Cesar R M
Well-Known Member
"At what time the 3:00 pm Parade will start?"
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Main Street U.S.A. hub redevelopment at the Magic Kingdom
- Thread starter wdwmagic
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Lord_Vader
Join me, together we can rule the galaxy.
There was a photo posted after hours recently that showed the amount of dust was unreal, the cloud that formed around the area moving dirt/sand would absolutely affect the customer experience. I would much rather this project get drug out longer and not have to walk through clouds of dust or hear the noise from construction vehicles throughout the hub area while I'm on vacation. I get that the construction is absolutely necessary and am generally okay with construction going in the parks during the day to speed the process up but not when it gets too loud or generates a lot of construction debris that floats as will always be the case when you are moving large amounts of soil.
With the park closing late, we'll use midnight for an average and not being able to clear all the guests until 1am, then open again around 9am meaning all construction must be stopped by 8am, leaves at most seven hours at night for construction work and all the necessary cleanup that is required if the dust level is as high as the photo (previously posted) shows.
JediMasterMatt
Well-Known Member
<cough Disney has always done construction during show hours /cough>
While yes, major earth work is messy and noisy; the issue at hand is a that the "kind and caring" folks at TDO would rather have an open wound at the heart of the resort versus throwing more capital at it (manpower and equipment) to get the job done faster.
The simple truth is that TDO would rather have 19 million of its guests this year see this pit than spend the money to get it done quicker. They may claim it is done to limit the negative impact to their guests; but, the sad truth is that like all non-DVC projects at the resort these days - they simply don't want to pay to get the job done.
We are seven months into this project and what is there to show for it? Since the last time I posted in this thread, I think I see some more dirt moved and some foundations. If anyone took me up on my challenge the last time I popped by this thread and found a commercial construction site in their city to compare their development to the hub refurb - how's that coming along? My example, an apartment building in downtown that I drive by everyday, has gone from breaking ground in late spring to now 3 floors up. The apartment building is far more complex than what is being done to the hub.
As I mentioned in Spirit's thread, even sadder than this project taking so long is that so many feel that such contempt for "show quality" is acceptable these days. WDW isn't going get any better until its guests start trying to hold TDO accountable to living up to the Disney Parks legacy their predecessors left them with.
This project is going to take A YEAR... what sort of impression is that going to leave on all 19+ million people who visited the Magic Kingdom? I got it... new marketing promotion: "The Year of a Million Holes in the Ground". Like most Disney marketing promotions, a Disney Year is actually good for about a year and a half... much like this project.
FerretAfros
Well-Known Member
The work isn't being done slowly because of a "show quality" concern, but rather simply having the guest areas serviceable during park hours. The sound is more than an occasional chop saw and the dust is more than some wood shavings caught in the wind. This is a major earthworks project, requiring heavy civil machinery and lots of dirt being moved around, which creates large clouds of dust. Doing this work during park hours is very different than doing finish construction work within a building that has a cute "pardon our pixie dust" sign out front; this creates lots of dust and noise and would be more than a minor inconvenience to guests
<cough Disney has always done construction during show hours /cough>
While yes, major earth work is messy and noisy; the issue at hand is a that the "kind and caring" folks at TDO would rather have an open wound at the heart of the resort versus throwing more capital at it (manpower and equipment) to get the job done faster.
The simple truth is that TDO would rather have 19 million of its guests this year see this pit than spend the money to get it done quicker. They may claim it is done to limit the negative impact to their guests; but, the sad truth is that like all non-DVC projects at the resort these days - they simply don't want to pay to get the job done.
We are seven months into this project and what is there to show for it? Since the last time I posted in this thread, I think I see some more dirt moved and some foundations. If anyone took me up on my challenge the last time I popped by this thread and found a commercial construction site in their city to compare their development to the hub refurb - how's that coming along? My example, an apartment building in downtown that I drive by everyday, has gone from breaking ground in late spring to now 3 floors up. The apartment building is far more complex than what is being done to the hub.
As I mentioned in Spirit's thread, even sadder than this project taking so long is that so many feel that such contempt for "show quality" is acceptable these days. WDW isn't going get any better until its guests start trying to hold TDO accountable to living up to the Disney Parks legacy their predecessors left them with.
This project is going to take A YEAR... what sort of impression is that going to leave on all 19+ million people who visited the Magic Kingdom? I got it... new marketing promotion: "The Year of a Million Holes in the Ground". Like most Disney marketing promotions, a Disney Year is actually good for about a year and a half... much like this project.
To get a sense the scale, think about a local roadway project, such as reconfiguring exit ramps or adding a railroad grade separation. Those sorts of things typically take 3-4 years to complete, not because they're worried about show standards, but because they need to maintain access on the roads through the area and must work during severely limited hours.
