Animatronic functions turned off at Dinosaur?

[HM GhostHostess]

During my most recent trip in January, I noticed that almost all of the dinosaur animatronics at Dinosaur were not running at full capacity. It appears that many of their functions and movements have been turned off. For example, the alioramus ( the dinosaur that is eating a large lizard) only lifted it's head and was moving its lower jaw up and down. Normally, it has a ton of movement when it is picking up it's prey and it chews with great ferocity.

When I was at Walt Disney World in January 2012, the dinosaurs seemed to be moving a lot more and they appeared to be much more animated. I know that a number of effects on Dinosaur have gone missing since opening day, but the dinosaurs have always seemed to have a ton of movement.

Have the animatronic functions been turned off or are some of them broken?

 

[MerlinTheGoat]

Haven't visited since early 2012 but this doesn't surprise me. The effects have been systematically toned down throughout the years on this ride. I think even in the past 3 years or so, that dino eating another dino wasn't functioning as it should have (I heard it was supposed to look like it was actually swallowing the dino, looking like it was going down its throat, and not just chewing on it).

Sad to hear it has gotten worse though. Despite comparisons to Indiana Jones, I still find this to be a very fun ride (though i've never unfortunately experienced it when it was in 100% working order sadly). The dinosaurs do look quite great when they're moving properly.

 

[RSoxNo1]

I don't know that there is a single animatronic in the ride that if broken will result in the ride shutting down. I feel at times I've seen every one of the animatronics have some sort of issue and the ride is still operable. In some cases, I see errors and I'll alert the people at the end of the attraction, and I encourage you and others to do the same. Don't go into the conversation with the expectation of receiving anything as compensation, but just politely explain that things weren't working and someone should look at it.

I've found that if it's something small, it will often be resolved if I ride again at a later point in my trip.

 

[marni1971]

I've mentioned it before, but don't expect CMs to even know what should be working. On asking about the missing lasers I was asked "you mean this attraction is meant to have lasers?" by the lead CM.

 

[Mania4]

One of the biggest reason problems on this ride don't get fixed is the numbers. In attractions everything is based on how many people you can get through the ride per hour. The higher that number the higher the attractions budget. Dinosaur constantly has lagging number. Another issue is the management in Dinoland. They have a issue controlling payroll as well as other issues.
Another thing if you tell the CM as you get of the ride theres a problem nothing will get done. CM's are trained to thank the guest and continue on. If you want to do something go to the gift shop and ask to speak to a Ops Manager.

 

[Lord Pheonix]

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.

 

[EOD K9]

This past weekend I was on TSMM and even though I let the string go all the way back in, I was only getting off one of every three shots. I politely told the CM and his response was, "Ok, sounds good", and never even looked at what vehicle I was on. ? The sad part is that stay was at the end of my Disney Cruise. The service on the ship was so much better.
Sorry for the thread jack but it is sort of along the same lines as CMs not knowing or caring.

 

[George]

I've mentioned it before, but don't expect CMs to even know what should be working. On asking about the missing lasers I was asked "you mean this attraction is meant to have lasers?" by the lead CM.

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

 

[rricks26]

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.

 

[yeaitspootie]

I wish something would get done. Dinosaur used to be the scariest ride at WDW; absolutely thrilling. Last time I rode it felt like a totally different ride. Many other rides are experiencing similar problems, this can't stand. I love Disney, I want them to be awe inspiring again.

 

[MissAlmyra]

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!

 

[Figments Friend]

I wish something would get done. Dinosaur used to be the scariest ride at WDW; absolutely thrilling. Last time I rode it felt like a totally different ride. Many other rides are experiencing similar problems, this can't stand. I love Disney, I want them to be awe inspiring again.

-
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....)

 

[articos]

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.

WDI does actually take extensive video of each attraction before opening, as does Universal. There is an archive of each, so we know what the show is supposed to look like. There's also extensive documentation on each attraction's show effects, noting what is supposed to happen when. Whether or not this information is ever used is another story.

 

[FigmentJedi]

WDI does actually take extensive video of each attraction before opening, as does Universal. There is an archive of each, so we know what the show is supposed to look like. There's also extensive documentation on each attraction's show effects, noting what is supposed to happen when. Whether or not this information is ever used is another story.

And why Disney doesn't decide to exploit that backlog of material they've presumably got for extinct attractions and put that on DVDs to sell to the fanboy market, I will never know.

 

[articos]

And why Disney doesn't decide to exploit that backlog of material they've presumably got for extinct attractions and put that on DVDs to sell to the fanboy market, I will never know.

The majority are not filmed from any sort of perspective that would make a good attraction video, nor are they of a calibre that would look good professionally. They're for reference, more than anything that would look good to the public. Good idea though - prior to shutting down an attraction, should go through and film the experience as a ride-through for sale. Although with YouTube now, I think it's also probably readily available.

 

[Virtual Toad]

Dinosaur (or should we call it by its proper name, Countdown to Extinction) used to be so awesome. Not perfect, but with a few minor to moderate changes, it could have been. It always felt a little "unfinished" but it was thrilling and enjoyable.

Out last visit to AK was a couple of years ago and the condition of the ride was so poor we haven't been back to AK since. The Carnotaurus at the climax of the ride was totally missing and replaced by a static dino hiding in the trees on the opposite side of the ride vehicle. My wife and I looked at each other and essentially said "WT*" just as the on-ride photo system snapped our picture. Man I wish I had purchased that photo.

If Disney is listening, listen up: the lauguable maintenance standard on Dinosaur is a direct reason we no longer vi$it AK. Another great ride destroyed by short-term thinking.

 

[OFTeric]

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.

This technically already exists, and should maintained with the "Daily Animation Checklist" where show element's working condition should be check off functioning or not functioning with all the not functioning forwarded to the engineering team to work on.

@marni1971 or @Lee or anyone know of someone who can get a hold of current or old Daily Animation Checklists so that we can start a public audit of the attractions?

 

[Figments Friend]

WDI does actually take extensive video of each attraction before opening, as does Universal. There is an archive of each, so we know what the show is supposed to look like. There's also extensive documentation on each attraction's show effects, noting what is supposed to happen when. Whether or not this information is ever used is another story.

-
WDI should have it's own YouTube Channel ...!

Oh wait, maybe not such a good idea.
The Guests would then see what they are indeed missing.



Love the idea about filming old attractions before they close though. Maybe Disney assumes there would be no real market for such releases, considering fans have been doing it for ages now.
Still..it would be cool to see a WDI endorsed Dvd release.
You would think D23 or the like would have offered some sort of Imagineering 'making of' type of documentary release for fans to purchase at this point.
Seems like easy money in the bank.

 

[Lord Pheonix]

-
WDI should have it's own YouTube Channel ...!

Oh wait, maybe not such a good idea.
The Guests would then see what they are indeed missing.



Love the idea about filming old attractions before they close though. Maybe Disney assumes there would be no real market for such releases, considering fans have been doing it for ages now.
Still..it would be cool to see a WDI endorsed Dvd release.
You would think D23 or the like would have offered some sort of Imagineering 'making of' type of documentary release for fans to purchase at this point.
Seems like easy money in the bank.

they already do. its the one you goto that gives a static screen that says "this channel no longer exists"

 

[Bairstow]

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: