Is it me, or does it take way too long to refurbish/replace attractions????

[AndyMagic]

But why is everyone dancing around the issues that it never took Disney this long to build the huge E-tickets of the past? Or the fact that incredibly similar attractions at Universal are built in 1/4 the time without any compromise in quality? There has to be some reason why a Stunt Show theater is taking about as long as one of Disney's most advanced attractions, Tower of Terror. Or why M:S took longer to build than all of MGM and Islands of Adventure. Everyone just dances around the facts and says, "well would you rather a bad attraction?" That isn't really the point of the thread. The thread presented a question.

 

[Pixie Duster]

Ya actually I forgot to tell you guys Disney is just teasing us, they decided to spend millions upon millions of dollars on a couple of E-ticket attraction but they're gonna take their sweet time about it.

I really don't understand why it is so hard to accept that there are reasons for this and we are in no position to really know them. Trust me, they would want those attractions ready ASAP. In reference to the stunt show (like we need ANOTHER show at MGM), they have to build a set that is pretty much destroyed during every performance, staff, get the stunt vehicles, and rehearse for a long time since this show could cost someone their life if it is not perfected to a science.
Soooo...

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[JBSLJames]

Originally posted by Pixie Duster
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Some things take time. Others, without proper resources take longer. Sounds simple. Lack of resources, be it people or cash, lend themselves to a greater lead time on installing the attraction. PKI does most (if not all) of it's refurbs during the off-season. A lot easier to do than WDW which is always open. 45 more days

 

[Hank Scorpio]

Plus, did you see the post about Stich's Great Escape?

Apparently its way ahead of schedule and should be opening this summer, much earlier then originally said. So Not everything takes ages for Disney to do.

Perhaps they have just said 2006 for Everest to cover themselves. If they said 2005 and it was delayed till 2006, we'd be all over them like a rash.

 

[Yen_Sid1]

I think Disney just takes a lot longer studying and designing the ride. I heard EE is the most studied and modeled ride in the company's history. They have built so many different models and have actual simulators running the ride 24 hours a day. So Disney just takes their time and want to get right the first time. They don't want a repeat of Test Track.

Money plays a part in it also. But also the project manager, some want to get done quickly and under budget that they will cut corners and if it is too difficult to do, just eliminate it.

Some project managers worry about the ride and show quality, so they take their time to ensure a good attraction, but of course, they will probably be over budget, but will it well worth it in the long run.

Sometimes they throw an ride together real quick and add some cheesy show effects and call it an attraction ( Like Dino-Rama). They are maintenance nightmares, breaking down continuously, They have only been open for over a year and they are in Rehab already. Compared to Dinosaur, which has been open for 6 years, will have it's first rehab.

It's like that old commercial. "Pay me now, or Pay me later"
It is better to take your time and spend the time and money now, so for the next couple of years, you will have minimal problems instead of major headaches.

 

[HumanOddity]

Hank, sadly no matter what Disney does, people are going to be all over them like a rash. It's apparent that no matter what they do at these parks, some people are going to take issue with it.

 

[johnvree]

Originally posted by Pixie Duster
Is there a reason the thread starter has not posted again?

Would you rather have a rushed attraction or one that was carefully put together?

Yes, because I forgot about it.

And of course I would rather have one that is carefully put together. But it still takes way too long to put up or refurbish an attraction, IMO. I was not bashing Disney. I was posing a question and I posed it because I do not know the answer. I was hoping someone would come on and say, "It takes that long because...". But after reading all of the replies, I am still confused. To me the most plausible answer is that Disney wants to stagger openings so that there is always something new. Hey, that makes sense to me.

What doesn't make sense to me are these reasons:

1. "It takes a long time to plan/design." Why wouldn't they do that before they begin construction or shut down an attraction for modification? I doubt that they closed AE and then said, "Now what do we want to do?". I'm sure the Stitch designs were developed well before they shut down AE .

2. "The parts are not readily available." I know Disney cannot but parts off of a shelf. But custom make them before you shut down an attraction. If I decide to redo my roof this year, I am not going to wait until my existing roof has been removed before I order my new shingles. I want the material there from the beginning.

3. "The construction of the original park involved hundreds of workers". OK, but they also built hundreds of structures. Moreover, if Everest is taking forever because of the size of the crew, hire more workers. Trust me, the construction industry has not exactly been thriving in Florida over the last decade. If Disney needed more carpenters, electrician, etc., they wouldn't have to look too hard.

4. "They have to work at night." First, I do not agree with that. I suspect that much of the work on Stitch can be done during the day since the structure already exists. But, even if they have to work a night, 12:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. is still 8 hours of working time.

5. "Money". God I hope lack of money is not the reason for the delays. But if it is, then my advice is, don't shut it down until you can pay for its replacement.

Again, I am not bashing here. I'm just curious. Does it make me happy that they are shutting down Dinosaur! for the month that I am going to be there? No. Do I wonder what they could possibly be doing to a 5 year old ride that takes more than a month to do? Sure. Oh well, if gives us something to look forward to for our next trip, which, as I said above, is the most plausible reason for why they take their time.

Hope this satisfies my OP Responsibilities. :lol:

 

[77johnson77]

I agree like the stunt car show 2005-2006 cummon poeple

 

[donsullivan]

I suspect that we are looking at two different reasons for some of the perceived long construction cycles for new attractions.

1) I wouldn't be surprised if the long projected construction times described here might not relate back to the events that surrounded Test Track. For those that were following everything surrounding that ride, it was nearly 18 months late in it's opening as a result of major ride control software problems as well as the often discussed tire wear problems.

Disney & GM ended up with a nightmare of publicity and scheduling when GM started running tie in TV commercials nationally and then the ride opening ended up delayed well beyond the announced date in the commercials. Clearly Disney would not want to create that kind of a mess again.

2) While there is a lot going on right now, it's important to pace the availability of new attractions to ensure there is something new each year to keep us all coming back. If you end up with 3 things opening at once and nothing the next year, what is the reason to want to go back again each year.

 

[oochr1soo]

Have to say i agree with every point JohnVree makes in his follow up post.. alot of the reasons given should be done before they begin.. if they are done after then its just poor planning in my mind..

i do agree that it takes disney way too long to make attractions.. why that reason is who knows.. i assume its money related and they just dont hire as many workers as before.. i dont exactly think disney is booming right now.. to me it has to come down to money and workers.. back when disney was very popular and the economy was different im sure they could put up attractions in a hell of lot faster time with double the workers probably..

Chris