Draining the Moat

[marni1971]

My question, I guess, would be more for Martin: Did the Swan Boats use a rail system sorta like IaSW or PotC and do you know how long said rails were left behind?

BTW, just returned from WDW...12 year old son added yet another baby plush wrapped in a blankie to his collection of them...this time he got the baby monkey and named it Martin. Very random but immediately reminded me of you. I don't know or know of any other Martins I guess.

I`m touched.... I think!!

Like Rob said, there wern`t boat rails as such, more guide rails just under the water where the channels got narrow. Let me see if I can find the photo I have where you can see the ones near the castle even with water.

Edit; found it:

 

[WDWFanatic]

the latest castle refurb pics show something under the castle bridge, is that old footprints of bumpers or the tracks left by the dozer?

 

[Phonedave]

The semi-but-not-so-well-hidden bobcats under the bridges were funny.

I like that too.

"Where do we park these skid steers?"

"Oh, nobody will notice if you stick them under the bridge"


In all honesty, it is a nice idea. It is better than leaving they right out in the open. At least someone is thinking a little bit about show.

-dave

 

[sweetpee_1993]

I`m touched.... I think!!

Like Rob said, there wern`t boat rails as such, more guide rails just under the water where the channels got narrow. Let me see if I can find the photo I have where you can see the ones near the castle even with water.

Edit; found it:

Yeah, that's it! You could see something under the water and it made me think of the guide rails from the other boat rides. I recall gazing at it trying to imagine what was there that used the guides and how neat it would've been to glide along from that perspective (not knowing they were loud, not so peaceful swan boats...or at least that what I read into their description). Part of my mind never dreamed the typical girly-dreams like getting married or having kids but part of my mind would wander off into my own little fantasy of sorts. A different perspective was something I thought of...just like wondering what was inside the castle above. LOL!

Thanks muchly! :wave:

 

[sweetpee_1993]

I like that too.

"Where do we park these skid steers?"

"Oh, nobody will notice if you stick them under the bridge"


In all honesty, it is a nice idea. It is better than leaving they right out in the open. At least someone is thinking a little bit about show.

-dave

Yeah. Funnier yet is that when we came back to the MK after they had moved in and been "hidden" it was night time and we STILL spotted 'em instantly. :lol:

 

[unkadug]

Some from yesterday:

OK...what in the world is that propped up on bricks?

If somebody says electrical conduit, I'll lose any last shred of respect for TDO past and present.

 

[Tom]

OK...what in the world is that propped up on bricks?

If somebody says electrical conduit, I'll lose any last shred of respect for TDO past and present.

Temporary pipe to help drain the moat water away from the castle area.

If not, everyone involved with the installation of that mess should be fired.

 

[sillykid]

Temporary pipe to help drain the moat water away from the castle area.

If not, everyone involved with the installation of that mess should be fired.

I don't think that those pipes are there to drain. Several man made lakes have pipes that help aerate the water. My family has a lake home in Wisconsin that has pipes all along the bottom to do just this. They are held down by bricks. Though these may be sitting on bricks I guarantee they are strapped to them some how to keep them below surface.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_aeration

 

[Tom]

I don't think that those pipes are there to drain. Several man made lakes have pipes that help aerate the water. My family has a lake home in Wisconsin that has pipes all along the bottom to do just this. They are held down by bricks. Though these may be sitting on bricks I guarantee they are strapped to them some how to keep them below surface.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_aeration

I see what you're saying, but I don't think that's what this is - in this case. These are haphazardly installed and there are places where they're not connected.

Besides, these waterways are very calm. No visible aeration (bubbles, etc). The water is recycled and filtered via waterfalls.

 

[Phonedave]

I see what you're saying, but I don't think that's what this is - in this case. These are haphazardly installed and there are places where they're not connected.

Besides, these waterways are very calm. No visible aeration (bubbles, etc). The water is recycled and filtered via waterfalls.

I would not say electrical conduits, but some sort of conduit.

Its hard to make out on the low res picture, even with zoom, but it does look like at the break in the foreground there is some sort of rope/wire in the gap.

Some sort of communications or signaling circuit would be my guess.

