Animatronic functions turned off at Dinosaur?

[Bairstow]

I thought the Rover's motions were toned down?

Rumor, as I understand it.
The only thing that was actually toned down was the name.
If you think about it, of course an attraction is going to seem less intense every time you ride it because you're more used to the sensation and can anticipate the movements and surprises, so someone riding when it was CTX and then when it was Dinosaur would naturally believe that it had become less intense. Of course, no one rode Dinosaur, and then CTX.

 

[Alektronic]

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.

When CTX opened, there was 2 lasers, one argon laser which did the entry and exit time portals and one krypton laser for the horizon flash finale, when the finale was changed to the sliding carno, they moved the krypton laser to the Iguanodon.

So when the argon laser failed, instead of replacing the laser tube, they just reconfigured the krypton laser to do all 3 sites. During morning startups they would have to start it up and walk to each site and make sure the mirrors are still in alignment and make sure the light curtains were working. They thought it took too long (or were just too lazy) and decided just to turn them off so they wouldn't have to replace that laser tube either and hoped nobody would notice and it would save them a lot of money.

 

[Bairstow]

So when the argon laser failed, instead of replacing the laser tube, they just reconfigured the krypton laser to do all 3 sites.

That's really fascinating that they could use one laser and a series of mirrors to project the beam to 3 separate areas.

During morning startups they would have to start it up and walk to each site and make sure the mirrors are still in alignment and make sure the light curtains were working.

All 3 sites?
Every morning?
Man, that sounds like a real hassle, especially just so that some customers can see some pretty lights.
I can see why they put a stop to that noise.

 

[Alektronic]

That's really fascinating that they could use one laser and a series of mirrors to project the beam to 3 separate areas.



All 3 sites?
Every morning?
Man, that sounds like a real hassle, especially just so that some customers can see some pretty lights.
I can see why they put a stop to thatnoise.

That is the problem with management, they know about it and allow it to happen.

 

[George Lucas on a Bench]

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 disagree. On Indiana Jones, you can see just about everything and it's more fun. Countdown to Extinction, though fun, is basically a bumpy truck ride in the dark. Imagine if the environments were more like the primeval scene from the Universe of Energy. You know, like the concept art:

 

[articos]

That is the problem with management, they know about it and allow it to happen.

That's a major problem with current management. This is why a solid, empowered SQS dept is absolutely necessary, so that when things like what you've described happen, there's a check and balance system that has the power to overrule and say "No, this is a show quality issue, and just because you don't want to take the time doesn't mean you can just make the call." This is the type of thing that actually es me off. We put a lot of time and money into these rides - years even, and the teams who design these attractions don't spend all that time working our butts off to build a brilliant attraction just so a tech can decide he/she wants to shortcut during opening and takes things into his or her own hands. I'm sorry - that really ticks me off.

 

[Thrill Seeker]

Ops team has no say in what does or doesn't get fixed. That's all up to maintenance and upper management. Trust me, if ops CMs had a say, The Great Movie Ride would be in pristine condition all the time and probably closed for a year to make it that way...

 

[Virtual Toad]

That's a major problem with current management. This is why a solid, empowered SQS dept is absolutely necessary, so that when things like what you've described happen, there's a check and balance system that has the power to overrule and say "No, this is a show quality issue, and just because you don't want to take the time doesn't mean you can just make the call." This is the type of thing that actually es me off. We put a lot of time and money into these rides - years even, and the teams who design these attractions don't spend all that time working our butts off to build a brilliant attraction just so a tech can decide he/she wants to shortcut during opening and takes things into his or her own hands. I'm sorry - that really ticks me off.

It ticks me off too and I'm just a customer. When will management realize this sort of thing drives customers away? When more customers stay away I suppose. But DisCo is still laughing its way to the bank by treating its guests like fools, and they've been getting away with it because the guests keep coming back for more. Fortunately I do think the word is getting out. At least here in Florida, folks are staying away from the mouse in increasing numbers. I'd love to enjoy Animal Kingdom and CTX as they were-- working-- when the park first opened. But a broken-down product? No thanks.

 

[ctxak98]

I disagree. On Indiana Jones, you can see just about everything and it's more fun. Countdown to Extinction, though fun, is basically a bumpy truck ride in the dark. Imagine if the environments were more like the primeval scene from the Universe of Energy. You know, like the concept art:

I can agree that at certain parts the lighting could be better. But something about a night time primeval forest, where you don't know what's around you or what's going to come next(for people who have never ridden it) is kind of awesome! Using your senses hearing, and smells and a little bit of sight is quite thrilling in my opinion. I think indiana jones is very dark as well. But its a different ride. I think indiana jones is more themed in general, however I find CTX more enjoyable based on the AA dinos(when they are working, they are spectacular!) No doubt about it

But that's just my take on it. and I never really thought about it. But to keep the realistic feel of actually taveling through a forest and not a inside show building, its easier to hide that through scenery oof a temple than in an open forest, which wouldn't naturally have a ceiling. The darkness iis probably to help with that aspect. Idk just a thought!

