MK Piston Peak and Villains Land Construction Thread

[lazyboy97o]

I am sure there were some, but they also probably kept a better eye on it back then.... The water was definitely cleaner...

They were an endangered species back then.

 

[danlb_2000]

That was just sediment build up. The river bed is concrete.

Thanks. This has been debated before but I wasn't sure what the conclusion was.

 

[Advisable Joseph]

The entire bottom of RoA is concrete, correct? Due to water management issues, I assume this means not just dumping dirt on top of the concrete, but rather removing the concrete first. If so, that’s a whole lot of loud demo work.

This is cross-section A-A on this map:

So the soil cement is remaining, and apparently it is more than just the track.

Go to https://my.sfwmd.gov/ePermitting/PopulateLOVs.do?flag=1

Search for application # 240812-45165

Click on the result

Go to Calculations-Design Plans, then Plans, then the filename ending in 407Basin_Plans6_SS.pdf

 

[Stupido]

Wasn't it discussed in the other thread that the RoA got the axe partially because the concrete foundation was nearing the end of its life and was going to need heavy refurbishments?

 

[MisterPenguin]

Wasn't it discussed in the other thread that the RoA got the axe partially because the concrete foundation was nearing the end of its life and was going to need heavy refurbishments?

Discussed and debunked.

It was said because people were reaching for *reasons* why WDW would get rid of RoA other than they chose to.

 

[Stupido]

Discussed and debunked.

It was said because people were reaching for *reasons* why WDW would get rid of RoA other than they chose to.

Thank you for having a better memory than me!

 

[Advisable Joseph]

Wasn't it discussed in the other thread that the RoA got the axe partially because the concrete foundation was nearing the end of its life and was going to need heavy refurbishments?

"The foundation of the river isn’t in great shape"

You can certainly criticize his judgment, but he is even more of a trusted insider than folks here! He worked at &*&%&% WDW. If he lied about that, UCF would kick his butt out of the Hospitality college onto the curb.

 

[lazyboy97o]

"The foundation of the river isn’t in great shape"

You can certainly criticize his judgment, but he is even more of a trusted insider than folks here! He worked at &*&%&% WDW. If he lied about that, UCF would kick his butt out of the Hospitality college onto the curb.

It’s secondhand nonsense from someone who would not know. It also has nothing to do with the actual field of hospitality, so it would be really dumb for it to be a reason for termination.

 

[MisterPenguin]

"The foundation of the river isn’t in great shape"

You can certainly criticize his judgment, but he is even more of a trusted insider than folks here! He worked at &*&%&% WDW. If he lied about that, UCF would kick his butt out of the Hospitality college onto the curb.

We've seen concrete riverbeds in bad shape and WDW fixed them.

They didn't remove the river/pond just because some of the concrete was cracking.

Thus, *if* the RoA concrete beds were in bad shape, they could have been fixed. Just like they do whatever fixing they needed to do in the past every time they drained RoA and refurbished it.

We'll see then, when the River is dry, whether it was truly 'in bad shape.'

 

[lazyboy97o]

We've seen concrete riverbeds in bad shape and WDW fixed them.

They didn't remove the river/pond just because some of the concrete was cracking.

Thus, *if* the RoA concrete beds were in bad shape, they could have been fixed. Just like they do whatever fixing they needed to do in the past every time they drained RoA and refurbished it.

We'll see then, when the River is dry, whether it was truly 'in bad shape.'

More importantly, there is no real problem with the riverbed being in bad shape (whatever that actually means). Its purpose was more aesthetic. It wasn’t structural. If it was leaky, it was letting water into ground, but it was part of the system that lets water into the ground. Any leaking in the utilidors is due to other issues because they do not even go near the Rivers of America.

 

[whiterhino42]

Curious to see what they are going to do with the river bed.
That is, if they retain a portion of the water as indicated in the newer concept art - do they retain that portion of the bed?
Or will they tear the whole thing out, and build a new section?

I really hope they have water in the new ride. Magic Kingdom will seem like a concrete jungle otherwise.

 

[Advisable Joseph]

The entire bottom of RoA is concrete, correct? Due to water management issues, I assume this means not just dumping dirt on top of the concrete, but rather removing the concrete first. If so, that’s a whole lot of loud demo work.

