Bairstow
Well-Known Member
All joking aside, it will be interesting to see what Disney Orlando does if presented with an attraction maintenance challenge they can't cheap their way out of.
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Splash Mountain falling apart (literally?)
- Thread starter MUTZIE77
- Start date
All joking aside, it will be interesting to see what Disney Orlando does if presented with an attraction maintenance challenge they can't cheap their way out of.
Pixiedustmaker
Well-Known Member
Kinda sad given that MK's Splash Mountain opened three years after the one in Disneyland, yet it has fallen so far into disrepair.
I guess I could see if a sprinkler was broken and was pointed at the same area, over years it would weaken, but Tony Baxter said that Splash would basically "last forever" if it was properly maintained given that it is concrete sprayed on rebar.
They should have closed it months ago irregardless of what the holiday crowds were.
When will TDO admit that they simply haven't built enough rides at the 4 parks, MK in particular, to soak up the guests?
The good news is that with FLE/Carsland/BTMRR refurb, there is a lot of experience with doing rockwork. A big question is the animatronics, will Garner Holt be comissioned to build something that lasts longer?
articos
Well-Known Member
They'll pay to fix it, while asking if there's ways to cut costs all the way through.
Bairstow
Well-Known Member
To give Disney World management the benefit of the doubt, a lot of people have speculated that Florida's much, much wetter climate may have something to do with the structural problems of the Magic Kingdom's Splash Mountain.
The animatronics, sound system, and fountains though? No excuse.
the.dreamfinder
Well-Known Member
So Typhoon Season in Japan...
Pixiedustmaker
Well-Known Member
I kind of doubt it. First of all, there are ways to protect concrete, and the rebar set inside the concrete, from moisture. Splash Mountain in Disneyland is exposed to moisture as well, quite a bit actually as the ride does use water and it does drizzle quite a bit in SoCal. Secondly, they knew going in about the climate in central Florida.
Things like having a long concrete curing time, or making sure the rebar depth in the concrete is deep enough (by using more concrete), all seem to be important. Possibly Disney is using different fibers/rebar for new rockwork (Carsland), but Splash in MK isn't that old when you look at how long such structures can last, which is centuries and more if taken care of properly.
I would guess that proper inspection and upkeep did not occur.
A limb fell off the Tree of Life, most likely corrosion, but we've never seen scaffolds go around the tree for an inspection and refurb, in all likelihood, it was preventable.
I think MK just doesn't receive adequate maintenance beyond animatronics, things that should last forever aren't properly protected from corrosion. I would think that paint, and other protectors, would need to be inspected and surfaces recoated as needed. Doesn't seem like this happened.
The goal with a roof, with anything exposed to the elements is to keep water out. Somewhere along the line, there was a failure in some coating, or with a specific type of concrete mix used, which would go back to when the thing was built.
PeterAlt
Well-Known Member
I hate to spoil everyone's pessimism here, but MK is one of the best kept of the four parks. In the past decade, we've seen FLE and major rehabs that included BTMR, PotC, IASW, Space Mountain, Haunted Mansion, and Country Bears Jamboree.
Splash Mountain is the only thing left! I've heard whispering here that it's next! So, stop your whining and start asking stuff like when it is scheduled to happen, how much will be budgeted towards it, what work is planned for it, etc.
By the way, of everything I've listed above, my only complaint is Space Mountain. I've ridden the one at DL and was hoping WDW would get the same treatment. Major disappointment there.
Splash Mountain is the only thing left! I've heard whispering here that it's next! So, stop your whining and start asking stuff like when it is scheduled to happen, how much will be budgeted towards it, what work is planned for it, etc.
By the way, of everything I've listed above, my only complaint is Space Mountain. I've ridden the one at DL and was hoping WDW would get the same treatment. Major disappointment there.
disney fan 13
Well-Known Member
Space Mountain.
PeterAlt
Well-Known Member
That's not evidence. Disappointing, yes. The cuts there were blamed on the economy. Can't blame the economy now.
They weren't . They were squarely laid at management.
You do know about the BTM, PotC and CBJ refurb shortcuts and cheapness too don't you?
PeterAlt
Well-Known Member
Educate me.
Try the search function. I've got to go to work.
PeterAlt
Well-Known Member
I remember when they scalled back on the planned track and audio system. They blamed it on the economy at that time.
PeterAlt
Well-Known Member
Come on! Readers Digest version, please! If anyone asked me and I knew the answer, I would be happy to answer with what I know!
MerlinTheGoat
Well-Known Member
I do know that with Big Thunder, numerous effects that were either broken or switched off prior to the refurb were still untouched during the downtime. Particularly the mess the third lift hill is in. Originally the sides of the walls were supposed to tremble to simulate an earthquake. And up top above the peak of the hill there was a falling rock effect. The falling effect was a physical one, apparently physical rock models were attached to a sort of track built into the wall. Pieces would "fall" along the track as you ascended the hill. After the train had cleared the hill, the rocks would quickly travel back up the track to reset to fall for the next car.
