Rumor Spaceship Earth Redo Shelved Indefinitely

[cranbiz]

I rode SSE earlier today and I've been on it in the past year but it felt much worse, very noisy on the lift, and generally lots of noises, creaks, BUMPS etc, and agreed, difficult to even hear the narration.

If I was in charge I'd close it right away and get to work on fixing the track...it's just incredibly "bad show" at this point. Having said that, and apologize if this was discussed elsewhere but do they possibly need to open any of the sphere to do the work on the track?

TWDC of today doesn't care about "Bad Show". They only care about $$$. This is not the company I grew to love and even spent 5 years with as a CM.

As long as people are willing to pay to go to the parks, things will never get any better.

 

[DisneyCane]

Is it possible to replace small sections of the track at a time over night or do they have to remove all of the ride vehicles to do work like that?

The "ride quality" with all of the bumps and noise exacerbates other issues and make it feel like the whole thing is being barely held together by duck tape.

 

[Earlie the Pearlie]

Is it possible to replace small sections of the track at a time over night or do they have to remove all of the ride vehicles to do work like that?

The "ride quality" with all of the bumps and noise exacerbates other issues and make it feel like the whole thing is being barely held together by duck tape.

That's Disney magic! (Insert music clip from "It's Magical" here)

 

[tparris]

Is it possible to replace small sections of the track at a time over night or do they have to remove all of the ride vehicles to do work like that?

The "ride quality" with all of the bumps and noise exacerbates other issues and make it feel like the whole thing is being barely held together by duck tape.

I believe they’d have to remove all ride vehicles seeing as it’s one continuous chain. Keep in mind the only way to do that is via the single service elevator in the middle of the structure.

 

[StantonZ]

Is it possible to replace small sections of the track at a time over night or do they have to remove all of the ride vehicles to do work like that?

I believe they’d have to remove all ride vehicles seeing as it’s one continuous chain. Keep in mind the only way to do that is via the single service elevator in the middle of the structure.

No. It's not even about removing all the ride vehicles.
The (eventual) SSE "refurb" will involve removing the entire ride track/path and replacing it with something else (could be magnetic/mechanical/whatever). If you have ever seen a presentation/drawings on the building of SSE, you know that the ride system has always been problematic (they literally chew through ride vehicle tires every week), and better options/technology is now available that wasn't practical 40 years ago. Unfortunately, that means any eventual "refurb" will be a long one.

 

[Disgruntled Walt]

No. It's not even about removing all the ride vehicles.
The (eventual) SSE "refurb" will involve removing the entire ride track/path and replacing it with something else (could be magnetic/mechanical/whatever). If you have ever seen a presentation/drawings on the building of SSE, you know that the ride system has always been problematic (they literally chew through ride vehicle tires every week), and better options/technology is now available that wasn't practical 40 years ago. Unfortunately, that means any eventual "refurb" will be a long one.

Could they use the PeopleMover LIM system for this?

 

[StantonZ]

Could they use the PeopleMover LIM system for this?

That is one of the options (something like magnetic induction). The truth is, they know what it will be (were ready to do it before the Pandemic hit), but details weren't disclosed.

 

[Disgruntled Walt]

That is one of the options (something like magnetic induction). The truth is, they know what it will be (were ready to do it before the Pandemic hit), but details weren't disclosed.

@DreamfinderGuy do you have any idea what system they were planning pre-pandemic?

 

[Tjaden]

Main entrance was exactly where it is today, except instead of walking forward into load you took a sharp right into the interior queue.

Oh good the SSE Entrance has that unique smell and I don't want that to go away.

 

[Dragonman]

Wouldn’t a magnetic track be hard to achieve with the ascent and descent of the ride?

 

[DreamfinderGuy]

@DreamfinderGuy do you have any idea what system they were planning pre-pandemic?

From my understanding there was no change to the ride system, expanding load/unload was a measure to decrease stress on the rest of the track. That said, the people I’ve talked to had no involvement with anything mechanical so I’m not sure.

 

[ChrisFL]

I could see expanding the load/unload might help them add/remove track vehicles for disabled guests more seamlessly as that's one minor issue with how it operates currently. I'm not sure a peoplemover style setup (WDW peoplemover at least) would work as it has to go on a large elevation change.

The previous refurb took a while (a year+ I think?). I don't envy the engineers deciding how to upgrade the track in that kind of space limitation

 

[DisneyCane]

Wouldn’t a magnetic track be hard to achieve with the ascent and descent of the ride?

I don't think it would be that difficult to engineer. There would just need to be fail safe brakes to prevent travel in the wrong direction.

That said, I'm not sure that would be the ideal system for the ride.

 

[montyz81]

I believe they’d have to remove all ride vehicles, seeing as it’s one continuous chain. Keep in mind the only way to do that is via the single service elevator in the middle of the structure.

If they removed on vehicle wouldn't they all come down?

 

[marni1971]

If they removed on vehicle wouldn't they all come down?

No.

But if they removed 30…

 

[Rich Brownn]

Could they use the PeopleMover LIM system for this?

LIMs are great for launches on coasters, but not so reliable going up and down on rides. Its why our PeopleMover track is flat

 

[MisterPenguin]

LIMs are great for launches on coasters, but not so reliable going up and down on rides. Its why our PeopleMover track is flat

It'd be easy if they lowered the temperature in SSE to 1.8K.

 

[DisneyCane]

It'd be easy if they lowered the temperature in SSE to 1.8K.

It would make it a great break from the summer heat!

 

[dodgr98]

No. It's not even about removing all the ride vehicles.
The (eventual) SSE "refurb" will involve removing the entire ride track/path and replacing it with something else (could be magnetic/mechanical/whatever). If you have ever seen a presentation/drawings on the building of SSE, you know that the ride system has always been problematic (they literally chew through ride vehicle tires every week), and better options/technology is now available that wasn't practical 40 years ago. Unfortunately, that means any eventual "refurb" will be a long one.

I attended the Retro Magic convention at Beach Club last month. Retired Imagineering Legend Bob Gurr told us that he was brought in to look at issues with the track system before Epcot opened. He evaluated all the options available at the time and told WDI that buying wheels by the truckload would be more cost effective and reliable than the other options.

 

[StantonZ]

I attended the Retro Magic convention at Beach Club last month. Retired Imagineering Legend Bob Gurr told us that he was brought in to look at issues with the track system before Epcot opened. He evaluated all the options available at the time and told WDI that buying wheels by the truckload would be more cost effective and reliable than the other options.

I attended that same convention/session and concur; it was also cool to meet Bob Gurr in person.
Can't wait for the next RetroWDW event (I think they said a couple of years)!