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Quality Continues to Drop
- Thread starter CRO-Magnum
- Start date
Pixiedust1393
Member
The fountains on Splash Mountain have been turned off because of the rehab going on...Sorry your trip wasn't as magical as you'd like it to be...
I agree with ISTCrew20...Very critical.
BwanaBob
Well-Known Member
Critical or not, the fact is the reason anyone hits this website, or becomes a member, is because we all have a special place for WDW that most absolutely don't. I'm a little miffed too! But...
Cro-mag...Did you know at one time on TT, the current white, Saturn "VUE" test-smashed car used to be different makes (GM of course) and would actually come out from behind the wall on a track- and then "fake-smash" the wall?
My point?...We all recognize the changes. It shouldn't take away from your overall experience. Just make your feelings known to Disney at Guest Relations!
...And Patrick!.....I'm not beating up on ya'...but it just sounds funny hearing you say that about Splash, since you are first to point out what still isn't working on your weekly updates!
Cro-mag...Did you know at one time on TT, the current white, Saturn "VUE" test-smashed car used to be different makes (GM of course) and would actually come out from behind the wall on a track- and then "fake-smash" the wall?
My point?...We all recognize the changes. It shouldn't take away from your overall experience. Just make your feelings known to Disney at Guest Relations!
...And Patrick!.....I'm not beating up on ya'...but it just sounds funny hearing you say that about Splash, since you are first to point out what still isn't working on your weekly updates!
AndyMagic
Well-Known Member
And I quote from my last post:
"Lastly, here is the link to the official accident report:
http://www.mpimages.net/dlr/compres...derAccident/thundermountainaccidentreport.pdf"
Last time I checked, that wasn't a press release. Please, read entire posts before making judgements. I wasn't about to post the full accident report in the thread as it would have been far too long.
:brick:
ISTCrew20
Well-Known Member
Originally posted by BwanaBob
Critical or not, the fact is the reason anyone hits this website, or becomes a member, is because we all have a special place for WDW that most absolutely don't. I'm a little miffed too! But...
Cro-mag...Did you know at one time on TT, the current white, Saturn "VUE" test-smashed car used to be different makes (GM of course) and would actually come out from behind the wall on a track- and then "fake-smash" the wall?
My point?...We all recognize the changes. It shouldn't take away from your overall experience. Just make your feelings known to Disney at Guest Relations!
...And Patrick!.....I'm not beating up on ya'...but it just sounds funny hearing you say that about Splash, since you are first to point out what still isn't working on your weekly updates!
Yea Yea, I know. He said they haven't worked in over a year...I was just pointing out that they have worked recently. And yea, I post some things that don't work on Splash, but I dont say "Oh, It ruined the magic, and my "vacation" ... Things don't work from time to time...There is no way everything can work every time of the day.
Dr Albert Falls
New Member
The Big Thunder "decorative wheel" did NOT cause the Disneyland accident, or even contribute to the injuries.
However, after examining the vehicles, Disney decided to remove the unnecessary wheel for safety reasons.
In other words, even though it wasn't a problem THIS time, Disney felt that the wheel was too risky to remain.
And you're gonna complain about them trying to PREVENT an accident????
However, after examining the vehicles, Disney decided to remove the unnecessary wheel for safety reasons.
In other words, even though it wasn't a problem THIS time, Disney felt that the wheel was too risky to remain.
And you're gonna complain about them trying to PREVENT an accident????
CTXRover
Well-Known Member
Thank you for clearing that up...I knew the wheel was removed for safety concerns. Obviously I confused that reason with it being involved somehow in the accident rather then a preventative measure. But either way, safety first and the engines don't look odd without those covers anyway...I'm pretty sure that if you didn't know to look for them you wouldn't even notice anything different.
Yen_Sid1
New Member
Just expect show quality to get worse. Right now, everything is being concentrated is ride safety and all the new paperwork that goes along with it. Even management understands show quality will take a hit for a while. They have to make all the lawyers happy first!!, then comes the guests!!
If you have any problems with the rides or shows or both, be sure to let Guest Relations know. At least it will be documented then.
If you have any problems with the rides or shows or both, be sure to let Guest Relations know. At least it will be documented then.
CTXRover
Well-Known Member
Please don't forget that although safety enhancements will keep their lawyers happy, it is in fact the guests who will first and foremost benefit from any safety enhancements that can be made. Do I actually think they needed a Spanish spiel for every ride? Well, actually, yes. There are so many people who just lose common sense when on vacation...especially at Disney... which forces the whole industry to continue to "dumb-down" some things to make them idiot-proof. Sometimes I think things can go too far...like making the Tea Cups at Disneyland near impossible to spin since someone crawled out of a cup during the ride after feeling uncomfortable from spinning so much. However, since Safety is number 1 on the 4 part totem pole at Disney, I suppose quality would be second-rate behind safety.
mightyduck
Well-Known Member
Just a side note: Steve (Mr. WDWMagic) has asked that we only post the links. Technically, even with attribution, you can't copy over the wire story here because Steve doesn't pay for Reuters service. He has gotten complaints in the past, which could result in fines for him.
Did anyone read my original post?
I'm surpised at the responses - it's like people didn't read the posting. Exposed electrical wires - disney village marketplace and Journey Into Imagination. Broken sidewalks - Disney West Side (or whatever it's called) by Cirque du Soleil. Splash Mountain issues: leapfrog fountains (Jan & Feb), jumping fishing (Jan & Feb), bounding Brer Rabbit (Jan & Feb), silhouette film of (I think) Brer Fox chasing Brer Rabbit over a hill - nothing in this scene was working, and I can't remember the other two off the top of my head. It was plainly obvious these show elements, designed and intended as part of the presentation, were elminated or taken out of the loop for no purpose other than maintenance. Perhaps as an engineer and former consultant to Disney Imagineering and Disney World I see things a touch differently, I would argue more clearly.
