Does anyone else remember the Crescent Lake trams?

[kylenne]

Talking about transportation in and around the Crescent Lake resorts got me reminiscing about something I rarely see talked about and I was curious to see if anyone else remembers. There was a brief time back in the day that they ran trams between the Crescent Lake resorts and the IG. They were basically the same trams as the parking lot ones and they dropped people off where the Skyliner station is now. I distinctly remember riding them on my family's Dolphin stays when I was a kid in the early 90s but I've not seen anyone mention them before.

 

[Disneydawg74]

I remember these!

 

[kylenne]

I remember these!

On our first trip to the Dolphin I remember seeing a hotel being built while we were riding the tram and in hindsight it had to have been BWI. Only BC/YC and Swan/Dolphin existed at that time and were brand new.

What do you know, YouTube came through!

 

[patty57]

I don't remember these. I sure wouldn't mind if they were still in use, especially when it's crazy hot.

 

[Dave006]

I was curious to see if anyone else remembers. There was a brief time back in the day that they ran trams between the Crescent Lake resorts and the IG. They were basically the same trams as the parking lot ones and they dropped people off where the Skyliner station is now.

Yes we rode the tram for a while in the early 90s. It was great for the Grandparents after an evening at Epcot. It did cause some congestion on the route while guests were walking.

You can still see the impact in a few places. The turnaround loop was where the Skyliner station is today. The split in the walkway between the resorts and Epcot where it divides and has an upper path and a lower path. Guests were asked to walk on the lower path by the canal while the trams were on the upper path.

Dave

 

[kylenne]

Yes we rode the tram for a while in the early 90s. It was great for the Grandparents after an evening at Epcot. It did cause some congestion on the route while guests were walking.

You can still see the impact in a few places. The turnaround loop was where the Skyliner station is today. The split in the walkway between the resorts and Epcot where it divides and has an upper path and a lower path. Guests were asked to walk on the lower path by the canal while the trams were on the upper path.

Dave

Grandma felt very fancy riding it and passing the guests who were walking and always had to say something. I always figured it was discontinued due to safety issues though. After the Boardwalk was built I can imagine the increase in pedestrian traffic in the area made it risky. It's funny how there were remnants of it for years before the Skyliner station was built, but people didn't really know what that giant patch of concrete was for.

It's a shame because it really was a cool way of getting around, especially for folks with mobility issues. At least we still have the Friendship boats!

 

[Disneydawg74]

Talking about transportation in and around the Crescent Lake resorts got me reminiscing about something I rarely see talked about and I was curious to see if anyone else remembers. There was a brief time back in the day that they ran trams between the Crescent Lake resorts and the IG. They were basically the same trams as the parking lot ones and they dropped people off where the Skyliner station is now. I distinctly remember riding them on my family's Dolphin stays when I was a kid in the early 90s but I've not seen anyone mention them before.

I remember thinking how the building of the BW was “ruining the view” from YC.

 

[Giraffe_Zen]

I remember these! I wish they still existed at times! LOL

 

[Dave006]

After the Boardwalk was built I can imagine the increase in pedestrian traffic in the area made it risky.

Once the Boardwalk was built it stopped at ESPN Zone, the BW Green area, and at Dueling Pianos / Atlantic Dance hall before heading around Crescent lake and back to Epcot. Yes it got quite congested as the foot traffic increased around the lake.

Dave

 

[Dave006]

I distinctly remember riding them on my family's Dolphin stays when I was a kid in the early 90s

Ah forget to reference this fun fact for you. The very wide bridge and walkway over the HS canal at the Swan & Dolphin was for the trams and pedestrians. We still laugh today at how wide it is for just for pedestrian access.

Dave

 

[jemtx]

Yes, I remember staying at the YC/BC back when the boardwalk was being built and taking the tram over to the IG. It was December and it was bitter cold. We had to buy Mickey winter hats & gloves.

 

[jemtx]

Love that video. Looks so empty and wide-open without the boardwalk.

 

[fla4fun]

When we rode the tram over the wooden boardwalk (it was completed first, with a construction wall separating it from the BW building site) it always shook so bad we thought it would fall into the water. I miss them.

 

[kylenne]

Ah forget to reference this fun fact for you. The very wide bridge and walkway over the HS canal at the Swan & Dolphin was for the trams and pedestrians. We still laugh today at how wide it is for just for pedestrian access.

My little cousin called it a ride and used to throw his hands up when coming down the hill.

It does seem pretty big for pedestrians only but I have it on excellent authority that every bit of that width is required when walking back to YC after a late birthday night at Oga’s throwing back space drinks.

 

[OKW Lover]

Yes, I remember the trams. I remember staying at the Beach Club and looking across the lake where there were some tethered balloons where BW would be built. They used that for evaluating potential sight line intrusion from Epcot.

 

[Wood Nymph]

I remember taking a tram to look at what they were building. There was a big construction wall that was hiding the construction of the Boardwalk. It was like a "Coming Soon" advertisement. The tram loading zone was where the Skyliner station is now.

 

[LaurEm378]

This is an awesome thread. I had forgotten all about that tram, but I have very clear memories of staying at Y&BC when Boardwalk was being built. My sister and I were teens, and we made some friends and took many walks with them around the boardwalk while the construction walls were up. It was a little eerie, and so cool to go back the next summer and see the Boardwalk for the first time.