As of now (and this has been this way for years), the side walls no longer tremble and there aren't any rocks that fall at the top. I believe some of these aspects were removed because part of the scenery fell on the track at some point in time (this happened at Paris as well). Instead they replaced the physical falling rocks with an extremely bad looking digital projection. This projection was installed a fair bit before the refurb started. And to make matters worse, the animation is mistakenly running in reverse (either that or the projector was installed upside down), so the rocks appear to be falling UP instead of down. Martin also mentioned the rainbow cavern effects aren't working. From what Martin has said, I'm also to understand that several of the geysers that actually WERE fixed during the refurb have since either broken again or have been switched off. I also believe that at one point in time the town scene had more water rushing through it to add to the flooding effect. Not sure when this was disabled but I don't think it's working now anyways.
I don't know the extent of what was planned for Pirates but I do know the audio system wasn't replaced as it was at Disneyland. So the ride has very poor sound throughout and I've found it almost impossible to hear a lot of the dialog. Everything sounds very muffled. I believe it was said at one point an idea was pitched pitched to extend the ride slightly with a segment similar to Disneyland's ending, where guests go "up" the waterfall. I don't know how far this got, but it was likely scrapped due to costs and necessary downtime.
I've not been on the new Country Bear Jamboree, but i've heard it has been heavily mutilated and shortened from other people (likely how the Tiki Room refurb apparently cut out parts of the original music and didn't re-implement the enchanted fountain).
As of now (and this has been this way for years), the side walls no longer tremble and there aren't any rocks that fall at the top. I believe some of these aspects were removed because part of the scenery fell on the track at some point in time (this happened at Paris as well). Instead they replaced the physical falling rocks with an extremely bad looking digital projection. This projection was installed a fair bit before the refurb started. And to make matters worse, the animation is mistakenly running in reverse (either that or the projector was installed upside down), so the rocks appear to be falling UP instead of down. Martin also mentioned the rainbow cavern effects aren't working. From what Martin has said, I'm also to understand that several of the geysers that actually WERE fixed during the refurb have since either broken again or have been switched off. I also believe that at one point in time the town scene had more water rushing through it to add to the flooding effect. Not sure when this was disabled but I don't think it's working now anyways.
I don't know the extent of what was planned for Pirates but I do know the audio system wasn't replaced as it was at Disneyland. So the ride has very poor sound throughout and I've found it almost impossible to hear a lot of the dialog. Everything sounds very muffled. I believe it was said at one point an idea was pitched pitched to extend the ride slightly with a segment similar to Disneyland's ending, where guests go "up" the waterfall. I don't know how far this got, but it was likely scrapped due to costs and necessary downtime.
I've not been on the new Country Bear Jamboree, but i've heard it has been heavily mutilated and shortened from other people (likely how the Tiki Room refurb apparently cut out parts of the original music and didn't re-implement the enchanted fountain).
PeterAlt
Well-Known Member
Thank you for explaining! But what about Haunted Mansion? I've heard it's better than the DL version now. I've ridden the DL and love it so much better than how the WDW was.
MerlinTheGoat
Well-Known Member
Haunted Mansion seems to be some sort of exception, and it even has some sort of reason that it gets more attention. I gather this is apparently due to the head of Magic Kingdom having a personal liking of the ride.
I don't know whether there is anything really broken about Mansion. Though it has been mentioned that the scrims in the graveyard scene are very dirty and hard to see through at the moment. Seems like most people are fairly pleased with the major overhaul it got a few years back. I'd at least somewhat agree it was a great one. I really like the Escher stairs scene a lot. The only thing I dislike is the new bride. The effect doesn't look good at all (very flat and fake, even the other much older projected faces look much better). Plus I don't like how corny they made her, she was just more effective before when all you saw were a couple of glowing eyes in a dark face and a beating red heart. I do like the portraits in the attic far better than the pop up ghosts though.
The subsequent additions are hit or miss among fans. The new hitchhiking ghosts are more dynamic but there's just something fake about them that can't live up to a physical animatronic. I haven't gone through the new queue yet. From my experiences with other interactive queues, they're very hit or miss. Pooh's is lovely but annoying to listen to, the rest around property just come across as cheap PC flash games.
Other members may have more info about problems at Haunted Mansion. Not my area of expertise. It certainly doesn't seem to share the horrible neglect Splash Mountain has at this time though.
I don't know whether there is anything really broken about Mansion. Though it has been mentioned that the scrims in the graveyard scene are very dirty and hard to see through at the moment. Seems like most people are fairly pleased with the major overhaul it got a few years back. I'd at least somewhat agree it was a great one. I really like the Escher stairs scene a lot. The only thing I dislike is the new bride. The effect doesn't look good at all (very flat and fake, even the other much older projected faces look much better). Plus I don't like how corny they made her, she was just more effective before when all you saw were a couple of glowing eyes in a dark face and a beating red heart. I do like the portraits in the attic far better than the pop up ghosts though.
The subsequent additions are hit or miss among fans. The new hitchhiking ghosts are more dynamic but there's just something fake about them that can't live up to a physical animatronic. I haven't gone through the new queue yet. From my experiences with other interactive queues, they're very hit or miss. Pooh's is lovely but annoying to listen to, the rest around property just come across as cheap PC flash games.
Other members may have more info about problems at Haunted Mansion. Not my area of expertise. It certainly doesn't seem to share the horrible neglect Splash Mountain has at this time though.