Crane at Cinderella Castle

Goofyernmost

Well-Known Member
I don't get it either. The people who complain are probably some of the people who would complain if there were no lights on the castle during the holidays. My real point is that people should stop saying that he/she/they/everyone knows what Walt would say.
So true! I think Walt would be speechless if he could see what he created when he built DL. Go up on a high point someplace near WDW and look around at the expanse of Orlando and Kissimmee and let yourself realize that all that exists today because of one lone man who had ideas that were huge. That doesn't mean that he was so stuck on process that he couldn't flex and do what was needed. And it wasn't always pretty.
 

Frank0404

New Member
Sure it's visible at times, but I've found they try to keep it out of the way as much as possible. PhotoPass also does a good job avoiding it when possible. All our complaining just proves why an HM NBC overlay can't happen in WDW! ;)

I can tell you right now that they don't try to hide at all. Even during shows. In fact the workers In the bucket were waving at the crowd while the performance was going on. A couple mins before the pyro effects went off, they moved the bucket away from the castle and had it back in place shortly after.
 

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Goofyernmost

Well-Known Member
I can tell you right now that they don't try to hide at all. Even during shows. In fact the workers In the bucket were waving at the crowd while the performance was going on. A couple mins before the pyro effects went off, they moved the bucket away from the castle and had it back in place shortly after.
All that means is that when you were there they needed it to be where it was in full view. That doesn't mean that it always is, but, for the most part the boom will be visible from most everywhere. Doesn't matter, we want the castle to be beautiful and that doesn't happen with Pixie Dust as much as we would like to think it is. Trust me you do not want to be trying to match paint at night with just artificial lights and 180 feet in the air.
 

Frank0404

New Member
Much is made about the sad old crane, but, it is a reasonable method of doing the light decoration. What they do can be changed if they want too, not a permanent part of the castle. Who knows if 5 years from now they have a whole new, better idea about what to do with the castle decoration. I don't understand the big whoop about it anyway. So it's up there for a couple of months a year, at least, unlike, the DL overlays they don't close down the attraction for months every year to completely ruin the integrity of HM. How much actual time do you spend actually just looking at the castle anyway. If you want a picture without it in it, all you have to do is photo it from a different angle. The benefit reaped from the display every year far outweighs the minor visual problem of the crane.
I don't have a problem with the crane per say. I have an issue when the crane is brought out during the day and normal park hours. It is a distraction and bad show to have workers on the crane working on the castle during The stage show. It's bad show period and runis the illusion of scale on the scale.
 

Goofyernmost

Well-Known Member
I don't have a problem with the crane per say. I have an issue when the crane is brought out during the day and normal park hours. It is a distraction and bad show to have workers on the crane working on the castle during The stage show. It's bad show period and runis the illusion of scale on the scale.
Well, that would depend on how you look at it. If that were a real live castle it would be having repairs in the middle of the day. I'm not going to ever advocate that the crews work at those heights at night. When the dangers are higher and the need to see what they are doing is vital. It's not bad show. If it were happening all the time, sure, but, it is being done to keep the show going with no problems. The more they stop to let a show happen it is that much longer that they are going to be there, not to mention the fact that no one is forcing you or anyone else to look up and watch what they are doing. They are working for a living, we are on vacation and are free to look anyplace we want. Watch the show and you will never even see those hard working people trying to keep the magic alive for everyone.
 

Biff215

Well-Known Member
Well, that would depend on how you look at it. If that were a real live castle it would be having repairs in the middle of the day. I'm not going to ever advocate that the crews work at those heights at night. When the dangers are higher and the need to see what they are doing is vital. It's not bad show. If it were happening all the time, sure, but, it is being done to keep the show going with no problems. The more they stop to let a show happen it is that much longer that they are going to be there, not to mention the fact that no one is forcing you or anyone else to look up and watch what they are doing. They are working for a living, we are on vacation and are free to look anyplace we want. Watch the show and you will never even see those hard working people trying to keep the magic alive for everyone.
I agree completely. When the park is open from 8-9:00 am and usually closes at 11:00-1:00, there aren't enough non-park hours to get this done safely and efficiently. We can debate whether the end product is worth it, and of course some who visit in August or January never get to enjoy how great it does look during the holidays, but I think they do a good job with it. Even in the above picture, I don't find it that distracting and I could still enjoy the show. The alternative could be to throw up scrims around the entire castle and not have shows during installation. I believe what they're doing now is far better, but to each his/her own!
 

MagicHappens1971

Well-Known Member
They didn't put up a scrim when they painted it a few years ago, just drained the water
I was referring to Disneylands castle, which to my knowledge doesn't have a moat around it.
Edit: This bothers me wayyyyy more then the crane. Although I don't think this scrim was up as long as the crane usually is.
Castle1-020815-AVP.jpg
 

Magenta Panther

Well-Known Member
Since Walt was dead before the MK even opened and the technology to put up the type of Christmas lights used today didn't even exist yet, it is impossible for you or anyone else to know what Walt would think. He might think this is a great idea to give his customers such a decorated treat during the Christmas season.

