Whatever happened to the Gondola/Sky ride ?

[RodNichols5]

Does anybody know what happened to the attraction, I am not sure what the name was, I called it a Skyride but I think it was known as a Gondola ride ? It connected Tommorrowland to Fantasyland. I think it still existed as late as 1998. I haven't seen any mention of it and I think it has been closed for several years. Does anyone know when it closed and why ? My guess is maybe things were falling from them, maybe ?

Thanks !!!

 

[Atta83]

The skyway connecting tomorrowLand and Fantasy Land closed after the death of a castmember. Plus you could also see behind the scenes and that was not very "magical" plus people were spitting from them(teenagers most likely) and that was a guest complaint.

 

[barnum42]

I think I read someplace that Disney stated the CM fatality was not the reason and that it closed purely because it cost too much to run.

However I can't back that up and Atta83 is nearer to the source than I.

 

[Woody13]

The Skyway closed due to lack of ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) compliance. 20k closed for the same reason. WDW has bent over backwards to meet all ADA laws, but they just had to throw in the towel on some attractions. Here's a minor sample of the problems they faced. Multiply this situation by 60,000 and I think you'll understand why they closed the Skyway and 20k.


http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/foia/tal609.txt

FEB 28 1995


The Honorable Bob Graham
United States Senator
Post Office Box 3050
Tallahassee, Florida 32315

Dear Senator Graham:

This letter is in response to your inquiry on behalf of your
constituent, XX , regarding an alleged lack of
wheelchair accessibility in the attractions at Walt Disney World
(Disney) in Orlando, Florida. Specifically, XX complains
that his wife, who uses a wheelchair, was prevented from enjoying
several attractions at Disney because the attractions were not
accessible to individuals who use wheelchairs. XX alleges
that several of these attractions had been renovated after the
effective date of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and
that some attractions that were not renovated could easily be
made accessible to individuals who use wheelchairs. Finally,
XX was concerned about Disney's imposition of certain
policies that limited use of some rides to individuals who can
walk.

The ADA requires public accommodations like Disney to
provide "full and equal enjoyment" of their goods and services to
individuals with disabilities. 42 U.S.C. S 12182 (a). Among the
law's many provisions is a carefully crafted process for the
development of physical access to places of public accommodation.
The ADA places a relatively modest burden on existing facilities,
requiring that they remove barriers to access where it is readily
achievable, or "easily accomplishable and able to be carried out
without much difficulty or expense." 42 U.S.C. S 12182(2) (A)
(iv); 28 C.F.R. S 36.304(a). When a place of public
accommodation performs alterations or when it undertakes new
construction, however, the law requires strict adherence to
specific standards that are intended to provide maximum physical
access for persons with disabilities. 42 U.S.C. S 12183(a) (2);
28 C.F.R. S 36.401 (new construction), 28 C.F.R. S 36.402
(alterations), 28 C.F.R. S 36.406, pt. 36, App. A (Standards for
Accessible Design). Entities performing alterations that are
more than mere cosmetic changes must ensure that any altered
areas are readily accessible to and usable by persons with
disabilities. 42 U.S.C. S 12183 (a) (2); 28 C.F.R. S 36.402. In
addition, if the alterations involve areas of primary function,
entities must spend up to 20% of the costs of the alterations
making the path of travel to the altered areas accessible. 42
U.S.C. S 12183 (a)(2); 28 C.F.R. S 36.403. A "primary function"
is a major activity for which the facility is intended and
includes areas such as the lobby of a bank, the dining area of a
cafeteria, and meeting rooms. 28 C.F.R S 36.403(b). The "path
of travel" to an altered area is defined as an unobstructed
passageway from the entrance to the facility to the altered
areas, and includes areas such as restrooms, telephones, and
drinking fountains. 28 C.F.R. S 36.403(e).

While the Standards do not specifically address some
elements of amusement park rides, other provision of the title
III regulation may require purchase or modification of equipment
in order to ensure full and equal employment of the facilities
and to provide an opportunity to participate in the services and
facilities. 28 C.F.R. SS 36.201 and 36.202. The barrier removal
requirements would also apply.

Several of the attractions identified by XX are
existing, and others, allegedly, have been altered. Without a
thorough investigation into the nature of the changes that need
to be made in order to provide access to the existing rides, it
is impossible to determine whether Disney has violated the
section of the law mandating "readily achievable" barrier
removal. Similarly, the United States cannot determine whether
Disney has violated the alterations provisions, short of an
investigation of the date on which alterations were undertaken,
the nature of the alterations, and a determination of whether the
alterations, if more than cosmetic, involved areas of primary
function.