Oh, a detail: my earlier post was about soil cement.

View attachment 873127

This is cross-section A-A on this map:

View attachment 873129

So the soil cement is remaining, and apparently it is more than just the track.

Go to https://my.sfwmd.gov/ePermitting/PopulateLOVs.do?flag=1

Search for application # 240812-45165

Click on the result

Go to Calculations-Design Plans, then Plans, then the filename ending in 407Basin_Plans6_SS.pdf

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

I really hope they have water in the new ride. Magic Kingdom will seem like a concrete jungle otherwise.

There will certainly be water and water features. But according to the plans - the entire rivers of America, including the area around big thunder, mansion, boardwalk etc. will be completely filled in to create a “level” construction pad.

The only area that appears to remain is the area around the splash turnaround - which is most likely separated by a dam already underneath the bridge.

 

[Incomudro]

You really think there were no gators at all?

We've got to remember the population of alligators in Florida was much smaller than it is today.
Alligators were still an endangered species back then.
Taking that, and the fact that WDW was a recently constructed area and the alligator population in the parks waters was likely to be very low.

 

[whiterhino42]

There will certainly be water and water features. But according to the plans - the entire rivers of America, including the area around big thunder, mansion, boardwalk etc. will be completely filled in to create a “level” construction pad.

The only area that appears to remain is the area around the splash turnaround - which is most likely separated by a dam already underneath the bridge.

There will certainly be water and water features. But according to the plans - the entire rivers of America, including the area around big thunder, mansion, boardwalk etc. will be completely filled in to create a “level” construction pad.

The only area that appears to remain is the area around the splash turnaround - which is most likely separated by a dam already underneath the bridge.

I have always thought Hollywood Studios was much too much concrete. I loved that Magic Kingdom had water. They really need more water elements and rides. Honestly even the ones they have are lacking. Kali river rapids in animal kingdom is the shortest rafting ride I've ever been on anywhere.

 

[lazyboy97o]

Oh, a detail: my earlier post was about soil cement.

It being soil cement further disproves claims about the structural integrity of the Rivers of America.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

Quick question - is there anything not normal going on here?

Like with monsters…. The day the construction wall went up some pretty detailed concept art went up as well.

So far we have gotten concept art, and then an artistic cartoon (so…. Less detailed than the concept art… a step back).

Is there a chance this still changes completely but they wanted / needed to go ahead with leveling the River ?

If this is a normal timeline by comparison tell me - if all whispers behind the scenes are this is going ahead say it. I’m not arguing one way or another just thinking how quiet it’s gotten.

 

[Gusey]

Quick question - is there anything not normal going on here?

Like with monsters…. The day the construction wall went up some pretty detailed concept art went up as well.

So far we have gotten concept art, and then an artistic cartoon (so…. Less detailed than the concept art… a step back).

Is there a chance this still changes completely but they wanted / needed to go ahead with leveling the River ?

If this is a normal timeline by comparison tell me - if all whispers behind the scenes are this is going ahead say it. I’m not arguing one way or another just thinking how quiet it’s gotten.

I'm not an insider at all, but I feel like this is the main project of the 4 big WDW projects announced at D23 last year (Tropical Americas, Monsters, Cars, Villains) to have the most new information about it. We had the original announcement, then the location straight after, then the SXS panel and the We Call It Imagineering episode 3 with a large section on the R&D for the Cars attraction, and then the most recent cartoon concept art with more details about how the attraction will impact Frontierland and Liberty Square. I think it probably feels like Monsters got new details quite quick after construction walls went up because the last Cars update was with the announcement of the closing of the RoA within a month, whereas the Muppets closure was announced a good 6+ months beforehand with that concept art

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

I'm not an insider at all, but I feel like this is the main project of the 4 big WDW projects announced at D23 last year (Tropical Americas, Monsters, Cars, Villains) to have the most new information about it.

Not at all - Tropical Americas has lots of detailed art and information. We know exactly what they are building and how it will look.

 

[Stupido]

I'm assuming they want something to be saved for D23, and this seems like the perfect project. Clear accurate concept art and attraction names for Piston Peak, and more finalized art for Villains with confirmation of what kind of attractions we'll find in Villains.