Welcome to those of you joining me from The Disney Chick and
those of you just hopping aboard. I am the 2nd stop on our
Magical Blogorail.
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| All my pictures of the Skyway sum up to this one – closed. :( |
Today I am sitting in on a special Magical Blogorail Black edition, so thank you to all of my Magical Blogorail Black team members for welcoming me on board! In this edition of the Magical Blogorail, we are bringing you our thoughts on the one ride that we would like to see Disney bring back. For me, it’s a no brainer — I miss the Skyway!
For those that aren’t as old as I am, they may not know what the Skyway is. It was a ride at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom park that made two stops, one in Fantasyland, and one in Tomorrowland. Basically, the Skyway was a transportation gondola that would take you from one part of the Magic Kingdom to the other. It was strictly one way transportation, if you wanted to go to Tomorrowland you got on the Skyway at Fantasyland, and if you wanted to go to Fantasyland you got on at Tomorrowland. There was nothing preventing you from getting back in line to make the trek back, but most people didn’t do that.
The reason that the Skyway no longer exists is somewhat murky; depending on who you ask you may get an entirely different answer. The Skyway closed at the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World on November 9, 1999 — although I swear it seems like it closed much earlier than that! There was a tragic, fatal accident involving a Cast Member and the Skyway, and it is likely that this was the reason that it was closed, but I don’t think that Disney ever announced officially why it was closed.
Although the Skyway is no more, the power of the Internet is such that we are able to relive the feeling of the Skyway by looking at YouTube videos. The nostalgia part of me misses all of the classic attractions, and longs for those simpler days when you could ride them, but the technology side of me understands why they were removed. I’ve embedded a YouTube video of the ride that I thought was well done. Look at it and tell me what’s different about Cinderella Castle!
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ApHpap5cb38
So tell me, what do you miss from Walt Disney World?
Thank
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We were there in the early part of 1999, and I don't remember the Skyway being open at that time; but that could be due to the fact that I've never been a fan of that type of ride (which could stem back to riding REAL cable cars in Europe when I was 5 years old.
I remember riding the Skyway in the late 80's though (and even have that big hair picture that I've shared on my blog a time or two!)
The thing I find saddest about its closing is the fact that the building that housed it still sits there, looking so sad and lonely. I wish Disney would do something about that!
Oh, and it looks like the castle was decked out in its controversial birthday suit! :)
It is interesting that there are legends of why it closed. I also have some terrbily processed photos of my sister and I on it. So I am glad I got to experience it.
Wow, I forgot how much I didnt like the birthday clothes the castle had! Oh, and Mr. Toad, sigh, I miss Mr Toad's wild ride!
Heidi, they are refurbing the old skyway pavillion to become the bathrooms for Fantasy Land. They are getting rid of the bathrooms by Peter Pan, I believe, to make a bigger que line for the ride.
this was a fun video to watch!
Thank you for sharing the video! I started going to WDW in 2008 (I grew up with Disneyland) so I never got to experience this. But I love learning/experiencing something new about Disney history (even if it's fairly recent history ;) ) so I really enjoyed this. :)
This is so interesting. I learned about the Skyway in my Cast Member traditions class, but never got to ride it. My first visit to WDW wasnt until 2000. I think this would have been so neat to ride. I have ridden the chairlift at Blizzard Beach but I think it would have been 100x better over the Magic Kingdom.
Also i think the castle looks horrible hahahaha 25 years and its a cake, lovely disney, lovely!! hahaha
I vaguely remember actually being on the ride.. I wish it was still there, but I'm pretty sure it freaked me out! Loved the video
Thanks everyone for the comments today! You know, when we were at the Magic Kingdom on the 1st, I didn't even think to look for the old launching spot in Fantasyland. I guess that shows how good Disney is at making a spot look nondescript so no one notices it. I know that they were taking it down, I think it was already gone when we were there, but I don't know for certain. You are right Michelle, it is going to be the bathrooms, and they are re-doing the queue for Peter Pan's Flight.
Zach, is that Cast Member traditions class something associated with the Disney College Program? It would be really neat if a local community college would offer something like that! :)
I miss the Skyway too! It was a clear memory for me during my first visit to Disneyland!