MK Sky Ride

[Fade_to_Blah]

I think there was a maintanence worker that was cleaning the skyway in fantasyland....someone turned the ride on by mistake and he had to grab on to the side and it took him over fantasyland. He wasn't able to hold on. It was closed quickly after. Thats what I read anyways....

And I do miss them. It was a great way to get from Fantasyland over to Tomorrowland and take a break. Looking down and seeing the subs was just amazing!

 

[ThinkTink721]

I am not sure if I have the name right and I apologize in advance but why did they get rid of the sky ride....... I only rode it once but it was such a cool thing to do

I remember riding it in 1994.

 

[joel_maxwell]

I'm surprised the sky buckets at Six Flags over Georgia are still up and rnning, but they are. And yes, people like to be "clever" while they're riding them and toss things out. You learn quick to steer clear of the skybucket's "footprint."

unless you are the unfortunate one that gets busted. we boarded at the "back gate" and a fellow rider spit on a patron. we were greeted by security at the station and he was kicked out. man, it was 9am i think and he had to sit outside till 9pm.

 

[Castle Cake Apologist]

Yes, the ride was closed mostly in part because of a custodial worker who was killed on the attraction when it was started in the morning while he was cleaning a bucket. This was obviously before RAC procedures.

If one were to find themselves in the old station in Tomorrowland, one might find themselves surrounded by all of the orginal buckets (still on cables up there) including the bucket that the worker was killed on. It's wrapped in caution tape and still holds his bucket of rags. Tres creepy, but still kinda cool to see.

I believe Disney has to keep everything in place for at least twelve years after the incident in case an investigation proceeds...

 

[sknydave]

Nah...that plot is too small for anything but a meet-and-greet.

Yeah.. Looking at the overhead view on google maps it's small. Looks much bigger in person!

 

[SoFlaDisneyFan]

No one has mentioned the other main contributing factor:

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.

 

[disney9752]

Yes, the ride was closed mostly in part because of a custodial worker who was killed on the attraction when it was started in the morning while he was cleaning a bucket. This was obviously before RAC procedures.

If one were to find themselves in the old station in Tomorrowland, one might find themselves surrounded by all of the orginal buckets (still on cables up there) including the bucket that the worker was killed on. It's wrapped in caution tape and still holds his bucket of rags. Tres creepy, but still kinda cool to see.

I believe Disney has to keep everything in place for at least twelve years after the incident in case an investigation proceeds...

im not so sure about the last part with keeping things so long, but the cm death, view into backstage areas & parts issues were big factors, other rumors include skyway was not going with the americans with disabilites act, last rumor was the old computers that ran the attraction were not y2k compatible & eisner wouldnt spend the $$ to update it.:fork:

 

[brkgnews]

unless you are the unfortunate one that gets busted. we boarded at the "back gate" and a fellow rider spit on a patron. we were greeted by security at the station and he was kicked out. man, it was 9am i think and he had to sit outside till 9pm.

Ha! I love it when folks get what's coming to them. :lookaroun And man I miss that back gate at SFoG(there are go-karts there now. :hammer

 

[Figment1986]

I'm surprised the sky buckets at Six Flags over Georgia are still up and rnning, but they are. And yes, people like to be "clever" while they're riding them and toss things out. You learn quick to steer clear of the skybucket's "footprint."

Busch Gardens Tampa still has their skywaym infact it gives a great view of Jungala right now, in addition to the animals and rhino rally. It still has its ground level midpoint station thats not used except as a turn around.

Pretty much away from guest level untill you reach stanlyville/congos section.

 

[SKYWAY 4 ME]

They closed due to a few problems and unfortunately too costly to keep repairing . I wondered about Liability though because SKI RESORTS will never ever worry about these problems......:lookaroun Heaven forbid Disney needs to .

J

 

[MrBug]

I wondered about Liability though because SKI RESORTS will never ever worry about these problems......:lookaroun

Are you the induhvidual who fell off the chairlift up here the other day?

Darnit the Skyway was a class act (once you got past the sweating masses in line) - it offered a real chance to get away from the crazy crowds for a couple minutes, catching a breeze and your breath, and you could pretend you were flying if you wanted.... It was a unique experience and I was crushed when they yanked it; MK hasn't been the same for me since.

 

[dandaman]

I'm surprised the sky buckets at Six Flags over Georgia are still up and rnning, but they are. And yes, people like to be "clever" while they're riding them and toss things out. You learn quick to steer clear of the skybucket's "footprint."

Agreed. Cedar Point has mostly flowerbeds (beautiful, BTW) under the ride's track, and you can always see some garbage and even an occasional shoe or two in the foliage.

I loved the Skyway, but if it were around today I'd definitely be worried about the kind of crap people would pull. The only thing one should shoot from the Skyway is pictures. :wave:

 

[sknydave]

I love the cable cars at Busch Gardens

 

[SKYWAY 4 ME]

Are you the induhvidual who fell off the chairlift up here the other day?

Darnit the Skyway was a class act (once you got past the sweating masses in line) - it offered a real chance to get away from the crazy crowds for a couple minutes, catching a breeze and your breath, and you could pretend you were flying if you wanted.... It was a unique experience and I was crushed when they yanked it; MK hasn't been the same for me since.

Well well , see there ? Someone falls outa chair lift at some remote Ski-resort and NO one hears about it . Somebody throws a can out of the SKYWAY at MK and it makes National news all over MSNBC and they ultimnately close it :veryconfu

Soundz about right

 

[Castle Cake Apologist]

im not so sure about the last part with keeping things so long, but the cm death, view into backstage areas & parts issues were big factors, other rumors include skyway was not going with the americans with disabilites act, last rumor was the old computers that ran the attraction were not y2k compatible & eisner wouldnt spend the $$ to update it.:fork:

Well, I can tell you for sure that everything is still up there (buckets, cables, and all)... I was just up there a few weeks ago.

The twelve years thing is what we were told by Disney as to the reason why the "killer" bucket is still up there all wrapped in tape and whatnot.

There's also a crate up there that supposedly contains half of the Timekeeper animatronic...

 

[unkadug]

Well, I can tell you for sure that everything is still up there (buckets, cables, and all)... I was just up there a few weeks ago.

The twelve years thing is what we were told by Disney as to the reason why the "killer" bucket is still up there all wrapped in tape and whatnot.

There's also a crate up there that supposedly contains half of the Timekeeper animatronic...

Never have heard the twelve year thing.


So did the Timekeeper kill someone too? :lookaroun

 

[discomouse131]

I began 'soaking up the magic' in the late '70's when I was only a few years old. I remember the Skyway being there, but don't actually remember ever riding it.... *sigh* While the Magic Kingdom is and always will be my favorite theme park, my second favorite, Busch Gardens - Williamsburg, VA, still operates a Skyway. It's quite a unique feeling to glide over the twists and turns of top rated coasters and take in the beauty of the park at the same time. So, with that said, it would be nice to see the Skyway return to the Magic Kingdom, but as some have stated, it would also take away a bit of the 'magic' that has put WDW at the top of the totem pole...

 

[lac628]

My parents were told by a CM that it closed because it was closed more than it was open. Because of maitenance and thunderstorms, they always had it closed for portions of everyday and it was just costing them too much to keep it staffed and running.

 

[Badger Brent]

You can add the Wisconsin State Fair grounds to the list with existing skyway ride going yet. I personally don't like the looks as far as safety for the ones there. During the fair and race weekends they still use it.

 

[Sam Eagle 1776]

I am not sure if I have the name right and I apologize in advance but why did they get rid of the sky ride....... I only rode it once but it was such a cool thing to do

Yes it was, there couldn't have been a real good reason.