Similarly, access to the hub must be maintained, and guests really can't be in the area while they're driving bulldozers through it. A plywood construction wall would do nothing to keep guests safe in the event of an equipment malfunction or rogue worker, and wouldn't do much to keep the clouds of dust from encroaching onto the walkways
The show quality standards really are a secondary consideration in this situation. If they were really all that concerned with how this project looked, I think they would do a better job of covering it up from Adventureland and Tomrrowland. Given that it's completely exposed from those sides, it's clear to me that they are more confined by usable time than trying to get it 'pretty' for guests
JediMasterMatt
Well-Known Member
My point is that "show quality" has fallen to abysmal levels in Orlando and it was one of the founding principles of Disney Parks from their inception. Instead of getting this project done as fast as it possibly could, millions of guests will leave the MK this year with this memory.
Comparing this to a local roadway under construction is very appropriate. State and municipal road work projects aren't exactly the sterling examples of how to get work done in a timely manner. If the world's leading theme park company wants to set the bar in their construction by comparing it to an interstate interchange being remodeled, then again - that shows how far the standards have fallen in Orlando.
If you go and watch Martin's latest Splash Mountain tribute video (which is another great one Martin), you will notice a couple of things. You will notice that there are construction workers actually working during show hours. Secondly, it started construction in the Fall of 1990 and was finished in time for soft openings in July of 1992.
Granted, one project is at the heart of the Magic Kingdom and the other at the edge; but, the prevailing fact is that Disney Parks in Orlando use to be able to build an elaborate E-ticket in less than two years. The E-ticket caused the train to be rerouted and a section of Frontierland to be closed; but, it opened in less than double the time the Hub refurb will take. The Hub refurb again is leveling some land, adding a few water features, and some fake grass.
What has changed to the company that could BUILD MOUNTAINS?
I'd argue that two things have happened. The will determines the way and they are certainly not willing to do what is necessary to get the job done faster (spend money, close part of the hub to work, reroute pathways, etc). Part of that comes from the lack of desire comes from us unfortunately. If a Disney fan thinks that it's ok for something like the hub refurb to take more than a year... then TDO has no desire to change their ways.
Show quality use to mean something. If a WDW fan doesn't find things like the hub refurb timeline unacceptable, then what hope do we have to ever get quality back in Orlando.
As an aside, do you think the competition up I-4 only worked on Diagon Alley after park hours? They didn't have any issues in getting all of Jaws's waterways filled in and started on vertical construction in far less time than the Hub.
jt04
Well-Known Member
but..but.. Universal's trucks are not themed or magical!!!
Neither are their cruise ships.
jt04
Well-Known Member
Courtesy of OrlandoThemeParkNews.com new walkways are now starting to be laid.
Very nice. Thanks for the photos.
RayTheFirefly
Well-Known Member
Courtesy of OrlandoThemeParkNews.com new walkways are now starting to be laid.
So that concrete that's being poured... Is it going to stay that color? Or are they going to keep it "pink" and stain it? I ask because I know I saw in another part of the hub some pink concrete was replaced with tan concrete. Anyone know?
Goofnut1980
Well-Known Member
If they are pouring sidewalks, one would think it should be done by spring of 2015... after the hardscape, don't they just need to add grass and trees and a few flowers. I mean they re-do entire park flower beds in ONE night...
dstrawn9889
Well-Known Member
the pace the construction works at is agreed upon at the time of document signatures... what you think is fast or slow is your business. when and until i see a chare for non-delivery at the agreed upon time then i would re-evaluate. this is NOT a normal construction area, and this is the pace the person who is paying for it wants, what you think about that is immaterial
John
Well-Known Member
Annnnnndddd there you go! The guest opinion is immaterial. Thank you Bob Iger.
danlb_2000
Premium Member
That would assume that the entire project area was being worked on all at the same time. I believe they are working on one section at a time so they don't have to have large parts of the hub closed off all at once.
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Victor Kelly
Well-Known Member
We cannot have it both ways. I believe we are in an informational deficit when it comes to knowing why it is taking so long for landscaping.
G00fyDad
Well-Known Member
But it still looks like it may be done by at least mid-year in 2015. Fall at the latest.
Btw, slap your auto correct.
unkadug
Follower of "Saget"The Cult
I was hoping they weren't having a seizure.But it still looks like it may be done by at least mid-year in 2015. Fall at the latest.
Btw, slap your auto correct.
danlb_2000
Premium Member
But it still looks like it may be done by at least mid-year in 2015. Fall at the latest.
Btw, slap your auto correct.
Yes, that is what is expected. Permits expire 11/17/2015.
Sorry about the typos, fixed now.
G00fyDad
Well-Known Member
Sorry. I was reading your posts and I just imagined you doing what I do when I post with my phone. I speak it, the phone types it, but it types it ugly.
jt04
Well-Known Member
Might be more than landscaping. Different technology may also be involved. Fiber, electrical, public address systems, NextGen tech, parade tech, water features, pyrotechnics, lighting, security, crowd control, telecom, drainage, filtration, water fountains, irrigation, kiosks, audio-visual, fire emergeny systems, medical first aid, new bridges, etc.
Obviously this project is much more than new sidewalks and some shrubs.
Mike S
Well-Known Member
WDWLover#1
Well-Known Member
Well he knows what he's talking about and that all sounds like stuff that they'll need to include. He never said he was a theme park insider and neither am I. There's just a lot to consider.