News Spaceship Earth is Leaking

[StarWarsGirl]

Weird it showed a 30min wait for me. Disney IT at its finest I’m sure

That's what it's now showing for me as well, though I'd rather someone who is there confirm. Ya know, because of the fine work Disney's IT department does.

 

[MaryJaneP]

So does this mean the prior posts on the update to SSE in the next 5 years has just been fast-tracked? Weird that a broken pipe may mean a long overdue update. Too bad that if prior experiences are repeated, this means that the ride will be worse post-refurb.

 

[Winter]

if prior experiences are repeated

Spaceship Earth: Under No Management [there was no new management to undo]

 

[Rteetz]

A report from the disboards said it has reopened now. MDE shows 30 minute wait.

 

[marni1971]

It is definitely open.

 

[RobVanDam]

Also listed as open on TouringPlans.

 

[monothingie]

I just got home from an afternoon at Epcot and a few notes around this. It was not raining when it started, nor had it rained at all in the area for more than 12 hours prior to when this started. And for those trying to convince others that SSE does this every time it rains, I'm sorry but that is simply a false statement. There was an astonishing amount of water flowing out of the bottom of the globe and it was not raining.

The attraction has been closed since late-morning today and never opened again throughout the day and I do not expect that you'll see it re-open for quite some time. When I left a little over an hour ago, the flow of water had diminished greatly but there was still some flowing right behind the FP+ kiosk for the CM at the first scan station. Everything I'm hearing is that something broke in the chilled water system for the A/C in the building.

Definitely a leak, but again if it’s chilled water that was leaking, it is really nasty stinky stuff. It’s usually brown and black in color becase of the pipes and cutting oil used and has an awful odor.

But it does always leak substantially there during a heavy rainstorm. Whatever gets by the two gutters makes it way there, and it can be bad.

 

[trainplane3]

According to Blog Mickey apparently it was sprinklers?

 

[NateD1226]

 

[NateD1226]

According to Blog Mickey:

Jinx!

 

[trainplane3]

Jinx!

Nice one

 

[larryz]

Good to know the fire suppression system works.

Sometimes, all by itself.

 

[BalooChicago]

Unlike the movies, in real life when one sprinkler goes it does not activate all the sprinklers. It’s not possible that all the sprinklers activated.

 

[monothingie]

Unlike the movies, in real life when one sprinkler goes it does not activate all the sprinklers. It’s not possible that all the sprinklers activated.

This.

Also the water that comes out of them is not crystal clear. Any single sprinkler head activated for a couple of minutes would create significant water damage and affect many building systems, especially a building with a sophisticated ride system and controls.

Further if the fire sprinklers did go off, the fire alarm would also activate and there would be a noticible first responder response. Non of this was reported this morning.

Blog Mickey is just speculating all over the place. From HVAC to fire sprinkler.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

I shoulda let all those people in line know it was closed at 7:30 when I walked by...

 

[EricsBiscuit]

I thought how fire suppression worked was that they were triggered by heat and then they go off. Not all at the same time.

 

[monothingie]

I thought how fire suppression worked was that they were triggered by heat and then they go off. Not all at the same time.

Sort of. What you’re describing is a deluge system where a smoke detector/heat detector interlocks with an electronic sprinkler valve which will send water to sprinkler heads with out fusible links or frangible bulbs installed. The result is multiple active sprinkler heads simultaneously discharging water.

Typically for a standard system, only a single sprinkler head activates at a time. Each head has a heat sensitive fuse or bulb that will only release at a specific application specific temperature.

 

[es135]

I can't begin to tell you the roller coaster of emotions I just experienced I read this thread. I'm definitely glad to see the damage wasn't too extensive!

 

[articos]

I suspect that if this is a broken pipe or HVAC issue they legally can't have the building open until the issue is resolved, is that correct?

No legal issues or building code issues for a broken pipe or HVAC, unless there’s an unsafe situation, which is usually decided by the Fire Dept or City Building Inspectors (RCID). Think red tagging a bldg. If the fire suppression system is compromised then that would necessitate a closure.

 

[Lensman]

Additionally if it was water for fire suppression or HVAC chilled/heated water it wouldn’t be clear as shown in the video and photos. That water would be stagnant, rust colored, and smelly.

Definitely a leak, but again if it’s chilled water that was leaking, it is really nasty stinky stuff. It’s usually brown and black in color becase of the pipes and cutting oil used and has an awful odor.

This may vary by chilled water system, maybe? Thankfully, the water that poured onto my head and over my desk was neither rust-colored, smelley, brown, or black. It was perfectly clear, though pretty cold.

I found a video that is the closest to what happened: