The old "SKYWAY" ride

[brunette8706]

I think that was the name of the ride/attraction. It was located between Fantasyland and Tomorrowland. It was like a "skilift" type of attraction that took you between the two "lands". It was really cool! If you were too tired to walk between these two "lands" you could take the Skyway! Now it's a stroller area. I would really like to see it come back. What do you all think?

Thanks All!
Brunette

 

[disneydreamer98]

Miss it and would love to have it back, but I'm not holding my breath!

 

[brunette8706]

Miss it and would love to have it back, but I'm not holding my breath!

**
Hi Melissa! Me too!

 

[exwdwcm]

yep, so sad to see it go. But there was an accident tied to it before it closed. in Feb 1999 Raymond Barlow, 65 was killed while sweeping the skyway platform. Other CM's turned on the ride that am prior to guests entering the park, not realizing he was standing there, sweeping. The gondola knocked him off the platform and he grabbed the car and tried to hold on (and i guess climb in), instead he couldn't hold on and fell. The skyway was closed later in 1999, following that accident. It was always such a slow loading ride too anyhow, but definitely nostalgic.

 

[TillyMarigold]

They demolished the Tomorrowland tower last fall. You could see the demolition from the TTA once it reopened.

 

[Lou Holtz]

Pictures?

 

[arcticdisneylovers]

I LOVED that ride

 

[PrincessTeresa]

Oh, I miss that! I have a picture of my mom and I on it! I'll have to get the photo albums from her house and scan it to share!

 

[Suellen]

I read somewhere that the Fantasyland end of it may be an eating place soon? Not so sure how true that is... but it would be good to see it in use for something.

I loved it too and am sad my kids won't get to experience it.

 

[2luvmickey]

I really miss this ride, and the Skyway at DLR. Just a great ride to get a view of the park.

My 3 DS and I love the TTA, just a nice way to sit back, relax, and take a slow ride through our favorite land.

 

[shalom]

in Feb 1999 Raymond Barlow, 65 was killed while sweeping the skyway platform. Other CM's turned on the ride that am prior to guests entering the park, not realizing he was standing there, sweeping.

That was actually the second time someone ended up hanging from the gondola - the other person was a woman, who managed to grab hold for a bit. She did end up losing her grip but it was over a building and she survived. The one time Disney could brush off as a freak accident maybe, but not twice.

Although I have also heard that they were already debating getting rid of it, because kids would spit on people and the like while on it.

 

[sjs314]

I have fond memories of riding it the first time we went to Disney DH and two DS, we had video taped our ride in it but that tape has long since disappeared in our various moves.
One more thing gone from Disney forever

 

[Suellen]

because kids would spit on people and the like while on it.

Sorry but this gave me a good laugh for some reason. I know it is wrong and I would be ticked to get spit on... but it made me laugh just the same. All I can think is "junior high boys"!

 

[SpectroMagic*o*]

I think that was the name of the ride/attraction. It was located between Fantasyland and Tomorrowland. It was like a "skilift" type of attraction that took you between the two "lands". It was really cool! If you were too tired to walk between these two "lands" you could take the Skyway! Now it's a stroller area. I would really like to see it come back. What do you all think?

Thanks All!
Brunette

AGREED!
I'm sure this was addressed already, but why did they take it out? Please disregard if already addressed, I am about to read the previous posts now!

 

[YodaGirl]

I don't remember which trip (I'm thinkin 89 or 90), but they were having technical difficulties. We were stopped for what seemed like forever! My brother kept making the gondala sway back and forth. I just KNEW we were gonna fall! Okay, so maybe we wouldn't have actually fallen, but it scared the crap outta me. I MIGHT have gotten on it once after that, but I'm not sure.

 

[shafke]

There are couple of reasons I have heard for removing the ride.

One is that it could not be operatied in high winds.
Maintenance was becoming a problem (high cost of part and part hard to find)

I think is you do some searches you will find that many of these types of rides were taken out of service for similar reasons. I know there was one in Hersheypark that I think was taken out around the same time as Disney's.

 

[goofydad621]

I loved riding that also just for the view, but it was very slow loading. Also I know that they also had a hard time with people smoking on that ride both cigarettes as well as other things.

I have pictures some where if I can find them I will scan them and post

Dave Goofydad Dionne

 

[doconeill]

There wasn't anything particularly unique about the Skyway at MK, beyond the endpoints. The one at DL at least went through the Matterhorn.

I have heard (not necessarily true) from various sources that gondola rights like that are fairly expensive to operate - partially due to liability insurance. But a lot of amusement parks that have had them have removed them.

I have also heard that there was no simple way to make it ADA-compliant (at least at the Fantasyland end), although I don't think there was any requirement to do so.

 

[Markstudy]

We need more photos

 

[saintstickets]

I really liked this ride. The view was fantastic. We would ride it and then decide where we were going next. As for why it is no longer there, after an accident and with kids throwing things out, the insurance premiums for the ride were astronomical and not worth it to Disney. It is a shame that a few individuals can ruin it for others.