Animatronic functions turned off at Dinosaur?

[djkidkaz]

Dinosaur is actually in pretty normal shape. They fixed the doors at the beginning of the ride, the lighting looks like its been updated so you can actually see now, and the majority of effects are working besides the stuff thats been off for years.

 

[lego606]

Dinosaur is actually in pretty normal shape. They fixed the doors at the beginning of the ride, the lighting looks like its been updated so you can actually see now, and the majority of effects are working besides the stuff thats been off for years.

Yea, but the stuff that's been off for years is the cool stuff.

Honestly, I never understood the Dinosaur/CTX story until I saw the tribute video. There's no way the average guest is getting the story.

Also, it really relies to much on "convenience". Like, "oh hey, we got the dino to somehow come along with us! Yay!", whereas the laser net actually made sense.

 

[RSoxNo1]

I am taking about the BIG GIANT head at the very end that you duck under. that doesnt look realistically size wise and it doesnt move. I think the laser net could be cool and work if done properly.

Ahh... gotcha. As for the net - with the new digital mapping that they've done on the castle and in Snow White's Scary Adventures in California, many enhancements can be made to this attraction that would really be impressive.

 

[flynnibus]

Yea, but the stuff that's been off for years is the cool stuff.

Honestly, I never understood the Dinosaur/CTX story until I saw the tribute video. There's no way the average guest is getting the story.

Dunno.. I think the preshow video and video at the start of the ride lays it out pretty straight forward. Then the countdown during the ride is clear. I think the only thing that is 'huh?' is the actual capture scene.. but then in the prologue scene the guy tells you did it.. So I can see gaps.. but not what the idea is as a whole.

 

[ctxak98]

I really think a full refurb for this ride would do good. EVEN change some things around. I think it would give it a fresh new look and maybe the advertising once all done would bring in mor crowds. Its kind of hidden in the corner of the park and most people pass right by it!

 

[Bairstow]

Ahh... gotcha. As for the net - with the new digital mapping that they've done on the castle and in Snow White's Scary Adventures in California, many enhancements can be made to this attraction that would really be impressive.

Nothing against mapped digital projection, but I don't think it would look as good as actual laser projection for this effect.
Does anyone know why that one was turned off? It's not even that high-tech or complex an effect. They had stuff like that in the OLD Imagination ride and it always worked flawlessly for years.

 

[lego606]

Dunno.. I think the preshow video and video at the start of the ride lays it out pretty straight forward. Then the countdown during the ride is clear. I think the only thing that is 'huh?' is the actual capture scene.. but then in the prologue scene the guy tells you did it.. So I can see gaps.. but not what the idea is as a whole.

I mean, the whole "lets go to the asteroid impact and get a dino!" part is understandable, but a lot of the in-ride stuff, like the laser scanning leading to security alert, the laser barrier I saw at the end of the time machine, the chasing Carnotaurus, the angry pterodactyl with the little things on the chain, running over the tail (replaced by the awkward "whoops", I believe), the loss of power (now loss of traction?) and the little bump at the end caused by the asteroid (now the Carno head) are all either lost or there with no explanation. :/

 

[flynnibus]

I Agee @lego606. - many of the scenes are lost on people due to the darkness and throwing you around so much

 

[marni1971]

How many guests even know (or look up to see) the main asteroid is meant to be flying over their heads?

Or are they too distracted by head on a stick and strobe lights illuminating the building wall?

 

[RSoxNo1]

How many guests even know (or look up to see) the main asteroid is meant to be flying over their heads?

Or are they too distracted by head on a stick and strobe lights illuminating the building wall?

Yeah that's missed. I think people get that the impact is happening, but it's an audio sensation (mixed with the blast of air).

As for the netting effect, I was at the park on opening day and I don't remember it. @marni1971, I believe you have some original attraction audio and original effects represented in your video. Was that all turned off before official opening day?

 

[Alektronic]

there needs to be someone whos only job is to go video every ride when either first opened or newly renovated/remodeled. that way we all can know what its supposed to look like when we go and see stuff like this.


wasnt there a "disney dream job" thread somewhere here a while back??? if so, this would be my dream job.

There is a dept that does that already. They need someone with some power who can shut down some rides to get them repaired when show quality is less than perfect. Right now, there is nobody like that, there used to be Show Directors who were the only one authorized to make any show changes and keep things turned off back then when we also had "101" figures and show items.

 

[Bairstow]

How many guests even know (or look up to see) the main asteroid is meant to be flying over their heads?

Or are they too distracted by head on a stick and strobe lights illuminating the building wall?

That main asteroid is gone, replaced by the final Carnotaurus head.
You can see the spinning, lowering asteroid in Martin's video, but every time I've ridden it's been one final dinosaur animatronic head kind of leaning out over you, just like the finale on a Jurassic Park ride.

Go to 8:35

 

[Alektronic]

Dinosaur/Countdown to Extinction supposedly was never even finished. Supposedly there were a lot of props and a couple effects that were completed and ready to be installed but had to be thrown out so that the attraction could open by its deadline. This is why so much the attraction is bathed in complete darkness.

