Soarin' image quality

[marni1971]

I've said it before.

Horizons had three Omnimax projectors. Two purchased outright for each screen and a third dry hired, kept ready just incase it was required to replace one of the other two.

That's how standards used to be.

 

[marni1971]

Yes, they're very aware of that. Which is why, in conjunction with a new theatre, and new movie, the quality will be upgraded. Patience, my young padawan!

Patience doesn't come into it.

The Epcot facility was built on the cheap. DCAs air handling isn't perfect but it a far higher spec than in Orlando.

 

[Chef Mickey]

Let's say they do what you suggest you do. The reaction on this forum, looking for anything to pin Iger and Disney would would be, "WTH! Typical Iger and Disney. Close down a very popular ride when they're going to put in a new film anyway. There are very few rides in FW to begin with, two of which aren't worth riding (Energy and Imagination) and they're going to close Soarin??!!! Why do back to back refurbs when it can be done at the same time!"

To me it makes no sense. I'd do it all at the same time. The new filming is confirmed. The new theatre is all but confirmed. You can do it in phases, keeping two theatres open at all times until entirely complete. Build Theatre 3 with all new technology then open it. Close Theatre 1 and keep Theatre 2 open. Refurb Theatre 1 with all new technology. Open it, then close Theatre 2. When Theatre 2 is refurbed, open it. When all three are open, introduce the new film.

But nope can't do that. Using your logic, the entire thing has to be closed down NOW. Refurb the existing film. Reopen it. Then close it down again (maybe in the phases as above). It's insanity more than is necessary.

Your argument is valid, but lacks perspective. We're just saying the film has been neglected too long and run into the ground unnecessarily. They do that with tons of attractions. Maintenance is a thing of the past. Now, they wait until they do an annual refurb (Splash Mountain), entirely change the ride, or just close it completely.

We're just asking for some middle ground. Of course it doesn't make sense to shut down an attraction to fix it when the new one is about to be released. This should and could have been done 5 years ago. It's been slowly degrading year after year after year.

They could have easily refurbed the film in phases you mentioned too. You know why they didn't? It works. Good enough.

 

[Chef Mickey]

I've said it before.

Horizons has three Omnimax projectors. Two purchased outright for each screen and a third dry hired, kept ready just incase it was required to replace one of the other two.

That's how standards used to be.

Exactly! The standard is lower now and it really isn't even close.

The same exact thing is happening to Carousel of Progress right as we speak. They have it "working" but at the expense of show quality. Awful theater carpet, seats worn out, audio issues, plastic shiny animatronics, and an overall shoddy presentation of classic Walt attraction. Say what you want about the attraction. I love it, some don't. However,as Cogsworth from Beauty and the Beast would say, "If you're going to do it, let's do it." And do it right.

They are either letting it completely run into the ground or they'll close it. I doubt there is any other path at this point. With more popular E-Ticket rides, they just wait until the next major refurb to do any major maintenance or upgrades.

It is the new normal and it can be seen all over WDW.

 

[Chef Mickey]

Except changing out the film stock and projector wouldnt require a closure and could likely be done overnight.

Don't make excuses because they irresponsibly ran it far beyond its lifespan. You wouldn't accept a movie theater with this quality, why should it be okay for a major attraction and a premium priced theme park? It also don't help that the quality of he image is about 80% of the Soarin' experience.

Also this forum is always in favor of refurbishments if it means repairs and improvements.

I cannot like this enough. TOTALLY agree. Most of this could be fixed after hours and MAYBE a day closure. It's a film...you can order or get the supplies you need and it's a matter of installing it. Require a new project? BUY IT!!

They close Splash Mountain a month out of every year. They could conceivably close Soarin' for a couple weeks in off times and I'd be totally in favor of it...In fact, do it for every ride.

You know what? If I'm the CEO, I'm making it Mandatory for all rides to be closed at least 3-5days/year in stages to do a full cleaning, maintenance, sound checks, and any other issues to bring ALL rides back to show quality. Once we get that down, maybe some of the maintenance culture could be brought back and it wouldn't necessitate a total closure in all cases. I would do whatever it took to bring a culture of pride and caring back to WDW maintenance.

 

[flynnibus]

Let's say they do what you suggest you do. The reaction on this forum, looking for anything to pin Iger and Disney would would be, "WTH! Typical Iger and Disney. Close down a very popular ride when they're going to put in a new film anyway.

You don't need to close down the ride to swap in a new form of the film and clean up in the projection room. Stop with the strawman to make your attempted point.

 

[LAKid53]

Yes, but the image quality has been bad for a while and should have been addressed already. Using "well there are plans to upgrade it at some point in the future!" Isn't an excuse. It's not fair to people who are paying these premium prices to experience it today.

Agree. Our first ride in 2010 - there was a visible hole in the screen on my left. And I've noticed the resolution of the film is degrading from repeated showings. Given the experience of this ride, it is imperative that the visual quality be maintained. If we paid to watch a first run movie in this condition, we would ask the theatre for a refund.

 

[JohnD]

Your argument is valid, but lacks perspective. We're just saying the film has been neglected too long and run into the ground unnecessarily. They do that with tons of attractions. Maintenance is a thing of the past. Now, they wait until they do an annual refurb (Splash Mountain), entirely change the ride, or just close it completely.

We're just asking for some middle ground. Of course it doesn't make sense to shut down an attraction to fix it when the new one is about to be released. This should and could have been done 5 years ago. It's been slowly degrading year after year after year.

They could have easily refurbed the film in phases you mentioned too. You know why they didn't? It works. Good enough.