Finally, XX complains that his wife was not permitted
onto a ride because of Disney's conclusion that she would be
unable to evacuate the ride in the event of its breakdown.
Public accommodations are required by the law to make all
reasonable modifications in their policies, practices and
procedures that are necessary to ensure that individuals with
disabilities enjoy their goods and services. 42 U.S.C.
S 12182 (b)(2)(A)(ii); 28 C.F.R. S 36.302. Entities are, however,
permitted to establish neutral "eligibility criteria" that are
necessary for the safe operation of the place of public
accommodation. 28 C.F.R. S 36.301(b). Safety requirements must
be based on actual risks, and not on stereotypes or
generalizations about individuals with disabilities. 28 C.F.R.
pt. 36, App. B at 605. A determination of whether the alleged
criteria for the rides are discriminatory would require
investigation into the particular circumstances involved.

At this time, the Department has decided not to open an
investigation of XX complaint. I am enclosing a copy of
this Department's regulation implementing title III of the ADA
and the Technical Assistance Manual that was developed to assist
individuals and entities subject to the ADA to understand the
requirements of title III. I hope that these materials and the
discussion herein provide guidance to your constituent.

Sincerely,



Deval L. Patrick
Assistant Attorney General
Civil Rights Division


XX
Oldsmar, FL XX
XX

December 24, 1994

Architectural & Transportation Barriers
Compliance Board
1331 F Street NW
Suite 1000
Washington, DC 20004-1111

Good Day:

This is to issue a complaint about Walt Disney World, in Orlando,
reticence to make their facilities wheelchair accessible.

My wife, XX , is a paraplegic and, of course, unable to
stand or walk, and must use a wheelchair for mobility. Other than
being paraplegic, she is in excellent health. In February of 1993,
we purchased an Annual Pass for Walt Disney World in Orlando. At
that time we realized that the Magic Kingdom, the oldest theme
park, would be least accessible for someone in a wheelchair.
Disney-MGM Studios, the newest park, would be most accessible, and
Epcot would fall somewhere in between. Our subsequent visits to
the park confirmed the aforementioned.

Although we visited the park many times, we decided to return to
the Magic Kingdom in early December to see the new attractions at
Tomorrowland. Several of the rides in this section had been closed
for upgrading, plus a new ride, the Extra "Terrorestrial" Alien
Encounter were all due to open in December, 1994. Once we were in
the park we learned their newest Terrorestrial ride would be
delayed in opening until February, 1995.

Since we were in the Tomorrowland area we decided to try some of
the rides which had been renovated and were now opened. We tried
to go onto the Tomorrowland Transit Authority but we were told that
unless my wife can walk up an ascending ramp, to a moving
turntable, she would not be allowed to go on this ride. Moreover,
unless she could walk 2 1/2 or 3 1/2 miles in the event the ride
stops functioning she is prohibited from participating on this
ride. We have gone on many slow moving rides, at Disney, whereby
the ride was stopped to enable her to transfer. I wonder what
would have happened on Spaceship Earth if the ride stopped at the
top of the Sphere, or if any of the other rides we were on were
forced to a standstill. There is no way she could have walk away
from any of these rides. Therefore, it follows using this logical
approach that she should not be allowed on most of the rides in the
park, or maybe just don't allow her in the park. When I tried to
explain this to the attendants, at the Tomorrowland Transit
Authority, I was told they were sorry but she cannot get on the
ride.

We then went over to the Astro-Orbiter and the attendant told us
unless she can move the bottom portion of her body, it would not be
feasible for her to wiggle into a rather tight opening to enter:

DISNEY-MGM STUDIOS
Great Movie Ride
Backstage Studio Tour
Plus all other shows in a theatrical format

The reason Disney-MGM Studios is most accessible is simply because
the preponderant number of attractions are presented in a
theatrical format.

I do not understand why the new rides, or the renovated rides have
not been made wheelchair accessible. I thought the American
Disability Act required new construction to accommodate
wheelchairs. Furthermore, if the Act does not require new or
renovated attractions to accommodate wheelchairs, don't you think
the premier attraction in our country should extend themselves to
help those less fortunate. The following attractions have been
renovated or built since the ADA act and are not wheelchair
accessible:

Tomorrowland Transit Authority
Astro-Orbitor
Skyway
Splash Mountain
Spaceship Earth
The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror

We have learned to live and travel within the confines of my wife's
disability. Many attractions discount their fees because we are
limited to what we can see and do. When an attraction charges top
dollars for entry, pays their CEO an annual salary of two hundred
million dollars don't you think they should extend themselves to
those who must endure life from a restrictive prospective. Maybe
Disney is so big and important that they can flaunt the law of the
land, and relegate the disabled to second class citizens.