 

[ScoutN]

I rode this for the first time a week or so ago for the first time in a year or so. I have made eight trips in the past year and passed on this attraction. The exhibit room ceilings were half falling apart and had dust caked a mile deep. At least 65% of the show scenes were dark with flourescent paint. I know the inside of this thing was terrible to start with but the current state is.... just loss for words.

 

[Can we go yet?]

Whatever happened to those dino's that would jump over the track? Are they now static?

 

[Bairstow]

Whatever happened to those dino's that would jump over the track? Are they now static?

Been static for several years.
For a long time, a strobe light was used to make them "look as if they were moving".
This is a technique that sadly caught on elsewhere in the park...
Last time I rode even the strobe light was turned off, so it was yet another period of confusing darkness.

 

[prberk]

Last trip, the alioramus was completely frozen in place when we rode during morning EMH. It was disappointing and killed the mood for the rest of the ride. It was a shame, since when he's working he's a great figure!
A side note: Back when it was "Countdown to Extinction", my grandmother thought it was the best ride she'd ever seen aside from her favorite, IASW. Go figure!

You know, it really could be called "Countdown to Extinction" again. It has been so many years since the movie, "Dinosaur," came out that no one even remembers the movie, much less ties it to a ride.

I remember when they changed the name of the attraction to tie in with the movie release, I guess thinking that the movie was going to be a hit and have a long legacy. So much for that theory.

As for the name, "Dinosaur," for the ride, however, I can say that it does identify the ride, and might even make it easier to fool people into thinking it is an innocuous ride about dinosaurs, and that the Institute and the bones found inside are real.

 

[Rob562]

Been static for several years.
For a long time, a strobe light was used to make them "look as if they were moving".
This is a technique that sadly caught on elsewhere in the park...
Last time I rode even the strobe light was turned off, so it was yet another period of confusing darkness.

Well, it's not exactly a strobe, it was the blacklight that was always used to light them up. But rather than the figures moving through a shaft of closely-focused blacklight that would turn on and off as they moved above the ride path, they're now in static locations and the blacklights still turn on and off to illuminate them.

-Rob

 

[Figments Friend]

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.

I have to agree with Eisner then, as i found the original on-board audio lacking in suspense. The original seemed more comical then threatening during the tenser moments.

Absolutely love the meteor flinging towards you as was the original finale. GREAT effect....looked amazing. If Eisner was not keen on that, then i totally disagree with his decision. I thought the meteor effect was a nice plus.

It is a great shame this was phased out and replaced with the final Carnotaur head.

 

[ctxak98]

I really do feel befoore avatar they need to fix dinosaur and everest. Its a shame that two ouut of the four main rides, are broken! I am going to continue writing letters to them expressing my feelings on the state of these attractions.

 

[lego606]

I really do feel befoore avatar they need to fix dinosaur and everest. Its a shame that two ouut of the four main rides, are broken! I am going to continue writing letters to them expressing my feelings on the state of these attractions.

What sort of response do you get when you send such letters?

 

[Alektronic]

I have to agree with Eisner then, as i found the original on-board audio lacking in suspense. The original seemed more comical then threatening during the tenser moments.

Absolutely love the meteor flinging towards you as was the original finale. GREAT effect....looked amazing. If Eisner was not keen on that, then i totally disagree with his decision. I thought the meteor effect was a nice plus.

It is a great shame this was phased out and replaced with the final Carnotaur head.

The meteor effect was great but what they couldn't get was the blast effect from the explosion, they wanted a big gigantic blast of hot air and have the finale fill up with smoke, they could do it but not repeatly every 18 seconds. They tried with smoke and LN2 but they couldn't get the effect right before the Eisner ride through. So when Eisner rode through when came to the finale, he got a little shot of air and little puff of smoke. He thought the ride was great but finale needed to be GREAT!! A BIG FINALE!! By the way, we had to trigger almost all the show scenes manually so he got a good ride.

 

[Alektronic]

I really do feel befoore avatar they need to fix dinosaur and everest. Its a shame that two ouut of the four main rides, are broken! I am going to continue writing letters to them expressing my feelings on the state of these attractions.

Good for you, but make sure you are specific. Tell them which effects are not working and how bad show quality is. Don't say the ride is broken or maintenance is bad, because they will look at their attraction readiness charts and say the ride is running 99% of the time. So the ride is running good and the maintenance PM's are working.

Because they concentrate on the ride and ride vehicles, that part works fine. If management directed them to work on the show and committed the same resources to that, then the show would look incredible also. So it is not that they can't do it, it's because they don't want to do it because they think nobody will notice or knows the difference.

 

[marni1971]

It's such a shame.... I've been looking through the audio alone for the attraction. So much unused dialogue from at least three different scripts. At least two different musical ride scores (one from soft opening). Such a great story to tell. Like a few other attractions they are more than half way there. It' wouldn't take much more to make it amazing. As originally intended.