in the lagoon area, is that true or rumor? ?

 

[madthemouse]

We loved the Skyway!

Also, had some interesting experiences on this ride. In 1997 we had just boarded in Fantasy Land we were about 300' out when it came to a stop. My daughter was 6 at the time, and wanted to know if we were stuck. I told her no, and that the ride would begin again soon. THe ride stated up, but only moved about another 50'. I was now a bit more concerned, seeing where we were prior to that last move, I thought if we had to disembark. We are next to one of the poles, and I could pass my daughter to whomever would come to help. Well, to make this story a little longer. We're stuck there for about 15-20 minutes. The saving grace was....the best view of the fire works! We were so close, right over are heads.

It's not over yet! The very next year we board this time from Tomorrow Land, and tthe CM dosen't latch the door al the way. We gat over the Speedway the door flys open, and my poor DD was wondering if were goint fall out. After I held the the door shut until we made the turn and the CM was able to latch it for us.

After all that, we both do miss the Skyway and all the fond memories it gave us.

 

[Simba's Mom]

The door coming open would really scare the Heck out of me! The reason it probably stopped so much is that they were having a problem with birds nesting up in the overhead rail. When I was waiting in line in 1995, it stopped and when the maintenance men showed up to fix it, that's what they said as they pulled a bunch of nesting material out. Then when I got on it, it stopped about 20 feet from the end, the Fantasyland station. It was my first solo trip, I had the whole car to myself, and I loved just sitting there, relaxing and enjoying the view. However, the CM at the station must have expected me to panic or something, because he kept yelling up, "Don't worry, we'll get you down soon" and asking me if I was alright. His concern was nice, but I loved just sitting!

 

[jellydisney]

THE DOOR CAME OPEN?!!!!?

I would have been freaking out!

I never cared much for that ride. The line was always monstrously long, and for some reason, I always got nervous whenever the car went up and over the pole holding the cables.