Disco Yeti Forever

[RunnerEd]

I just got a phone call from a very nice cast member in response to the email that I sent regarding the poor show that we experienced at the Animal Kingdom. I detailed that the 3 attractions that we experienced all had major issues (It's Tough to be a Bug, Dinosaur, and Everest). When we talked about the Yeti being broken, she told me that a decision had been made to keep the Yeti stationary for the foreseeable future due to the complexity of the design. I guess we all kind of knew that but to have semi-official confirmation is pretty sad. I did ask her why every television on property automatically tuned to a channel that showed the WDW Greatest Hits was still showing a moving Yeti and simultaneously talked about an encounter with him. She said that was something that needed to be looked at.

 

[thelookingglass]

I believe that is the standard response they've been giving out to yeti questions... nothing new, really.

 

[wizards8507]

I just got a phone call from a very nice cast member in response to the email that I sent regarding the poor show that we experienced at the Animal Kingdom. I detailed that the 3 attractions that we experienced all had major issues (It's Tough to be a Bug, Dinosaur, and Everest). When we talked about the Yeti being broken, she told me that a decision had been made to keep the Yeti stationary for the foreseeable future due to the complexity of the design. I guess we all kind of knew that but to have semi-official confirmation is pretty sad. I did ask her why every television on property automatically tuned to a channel that showed the WDW Greatest Hits was still showing a moving Yeti and simultaneously talked about an encounter with him. She said that was something that needed to be looked at.

I said this months ago after a conversation with a very senior Imagineering executive and I was labeled a troll. I hope you fare better.

 

[CJR]

I would rather it be this way than covered up like it was a month or two ago. It's still kind of sad, but it makes sense. The work required for the Yeti (to make it fully operational again) would require closing the attraction and AK cannot afford to have EE closed right now.

 

[wizards8507]

I would rather it be this way than covered up like it was a month or two ago. It's still kind of sad, but it makes sense. The work required for the Yeti (to make it fully operational again) would require closing the attraction and AK cannot afford to have EE closed right now.

I agree. My completely uneducated guess is that the work will be done eventually after another major crowd-eater (or two) opens in DAK.

 

[devoy1701]

I said this months ago after a conversation with a very senior Imagineering executive and I was labeled a troll. I hope you fare better.

I thought after that other thread earlier this week you decided you didn't want to put up with us here anymore... You can imagine the surprise when I notice you still posting...

 

[wizards8507]

I thought after that other thread earlier this week you decided you didn't want to put up with us here anymore... You can imagine the surprise when I notice you still posting...

I didn't want to put up with that particular thread any longer. You'll have to deal with me for a little while longer, it seems. :animwink:

 

[CJR]

I agree. My completely uneducated guess is that the work will be done eventually after another major crowd-eater (or two) opens in DAK.

Exactly. After a new E-Ticket or two, EE won't have the pressure to stay open that it does right now. To be honest, AK's kind of due for an E-Ticket unless Disney's trying to go a full decade without one. I know MK can do that but compare MK's attraction count to AK's. It's not even close.

Something that would help AK in terms of capacity would be to add smaller rides in Camp Minnie-Mickey. Doing that and an E-Ticket somewhere would probably be enough to close EE and fix the Yeti. Albeit, AK doesn't really need kiddie rides since the animal exhibits make up for their absence.

 

[Minnie1976]

I really don't understand why Disney doesn't spend more time fixing what is broken. So many people notice all the little things that no longer work and comment on the boards. I'm sure as with everything they put there money else where. But it is also like the jumping fountains in Spalsh Mountain. If you are a dedicated Disney vacationer you notice those things and it disappoints you.

 

[wizards8507]

I really don't understand why Disney doesn't spend more time fixing what is broken. So many people notice all the little things that no longer work and comment on the boards.

In the grand scheme of everyone who goes to Walt Disney World, "so many people" becomes "a very vocal minority, constituting a miniscule percentage of the customer base, the vast majority of whom will continue coming regardless of what's broken." If you don't know that the yeti is supposed to swipe down at the train, you come off of EE thinking what an amazing and creative ride it was.

 

[maxairmike]

Let's not forget that its likely the Imagineers haven't even figured out how to do the needed work on the Yeti and keep the mountain in-tact, or if they could even take it out to do the necessary work. The biggest issue isn't that its ripping itself apart, it is that it is ripping apart its base/support structure, which is basically the base and structure of the mountain. Or has the common knowledge changed to some other issue?

I still find it hard to believe that Imagineering would have designed the whole attraction such that taking the Yeti out for maintenance is basically impossible, but I guess they did.

