Island Skipper Tours to Close

[CoasterFEV]

(ya know...I'm beginning to think I've gotten a reputation to be the bearer of bad news? Oh well, here I go again)

Effective Sunday, July 15th, Island Skipper Tours (at IOA) will be closed indefinitely. It's last run will be Saturday, July 14th at approximately 2:45pm (prior to the pyro being loaded into the lagoon).

This decision is focused on the very low guest flow to the attraction vs. the cost of maintaining and running the vessels.

The attraction is being handed back over to Universal Creative to see if an alternative is possible.

Until then, the official quote will be "closed indefinitely"




The good news out of all this is that there is very much some renewed interest in McMonkey!!!

 

[MIB999999]

What is McMonkey?????

 

[BarryHom]

McMonkey is the Sneetches ride. I hope they finally get it open!

Too bad the Island Skipper Tours is closing. I remember around April 2000 that there was a jet ski show in the lagoon. I haven't seen it since. Anyone know if that is returning?

 

[Earl]

Don't buy any tickets based on speculation that anything is going to come of McMonkey.

 

[johare]

Something has to come of it eventually...or do they plan on just leaving all those tracks up as a strange decoration for Seuss Landing.

 

[Beckles]

At one point they had cars on the tracks with characters (our trip in January), but I have not seen them on any of my subsequent trips, though I think CoasterFEV or Earl mentioned they were not run in inclement weather, which is almost every day of course

Regardless, that is still quite a waste!

 

[fboy9287]

Heck they even have the queueing line for it!

 

[kellymonaghan]

Why doesn't Universal run a contest to come up with a new theme/script for the Island Skipper Tours ride?

Maybe the pilot could warn passengers that the Great Inland Sea is filled with failed biological experiments that escaped during the early stages of Jurassic Park. Then they could add a few mechanical figures that could lift out of the water and be blown away by the pilot of the veseel. You know, hideous monsters with the body of a lizard and the head of Michael Eisner.

Just a thought.

 

[kellymonaghan]

I always thought Island Skippers was a great chance for people with video cameras to get some nifty establishing shots of the park. Too bad this opportunity will no longer be available.

 

[johare]

I just don't think these within the park boat rides work well...the Magic Kingdom lost it's Swan Boats years ago, rumor has it that the Friendship boats within the World Showcase at Epcot are to be discontinued and the 'Radio Disney/whatever they were called before' boats at Animal Kingdom no longer run.

If they do remove the boats the should probably move the boats out into the main lagoon and use them for the shuttle between PBH/HRH and Citywalk.

 

[kellymonaghan]

Originally posted by johare
If they do remove the boats the should probably move the boats out into the main lagoon and use them for the shuttle between PBH/HRH and Citywalk.

Oooh! Neat idea.

 

[larworth]

I say we should all give up the McKonkey ghost. It seemed like a nice idea, but isn't there some old adage about pouring good money after bad. I hope this thing hasn't gotten personal.

I you could with little money get a couple of Seuss figures to circulate as decoration, why not. I say erase the word McKonkey from the IOA dictionary and put all further time and money into getting us that next new attraction (whatever it is) to us faster.

 

[fboy9287]

Oh something coming but i really hope soon.

 

[nhrenee]

Kelly..LOL!!!

 

[BarryHom]

Originally posted by kellymonaghan
Why doesn't Universal run a contest to come up with a new theme/script for the Island Skipper Tours ride?

Maybe the pilot could warn passengers that the Great Inland Sea is filled with failed biological experiments that escaped during the early stages of Jurassic Park. Then they could add a few mechanical figures that could lift out of the water and be blown away by the pilot of the veseel. You know, hideous monsters with the body of a lizard and the head of Michael Eisner.

Just a thought.

If they add Joe Rhodes, it would be even scarier.

 

[joe]

I think they should have made the Island Skipper tours more prominent in the park maps. Most people don't even know it's there and they see a boat in the water and don't know where to get on it. Look where it drops you off in JP! Terrible location. You need another map just to get to that spot. Most people are on their way toSeuss Landing or MSHI and just walk right by it.It's really a nice ride but way too secluded on both ends and the signs telling you where to get on are like they are intentionally hiding the ride. It's Universal's own fault for putting the ride entrances in horrible spots. How can anyone get on the ride if they can't even find the signs to the entrance?

Oh well, one boat operation made for a very poor capacity anyway.

 

[SkipperSam]

I drove the last boat

(ya know...I'm beginning to think I've gotten a reputation to be the bearer of bad news? Oh well, here I go again)

Effective Sunday, July 15th, Island Skipper Tours (at IOA) will be closed indefinitely. It's last run will be Saturday, July 14th at approximately 2:45pm (prior to the pyro being loaded into the lagoon).

This decision is focused on the very low guest flow to the attraction vs. the cost of maintaining and running the vessels.

The attraction is being handed back over to Universal Creative to see if an alternative is possible.

Until then, the official quote will be "closed indefinitely"




The good news out of all this is that there is very much some renewed interest in McMonkey!!!

 

[SkipperSam]

We had 3 Boats

I think they should have made the Island Skipper tours more prominent in the park maps. Most people don't even know it's there and they see a boat in the water and don't know where to get on it. Look where it drops you off in JP! Terrible location. You need another map just to get to that spot. Most people are on their way toSeuss Landing or MSHI and just walk right by it.It's really a nice ride but way too secluded on both ends and the signs telling you where to get on are like they are intentionally hiding the ride. It's Universal's own fault for putting the ride entrances in horrible spots. How can anyone get on the ride if they can't even find the signs to the entrance?

Oh well, one boat operation made for a very poor capacity anyway.

 

[JessicaR]

I drove the last boat

what are you doing now? Still at the parks? I miss the Skipper Tour!

 

[Planogirl]

What was the Island Skipper Tours? Was it the boats that crossed to the three (I think?) docks in the lagoon?