Why were these rides removed from the parks

[icarus]

Thanks for all of the responses. This definitely clears things up for me.

While I understand some of the ADA discussion with regard to accessibility, as another poster mentioned, (at this point in time), it is NOT required that all attractions at amusement parks be made accessible. I work with ADA guidelines on a daily basis, and this has never been the case. If it were, good bye roller coasters, etc.

With this being said, there are some companies that will go above and beyond the federal and state accessibility guidelines, meaning doing more than the minimum as far as accessibility codes go. It could be entirely possible that Disney saw both of these attractions as rides that were tame enough that everyone should be able to enjoy them, and not having wheelchair access was reason to close them.

. . . although my theory sounds good (to me), all of the other response sregarding servicing the rides, make more sense.


I've seen some chairlifts at ski resorts under constant maintenance, and can't imagine the cost to keep them running.

Thanks again.

 

[ransom]

Just wanted to add that, although I was initially distraught over the closing of the skyways at DLR and WDW, I've come to realize that it was a good decision since it was so easy to see "behind the scenes" on those rides. I loved riding the skyway through the Matterhorn, but I'll give that pleasure up in exchange for not breaking the illusion.

(Now if only Disney will return the favor and cover up the unfinished back side of Expedition Everest, which is very visible from many points in WDW.)

 

[labattblue]

(Now if only Disney will return the favor and cover up the unfinished back side of Expedition Everest, which is very visible from many points in WDW.)

I was not aware of this. Anyone have any pics?

 

[icarus]

I was not aware of this. Anyone have any pics?

Keep in mind, what may look like "unfinished", may be the look of the environment that Disney was trying to create.

I don't have any photos of how it looks now, but on a similar note, this is a great website that has images of almost every coaster in the world, and many of them during construction. The data base is clumsy to use, but if you are a coaster fan, the site is worth the time.

Hopefully the link below will take you to some awesome construction photos of Everest, if not you will have to go through the search parameters:

http://www.rcdb.com/ig2389.htm

 

[Shorty82]

I had no problem with them getting rid of it, just the fact that they are doing nothing with the space other than a playground on a very small part of the 20k footprint.

My understanding is that the playground is only temporary. From what I've heard there are plans to build an E-ticket attraction there in a few years and instead of leaving the area fenced off and unused for years they decided to put in a playground.

 

[cabanafrau]

My understanding is that the playground is only temporary. From what I've heard there are plans to build an E-ticket attraction there in a few years and instead of leaving the area fenced off and unused for years they decided to put in a playground.

Oh, but I'm getting so very impatient, I want it now & I want magic -- real, honest-to-goodness, Disney-to-the-core, magic!

 

[robinb]

I found the following site and it's very interesting, especially the photos of the subs after shutdown:

http://www.20kride.com/home.html

Wow! Great pictures. I even learned something ... that there is a carving of the Nautilus in Pooh's House in the playground. I won't miss that photo op the next time I'm there!

Toad...carnival dark ride that was nothing special. Never understood why anyone would be upset that they used the space for something better.

I, for one, LOVED Toad. Where else in Disney can you GO TO HELL? I think Pooh is a pretty lame replacement myself, but my DD likes it so I go. I always top my hat to the picture of Toad in Owl's house.

 

[Brian_WDW74]

My understanding is that the playground is only temporary. From what I've heard there are plans to build an E-ticket attraction there in a few years and instead of leaving the area fenced off and unused for years they decided to put in a playground.

So the story goes. But keep in mind that both Mickey's Birthdayland and Camp Minnie-Mickey were also originally planned to be temporary. They are both now permanent (with Mickey's Birthdayland being rethemed to eventually become Mickey's ToonTown Fair). Hopefully the E-ticket rumor will turn out to be true, but I won't count on it until something more concrete is announced.

 

[CanadianGuy]

FYI: Off topic, argumentative or sarcastic posts have been removed from this thread which otherwise is full of some really cool information.

Thanks!