 

[RunnerEd]

I really don't understand why Disney doesn't spend more time fixing what is broken. So many people notice all the little things that no longer work and comment on the boards. I'm sure as with everything they put there money else where. But it is also like the jumping fountains in Spalsh Mountain. If you are a dedicated Disney vacationer you notice those things and it disappoints you.

The CM that called me this afternoon said that while they love to get the positive, "we loved everything" type communications, they really want and need the ones like I sent. Not to pat myself on the back but I'm in the military and have learned (after 10 years) to word things respectfully yet firmly when there is a disagreement. When criticizing, be as detailed as possible when describing what was wrong with the attraction/situation. In terms of EE, I went through the ride mentioning that the steam in the load area was off, that the bird up top wasn't working, that the second waterfall wasn't working before I even mentioned the Yeti. Before that, I mentioned issues at ITTBAB, and Dino issues as well. I didn't send in a "You suck, fix the Yeti" one sentence email. Respect and details are the key (I think).

 

[SleepingMonk]

Maybe they should hang a big dangly earring from the other side of the yeti to balance it out.

 

[mickey2008.1]

Thank You USA for being respectful.USAF. A long lost art.

 

[bearboysnc]

Disney is developing an adventure movie project inspired by the Matterhorn ride and has set Jason Dean Hall to pen the script. Justin Springer (Tron Legacy, Prom) is producing the project, which has a working title of The Hill.

The Matterhorn, also known as the Matterhorn Bobsleds, is part of Disneyland’s Fantasyland section. Opened June 1959, the elaborate ride was inspired by Walt Disney's desire for a toboggan-themed roller coaster as well as thoughts he had after an extended trip to Switzerland, the site of the famed mountain. The ride, a centerpiece of the park, was refurbished in 1978, with one of the upgrades being the addition of three automatronic Abominable Snowmen (aka Yetis) who growl at riders.

The idea behind The Hill is to do a thrilling, fast-paced movie centering on five young adventure seekers who, for mysterious reasons, are called to the top of the mountain and encounter a Yetis on the journey down.

Adapting Disney rides into film franchises is a priority for the company. Pirates of the Caribbean is the most successful of the rides-turned-movies, generating $3.7 billion worldwide over four films. A movie was made out of the Haunted Mansion, and another is being developed with Guillermo del Toro producing. 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea was a Disney film, then a theme park ride, and is now being rebooted as a David Fincher directing vehicle. The ultimate theme park movie might be Disney's Magic Kingdom, which is set entirely in the park. That project is being developed by writer Michael Chabon and director Jon Favreau.

 

[pumpkin7]

i didn't know the yeti was broken the first time we rode it and it still scared the crap out of me. i actually ducked haha. so it doesn't make a difference to everyone.
but now i know he's broken, it's a shame, but i don't see the point of closing an e ticket for an extended period of time just to make him move a few inches. he still packs a punch and he's still an impressive animatronic (well, statue now) so if they have to leave him for a while, so be it.

 

[celluloid]

Maelstrom Tesla Coil

Everest Yeti.


Just saying.

 

[BigThunderMatt]

The biggest issue isn't that its ripping itself apart, it is that it is ripping apart its base/support structure, which is basically the base and structure of the mountain. Or has the common knowledge changed to some other issue?

The common knowledge is that there is no common knowledge. No one here really knows exactly what is wrong with the Yeti, and the people who would be in the know on the subject certainly aren't speaking about it with any degree of transparency.

I've heard everything from foundation to internal lubrication as to why the yeti doesn't work and why they haven't fixed it yet.

The truth is, we probably won't know when he's going to be fixed until that time comes where he potentially already is.

but i don't see the point of closing an e ticket for an extended period of time just to make him move a few inches.

It was significantly more than a few inches. As someone who's seen the Yeti multiple times in A mode I can tell you that the difference between what he used to do and what he does now is night and day. It was not something that was easily missed unless you closed your eyes. The fact that the room he's in was quite well lit alone when he's in A-mode made a significant difference.

 

[devoy1701]

i didn't know the yeti was broken the first time we rode it and it still scared the crap out of me. i actually ducked haha. so it doesn't make a difference to everyone.
but now i know he's broken, it's a shame, but i don't see the point of closing an e ticket for an extended period of time just to make him move a few inches. he still packs a punch and he's still an impressive animatronic (well, statue now) so if they have to leave him for a while, so be it.

Try a few feet...

Trust me, if they ever get this thing fixed and you were able to ride it back-to-back in B mode first and then A mode...you will have a completely different intimate experience with that beast. His motion is worth a 6 month closure of E:E. But I know why TDO won't close it. What I wish they would do though is streamline another expansion to DAK so they can increase capacity at the park and have something else to offer guests while E:E is closed.

 

[menamechris]

One day, maybe it will come out that the yeti was never actually broken, but was turned off to save power. Yet another cost cutting move....