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Mad Tea Party closing January 7th for 6 week refurbishment.
- Thread starter lnsemsf
- Start date
prfctlyximprct
Well-Known Member
If you go back a page you can see the concept art, that was plans for new fantasyland that got axed, people were supposed to be sitting in large teacups eating lunch there.
Rob562
Well-Known Member
No one (officially) knows for sure. The concept art that's been posted isn't necessarily what is going to happen now or anytime in the future. I think the only thing we can say for certain is that we'll know fairly quickly after the ride closes whether any kind of work is going to be done to the roof. If it starts getting worked on, then we're getting some version of a new roof. If it isn't touched at all, then the closure is strictly ride maintenance.
-Rob
Neverland
Active Member
Almost positive a new roof is happening, but I'm not sure if it will be glass. I've heard rumors of thatch, to better fit into the Fantasyland Forest. The current roof is a patch job, but I have no idea how long it's built to last. I assume the turntable will be painted, because it sorely needs it. I've heard strong rumors of the teapot being removed. Hopefully they will also be messing with the brake system, since they are having more and more technical issues with them (down for three consecutive days just a few weeks ago). I don't think anything in this refurb will be for FP+, simply because they'd have to redo the entire queue and also very likely will make it wheelchair accesible.
Visibility issues for the CMs controlling the ride. A convex mirror was installed a few months ago, but it doesn't seem to be helping.
Visibility issues for the CMs controlling the ride. A convex mirror was installed a few months ago, but it doesn't seem to be helping.
muteki
Well-Known Member
That is disappointing. The ride is really scenic out at DL but I missed the teapot.
Are these visibility issues just starting to become a problem? Teapot has been there for 40 years yes? I guess this has to do with people not getting into/out of the cups quickly enough, but isn't there a spotter or something to check that out?
tracyandalex
Well-Known Member
I would be surprised and happy to see a glass roof, but I don't think it will happen in Florida. Unless the right kinda of glass is installed it will be HOT and even then it might still get pretty warm. Also, thunder storms and glass are not the best idea. Even if there aren't hurricanes, there are pretty strong thunderstorms in the summer. I don't think WDW would want to have to worry about some roof falling on someone or having to close the ride every time it rains too hard.
As a disclaimer I do not know anything about the refurb or construction, just living in Florida for 10 years.
As a disclaimer I do not know anything about the refurb or construction, just living in Florida for 10 years.
Neverland
Active Member
It's not really that they're becoming a problem, it's more that it's always been a problem, but Disney has really cracked down on ride safety in the past few years. Also guests today are less well-behaved and more likely to step out of their teacup and onto the turntable when a CM is about to start the ride. (And if the teapot is in the way, and the CM can't see them until the ride has started...) The starter CM does do a walkaround to make sure everyone is seated and in a teacup before they start, but since there's nothing keeping people in, they often get out after the CM has already checked them.
There is typically only one other CM at the teacups, and they're busy grouping people into cups for the next ride. In the mornings and at night, when there aren't many people, that CM isn't there, and it's just the one CM starting the ride.
Technically, by today's rules, if one CM were given spotter duties for the CM starting the ride, that spotter CM has to be given a button they can press to authorize the starter CM to start the attraction. (IE the starter CM's button won't work unless the spotter is pressing their button at the same time. Dumbo and Small World are like this.) So the entire ride system would have to be redone.
prfctlyximprct
Well-Known Member
But Crystal Palace has a glass roof! They could do it!
Gabe1
Ivory Tower Squabble EST 2011. WINDMILL SURVIVOR
Thank you.
Just wanted to make sure I hadn't missed an announcement, appreciated. It is guaranteed on a flat roof for 20 years on a flat roof, longer on a pitched roof. Disney didn't patch it, they put a complete overlay atop the superstructure. Go on google earth, Disney is slowly replacing their roof with this membrane product. The bonus it is 92% light reflective making cooling more cost effective as it doesn't absorb the heat like most roofing products. It is very expensive but worth the investment over the long haul. But you could be correct, it isn't beyond Disney to toss it, they don't always make Green decisions.
Neverland
Active Member
The new overlay of shingles was definitely needed; the old ones were beginning to rot. I've heard the superstructure may be in need of replacing as well. If anything, I know Disney wants to re-theme the roof to better fit in the new Forest area. They wanted a re-themed roof since the beginning, but due to cost cuts, all that occurred (at first) was just the new shingles, because they were necessary.
djkidkaz
Well-Known Member
When is it closing now? I can't keep track anymore.
Genie of the Lamp
Well-Known Member
http://www.examiner.com/article/know-before-you-go-disney-world-closures-updated-jan-30-2013
Updated as of January 30th. Mad Tea Party will be closed for refurbishment from April 10-May 21, 2013. Not saying it will happen just going by what this site says will happen.
Updated as of January 30th. Mad Tea Party will be closed for refurbishment from April 10-May 21, 2013. Not saying it will happen just going by what this site says will happen.
Pixiedustmaker
Well-Known Member
The metal structure holding up the roof, ramada style, I'd figure would be good indefinitely with proper maintenance. At issue would be if the roof leak and corrosion occurred. I can see Disney putting a membrane type roof over this, but I don't think happened during the roof patch job. The biggest issue, aesthetically, is that the underside of the roof is kinda grungy looking, I think the glass roof would work great as you could filter out UV and hence it wouldn't get much hotter than usual underneath it, plus it's be "green" as you wouldn't need to burn lights during the daytime, and it would look much better with an open feel.
Something tells me that something major will happen with this refurb, such as a new roof, new ride mechanism, beautification of an attraction which isn't even half as beautiful as the on in Disneyland.
prfctlyximprct
Well-Known Member
The metal structure holding up the roof, ramada style, I'd figure would be good indefinitely with proper maintenance. At issue would be if the roof leak and corrosion occurred. I can see Disney putting a membrane type roof over this, but I don't think happened during the roof patch job. The biggest issue, aesthetically, is that the underside of the roof is kinda grungy looking, I think the glass roof would work great as you could filter out UV and hence it wouldn't get much hotter than usual underneath it, plus it's be "green" as you wouldn't need to burn lights during the daytime, and it would look much better with an open feel.
Something tells me that something major will happen with this refurb, such as a new roof, new ride mechanism, beautification of an attraction which isn't even half as beautiful as the on in Disneyland.
I hope you are right!! I want the glass roof sooooooo bad