Random Memories of Germany- Cable Cars

SUNDAY MEMORIES

Judy Wills

Recently, Fred and I visited Disney Hollywood Studios (we like to just call it the “Studios”).  While Disney is open a bit now, there are still a lot of shows and rides that aren’t open.  Therefore, we don’t spend a lot of time at the Studios.

Credit Google Search and Walt Disney World Resort

However, there is a new “mode of transportation” at the Studios, that goes from there to EPCOT, with stops at some of the resorts along the way.  They fashion it a “gondola-lift” type of transportation, and call it the Disney Skyliner.  We rode it for the first time – and thoroughly enjoyed the ride!

Many years ago, some were asking why the Monorail only ran from The Magic Kingdom to EPCOT – why not to the other Disney parks.  The answer seemed to be that the cost was just too prohibitive.  

Be that as it may, after riding in the Skyliner, we were curious about the cost – whether it was that much less than the Monorail would have been.  That really isn’t too much of our concern – except as how it affects the price of our Annual Pass!  But as Fred says, the cable car only requires a “cable” to run the gondola along, where the Monorail requires an entire track!  So perhaps the Skyliner is, indeed, much less expensive.

All that to say that Fred and I began reminiscing about cable car transportation we have experienced in our lifetime.

The first that we remembered was when we were stationed in Wiesbaden, West Germany (1967-1970).  We were “vacationing” in Garmisch, in Bavaria, and decided to take the cable car up the Zugspitze. 

The Zugspitze – Credit Google Search and en.wikipedia.org

That mountain is the highest one in Germany.  It was a fun ride in that cable car – but the funniest thing was that we saw quite a few young people with their skies in tow – and the skiers were wearing shorts and t-shirts!  Granted it was the middle of summer, but come-on – this was nearly 10,000′ above sea level!  And it’s COLD at that altitude!!  We were highly amused!

This symbol is at the highest point on the mountain

We then remembered the time we rode the Tram from the foothills of Albuquerque up to the top of Sandia Crest (altitude 10,679′ above sea level).  The Tramway had not been built until after Fred and I married and moved away from Albuquerque (1961).  

We remember riding cable cars in Lucerne, Switzerland up the mountainside to Mount Pilatus.

Mount Pilatus, taken from Lucerne

On top of Mt. Pilatus, looking down at the cable car

Fred remembers that in 1948 when he was sent to a four-week summer camp in Switzerland, and that on one of their outings they rode in a cable (car).  Instead of an actual car, there were long poles attached to the cable.  About 10 feet below the cable, was a bicycle-type handle-bar, and just below the handle-bar was a bicycle-type seat.  During the snow season, skiers would ride, sitting on the bicycle seat with the skies dangling below in the open air.  During the ski season, there would be at least 10-12 feet of snow below the seats, making it a ski lift.  In June there was no snow, so all of us campers road with our feet dangling.  At times we were at least 40 feet above the ground above most of the trees.   Quite an thrilling experience, especially with no seat belts.

Fred – 1948

~~~~~~~~~~To Be Continued~~~~~~~~~~

Judy is living in Central Florida with her retired U.S. Air Force husband of 50+ years. Born in Dallas, Texas, she grew up in the Southwestern United States.She met her husband at their church, where he was attending the university in her town. After college and seminary, he entered the Air Force, and their adventures began.They lived in eight of our United States, and spent six years in Europe, where their oldest daughter was born. She was a stay-at-home mom for many years .

  Judy has always been involved with music, both playing the piano and singing. Always interested in exercise, she was an aerobic dancing instructor, as well as a piano teacher for many years, and continues to faithfully exercise at home.

After moving to Central Florida, she served as a church secretary for nearly nine years.Her main hobby at this point in time is scanning pictures and 35mm slides into the computer. She also enjoys scrapbooking.She and her husband have two married daughters and four grandchildren, including grandtwins as well as a great-grandson. She and her husband enjoy the Disney parks as often as possible.

Tags: Cable cars, Disney Skyliner, Memories of Germany