Fun Find Friday
March 29, 2013
Location: Fantasyland, Magic Kingdom
Today we will be taking a look at a Fun Find that is
literally being walked all over. I know! Right off the bat you are
thinking, what on earth are you talking about? This picture will
help:

I mean, look at these people! Just walking right
over these stones as if they have no importance to Disney history
whatsoever. Wait, they have importance to Disney history? You better
believe they do! It's time to travel back in time to discover what
on earth these circular rock formations found throughout Fantasyland
are for. And no, they aren't just drains.

This picture, as taken by my mother back in 1974, is
of the old Skyway building. The Skyway, which transported guests
from Fantasyland to Tomorrowland, and vice versa, was open from 1971
through 1999 and gave guests an unbelievable view of Fantasyland
while inside the loading station. Want an example?

The above picture was taken by yours truly while on
the Walt Disney World College Program back in 2004. With the five
years passing between the attractions closing and this picture being
taken, you can already tell that one major part of the attraction is
missing. Actually, I should say THE attraction is missing. While
looking out there's not a trace of anything signifying what this
building once was. Or is there?
If you take a look at our first picture once again
you will notice the circular stone pattern found in the groundwork.
This is just one of several found throughout Fantasyland and it
actually served a major purpose for the Skyway. This is where the
giant poles which held up the Skyway buckets would be placed into
the ground. When the Skyway disappeared in 1999, the rock
formations, which still reflect the architecture of the land,
remained in place along with the drains that sat at the foundation
of the poles.
So next time you are walking through Fantasyland and
feeling reminiscent about attractions that no longer exist in this
wondrous land (20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, Snow White's Scary
Adventures, Mr. Toad's Wild Ride, etc.), take a look at the ground
and smile. While the Skyway may not still soar over Fantasyland like
Dumbo, the attraction still lives on. Even if people do just walk
right over it without realizing they are stepping on history.
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