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MK Big Thunder Mountain to receive full retrack
- Thread starter TheCoasterNerd
- Start date
Jrb1979
Well-Known Member
Trying to figure out what won't be offensive to your average guest. The easiest thing to do is get rid of lands altogether and make it one IP land.
In all seriousness, it's nice to see them retrackiing Big Thunder Mountain. What I would love to see is with the retracking, some re profiling of the layout. Add some ejector air time to it.
TheRealSkull
Well-Known Member
- In the Parks
- No
The rules are a little different in Disneyland. I don't think Tomorrowland as a concept for a land will go away. If it was as simple as replacing Tomorrowland with an IP-based land, they would have done it by now. They would probably do it in Florida, but their Tomorrowland is in far better shape and they wouldn't dare get rid of it because of the sheer existence of the PeopleMover. As stupid as WDI can be with their decisions, they wouldn't dare close the PeopleMover. I believe that would get a stronger pushback than the Rivers of America going away.
Back to what I said about Florida's Tomorrowland being in better shape, it's true. But it still needs a lot of help. Hopefully Disney is taking the time now to really figure out what they want to do with it during the Frontierland refresh. And there is no way that doesn't come with a Space Mountain retrack, which could honestly be down for longer than what Big Thunder is currently down for. Wouldn't surprise me if it went beyond a retrack, but maybe a gutting of the interior with a completely new ride system. Maybe they'll do what Tokyo's doing.
WorldExplorer
Well-Known Member
Does push back matter, though, if they just ignore it?
TheRealSkull
Well-Known Member
- In the Parks
- No
I believe there is a limit. We just haven't reached it, yet.
Moth
Well-Known Member
Four more years! Four more years!
ToTBellHop
Well-Known Member
JackCH
Well-Known Member
I'd actually be in favor of a true rebuild of Space ala Tokyo if they ever do a Tomorrowland overhaul. With Tron there now you have another headliner to "hold down the fort," and then you could really redo the exterior to truly update Tomorrowland as a whole.
Plus, I think Space is perfect for a truly intense rollercoaster. It is not tied to an IP, which allows Disney to make it without fear of kids missing a character they love. The draw of space would then be that it is one of Disney's best/most intense coasters.
I know insiders say this ain't happening, but I'd be in favor.
Big Thunder just needed a retrack, I feel space could benefit from a little reimagining.
Disstevefan1
Well-Known Member
I suspect the actual reason for this work is safety; replacing bad track etc, not for a smoother ride.
Actually, I hope they change as little as possible. I am really worried if they “upgrade” the sensors/control/operating systems, we are going to have another Tiana on our hands.
I also worry for Test Track “upgrades” too.
Andrew25
Well-Known Member
Big Thunder is actually a rather smooth ride, just has funky transition points that are typical of older coasters.
Also, it appears they are trying to get this thing done as soon as possible, they were hard at work removing pieces late into Friday evening (like 9PM).
Also, it appears they are trying to get this thing done as soon as possible, they were hard at work removing pieces late into Friday evening (like 9PM).
Disgruntled Walt
Well-Known Member
- In the Parks
- No
With TBA's unreliability, every minute BTM is closed is going to increase the pressure on the rest of the park, so I'll bet they reopen as soon as they possibly can. Maybe as early as January 2026 if they stay at this pace.
Disstevefan1
Well-Known Member
Disgruntled Walt
Well-Known Member
- In the Parks
- No
I know they take a long time with things, but seriously, TBA's failure to stay open is a huge problem for the park capacity-wise. Unless of course they're forced to keep the Rivers of America open longer...
JackCH
Well-Known Member
I'd be worried they might cut corners and not add the effects and stuff to BTMR just to open it sooner... I want those effects lol.
Disstevefan1
Well-Known Member
I hope you are right but I have lost faith after what I have seen happened in World Celebration in EPCOT. Blue sky concepts for years before they started. Collecting water from fountain of nations to be put on the new fountain, walls up for 5 YEARS, cost cuts, no new fountain, stupid planter in its place, in ground lighting still broken OVER A YEAR after the fact.
If they can re open Test Track in a reasonable time AND IT WORKS.
If they can re open Big Thunder in a reasonable time AND IT WORKS.
Then my faith will be on its way to be restored.
Lets see what happens.
MerlinTheGoat
Well-Known Member
No it isn't. People don't realize how horrible it has gotten until they experience an actually smooth coaster with a reasonably new track. I had the good fortune in the early 90s to ride Paris' version of Big Thunder when its track was still brand new (Cali's got a retrack some years back and was also reported to be a night and day difference). It was a real eye opener. Even back then with less than 15 years worth of mileage, MK's was already far more rough by comparison to the then brand new one at Paris. Still enjoyable enough to ride at the time, but it was a major difference regardless. Now several decades on, MK's has become what I would consider no longer enjoyable. The jankiness is distracting and painful (not even thrilling, just uncomfortable and obnoxious). The retrack is way overdue, and hopefully brings it back to a like-new state again.
The only downside to its reduction in turbulence is that it probably won't be as effective at dislodging kidney stones anymore...
This Roller Coaster Helps People Pass Kidney Stones (Yes, Really)
A small study in the Journal of the American Osteopathic Association found that riding a roller coaster may help a person pass kidney stones.
Andrew25
Well-Known Member
I have the benefit of living in Orlando and comparing coasters at each park, and Big Thunder is far from being a rough coaster. Sure it has its moments, but it's pretty remarkable how great in shape it is considering its age.No it isn't. People don't realize how horrible it has gotten until they experience an actually smooth coaster with a reasonably new track. I had the good fortune in the early 90s to ride Paris' version of Big Thunder when its track was still brand new (Cali's got a retrack some years back and was also reported to be a night and day difference). It was a real eye opener. Even back then with less than 15 years worth of mileage, MK's was already far more rough by comparison to the then brand new one at Paris. Still enjoyable enough to ride at the time, but it was a major difference regardless. Now several decades on, MK's has become what I would consider no longer enjoyable. The jankiness is distracting and painful (not even thrilling, just uncomfortable and obnoxious). The retrack is way overdue, and hopefully brings it back to a like-new state again.
The only downside to its reduction in turbulence is that it probably won't be as effective at dislodging kidney stones anymore...
This Roller Coaster Helps People Pass Kidney Stones (Yes, Really)
A small study in the Journal of the American Osteopathic Association found that riding a roller coaster may help a person pass kidney stones.www.livescience.com
VelociCoaster had a rough period about 2 years ago where they were struggling to find replacement wheels and it led to a rather uncomfortable ride experience.
Bocabear
Well-Known Member
I am hoping when they do finally get to the retrack and full refurbishment of Space Mountain that instead of going the Tokyo route, they instead replace the track in the same configuration perhads with a little smoother profiling, add on-board audio, new special effects, and completely overhaul the post-ride experience... Use the Horizons animatronics and recreate the Home Of Future Living complete with Speedramp exit and bring back Space Mountain's original theme song sans sponsor name ( they recorded it both with and wothout sponsor reference)... Make it the Mid-Mod Futurist journey into outer space that it was always meant to be... Jetson's futurist...whimsical and fun...with actual show scenes and visuals specifically for the Peoplemover instead of inky-blackness for 4 minutes....