Big thunder refurb

[montyz81]

When BTMRR was refurbed last year, did they replace any of the track? The Disnryland BTMRR refurb appears to includ all new track. I am curious why that ride gets new track when the Orlando version is just as old?

 

[Master Yoda]

From what I remember the track supports (structure between the 2 tracks) were replaced in WDW.

 

[tare]

i love big thunder!!!! wish the reburb was done in cali

 

[Spideyfreak110]

All the crossties were replaced to allow room for the new wheel bogeys. When the ride originally opened, the upstop wheels were mounted at a 45* angle. The State of Florida made them change it so that they had to be inline with the load wheels, perpendicular to the guide wheels.

 

[marni1971]

Orlando's should have gotten new track given there is some concern how long it'll last before it needs total replacement given the climate.

 

[TP2000]

When BTMRR was refurbed last year, did they replace any of the track? The Disnryland BTMRR refurb appears to includ all new track. I am curious why that ride gets new track when the Orlando version is just as old?

I'd wondered the same thing. The SoCal climate is much nicer on steel and wood and cement than the Orlando climate is, and both coasters are roughly the same age, and yet the Disneyland version gets all new track?

How long was the WDW BTMRR rehab again? The Disneyland rehab is 10 months long; January-October 2013. And that includes all new track, plus a lot of reconstruction/replacement of buildings and props.

Why didn't WDW's version get its track replaced? And if they replaced the Disneyland track in its entirety at 34 years old, how much longer can the WDW track last?

 

[Spideyfreak110]

^TDO is cheap and clueless...

 

[AndyS2992]

Again, for the same reason as why Space Mountain and Everest can't be fixed and why there is no It's a Small World or Haunted Mansion Holiday is because WDW guests are mostly one timers or people that only come every few years due to how expensive WDW is which is why a WDW vacation is considered a 'once in a lifetime vacation'. Anyway, having a main attraction down for a very long time will result in many guests complaining that they came all that way and spent a load of money to ride BTMR but it was closed and they will not be visiting again so have missed out leaving them very disappointed and angry.

A closed E ticket will also mean decreased visitor numbers and spending meaning WDW will lose money from guests choosing not to visit because a main ride is shut. WDW is way more expensive to operate than Disneyland and so WDW needs to draw in as many people as possible and extract every penny it can get from them.

 

[Spideyfreak110]

^Bullcrap! That's just an excuse they can use to not maintain a ride. So I guess the only solution is to run it til it falls apart?

 

[Black Pearl]

New track? I thought half the fun was not knowing if the track and train would stand!

 

[marni1971]

Again, for the same reason as why Space Mountain and Everest can't be fixed and why there is no It's a Small World or Haunted Mansion Holiday is because WDW guests are mostly one timers or people that only come every few years due to how expensive WDW is which is why a WDW vacation is considered a 'once in a lifetime vacation'. Anyway, having a main attraction down for a very long time will result in many guests complaining that they came all that way and spent a load of money to ride BTMR but it was closed and they will not be visiting again so have missed out leaving them very disappointed and angry.

A closed E ticket will also mean decreased visitor numbers and spending meaning WDW will lose money from guests choosing not to visit because a main ride is shut. WDW is way more expensive to operate than Disneyland and so WDW needs to draw in as many people as possible and extract every penny it can get from them.

Rubbish.

When the mountain collapses it'll take a damn sight longer to rebuild than a refurb.

Or were you being sarcastic?

 

[Master Yoda]

Rubbish.

When the mountain collapses it'll take a damn sight longer to rebuild than a refurb.

Or were you being sarcastic?

You might know this Martin...Is the track composition in DL identical to the track in MK? While I have no doubt that TDO will try and shave nickels off of every project I am wondering if the track in MK is of a different composition than DL. As it was pointed out, the climate in California is much kinder than in Central Florida. For that reason I am wondering if the track used in MK was of a better composition, thickness, etc. to deal with the adverse conditions thereby making is last longer.

 

[AndyS2992]

^Bullcrap! That's just an excuse they can use to not maintain a ride. So I guess the only solution is to run it til it falls apart?

Rubbish.

When the mountain collapses it'll take a damn sight longer to rebuild than a refurb.

Or were you being sarcastic?

Well Splash Mountain is a prime example of letting a ride collapse before doing anything about it, same with Space Mountain, it's so jerky It gave me a huge headache that I had to leave lol

And yes, good point Martin.

 

[marni1971]

You might know this Martin...Is the track composition in DL identical to the track in MK? While I have no doubt that TDO will try and shave nickels off of every project I am wondering if the track in MK is of a different composition than DL. As it was pointed out, the climate in California is much kinder than in Central Florida. For that reason I am wondering if the track used in MK was of a better composition, thickness, etc. to deal with the adverse conditions thereby making is last longer.

You'd hope wouldn't you? Educated guess is no since both were under construction at the same time and Orlando is a mirror copy of DL for the ride part, hence a probable (guess) they were bought as a duplicate pair. I'd hope of anything that DL was built up to the standards of Orlandos climate. But, they've deemed DL needs a replacement, something mooted two years ago for WDW but deferred by those who know.

 

[Master Yoda]

You'd hope wouldn't you? Educated guess is no since both were under construction at the same time and Orlando is a mirror copy of DL for the ride part, hence a probable (guess) they were bought as a duplicate pair. I'd hope of anything that DL was built up to the standards of Orlandos climate. But, they've deemed DL needs a replacement, something mooted two years ago for WDW but deferred by those who know.

Why do I feel like TDO is one of those people I use to run into when working in the auto repair industry that did not want to replace their timing belt unless "it was going to break right now!". I would always see them a few months later with a blown engine and complaining how "These cars are crap!" "No one told, me!" etc, etc.