Friday, March 15, 2013

On Board the Skyway!

The Skyway has been gone for almost 20 years, but I still miss it! That humble attraction was one that I would ride every time (unlike some other much-missed classics). 

Today's first photo (from 1966) is from inside one of the buckets as it approached the charming Fantasyland chalet. From this angle, it really does look like there is a considerable forest surrounding that alpine locale. If the gentleman looked down (instead of gazing dreamily into the distance) he would have seen Storybook Land and the Casey Jr. Circus Trains.


This next picture is from 1965, and this time we are in a bucket that is headed toward the Tomorrowland Skyway station. For some reason it is this less station that really sticks in my memory, in spite of the fact that it was pretty utilitarian in design compared to its Fantasyland cousin. Some of you may remember that tow-headed little girl from a Knott's photo I posted weeks ago!


9 comments:

Chiana_Chat said...

Look at them. Smilin' though petrified with fear. Just like me!

The chalet was such an enchanted feeling spot to me, I wish it could stay there forever.

Alonzo P Hawk said...

Thanks Major. Any skyway shots are always welcome and bring back some good memories (not just of flat roofs and peoples heads).

I can remember the great perspective you got of Casey Jr. as you pull out of the Chalet.

Good stuff!

Melissa said...

Keep your arm in the bucket, Dad!

I thought that little girl looked familiar! Looks like Mom didn't have enough fabric to make Big Bro a matching shirt. But they've got matching grins so it's all OK.

K. Martinez said...

I've gotten over just about every cool attraction that's been removed from Disneyland, but the removal of the Skyway still bugs me to this day.

The views of Fantasyland, Tomorrowland, the rooftops, the backstage areas and outside the berm. I loved seeing it all from above.

Major Pepperidge said...

Chiana, do you suffer from Vertigo just like Jimmy Stewart?! I remember getting that funny feeling in my stomach when the bucket first sways up into the sky, but after that it was pure pleasure.

Alonzo, my actual memories of riding the Skyway are pretty fuzzy, I must have been more interested in looking down upon Tomorrowland. That's the part that made a lasting impression.

Melissa, I can't help picture the dad arriving in Tomorrowland with one empty sleeve. Gruesome! You get an A+ for remember the girl's outfit.

K. Martinez, why is it that some of the simplest attractions (Skyway, Peoplemover) are ones that I miss so darn much? Maybe today's guests wouldn't be as enthralled, but I think they would.

Irene said...

20 years?! Has it really been that long? Gosh, it seems like only yesterday. I too miss this attraction so, so much. At least the chalet is still there though off limits and hidden in the tress. I hear it is a way station to feed the many feral cats that roam Disneyland :) I walked up there once (stealthily) and did see some food and water bowls.

robert skyway said...

Allways love and miss the great VonRoll known to all as the Disneyland Skyway. As the one comment said i can get over the removal of all other attractions ,but not the Skyway..

walterworld said...

Oh gosh Major. Dang the Spammers.

Nice post as always..

Major Pepperidge said...

walterworld, since I have turned off the "captcha" verification, I get as many as 100 spam comments a day. Fortunately Blogger catches most of them, but sometimes they still sneak through.