According to a friend's father who works in Maintenance, the "wheel covers" were removed for cost reasons, not because of a law suit nor injury. The same design is in place at Disneyland and Disneyland Paris and to the best of his knowledge neither park has changed their trains. The issue was they weren't necessary but took quite a beating and it was easier/cheaper to remove them than design a proper replacement. Explain the broken rock surfaces in the queue line, the rocks worn down to the cement layer without recovering, the exposed PVC pipes on the foot bridge which are supposed to be painted and look like large bolts.
Perhaps Test Track I'm a little more critical of having worked at the Milford Proving Ground for GM after graduation from college, but it's the little things that make Disney Disney, and it's the little things that detract from Disney being Disney. I don't expect the detail at Six Flags; I expect a lower cost and therefore less detailed show.
I'm surpised at the responses - it's like people didn't read the posting. Exposed electrical wires - disney village marketplace and Journey Into Imagination. Broken sidewalks - Disney West Side (or whatever it's called) by Cirque du Soleil. Splash Mountain issues: leapfrog fountains (Jan & Feb), jumping fishing (Jan & Feb), bounding Brer Rabbit (Jan & Feb), silhouette film of (I think) Brer Fox chasing Brer Rabbit over a hill - nothing in this scene was working, and I can't remember the other two off the top of my head. It was plainly obvious these show elements, designed and intended as part of the presentation, were elminated or taken out of the loop for no purpose other than maintenance. Perhaps as an engineer and former consultant to Disney Imagineering and Disney World I see things a touch differently, I would argue more clearly.
According to a friend's father who works in Maintenance, the "wheel covers" were removed for cost reasons, not because of a law suit nor injury. The same design is in place at Disneyland and Disneyland Paris and to the best of his knowledge neither park has changed their trains. The issue was they weren't necessary but took quite a beating and it was easier/cheaper to remove them than design a proper replacement. Explain the broken rock surfaces in the queue line, the rocks worn down to the cement layer without recovering, the exposed PVC pipes on the foot bridge which are supposed to be painted and look like large bolts.
Perhaps Test Track I'm a little more critical of having worked at the Milford Proving Ground for GM after graduation from college, but it's the little things that make Disney Disney, and it's the little things that detract from Disney being Disney. I don't expect the detail at Six Flags; I expect a lower cost and therefore less detailed show.
AndyMagic
Well-Known Member
Yes but the thing is... Disney's recent derailments in Disneyland and the two that occurred on Space Mountain in Tokyo Disneyland were caused by maintenance issues, not some sort of fault in the design of the ride. These rides have been running safely with no problems for DECADES. Accidents began happening when the maintenance budgets were slashed to kingdom come. In certain cases, (like the Roger Rabbit ride in Toontown) it is clearly a fault in the design but the recent "happenings" have been because of maintenance. Disney can put all the yellow tape and Spanish spiels they want and people will still get hurt if they don't put money back into maintenance. Even then, accidents are bound to happen. When do we draw the line? Should Disney just alter all the rides to go as slow as snails so that they aren't fun anymore? They have already begun doing this mind you. The bumper cars at DCA go about 1 mile an hour and they don't "bump" at all and like you said, the Tea Cups in Disneyland only turn if you have 400 pound wrestlers turning the wheel. The happiest place on earth is slowly turning into a padded cell for dummies! God help us all.
Yen_Sid1
New Member
I think show quality is about number 4 now. They got rid of most of their show quality inspectors. And so the local maintenance management makes the decision. Usually, it is just turn it off unless you can repair with no cost to the company. They don't want to buy parts and think the normal guest won't notice what is working or not. As long as the ride runs and they can get guests in and out. That's what matters the most.
Many times Imagineers come and see the ride and ask the same questions. How come that effect is not working? They would rather turn it off than repair it. It is much cheaper and we don't have to hire extra people to keep everything running.
So it is disappointing on both ends. Unless people complain about it. Management will be convinced that nobody noticed or nobody cares. My friend and his co-workers care a lot, but their hands are tied by bad management.
STGRhost
Member
Personally, I think many of you are being overly critical of the original post. What is Disney without the attention to detail? If they begin to make exceptions (as they already do) for "little things", how long before it's okay for bigger things to do without cleaning/updating, etc? This whole site is filled with posts about the gradual decline in maintenence and show at Disney parks. This poster was just giving his 2 cents on the probelm, and expressing his concern and dissapointment. I agree - if I were interested in going to any old amusement park, there are two within a few hours drive from me. I expect more from Disney, and lately they aren't delivering.
While I was still working there, the Orlando Sentinel ran a few articles about this subject. The official word from Disney was that the problem wasn't that big a deal, and that the average guest doesn't notice, anyway. That is in opposition to the values held by the founder of the company (and just in time for his 100th birthday, iirc) I think we owe it to Walt to not let "good enough" be sufficient anymore.
While I was still working there, the Orlando Sentinel ran a few articles about this subject. The official word from Disney was that the problem wasn't that big a deal, and that the average guest doesn't notice, anyway. That is in opposition to the values held by the founder of the company (and just in time for his 100th birthday, iirc) I think we owe it to Walt to not let "good enough" be sufficient anymore.