It has reached the time that renting a wheelchair at a nominal cost
to the handicapped, or making some rides accessible to the
handicapped is just not enough. We are tired of hand-outs. We
want, when it is possible, to have the same rights and pleasures as
able body people. Disney's denouement to those in a wheelchair
must end, and they should voluntarily or forceable make their attr
actions accomodate those restricted to a wheelchair.

Cordially,

XX
cc: Walt Disney World
Tampa Tribune
WFLA-TV
National Spinal Cord Injury Association
Senator Bob Graham
Congressman Michael Bilirakis
Abilities Inc. of Florida
State Attorney General

 

[PhotoDave219]

We never said the closure was due to the CM fatality (after park hours, you can dig up the details on that on your own), rather it closed soon thereafter. There are many reasons why both 20K & Skyway closed, ADA just added to them.

Latest rumor is the Fantasyland Skyway station will become the Fantasyland Valet Stroller lot for IaSW.

 

[Woody13]

We never said the closure was due to the CM fatality (after park hours, you can dig up the details on that on your own), rather it closed soon thereafter. There are many reasons why both 20K & Skyway closed, ADA just added to them.

Latest rumor is the Fantasyland Skyway station will become the Fantasyland Valet Stroller lot for IaSW.

I concur. ADA was the "icing on the cake".

 

[WDWTestDummy]

plus people were spitting from them(teenagers most likely) and that was a guest complaint.

Yeah that and when I was younger there always was this awkward smell....turns out that the smell was pot. That an you always saw things falling from there, cups, food, salivia, anything you can think of.

But I think the main reason why it closed was because of the CM fatality.

 

[BalooChicago]

I can promise that ADA had nothing, repeat, NOTHING, to do with either closer. Accessible concerns may have been a Disney concern, but as to a matter of the law ADA retrofit is only required in the event that rennovations/alterations occur which exceed 50% of the replacement cost of the structure.

 

[ScrapIron]

According to the Urban Legends Reference Pages

Most of this deals with a DL incident, although the WDW incident is mentioned at the end.

"The reasons behind the decision to permanently close Disneyland's Skyway were strictly economic ones that had no connection to the incident earlier in the year in which a man had "fallen" (i.e., jumped) from one of the Skyway cabins.

On Sunday morning, 17 April 1994, a 30-year-old man named Randle Charles fell approximately 20 feet from one of the Skyway cabins and landed in a tree near the "Alice in Wonderland" attraction. He was helped out of the tree by paramedics and taken to nearby Western Medical Center, where he was treated for minor injuries and released. Charles later filed a $25,000 negligence lawsuit against Disney, claiming that he had suffered permanent neck and back injuries as a result of his fall.

Despite the initial assertion of Mr. Charles' attorney that Randle "wasn't doing anything improper, and he certainly wasn't trying to get out of the ride," Charles indeed jumped, not fell, from his Skyway cabin. Charles' lawsuit was dismissed just before it was to go to trial on 23 September 1996; at that time he admitted that he "came out" of his Skyway cabin and that his lawsuit against Disney was "ill-advised." (According to "More Mouse Tales" he admitted this after another guest came forward with video of him leaning out of the cabin to open the door, although even after the tape came to light, it was 2 1/2 YEARS before he dropped the suit.)

The unblemished safety record of the Skyway (the 1994 "accident" was the first in the 38-year history of the ride), the obvious dubiousness of Charles' claim, and the relatively small amount of damages requested in his lawsuit all made this single incident extremely improbable as the reason for the Skyway's closure on 9 November 1994. 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 access standards.

Events seemingly repeated themselves five years later. 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. Raymond Barlow, 65, was sweeping off a narrow skyway platform inaccessible to park guests an hour after the park's 9:00 A.M. opening when other cast members, unaware of his presence, started up the ride. Barlow, startled by the approaching gondola, grabbed onto it and tried to climb inside; he fell 40 feet into a flower bed, hitting a tree on the way down, and died. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration later ruled that the area in which Barlow had been working violated federal safety codes and fined Walt Disney World $4,500 for a "serious" violation of safety standards. Several months later, in November 1999, the Magic Kingdom's skyway was also permanently closed. Once again, the decision to close the attraction was based on factors other than its being involved in a recent accidental death.

