skyway to tomorrow land??????

[birdiesunshine]

What ever happened to the Skyway? It's been closed for years but I just wondered why they shut it down and if it ever will return. Someone out there must know the scoop. Any kind of help would be greatly appreciated!!

 

[Babyfatt]

I don't know which one (MK or DL) but I read long ago in a thread somewhere that there was a CM accident at Skyway.

I could be wrong though.

 

[Montana Disney Fan]

I don't think it's coming back. Last time there I noticed that they even removed the poles and cable for it. We used to love this quick ride!! Too bad it's gone.

 

[wdwgoofeeee]

If I remember correctly, a few years ago at WDW a CM was killed when he was hit in the head by one of the cars in the station. It was a terrible accident and this is probably why they shut it down.

 

[rangebob]

The worker got caught by one of the cars his clothing got caught on the cart. He was hanging on until he got to the first support where he couldn't hold on any longer and fell. The park was closed at the time so no guests were around at the time. I believe it was about 3 years ago they cut down and totally removed the entire ride.

 

[Geoff_M]

I think the CM incident was "the last straw" with regard to that attraction. There have been other attractions that have taken the lives of CMs before (including CoP) and are still running today. I do believe that there were a couple of other falling accidents with the ride that added to its demise, as will as the continual temptation for riders to drop or "project" things down onto the people walking below them.

When we made our first AK ("after kids") visit in 2000 all that was left were the poles and stations. I seem to recall that the poles took some time to take down due to some lead-based paint abatement that they had to complete before they could be scrapped.

 

[LibertyBelle]

At Disneyland the skyway was removed by order of Walt Disney as it frustrated him. People there would be on the skyway and from it you could see the main road. There were to many people that would leave the park early because they didn't want to get caught up in the traffic. He removed the DL Skyway to try and prevent the early departures.

As for WDW yes there was a CM accident, but it was not the "only" reason the Skyway was removed. The accident as stated happened before the park opened and was tragic, however the CM was in a location that he should not have been in (restricted area) and the unfortunate accident took place. The Skyway had been up for removal before that happened as they were talking about the future of the 20,000 Leagues Lagoon. In order to do what they wanted to there they would have to remove the Skyway as it got in the way. The Skyway was removed and they tried to drain the Lagoon but found that as they were draining the water the walls were collapsing and there was some damage in the tunnel area. They filled the lagoon back up and re-worked the plan (that all took place about 4 years ago)... the Lagoon has finally be drained of the water and the building itself is scheduled to be demolished sometime in the next few months to make way for their new ride adventure.

 

[iceskatejen]

The DL skyway was there when I was a teenager (I was born in 1970), which means it survived through at least most of the 80s and into the 90s if I'm not mistaken (they showed it on an episode of the show Blossom and I think that was shot in 89 or 90), so Walt Disney couldn't have had them take it down--he'd already been dead more than 20 years before it was taken down. Unless he made the order from the grave.

 

[Geoff_M]

LibertyBelle,

Per Yesterland, the DL Skyway wasn't closed until 1994. Link

 

[Chuck S]

Several reasons have been listed for the Skyway closures. 1) ADA requirements, the Tomorrowland station was accessible only through a stairway, no wheelchairs. 2) Maintenance costs were rising on the aging attractions, at DL a support arm had broken at one time, guests had to be evacuated from the ride, no serious injuries. 3) Guests complaints, people on the skyway had a habit of throwing things or expectorating on guests on the ground. 4) While the attraction was already scheduled for closure, the CM accident at WDW was the final straw.

 

[Yensid_MD]

Also guests could see the "Backstage" areas that are not meant to be seen.

 

[Horizons16]

The lagoon at WDW is drained??

 

[Geoff_M]

It was drained in early May:

http://www.mouseplanet.com/parkupdates/wdw/wdw040510.htm

 

[RickNWendy]

The 20K Leagues lagoon- last I heard it was mostly drained- so is it official it is now waterless (and mosquito breeding ground-less)

 

[birdiesunshine]

Thanks for everyone's input! I have pictures of the park from the old Skyway and if I get time I'll post them on webshots and add a link. The pictures are probably 20 years old!
P.S.
Does anyone know what they have planned for the old 20,000 League's Under the Sea ride ?

 

[flyinglizard]

Wow! What a lot of baloney!

Chuck S was the closest to the real reason the Skyway was closed. In Disneyland, the ride was removed because of new laws (not sure if they were state or O.C.) requiring equal access for the handicapped. Since the Skyway was in constant motion, it would be difficult and undesirable to stop it for disabled guests. It was decided that rather than spend the money and attempt to find a solution to the problem, they would just close the attraction.

Although the other points Chuck S mentioned are often offered as reasons for the closing of the Skyway, they had relatively little to do with the final decision. They did however allow Disney to take a politically correct and safety oriented stance before the public, disabled rights activists and legions of Disneyland fans.

I assume similar reasoning resulted in the closing of the attraction at WDW, but I don't know that for a fact.

 

[LibertyBelle]

Originally posted by Geoff_M

Per Yesterland, the DL Skyway wasn't closed until 1994. Link

Well I stand corrected and apologize for the misinformation. That was what I have always been told, I guess I will have to check my resources better (having worked for WDW for 9 years you just believe what other CM's tell you LOL I guess it is just Urban Legend via CM's at WDW...)

As Chuck stated the WDW Skyway had a myriad of reasons that it was already scheduled to be closed... The CM accident was just the last straw. Should be interesting to see what the plan is for the 20K Lagoon area, since they are keeping it so hush hush...

 

[lentesta]

While discussing an urban transportation problem last week, we reflected that the Magic Kingdom has boats, trains and cars for transportation within the park. And you can get to it by walking, monorail, bus, boat or car. If they put a helipad in Tomorrowland and brought back the Skyway, I think it'd be the ultimate multi-modal system.

Len

 

[flyinglizard]

Len,

Please do not forget the People Mover technology when discussing multi-modal transport systems.

I seem to remember that the Disneyland Hotel had a heliport during the early years...

 

[Chuck S]

Disneyland Hotel did indeed have a Helipad - actually I don't know if the pad was on Disney property or located very nearby, but the 'copter service to and from LAX was discontinud after two helicopter crashes in the late 1960s or very early 1970s. I saw one go down from our back yard when I was a child. There was a problem either with the blades, or how they were attached...in both events the main rotors sheered away from the helicoptera and they dropped like rocks

I don't know who operated the helicopter service, but is was a private company, not affiliated with Disney.