Liberty Square bridge problems could reroute the parades

[Fun2BFree]

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

Duh. :lookaroun

But he said it as "Ad/Lib" when he could have said "Adv/Lib" or "AL/LS" or anything else. I was just wondering if he was aware of the coincidence.

 

[DougK]

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?

I was told during a recent tour of the Magic Kingdom that those sensors are no longer used. I do not remember the reason but the old-fashioned way turned out to work better. They spent quite a bit of money on those sensors and computerizing everything but sometimes new technology does not do a better job than the old way, at least that is what our guide said.

 

[photoflight]

They were working on it a couple of weeks ago. I wouldn't think it would be a super big project to do:

Feb 15 2008:

 

[dismedic]

Are we sure this bridge is not in PA, Seems almost every bridge in PA is near condemnation or condemned and closed.

I think if Penn DOT was to do it it I would be long retired before it was opened given the amount of time it takes up here in the north to get one bridge rebuilt, hopefully WDW can do it much faster and ensure safety of all. :hammer:

 

[Master Yoda]

Are we sure this bridge is not in PA, Seems almost every bridge in PA is near condemnation or condemned and closed.

I think if Penn DOT was to do it it I would be long retired before it was opened given the amount of time it takes up here in the north to get one bridge rebuilt, hopefully WDW can do it much faster and ensure safety of all. :hammer:

I will say that Jacksonville is pretty good about getting bridges built in a timely manor. Painting them however is another matter entirely. I think the projected time to paint just the cables on the Dames Point bridge is nearly as long as it took to build the thing. Then there is also the matter of them replacing the steel grating on bridges with "new and improved" steel grating that just happens to make cars loose all traction in the rain.:brick:

 

[bluefaery]

They were working on it a couple of weeks ago. I wouldn't think it would be a super big project to do:

Feb 15 2008:

So that's what was going on w/ the bridge. I was at the MK on the 15th and saw bridge and I was wondering what was going on.

 

[Rob562]

I was told during a recent tour of the Magic Kingdom that those sensors are no longer used. I do not remember the reason but the old-fashioned way turned out to work better. They spent quite a bit of money on those sensors and computerizing everything but sometimes new technology does not do a better job than the old way, at least that is what our guide said.

I seem to recall reading a while back that the automated sound mixing board broke. It hasn't been in the budget to replace it, and that's why it's been mixed by hand.

-Rob

 

[LandBoatride]

This story by Jim Hill is pretty ridiculous actually. Sorry, but it is.

IF, and I say if, they decide to rebuild that bridge, they will do so very very quickly. They would do it during a slow time of year and just have no parade for the time it took to rebuild. Disney oves to skimp on labor, and what better labor savings than to not pay 200 performers.

This is a major thoroughfare in the park that cannot be closed for an extended period of time. As big an issue as the parade? Having enough walking space for thousands of guests daily. As much as they have to close the castle off, you HAVE to have this bridge walkway open to traffic.

 

[marni1971]

As much as they have to close the castle off, you HAVE to have this bridge walkway open to traffic.

Umm - not really. That`s why they built the Adland - Lib Sq Hub bypass bridge in mid 2000. The bridge in question can be closed and still keep access to Lib Sq from the hub fully open. Stranger things have happened; recall in early `94 most of Tomorrowland was closed for weeks on end. To get to Space Mountain you had to go via Fland and the Teacups.

 

[Figment1986]

scafolding has been under it for a while if i remember..

i took this photo at the meet monty meet on 02/03..

 

[Timon]

About parade systems

The magnetic location pucks haven't been used in a number of years partly because they haven't been replaced during repaving projects and that is because a new GPS based system is being designed. That project will be first a for a Disney parade route whenever they get done reinventing the wheel (extreme sarcasm)

It's true the old Neve automated sound board is gone and Parade Central currently runs on new-ish Yamahas but a new customized audio system called DECS is in test and adjust and adjust and adjust...mode. This DECS system matches the one at Disneyland, CA and eventually every Disney park so parades can be shuffled between parks with minimal adjustments. This remains to be seen as DL has 11 sound zones on their parade route and MK has 33. The other troubling thing is it operates on the state-of-the art operating system call OS-2! "Hey Mr Peabody, set the Wayback Machine for 1994".

As for the alternate parade route, there is only a background music sound system in the area and possible vegetation clearance problems. So some trimming and a temporary sound system would probably need to be added.

It's not likely they could use the old firehouse because of the narrow 9/11 automated barriers and gates which are barely wide enough for a bus. In the past (Splash Mt. Construction) a tent was put up in the Theme Park 2 parking area for the floats.

I think repairs will go quickly with no parades for a few days is most likely.

 

[bkgrim]

Has been there for some time

I do not have pictures but this was under the bridge at Christmas time this past year. We always watch the parade go over the bridge from the other bridge. (We are band directors and look at the bands) If no one is there, this is a great spot. :xmas:

 

[Chape19714]

IF it needs repairs, wouldn't it just be done in the week downtime after Dreams come True Parade closes and Parade of Dreams Opens? that's coming up soon, so it would make more sense to do it on that schedule.

 

[hpyhnt 1000]

Hm. Interesting little nugget from Jim Hill. Hopefully they are able to get the repairs done soon without closing the bridge. As others have stated, the logistics of bringing the parade through Mickey's Toontown are ridiculously complicated, from audio to spacing to storage-in fact, the more you think about it, it really doesn't seem that feasible. As one other poster said, the jacks they have under the bridge should be more than enough to keep it standing, assuming the wood isn't rotten beyond belief. I'm sure Disney will be able to fix this w/o closing the bridge.

 

[Shiloh]

They could always run the parade thru adventureland and over the bridge to adventure land onto main street. That is, if the parade could squeeze past Alladdins magic carpets.

 

[Timon]

Adventureland can't be used because of low clearance at the entrance and as stated very narrow places. Parades need a minimum of a two lane road for some audience space, safety and floats. Like the other route to Toontown is has no parade sound.

 

[WDWRLD]

They could always run the parade thru adventureland and over the bridge to adventure land onto main street. That is, if the parade could squeeze past Alladdins magic carpets.

For one it wont fit under or between the archway to Aventureland from the hub. Secont it wouldnt get through the archway by pirates and im not sore it could make the sharp turn out of frontierland.

 

[Timon]

I think Shiloh is thinking the floats would exit Adventureland via the driveway between Jungle Cruise and Pirates

 

[WDWRLD]

I think Shiloh is thinking the floats would exit Adventureland via the driveway between Jungle Cruise and Pirates

Even if they did it wont fit through the Adventureland entrance not to mention that the bridge there is not flat enough for the floats.

 

[Timon]

Even if they did it wont fit through the Adventureland entrance not to mention that the bridge there is not flat enough for the floats.

True. I would guess they will repair the bridge during off hours and possibly lose a few parade days or if its a really big project make the necessary arrangements to use the Toontown option.