Liberty Square bridge problems could reroute the parades

[bork]

I know, I know, it's Jim Hill, but this one seems to be legit based on the photos.

this bridge is really showing its age. And during a recent safety inspection, Reedy Creek officials weren't happy with what they saw. Which is why they quickly threw some jacks & braces under this structure to stabilize it ...

If they have to close the bridge for safety reasons, they may run the parade into Toontown. And store the floats in the old Reedy Creek Fire Station, once it is closed.

http://jimhillmedia.com/blogs/jim_hill/archive/2008/02/27/will-liberty-square-bridge-repairs-force-the-magic-kingdom-to-temporarily-reroute-the-dreams-come-true-parade.aspx

 

[drew81]

It would be interesting to see the floats fit by the tea cups....Even if they tested it, I bet it would be a tight squeeze

 

[phichi17]

It appears Mr. Hill has latched on to a good one this time. I am intrested to see how this one pans out.

 

[Laura]

I thought the parade was run via those sensors in the road to keep the music synched up and everything. How would they redirect it to a place without them?

 

[phichi17]

I thought the parade was run via those sensors in the road to keep the music synched up and everything. How would they redirect it to a place without them?

Thats a really good point, maybe install the music on the floats themselves?? But that would just mess up the synch wouldn't it?

 

[Fun2BFree]

I thought the parade was run via those sensors in the road to keep the music synched up and everything. How would they redirect it to a place without them?

They'll just have to add temporary sensors or something... then again I'm not quite sure of the logistics behind running a parade.

Another interesting nugget of information from our 'friend' Mr Hill. :lookaroun

 

[Pioneer Hall]

I would guess that have contingency plans or could set them up if needed. It's Disney...its all run by magic anyway.

 

[MythBuster]

Thats a really good point, maybe install the music on the floats themselves?? But that would just mess up the synch wouldn't it?

All the floats have their own audio. And they try to synch the background audio with the floats. Or maybe they would just use the floats audio themselves.

They would probably just do extra parades, one going there and the other coming back. I would doubt that they would store them over there.

 

[disney9752]

YOU MIGHT be surprised how quickly those bridges can be replaced, or we might be without a parade for a day or two while it is done. i recall the tiny wooden one going from liberty square to frontierland has been replaced overnight before. granted this one is bigger, with enought planning it could possibly be done on a night with a 7pm closing & done by 9am.

 

[phichi17]

All the floats have their own audio. And they try to synch the background audio with the floats. Or maybe they would just use the floats audio themselves.

They would probably just do extra parades, one going there and the other coming back. I would doubt that they would store them over there.

Or perhaps just turn it around??

 

[Master Yoda]

YOU MIGHT be surprised how quickly those bridges can be replaced, or we might be without a parade for a day or two while it is done. i recall the tiny wooden one going from liberty square to frontierland has been replaced overnight before. granted this one is bigger, with enought planning it could possibly be done on a night with a 7pm closing & done by 9am.

It will all depend on its construction. If it involves any type of poured concrete it will take time to cure which is around 72 hours or more just for cure time. There are fast setting concretes out there that can drastically shorten this time but the few times I have been involved with them the performance has been less than stellar. One possible solution it to prefabricate the bridge off site, build the new supports under the existing bridge then demo and install. I doubt it could be done overnight but a 48 hour time frame from start to finish becomes much more realistic.

 

[WDWRLD]

There shouldnt be that big of a issue with total replacement of the bridge. Its completely a wooden or steel structure that is bolted together therefore there is no curing time for say a cement one. Now if there is problems with the base of the bribge under the water that could add a couple weeks to the build. This is all considering how fast Disney can get something done. Now if VDOT here in Virginia was to take on the project it would have a completion date of around 2010. I think that installing temporary "pucks" for parade timing and all the other changes that would have to be made would be a larger project than bridge replacement.

 

[ISTCrew20]

Both the Green Ad / Lib Square bridge and the Frontierland boardwalk bridge have been replaced recently, and very quickly too. I would imagine we would just be without a parade for a few days. I think it would be much more expensive to move everything over to the other side of the park...Not to mention, that firehouse is not that big. It could fit maybe 2 floats inside, with one outside, but that's it...It would prob. just be easier to keep them stored in the building they are in now and drive them over to Toontown.

Would be a huge mess for anybody trying to get to work though.

 

[rainfully]

Both the Green Ad / Lib Square bridge and the Frontierland boardwalk bridge have been replaced recently, and very quickly too. I would imagine we would just be without a parade for a few days. I think it would be much more expensive to move everything over to the other side of the park...Not to mention, that firehouse is not that big. It could fit maybe 2 floats inside, with one outside, but that's it...It would prob. just be easier to keep them stored in the building they are in now and drive them over to Toontown.

Would be a huge mess for anybody trying to get to work though.

That's what I thought... I was crossing it the other day thinking "gee... this feels different somehow" Now I'm glad to hear I'm not completely insane.

Or... maybe that's just a sign that I am. :lookaroun

 

[GoCamels]

Now if VDOT here in Virginia was to take on the project it would have a completion date of around 2010.

Then they'd have to re-do a large portion of it because the drainage was installed to go UP HILL (I-64/Mercury Blvd.). Could be worse, NCDOT could take it on, have it built than tear it down and build again (I-40 between RDU airport and Chapel Hill)!!!

Seriously, this is NOT going to be a major issue, those jacks will be more than enought to support it while its being rehabbed. Its exactly the type that hold up parts of the 40-year old Bonner Bridge over Oregon Inlet out here on the OBX. And the bridge itself is the same design as a number of bridges over small creeks out here that are being replaced.

And like was said above, what to say they don't do a prefab, with the supports built in place under the existing span, then drop it in overnight. Or maybe a half and half rehab, replace oneside then the other...but then that creates the issues with the parades.

The pucks aren't that hard to do...drill them in, cut grooves for the connecting wires like is done at stoplights for the electromagnetic sensors (unless they too are wireless) and you got control.

The bigger issue will be what it does to an already tight area in FantasyLand that only gets tighter come parade time with the "poles and ropes".

 

[WDWRLD]

The pucks aren't that hard to do...drill them in, cut grooves for the connecting wires like is done at stoplights for the electromagnetic sensors (unless they too are wireless) and you got control.

The bigger issue will be what it does to an already tight area in FantasyLand that only gets tighter come parade time with the "poles and ropes".

I am pretty sure the pucks are just RFID tags. There are no wires. Its kinda the same thing as stores use on products to set off a alarm if you you try to leave without having them scanned/scrambled. But thats still alot of them not to mention the poles that have to be core drilled and the ropes that have to be made up. But I guess they could always just do the MGM thing.....tape off the parade route.

 

[hokielutz]

Of course, the parade is not as simple as installing alternate pucks. the pucks tie into the building speakers along the route that supply music for the parade. Repositioning and wiring new route speakers is not a small task. Also the temporary roping of the parate route should be interesting.... as Disney will have to raid every Bank and the MCO airport for temporary stand-alone rope pylons. :lol:

 

[disnyfan89]

Well just to add my five cents. The pucks that they use for parade are by no means a necesity. There is an individual who is trained to mix the parade music incase the pucks should fail. Usally you would be unable to tell when the parade is being mixed live.

 

[Fun2BFree]

the Green Ad / Lib Square bridge

Was that an intentional reference to ad-libbing? Please tell me it wasn't.

 

[Master Yoda]

Was that an intentional reference to ad-libbing? Please tell me it wasn't.

I am pretty sure he was referring to the bridge between Liberty square and Adventure land that is currently painted green.