Hi Bruce,
BM> KB> The ONLY way, however, to board the
BM> KB> skyTram, was to go up several
BM> KB> dozen stairs. If Disneyland had a
BM> KB> small elevator installed on each
BM> KB> end (for handicapped riders and for
BM> KB> emergencies), they would be in
BM> KB> compliance with the Americans With Disabilities Act [ADA].
BM> If there's one thing I've learned about
BM> the ADA, it's that nobody knows
BM> what it takes to be in compliance until the court tells you (and
BM> sometimes not even then). This answer
BM> stinks for another reason: the
BM> Skyway is a one-way trip, and you really
BM> can't get a wheelchair into the
BM> gondolas. So what good would elevators do?
From what I heard at about the time it was closed is similar to what Kit had
stated earlier. But, there was a domino effect for meeting the California
Disablity standards. First they would have redesign the loading area to
allow wheelchair access, which would mean a long ramp or an elevator. Since
the ride is basically used for one way travel, the gondolas would have to be
larger to accomodate the chair (at least a folded wheelchair). Due to state
requirements, they need minimum clearances for the gondolas while moving
along the cable, which in short meant, bigger holes in Matterhorn. Disney
didn't want bigger holes in Matterhorn, so they closed the ride down instead.
Don't know how true that is, but it did sound logical, for both Disney and
the state requirements. Then again, the above rumor may have been spread to
placate those guests that liked Skyway, by telling them they had a choice,
Skyway or Matterhorn.
Have I cluttered the reasons further?
William
... QWKRR128 V4.33 [R]
--- DB 1.39/004485
---------------
* Origin: The Diamond Bar BBS, San Dimas CA, 909-599-2088 (1:218/1001)
|