Okay. Point made. Which amounts to coulda, woulda, shoulda. You're upset they haven't refurbed it before now but agree it could all be done with the release of the new film. So, what do you want them to do, then?

 

[Epcot-Rules]

It is not the responsibility of the CEO to manage how much dust is on the Soarin' film, or how many ceiling tiles are missing from small world, or how many light bulbs are out on the boat in Splash Mountain. He relies on the trust of his management team to keep the day to day operations of the levels below him successful.

Iger is aware of issues with Soarin' and has appropriated funds to address it, both in refreshing the attraction with a new updated film, and increasing capacity. What else do you think he should do?

I beg to differ with you! My wife is an administrator of a hospital. She walks the place daily and looks for these type things and calls out the responsible parties! She has a staff of 586 people and like she tells me, how can she expect them to care if they see that she doesn't!

 

[Chef Mickey]

Okay. Point made. Which amounts to coulda, woulda, shoulda. You're upset they haven't refurbed it before now but agree it could all be done with the release of the new film. So, what do you want them to do, then?

Replace Iger with me as CEO and I'll get the parks fixed.

Seriously though, come up with a solution to the problem. Does it need to be taken down a couple days? I'm actually in favor of that. Not sure when the new ride is opening, so I'd be in favor of fixing what's there until there is a confirmed date. Lot of people are going to see bad shows before the new film is done.

 

[NelsonRD]

I beg to differ with you! My wife is an administrator of a hospital. She walks the place daily and looks for these type things and calls out the responsible parties! She has a staff of 586 people and like she tells me, how can she expect them to care if they see that she doesn't!

Igers scope is larger than just the theme parks he is responsible for. He cannot have a foot on the ground at all times. It is just not possible.

In my opinion, the enemy lies within the Board of Directors.
(Sheryl Sandberg, Jack Dorsey...)

 

[Chef Mickey]

Igers scope is larger than just the theme parks he is responsible for. He cannot have a foot on the ground at all times. It is just not possible.

In my opinion, the enemy lies within the Board of Directors.
(Sheryl Sandberg, Jack Dorsey...)

A CEO can basically "do" no work. He has to be a good delegator and establish the culture. It is possible in business to demand that from the top down.

 

[copcarguyp71]

Sometimes the bigger guy and the 'customer is always right..' wins out. Think about how big of a customer Disney is to IMAX in terms of # of IMAX systems disney has bought...

Oh yeah...I get it, it is just surprising that IMAX says "This will be the best performance of your multi million dollar investment" and Disney say..."meh, we can get by with a HEPA filter in the middle of the room"

 

[Tom Morrow]

Can anyone answer as to why grid lines would phase in and out on the screen like on my last ride?

Exactly! The standard is lower now and it really isn't even close.

The same exact thing is happening to Carousel of Progress right as we speak. They have it "working" but at the expense of show quality. Awful theater carpet, seats worn out, audio issues, plastic shiny animatronics, and an overall shoddy presentation of classic Walt attraction. Say what you want about the attraction. I love it, some don't. However,as Cogsworth from Beauty and the Beast would say, "If you're going to do it, let's do it." And do it right.

They are either letting it completely run into the ground or they'll close it. I doubt there is any other path at this point. With more popular E-Ticket rides, they just wait until the next major refurb to do any major maintenance or upgrades.

It is the new normal and it can be seen all over WDW.

Yep. If this were an isolated incident, that would be one thing, and while on an optimistic note I would say maintenance at WDW is starting to turn around, but you still see this far too often at WDW. Not to turn this into another WDW vs. Universal debate, but a huge difference at UOR as of the last few years is that even their oldest, non-major draw attractions still generally look and sound very good. Meanwhile, WDW operates some of its biggest draw attractions with mediocre or shoddy show quality.

 

[flynnibus]

Can anyone answer as to why grid lines would phase in and out on the screen like on my last ride?

It's the light intensity of the image... some images it's easier to see the screen's artifacts, others less so. If the light level was lower overall, you could be on a more marginal boundary and see it more often. You'll see it if you look for it normal presentations too depending on the image content.

 

[MinnieWaffles]

Soarin's lack of picture quality is VERY apparent in the top row. Takes a bit of the immersion away, which is a shame because it's a good ride.

Needs a HD update, stat!

 

[Yert3]

I've always liked Soarin', but have always felt that it's a bit overrated. the current image quality is beyond embarrassing. Every time I go on it, I tell myself "there's no way the quality of the image is as bad as I remember." But it's usually worse! I always find it amazing that one of the most visited theme parks in the world doesn't want to keep up to date or repair faulty equipment. It's cringeworthy sometimes.

 

[Disneyhead'71]

I've always liked Soarin', but have always felt that it's a bit overrated. the current image quality is beyond embarrassing. Every time I go on it, I tell myself "there's no way the quality of the image is as bad as I remember." But it's usually worse! I always find it amazing that one of the most visited theme parks in the world doesn't want to keep up to date or repair faulty equipment. It's cringeworthy sometimes.

Why would Disney spend ANY money fixing stuff if people keep flinging money at them for crap.

 

[NormC]

A maintenance guy with some canned air and a microfiber could make big improvements in one overnight. I would even volunteer to do it for them. Film projector cleaning is not rocket science.

 

[MaryJaneP]

Here appears to be a novel concept for TDO, have a maintenance closure schedule for EVERY ride on a rotating basis so the masses come to know that there will ALWAYS be a few closed attractions. Every month, every year, every park. Call it something unexpected, like "common sense magic".