building across from Peter Pan???

[Cruella 66]

We're just back from the Magic Kingdom and while standing in line for Peter Pan I noticed there is a building across the street that appears unused. It is on the map but no labeled between It's a Small World and Haunted Mansion. It almost looks like it could have been a 'sky ride' type building. What is it or what was it??? Thanks! Cindy

 

[Lynn5700]

I think it is the sky ride building.

 

[L&Lfan]

If we're thinking of the same building that's the Fantasyland station for the former Skyway to Tomorrowland attraction.

jon

 

[DarkwingDuck1979]

We're just back from the Magic Kingdom and while standing in line for Peter Pan I noticed there is a building across the street that appears unused. It is on the map but no labeled between It's a Small World and Haunted Mansion. It almost looks like it could have been a 'sky ride' type building. What is it or what was it??? Thanks! Cindy

That's the skyway building.

 

[RandFamily]

It used to house the SKYWAY that was a gondola ride that went from Fantasyland to Tomorrowland. It was removed in 1994. You can get more information about it on wikipedia if you put in Disney Skyway.

I've always been surprised that they still have the building there.

 

[DarkwingDuck1979]

It used to house the SKYWAY that was a gondola ride that went from Fantasyland to Tomorrowland. It was removed in 1994. You can get more information about it on wikipedia if you put in Disney Skyway.

I've always been surprised that they still have the building there.

The other skyway building is still in Tomorrowland as well.

 

[baketank]

Does anyone have a picture of the building in Tomorrowland and where it was/is located? I was only a little tike when this ride was still operational and would be interested in where it was and what the building looks like. Thanks.

 

[tinkgurl]

Yep, it was used for the Skyway ride, which I miss!

 

[Lynn5700]

I have never noticed the building in tomorrow land. I would like to see it as well if anybody has a picture

 

[DebbieB]

It's above the restrooms near Space Mountain (blue building). You can see it across from the TTA loading platform. It's very plain.

 

[MNWDWMANIAC]

I have never noticed the building in tomorrow land. I would like to see it as well if anybody has a picture

 

[Cruella 66]

I THOUGHT there used to be a sky ride there; nice to have it confirmed. Why did they discontinue the ride? Does anyone know? It's really a pretty building in Fantasy Land...maybe a future use for it??? Cindy

 

[MNWDWMANIAC]

I THOUGHT there used to be a sky ride there; nice to have it confirmed. Why did they discontinue the ride? Does anyone know? It's really a pretty building in Fantasy Land...maybe a future use for it??? Cindy

The Skyway closed in November 1999.

As I understood it... maintenance and other issues....

Due to the nature of the ride, it was difficult at times to accommodate guests with some disabilities, particularly from the Fantasyland boarding platform. Maintenance on the Sky was costly.

However in keeping with a general wish to remove older attractions, and replace them with updated ones the Skyway was finally closed on 10th November 1999, joining it's Californian cousin at Disneyland in Anaheim, which closed in 1994, and the Disneyland Tokyo Skyway which was closed in November 1998.

The ride was known as Skyway to Tomorrowland from the Fantasyland terminal, and as the Skyway to Fantasyland from the Tomorrowland terminal.

It's replacement has not yet been announced.

 

[edcrbnsoul]

I was always surprised that with theme park real estate being as valuable as it is that they allow those buildings to sit empty.

 

[Lynn5700]

Oh haha...I remember seeing that now!!

 

[tinkgurl]

Why did they discontinue the ride? Does anyone know?

From what I understand, tthere once was a CM who had an accidental death while working on the Skyway. I can't exactly remember the story, can anyone else help me out?

 

[BrettS]

From what I understand, tthere once was a CM who had an accidental death while working on the Skyway. I can't exactly remember the story, can anyone else help me out?

From the wikipedia:

On February 14, 1999, 65-year-old part-time custodian Raymond Barlow was mortally injured when he fell off the Skyway ride. He was cleaning the Fantasyland Skyway station platform when the ride was accidentally turned on. Barlow was in the path of the ride vehicles, and grabbed a passing gondola in an attempt to save himself. He lost his grip and fell 40 feet, landing in a flower bed near the Dumbo ride. He died shortly after being taken to a local hospital. The Skyway ride, which had been scheduled to be closed before the accident occurred, was permanently closed on November 11, 1999.[58] As a result of the accident, OSHA fined Walt Disney World US$4,500 for violating federal safety codes in that work area.

 

[MNWDWMANIAC]

As the PP stated - In February 1999, a park custodian at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom was killed when the skyway started up unexpectedly while he was cleaning one of its platforms. Raymond Barlow, 65, was sweeping off a narrow skyway platform inaccessible to park guests an hour after the park's 9:00 A.M. opening when other cast members, unaware of his presence, started up the ride. Barlow, startled by the approaching gondola, grabbed onto it and tried to climb inside; he fell 40 feet into a flower bed, hitting a tree on the way down, and died. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration later ruled that the area in which Barlow had been working violated federal safety codes and fined Walt Disney World $4,500 for a "serious" violation of safety standards. Several months later, in November 1999, the Magic Kingdom's skyway was also permanently closed. Once again, the decision to close the attraction was supposedly based on factors other than its being involved in a recent accidental death.

 

[Robo]

I was always surprised that with theme park real estate being as valuable as it is that they allow those buildings to sit empty.

On the Fantasyland side, the skyway station is just a small structure.
It is sandwiched between the massive ride buildings for Haunted Mansion and iasw.
There is very little room for anything large to be built there.

 

[boldlyreal]

I think the first year we went to WDW(2000) there were rumors they were going to turn the fantasyland site into a Swiss themed eatery.