Yes, you're absolutely right. The guy who build underground tunnels in WDW so that guests wouldn't encounter a cowboy walking through Tomorrowland would be absolutely thrilled with the idea of guests seeing a giant crane next to Cinderella Castle and workmen crawling all over it. Give me a break!

Now, having said that, I realize that I was probably unfair to criticize TDO about the crane. They're not stupid and they're probably not thrilled with the crane either, but haven't found a way to avoid using it to set up the ice lights. My solution would be to ditch those lights and use projections, coupled with the LED lights Marni mentioned, in their place. Projections could overlay ice, a snowfall, perhaps the ice fairies from Fantasia on the front of the castle, and the LEDs would add sparkle. It could be awesome. And no more crane!
 

Polydweller

Well-Known Member
Thousands of RGB LEDs set into the brickwork pattern. Hardly visible in daylight.
Really? It's in the neighbourhood of 200,000 lights to make the ice palace effect. You don't think 200,000 holes in the castle wouldn't be noticed and wouldn't cause deterioration due weather. Not to mention running all the cable behind the scene even if it was possible to get at done areas. Then, you add to that how difficult it becomes to put in a new show, there's very little flexibility to change the show. How about maintenance when the lights themselves deteriorate or become obsolete.

Nope, the idea of imbedded lights is beyond impractical.
 

squidward

Well-Known Member
I think we all know that Walt would absolutely plotz if he saw that crane next to the castle in full view of the guests. Isn't there any way the lights could be added after park hours?

Of course. But it would entail paying workers more money for working overnight. Disney cares more about money than they do about show. I usually hate the "Walt would have" comments, but this one is 100% accurate. The idea of the crane has always irritated the crap out of me.
 

squidward

Well-Known Member
I don't get it either. The people who complain are probably some of the people who would complain if there were no lights on the castle during the holidays. My real point is that people should stop saying that he/she/they/everyone knows what Walt would say.

Usually, I agree about the Walt comments. And though none of us knew him personally, I think anyone that has done their fair research on him knew what a stickler he was for show. As MP said, the man specifically planned the Magic Kingdom be built up a couple floors so workers could get around without being seen by the public. I've read enough Walt biographies, as well as others who worked with and knew him. I think it's safe to say he would have not put up with the crane next to the castle.

Then again, the castle hasn't looked very good to me in years. The turrets are too dark. The paint is too shiny. Those props they put up for the castle stage show look out of place, and it's lacking much of the majesty without the coats of arms, or whatever those big yellow/orange things were on either side of the castle.
 
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Goofyernmost

Well-Known Member
Of course. But it would entail paying workers more money for working overnight. Disney cares more about money than they do about show. I usually hate the "Walt would have" comments, but this one is 100% accurate. The idea of the crane has always irritated the crap out of me.
It's not about money in this case, because most of it is done at night. However, repairs that require high up work are done in the daytime for the safety of the workers and the ability to be able to see what they are doing at 180 ft in the air. If it is more important that we don't have the crane then the well being of the workers then what can I say. I'm afraid that Walt also had to deal with construction equipment when repairing or building new attractions. The idea that no one ever saw a piece of machinery in Disneyland is pure fantasy. Even Walt had to operate within the abilities of time and space. Just because he got upset because CM's were having to cross other lands, he looked at as something that he should have considered and that upset him. That was controllable or should have been. Safety and accuracy cannot be compromised for the show. It is temporary and the good old show will return.
 

Goofyernmost

Well-Known Member
I was referring to Disneylands castle, which to my knowledge doesn't have a moat around it.
Edit: This bothers me wayyyyy more then the crane. Although I don't think this scrim was up as long as the crane usually is.
I would bet that you are incorrect on that. The crane is only there for a relatively short time unless they are doing extensive repairs to the castle at the same time and since the castle has been sitting out there in the Florida sun for 43 years now, I'd guess that there is much to maintain.
 

Goofyernmost

Well-Known Member
I thought Walt didn't even want to build a 'Disneyland' in Florida?

Roy probably deserves the credit for Magic Kingdom.
He may not have wanted too, but he knew that he needed a base to build his City of Tomorrow around and they had been talking about another Disneyland on that side of the country. I don't think he was against it as much as he was just uninterested in it because his focus was on EPCOT. I think it was always a part of the plan though. All those people that were going to live in his utopian community needed a place to work. That would have been MK.

Roy indeed gets credit for MK, because, there was no special reason to have MK in Florida without EPCOT and Walt to make it work. They waited 7 years before building MK and the resort because Roy didn't feel that they could do it without Walt. He was convinced by the 7 old men that they could build it without Walt. They had done it before and knew just what to do.
 

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