Knox

 

[perdidochas]

Does anyone know why the 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea Ride and the Sky Ride (don't know what Disney called them) were taken down? I have been wondering about the 20,000 . . . ride for years, but since looking at a recent thread showing older images of Walt Disney World, I noticed that there was a Sky Ride as well. It seems to me that the Sky Ride would still be pretty popular, as many parks still have these in service, and our kids love them. The 20,000 . . . ride looks like it was pretty awesome as well. It seems like it may have been pretty hot inside the sub at times, but definitely a interesting ride.

Well, I was last on 20000 leagues in the mid 1980s. The only thing good about it was nostalgia. It loaded slow, and frankly stunk. It either needed a major overhaul or to be taken down at that time.

I've heard that the Skyride closed due to a lawsuit by a worker who died.

I also remember when the Mr Toad ride was around, and then taken down, people complained about it. I've also heard similar rumors about the Small World ride, almost being dismantled, with park visitors expressing their concern with this as well.

Small World has been refurbished in the last few years. They aren't going to dismantle it.

I miss Toad, too, but I like the Pooh Ride almost as much (and even when I went to MK the first time in 1973, I didn't know much about the Toad movies).

Just wondering if anyone knows what the reason was to dismantle those rides?

 

[GOOFY4DONALD]

FYI: 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea was one of the most popular attractions in MK up until the day it closed, and its popularity had nothing to do with its closing.

This is so true. We always waited at least and hour to get on (and this was when we could almost walk on any other rides). I remember waiting over 2 hours at DL and this was before fast passes.

 

[icarus]

I found the following site and it's very interesting, especially the photos of the subs after shutdown:

http://www.20kride.com/home.html

Awesome photos. Although I've read that the ride was boring, but I probably would have enjoyed. I'm a fast ride fan, but also like those with story's and winding trips to them.

We were in the pooh playground last month and completely missed the carving above the door.

 

[icarus]

. . . From what I've heard there are plans to build an E-ticket attraction there . . .

What is an "E-ticket attraction"?

 

[Shorty82]

What is an "E-ticket attraction"?

E-ticket is from the days of needing individual tickets to ride the rides. There were A- to E-tickets, E-tickets were required to ride the more thrilling rides. Though the tickets are long gone the term has stuck and is applied to rollercoasters and other thrill rides.

 

[labattblue]

My understanding is that the playground is only temporary. From what I've heard there are plans to build an E-ticket attraction there in a few years and instead of leaving the area fenced off and unused for years they decided to put in a playground.

When did 20k close + When will the new attraction open = WAY TOO LONG!

 

[ms.ojo]

Interesting thread!

Fwiw: I had heard that the Skyway was closed b/c patrons could not resist droping/throwing things down on the crowds below!

 

[Shorty82]

When did 20k close + When will the new attraction open = WAY TOO LONG!

I agree with that one. It took way to long after closing down 20k to finally do something with the space. At least a playground is better than nothing.

Interesting thread!

Fwiw: I had heard that the Skyway was closed b/c patrons could not resist droping/throwing things down on the crowds below!

I believe that was a small part of it but the cost to operate and the inability to evacuate the ride in an emergency or breakdown were the big reasons why.

 

[deej696]

During the 80's and 90's my dad was the Florida dealer for the company that Reedy Creek purchased their firetrucks from. In about 1984, Disney was in need of an aerial ladder truck partly because at the time they had no real way to evacuate the Skyway ride. They were required to demonstrate its abilities early one morning before the park opened, by driving the truck into the park, and "rescuing" cast members who had been placed in about every 3rd or 4th bucket. There were many Disney execs there, including Card Walker, who was happened to be in the park that morning and decided to see it for himself. Everytime I walk through Fantasy Land, I try to picture my dad driving a firetruck there, but the picture boggles my mind!

 

[goofyernmost]

When did 20k close + When will the new attraction open = WAY TOO LONG!

I think that 20k closed at least 10 years ago and the wait for a new attraction in it's place is almost forever. I don't think there are any plans afoot to put anything there. The Pooh playground may just be it.

 

[CanadianGuy]

20k closed in 1994 ... for a few years the loading area was used for a character greet .. and they finally drained the lagoon starting in 2004.