Why was the skylift removed from WDW?

[k5thbeatle]

Was it in need of repair which would have been too $$$? Was it just plain too expensive to run and maintain??? Were not enough people riding it?

When Disney removes a ride do they usually give a press release explaining why? If so what did they say about this one?

Anyone know for sure... beyond conjecture???

 

[phamton]

In February 1999, a park custodian at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom was killed when the skyway started up unexpectedly while he was cleaning one of its platforms. Many people assumed that this was the reason plus an earlier accident that resulted in a lawsuit at Disneyland skyway are the reason the ride closed but that is not the reason. The Skyway was not dismantled out of a fear of similar incidents, but for a variety of economic factors, including the attraction's age and carrying capacity, staffing requirements, maintenance costs, and the expense required to upgrade the Skyway to conform to newer safety and ADA access standards.

 

[Simba's Mom]

When I got to ride the Skyway a few months before it closed, a bunch of birds had built a nest in the rails, so the ride was down for about 1/2 hour. When they came to remove the nest and get the ride going, they grumbled about how "There's always something with this ride" and "Damn birds, always doing this." So once again, we can partially blame the increasing # of birds at the MK.

 

[Horizons16]

I think we could pick a number of things that brought this attraction down.
Two things I thought of was seeing the tops of the buildings... i mean they are concrete colored buildings... too much to spend the money for theming up there.
Another i would say that some thought of it as an eye sore...

 

[stinkerbelle]

Also was guest safety. That ride had to close down during a thunder/lightening storm.

imagine being in the middle of the ride during a storm?

 

[cnaumann]

If the lift at Blizzard Beach one of the sky ways that was removed from Magic Kingdom?

 

[civileng68]

Well, obviously by the responses, and how each one is different, you can tell that we really dont know why it was removed.

I think all have merit,

lightning, danger, but personally I think it sucks to be up there and see the lack of theming and behind the scenes stuff. Took away from the magic. That may have had "something" to do with it, but you would have thought that they already figured that when they built it.

I dont know but I doubt the one at BB was the same one in MK.

 

[THEDISFANS]

A lot of parks are getting rid of those types of rides because the liabilty insurance is getting really high. Also upkeep is costly. A local ammusment park here in Va shut there cable cars down because the insurance cost was getting to high. I guess nowadays you have stupid people who like to stand up or trow things down to the ground it ruins it for everyone.

 

[Metallicat]

I'm glad its gone. I was always worried somebody would spit, pour something out, or throw something as I was walking under it and you pretty much had to walk under it when walking through that area. yes, I was more than happy to see it go.

 

[CHIPSTER]

While I liked the ride, the lines were usually long. I for one was spit on by a group riding above me while I was walking. Takes all kinds.

 

[danny1649]

One of a kind view of MK,have some great photo's I took while riding.

 

[mickeyfan2]

There was also the problem of stuff being dropped onto guests on the ground. At DL we saw some teens almost thrown out of the park (only allowed to stay when parents claimed them in minutes) for spitting off the skyride.

 

[k5thbeatle]

While I liked the ride, the lines were usually long. I for one was spit on by a group riding above me while I was walking. Takes all kinds.

If that had happened to me you can bet I would have been waiting for them at the exit!

 

[Maridw]

I remember getting stuck on the one at DL for 30 minutes. I have great shots of Fantasyland as we had just come out of the Matterhorn. Watched the climbers on the Matterhorn from a different view too.

I'm kinda sad about it going. Been seeing too many things that I remember as a kid being shut down at both DL & WDW. Makes you feel old.