"Real" lightening on Maelstrom? Wow!

[marni1971]

This gets interesting... I`ve grabbed the same from our trip in 2001. Same effect. However, look closely - it looks now like there is an unlit "lightning" "web" from the ceiling to the rig arm, with the light source appearing a) as a similar "web" effect, but illuminated - like several neon tubes, but with the speed of a strobe rather than an actual bolt and b)on the arm only - it actually casts a shadow onto the ceiling of the lightning `shape`....

Have they changed the Tesla for something easier to handle since 1990?

CM`s please!

 

[marni1971]

Do people ever aproach WDW about all the broken and missing effects from rides?

You would be surprised how many effects are broken / deactivated but still in place. 235 special new effects were developed for EPCOT Center alone. My favourites in the `where did they go` catagory are:

The fog blanket in the diorama scene of Energy (dissappeared during UoE, before Ellen)

Energy`s Smelterizers

Energy`s bubbling lava pools, with smoke too

Energy`s erupting volcano - on my last visit it looked like a fountain

SSE`s smoke in the ascent leg (deactivated in the `94 rehab?)

Test Tracks sparks as you make the `evasive manouvre` with the semi

Test Tracks crash test car moving

Not to mention broken AA`s, plus the gangster car in The Great Movie Ride.

Will the Astro Orbiter`s planets spin again??

It hurts to go on...

 

[mikeymouse]

Yea, seems pretty dangerous for a water ride. I thought they were strobes.

 

[General Grizz]

The mist and green laser haven't been working for a few months (years?) in the SE descent. . .

Otherwise, GREAT discussion! I never knew the lighting effect made it!

 

[raven]

I have been going to Epcot for years and have never seen the lightning effect either. If they lightining were to be as big as the picture in the Imagineering book shows, it would have been very dangerous. Which is why I think the effect was stopped in the first place. Water + Electricity = :dazzle: (death). There is, however, a similar lightning effect done with lights in that area now. Even though the effects have been toned down, you still get the same feeling. You go through that section of the ride in seconds anyway for it to even matter to me.

As far as broken effects or animatrinics, I am sure there is a reason why things haven't been fixed for years. Possibly running costs? I lived in St. Louis, MO for years and went to Six Flags there almost weekly when it was open. They had a ride that NONE of the effects worked for years until one night when they all worked. Then they didn't work again for years after that. So who knows the reason for parks to do this. :veryconfu