It's interesting to compare Martin's tribute video: http://www.martinsvids.net/?p=642
...with what the ride looks like today:

Originally, there was supposed to 23 AA Dinosaurs and they were in different order also. It wasn't about meeting the deadline, it was about meeting costs, they had a severe budget cut in everything, so everything show wise was done on the cheap after scene 8.

 

[Alektronic]

To be fair, I would guess they work 10-15% of the time.

To be fair, they are just turned off to save money.

 

[Alektronic]

Thing is, is that attractions cast members have absolutely no say in what goes on in the attraction other than the actual operation of the ride. Even the operations managers they report to dont really have a say in what goes on. That's all maintenance, which is a completely separate department. If maintence turns off an animatronic cause it isn't working, if its not a major show element, the ride will continue to operate. Said to say but, Disney is not about to let the ride not operate because a few ride elements aren't working properly. *cough cough yeti* I remember we weren't even alerted when certain animatronics weren't working.

Actually, Operations have all the say in the operation of an attraction, maintenance can give recommendations but if operations wants to call an attraction 101 and they say this needs to be fixed before we can reopen, then the heat is on maintenance to get it repaired before it can reopen. 101's is when maintenance really gets mobilized and working hard to reopen the ride, it takes priority over everything else. But if Operations thinks the ride looks fine with everything turned off and broken, guess what, they continue to run the ride. Hourly Rider Counts is what matters not show quality. The only people that could override Operations would be Reedy Creek because of safety.

 

[Alektronic]

-
I think that was the 'problem' for some Guests with this attraction...it was regarded as 'too scary' in it's original incarnation.
This was the cause of the demise of the beloved ExtraTERRORestiral Encounter as well. It was deemed 'too scary' and Disney felt pressured by some parents to change the attraction. We all know what what we ended up with.

Of course you would think such Guests would not ride knowing the attraction was so intense, but the gradual downgrade of the ferocity factor at 'Dinosaur' and the more threatening effects is part of the reason. It was supposed to be scary back then..that was part of the appeal !
'Countdown To Extinction' was great when it was going full blast....the watered down movie-tie in version, eh...not so much..but still a fun experience.

I like this attraction quite a bit, but the currant version is a dim reflection to what it once was.
It just needs that scare factor brought back to it's original show presence, and the missing effects restored.

I am sure there are some great videos out there in the internet ether that showcase the original in all it's glory.
I shall have to go poking around....talking about this makes me want to see those old effects again!
( goes off to view more of Martin's videos....)

Just to make sure everyone knows, the switch from CTX to Dinosaur, nothing changed in the ride or the show only the name was changed, nothing was watered down. It is the same exact ride.

But I agree everything needs to restored to normal, effects being turned back on and others being repaired properly.

 

[Figments Friend]

Just to make sure everyone knows, the switch from CTX to Dinosaur, nothing changed in the ride or the show only the name was changed, nothing was watered down. It is the same exact ride.

But I agree everything needs to restored to normal, effects being turned back on and others being repaired properly.

Thanks for clarifying that.

I had heard that it had been toned down quite a bit.
A few days ago my curiosity got the best of me and i went and did some poking around online. I found this video of CTX, filmed during the soft-opening for the attraction.
I watched expecting to see the missing show elements and instead was treated to hearing a alternative ride audio track.
This really threw me..as i do not recall ever hearing this version, but maybe this was changed soon after opening?

Here is the video i had viewed....really different pacing in the audio portion when compared to the ride as it is now.



EDIT : Just answered my own question, as i re-watched Martin*s fab tribute video.
I am glad they changed the audio, as the original version was lacking in suspense.

 

[disney fan 13]

Just to make sure everyone knows, the switch from CTX to Dinosaur, nothing changed in the ride or the show only the name was changed, nothing was watered down. It is the same exact ride.

But I agree everything needs to restored to normal, effects being turned back on and others being repaired properly.

I thought the Rover's motions were toned down?

 

[ctxak98]

The Rovers motions were toned down a Tad...Really If the ride wasnt in the dark and didnt whip you around it wouldnt be as fun!

I think if they fix the pterodactyl, alioramus, compsognathus, laser effects, and change the ending carnotaur head to an asteroid again...or a better AA...then It would be a great ride. Its still a fun ride regardless but It could be REALLY great. Just My opinion!

 

[Alektronic]

Thanks for clarifying that.

I had heard that it had been toned down quite a bit.
A few days ago my curiosity got the best of me and i went and did some poking around online. I found this video of CTX, filmed during the soft-opening for the attraction.
I watched expecting to see the missing show elements and instead was treated to hearing a alternative ride audio track.
This really threw me..as i do not recall ever hearing this version, but maybe this was changed soon after opening?

Here is the video i had viewed....really different pacing in the audio portion when compared to the ride as it is now.



EDIT : Just answered my own question, as i re-watched Martin*s fab tribute video.
I am glad they changed the audio, as the original version was lacking in suspense.

That is just an Internet or Disney Rumor or maybe just a Disney Internet rumor. The ride hasn't changed a bit.

The on board audio was changed because of Eisner reviews and also the finale was changed because of Eisner. i wished he would opened up the pocketbooks to fix alot of different things he didn't like either.

Thanks for posting that video, it even showed the meteor impact (at 3:15) as soon as you pass the raptor and that's why you make that sudden left turn.