Skyway at Disneyland/WDW

[Nala]

Anyone know why this ride closed down in both Disneyland and WDW? I enjoyed it when we were in Disneyland in '87.

[crunkcourt]

According to Wikipedia there were stress cracks in the Matterhorn which is one reason it was shut down in Disneyland. In Disney World it was shut down the same year a worker was killed on the attraction. However, it also listed that it was a violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act, so this may be more of the reason for that one closing.

The Disneyland Skyway was removed in November 1994 due to stress cracks in the matterhorn roller battery supports. At Disneyland, the Fantasyland Skyway station remains, but the Tomorrowland station has been mostly removed. At the Magic Kingdom, the Skyway was removed in 1999, but not before a worker was killed when he was swept off the platform and dropped 40 feet on February 14 of that year. The Tomorrowland station is off-limits to guests, while the Fantasyland station is now used for stroller parking. When the Disneyland Skyway closed, the holes in the Matterhorn were filled in and the supports were dismantled within weeks.

Another key reason for the decision to remove the Skyways was because they were in technical violation of the Americans With Disabilities Act. It was very difficult to load and unload mobility-impaired guests (one must step up when boarding and down when de-boarding), and this usually required having to stop the ride. Furthermore, wheelchairs could not be loaded onboard because the vehicles were too small.

[David S.]

In addition to that, the insurance costs on that type a ride is extremely high, and they are not supposed to operate in even mildly windy conditions. In the 70's, just about EVERY major theme park in the US had a skyway-type ride, but over the years they've almost all been removed.

You still see some of the skilift-style models where your feet dangle, (mostly at some small "mom and pop" parks) but the "skybucket" style once found at the US Disney parks and other major parks has become EXTREMELY rare.

Interestingly, one of the few left is right down I-4, at Busch Gardens Tampa. (And if anyone reading goes there and wants to ride it, I'd suggest riding it early in the day if it's open - I've rarely seen it make it through an entire day due to wind speeds!)

I rode the DL version twice on 2 childhood visits, but my memories are hazy except for passing through the Matterhorn.

I've been on the Orlando MK version tons of times and I remember the breathtaking view - and I also remember it revealed that the roofs of the magical storybook architecture in Fantasyland were just plain, werehouse looking structures from the top

Many a Disney park attraction removal has left me scratching my head and saying "WHY?" in disagreement, but while I do miss the Skyway, I can understand and accept this removal, for all the reasons mentioned above, as well as the fatality.

[Nala]

I remember when we were in Sea World San Diego, they had a Skyfari which is a skyway type ride. Was there something similar at Sea World Orlando and if so, is it still there?

[David S.]

I'm not sure if there was ever a skyway at Sea World Orlando (but I don't think there was), but I can say with certainty there is not one now.

There is, however, a "sky needle" type scenic observation ride which is a cabin that rotates slowly while ascending and then descending a tower approximately 300 feet in height.

This provides a breathtaking view not only of Sea World but the surrounding area. I've spotted Space Mountain, Contemporary, Grand Floridian, Spaceship Earth, Tower Of Terror, and Everest from up there, to name a few...

But like the skyways, this ride goes down with the slightest wind speed. It's also an extra charge but complimentary with a season pass, which luckilly I have.

[Kram Nebuer]

I remember the rumored reason of why it was closed was because someone fell off the ride and sued, but I remember reading somewhere that they closed the ride because it was a very low capacity ride and it wasn't worth to run it anymore with the energy costs. Also, the guy who sued for falling off lost the case because the soft tree he fell into was too convenient or something like that.

I know in the Six Flags Great Adventure (Jackson, NJ), they had a sky way ride. We rode it a few years ago, but when I was there last year, it wasn't running. The ones where your feet dangle are kind of scary. They still have that one in Hershey Park. I remember in Six Flags, young hooligans would always shake the buckets and the would stop the ride and give them a warning.

[Nala]

Isn't there a skyride type ride at the San Diego Zoo. I remember going on that in '87 as well. Is there still a Hyrdofoil at Sea World. There was one in '87 when we were there.

[crunkcourt]

There was one in the San Diego zoo when I was there about 10 years ago. I have no clue if it is still there or not though.

[Mr. Toad]

Never believe what you read on wikipedia. The biggest reasons for shutting down the ride was it was hugely costly to run and as previously mentioned the low capacity. As well, too many people were intentionally dropping things like coins on people below. The ADA could not retroactively force changes to existing structures just newly built ones.