It's really not all that bad an install, especially if temporary. Cheap, effective, and quickly done without draining the moat.

The problem is, if it is temporary, then it should be removed when it's use is over, not left in place.

-dave

 

[Tom]

I would not say electrical conduits, but some sort of conduit.

Its hard to make out on the low res picture, even with zoom, but it does look like at the break in the foreground there is some sort of rope/wire in the gap.

Some sort of communications or signaling circuit would be my guess.

It's really not all that bad an install, especially if temporary. Cheap, effective, and quickly done without draining the moat.

The problem is, if it is temporary, then it should be removed when it's use is over, not left in place.

-dave

Oh, I completely agree.....if it's temporary, I don't give a hoot what it looks like (although, since it's "on stage" I would have hoped for a bit more effort). If this is something that's been in the moat all this time, I am dreadfully ashamed of their installation. Sure, it's hidden under water, but this is worse show than some of the stuff that's actually backstage!

I really hope this is just for the refurb and that it isn't something that WDI actually allowed to be installed at the MK.

 

[bgraham34]

It is too odd seeing things without the water in them.

 

[Figment632]

They are not pipes they are conduits. I sell pipe and pipe hangers for a living and you wouldn't use anything that small for drainage. It is Electrical conduit.

 

[officeboy]

Swan boats

After reviewing the various photos of the moat and seeing some of the old bumpers that I presume were for the Swan boats it occurred to me that with current technology some of the things that doomed the attraction could today be overcome. I understood one of the reasons the attraction was removed was the noise from the on board propulsion system. Also, it had a less than accurate navigation system. It seems to me with today's battery and high efficiency electric motor technology the noise could be eliminated. A guide system akin to the theater cars at GMR, and Energy could be adapted to the cruisers to address steering. (Guessing here on both counts!)

I am not familiar with the original attraction enough to know if there were other factors in its demise that would have to be overcome, but would it be practical to bring back what looks like a remarkably relaxing attraction? The load/unload areas seem to still be intact.

Yes, I know TDO is allergic to spending money unless forced to do so. Just asking.

 

[marni1971]

I think today, aside from half the route being overgrown, is asthetics. Anothe reason the SWs were retired is as capacity in the park grew, they were considered, well, ugly. Plastic ducks floating past the castle wern`t very magical. Nor very jungle-like in Adventureland.

 

[officeboy]

Good points, Martin. Thanks. Perhaps there is a solution for the ascetics but certainly not capacity. At least as I see it.

 

[Texas84]

Has anyone come up with a "Bring back the Moat Boats" campaign yet? :lookaroun

 

[unkadug]

They are not pipes they are conduits. I sell pipe and pipe hangers for a living and you wouldn't use anything that small for drainage. It is Electrical conduit.

Well, with all the broken conduit, I'm assuming the electrical no longer works. :hammer:

I'd expect something like this from Six Flags, but not Disney.

And I agree with Edward, everyone involved in that fiasco should be fired.

 

[WDWRLD]

The conduit in question looks to be very professionally installed along the toe of the slope. Very tidy and intentional. I'm sure it serves (or served) a very important purpose and couldn't have been installed in the tunnels due to the path it needed to take.

Now, the mess of piping in the middle of the canal, being held down by concrete blocks - I really hope that's only there for drainage and was just put there. That's a mess.

Have you ever looked at the electrical pipe and wiring on the roof above the turnstiles at the MK? Check it out next time oyu are at Main Street Station waiting to leave.

OK...what in the world is that propped up on bricks?

If somebody says electrical conduit, I'll lose any last shred of respect for TDO past and present.

Its deffinately grey electrical conduit, if you notice the ends are being held together with some type of wiring.....not sure that cincerblocks are in the National Electrical code.....or the EPCOT code books for that mater.

 

[Tom]

Have you ever looked at the electrical pipe and wiring on the roof above the turnstiles at the MK? Check it out next time oyu are at Main Street Station waiting to leave.

:hurl: Yes! The mess on the roof of the turnstiles is an absolute abortion. I mean, that really is the most embarrassing thing I've ever seen at WDW. It's like they never even THOUGHT about lines of sight.