Since most reliable sources say the Yeti is the only animatronic in the EE ride (or at least the only major one), I was thinking about how it might have actually been better to use a real live actor in Yeti costume instead of building the AA. I am not sure of the size of this creature and whether it would even be possible to use a tall CM, but it was just a thought. What does a super-complex animatronic like Yeti cost to make? You have to figure a few million dollars if you take into account the computers and parts, concept artists and designers, robotics people, not to mention the maintenence technicians during the life of the ride.
Now, say they used a cast member instead. That eliminates the entire design team and maintainence crew. At $10 an hour wage, they would probably spend just $160 a day on the cast member which would total $58,400 for a whole year. In twenty years, they will have only spent a little over $1 million. And you're getting a REALLY scary confontation with a Yeti capable of moving around, getting really close and making unpredictable movements, perhaps even appearing at different points inside the mountain which would make each ride different and unexpected.
I love AA as much as the next guy, but I always wondered what it would be like having a dark ride with a real live actor a big part of the ride. I guess TGMR is the closest thing we've got.
Now, say they used a cast member instead. That eliminates the entire design team and maintainence crew. At $10 an hour wage, they would probably spend just $160 a day on the cast member which would total $58,400 for a whole year. In twenty years, they will have only spent a little over $1 million. And you're getting a REALLY scary confontation with a Yeti capable of moving around, getting really close and making unpredictable movements, perhaps even appearing at different points inside the mountain which would make each ride different and unexpected.
I love AA as much as the next guy, but I always wondered what it would be like having a dark ride with a real live actor a big part of the ride. I guess TGMR is the closest thing we've got.
