Mystery buildings in Fantasyland??

[Saskiwi]

Hi - on our visit this month, I noticed some roped off buildings in FL, just on your right as you head towards the Big Thunder Trail into Frontierland.

They are sort of Swiss-chalet style and among some trees on a little hill, opposite the Village Haus and up behind the gypsy wagon stalls.

They still feature quite prominently on the big park map poster we bought as a souvenir - but they are not named.

Can anyone tell me what they were - or may be again?

 

[fairycat]

That is the old Fantasyland Station for the Sky Buckets. Those were the Buckets you used to see traveling above the park from Fantasyland to Tomorrowland. I believe only the buildings from the Fantasyland station seem to still exist.

 

[mechurchlady]

http://davelandweb.com/skyway/popup.htm?images/60s/KTPBKYC_1_61_N11R.jpg
That is about 1961.

http://davelandweb.com/skyway/
The photos at the end show that the building has been stripped of all machinery and that it open to the elements. If it were structurally sound they could use it for offices but it is 50+ years old so they might some day tear it down and do something but since it is not an eyesore they will just leave it for now.

Tomorrowland station was turned into offices.

 

[Gisele]

Why not renovate those structures, but keep the nicely aged/worn look to them. Then have a cast member tell campfire type tales, sometimes in them, sometimes outside.
The audience level though would need to be teen age and above. Because in order to tell a truly good tale, one cannot have an audience of hyper tot's. Not to mention, one would have to really down play anything that would be considered "scary"
Maybe tell various tales of Gracey Mansion, that way there would be a very nice tie in with the HM. And younger than teens, might be o.k. with the material then. But then, perhaps not. So my vote would still be then for 13 and up. Just thinking out loud here.

 

[Saskiwi]

I KNEW you guys would know! Were the Sky Buckets same as the People Mover - or was that a whole 'nother thing again?

 

[mechurchlady]

Gisele that is a wonderful idea. Disney tends to leave things sit there like the Peoplemover tracks and the Motorboat dock until there is a need such as offices or something they can make money off of. There are a lot of things that could be done there but I like your idea best so far.

Maybe we could get a nice Bavarian restaurant there but they would have trouble with ADA stuff and that it is on a hill. Maybe we can sneak in there someday and tell ghost stories.

 

[Kayla's Mom]

I KNEW you guys would know! Were the Sky Buckets same as the People Mover - or was that a whole 'nother thing again?

Two different rides. The People Mover track is still there above Tomorrowland.

 

[mechurchlady]

The official name was Skyway but we lovingly called them Buckets or Sky Buckets because the first ride vehicles were round in shape and you sat in a circle around the pole.
http://davelandweb.com/skyway/popup.htm?images/60s/Disneyland-sky-bucket-Aug-62.jpg

 

[Sherwin]

I KNEW you guys would know! Were the Sky Buckets same as the People Mover - or was that a whole 'nother thing again?

As its name (Skyway), the buckets were suspended by cables in the air, like those mountain gondolas. People Mover was just a tracked ride.

 

[Ken2Blitzkrieg]

i remember being on these in 1988 i think it was ..

 

[Sherwin]

I have old home video from '91 of us in the buckets and getting off in the Fantasyland station, in the building you've described!

I agree, that thing should be put to use.

 

[pixiewings71]

I remember they went thru the Matterhorn.....but that's about all I remember. LOL

 

[Disney Dreams]

Hey! Maybe we could start a petition to.... ah, doorbell.....

 

[bumbershoot]

I've read that they use that area for CM happenings.

 

[Mike_M]

I have fond memories of the Skyway as a kid. You could hear the roar of the Abominable Snowman as you passed through the Matterhorn and could see people racing through it. My family usually used it as the first way into Tomorrowland for the trip so you got an arial preview of it which got you even more excited and ready for it.

The other cool memory was that you were essentially aiming at a moving target when you got on and off it. Probably part of the reason why it isn't around anymore but it was fun.

 

[Gisele]

Thank you, mechurchlady. That would be fun too.
I can see it now though, today at Dl. in Anaheim, Ca. two guests were escorted off property for not having heeded the no trespassing sign next to the old Swiss chalet buildings. Hey, it still would be fun to do that though. For as long as the roof will not cave in on us.

 

[YellowMickeyPonchos]

I have a friend who used to be a lead on the Skyway, right before it closed. He said he loved the power he had - to throw people out of the park for misbehaving on that ride. Pretty much do anything wrong while riding it was an automatic eviction!

 

[Gisele]

Yikes!

 

[mechurchlady]

Yikes!

Yep, a nice trip out of the park if it is something serious. Going up there is going backstage and not allowed. They do not like people backstage. Mayb we could do a VIP tour and ask to see Fantasyland Station, lol.

 

[Gisele]

Or...... just check it out with flash light, if needed, during the evening.