Last updated: 22 April 2000"

Lots of other Disney park urban legends are here, too.

http://www.snopes.com/disney/parks

 

[kevmagkingdom]

Where in Tomorrowland was the Skyway station? I kno Fantasyland's is left of Small World, so where was TOmorrowlands or did they demolish it. I did go on the Skyway at age 7 (this was in 1998) and I really can't think of where the station was, tho I do remember the ride itself.

 

[Atta83]

Where in Tomorrowland was the Skyway station? I kno Fantasyland's is left of Small World, so where was TOmorrowlands or did they demolish it. I did go on the Skyway at age 7 (this was in 1998) and I really can't think of where the station was, tho I do remember the ride itself.

Its over by space mountain. YOu know where that waterfall type thing is attached to a building?? That was it. It also has restrooms there as well. Hope that helped a little.

 

[hypercatmatt04]

Why do they still run the waterfall?
And can't they do something more exciting than put a bathroom there?

 

[Atta83]

Why do they still run the waterfall?
And can't they do something more exciting than put a bathroom there?

Those are the only closest bathrooms by Space Mountain and such..

 

[hypercatmatt04]

What about the bathrooms right next to Mickey's Startrader's?

 

[Atta83]

Yes, but those are far and most people go to those, plus the ones where i am talking about has a smoking section next to them and there are plenty of bathrooms so i have never ran into a line there.

 

[SystemXpert]

Oh Poo....Now I will have to walk from Fantasy Land to Tomorrow Land. Seriously, its too bad it closed. Maybe someday they will build a new version that is both safe and cost effective.

 

[MickeyMan101]

Personally

I dont think they would bring back a "new Version" back. Sry to dissapoint you but i doubt it. But i want them to do something with the two stations. Maybe Expand It's a small world.(too bad there rentevating it now) or something! I was thinking a mini roller coaster Like a fantasy land/Adventur Land themed ride.??? let me kno what u think!

 

[DisneyRoxMySox]

I dont think they would bring back a "new Version" back. Sry to dissapoint you but i doubt it. But i want them to do something with the two stations. Maybe Expand It's a small world.(too bad there rentevating it now) or something! I was thinking a mini roller coaster Like a fantasy land/Adventur Land themed ride.??? let me kno what u think!

I think a coaster similar to the Barn Stormer would be nice in either area. During the day the lines for the BS are long, up to 60 minute waits. I personally like the BS and another ride similar to it would take the long waits and distribute them evenly. Kind of like the 3 dumbo type rides....

 

[monorail_man]

Ok. I am sure that someone will say something about my comment but it is my oppion....


So because some jerk in a wheelchair got mad because he couldn't ride a ride (thats mostly used for transport from one land to another when his wheelchair will get him there just fine) complains . now they close the ride so NO ONE can enjoy it. I mean aren't they happy enoght to get o skip the the front of all the lines.

Don;t get me wrong. I am NOT aginst disabled people. But I hate it when they cry about things and ruin it for the rest of us.

Example: When I worked for Wal-Mart. This guy came in in a wheelchair and started yelling at the store manager because all 30 handicaped parking spots were full and he had to park 2 spaces over. :brick:

 

[barnum42]

Ok. I am sure that someone will say something about my comment but it is my oppion....

So because some jerk in a wheelchair got mad because he couldn't ride a ride (thats mostly used for transport from one land to another when his wheelchair will get him there just fine) complains . now they close the ride so NO ONE can enjoy it. I mean aren't they happy enoght to get o skip the the front of all the lines.

Yes I will say something about your comments - I'm afraid you are mistaken on both counts.

The gondola ride did not close because of militant wheelchair holders. The bean counters decided the guest ratio to running costs was not worth it, so it was closed.

Wheelchair users do not get to jump lines and they would be much happier if they could spend the day walking on healthy legs and be able to mistakenly about wheelchair users getting to jump queues. Yes, a small number of attractions allow a wheelchair user to jump a portion or most of the line, but in most instances you wait in the same queue, sometimes have to join a longer queue and sometimes get turned away as all wheelchair spaces are full but they can still fit plenty of able-bodied guests.

If you care enough to find out what the differences are for wheelchair users head over to my thread “Debunking the myth that wheelchairs jump the queues/ guide for wheelchairs and queues” http://forums.wdwmagic.com/showthread.php?t=42507