News Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge - Historical Construction/Impressions

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Variable

Well-Known Member
Dr. Hans Reinhardt said:
I agree. I liked DCA 1.0 because even though the execution was poor I saw that it had a good foundation on which to build upon. There's no question that the park at opening was built on a shoestring budget and it backfired big time. Since the mid-2000s there's appears to be a greater investment from Disney in P&R projects resulting in a marked improvement in the consistency and quality of work from WDI.
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But let's separate design from construction, and be careful to lay blame in whichever element had the failure.

Certainly contractors get beyond their experience and get into trouble.
But most of what is complained about around here is the result of Disney controlled design/project management.
 
D

Deleted member 107043

Variable said:
But most of what is complained about around here is the result of Disney controlled design/project management.
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True, but I believe that there's a direct correlation between the poorly designed work that came out of WDI during the late 90s/early 2000s and relatively skimpy budgets. They really sacrificed their brand by executing DCA, TL '98, and Disney Studios Paris on the cheap while Tokyo Disney Sea blew everyone away, which at $4 billion is the most expensive theme park ever built.
 
V

Variable

Well-Known Member
Dr. Hans Reinhardt said:
True, but I believe that there's a direct correlation between the poorly designed work that came out of WDI during the late 90s/early 2000s and relatively skimpy budgets. They really sacrificed their brand by executing DCA, TL '98, and Disney Studios Paris on the cheap while Tokyo Disney Sea blew everyone away, which at $4 billion is the most expensive theme park ever built.
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Well, not arguing just looking for specifics. Was there a failed actual ride/feature that was designed wrong and broke down directly linked to lack of money? Like "we didn't have budget to get lighting layout, so we just strung bulbs up anywhere the electrician could add them, and that resulted im code violations and totally inadequate visibility ". Did some of that happen?

Or is it a case of the project brief/scope remaining large even as budget cut, so design sacrifices all over thus "poorly designed work" - but work nevertheless properly designed to code etc, built properly ---- just too many sacrifices in features etc 'cheap'. Know what mean?
 
D

Deleted member 107043

Variable said:
Or is it a case of the project brief/scope remaining large even as budget cut, so design sacrifices all over thus "poorly designed work" - but work nevertheless properly designed to code etc, built properly ---- just too many sacrifices in features etc 'cheap'.
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This.
 
TP2000

TP2000

Well-Known Member
From MintCrocodile this weekend, photos taken on the morning of Friday July 15th of construction and work. http://mintcrocodile.blogspot.com/

Not technically Star Wars, but while Tom Sawyer Island is closed they are giving it a very thorough refurb and repaint and going over. Some of this work is related to Fantasmic obviously, as the south end of the island is the stage.

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The ducks aren't that impressed. Zzzzz....
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Meanwhile, on the opposite end of Tom Sawyer Island, a Friday crew counts down the hours til the weekend.
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More rebar framing for more concrete walls. Likely for Fantasmic! storage and the new railroad route.
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Lots of big new pipe has arrived, likely for area stormwater and sewer systems.
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And the latest panorama shot from the roof of Mickey & Friends.
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GiveMeTheMusic

GiveMeTheMusic

Well-Known Member
Variable said:
Naming things but no details of where the failures occurred, what they were found to be caused by.

Prototypes fail. That's why we use prototypes.
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Rocket Rods' budget was famously cut by Pressler, removing the banked turns from the track. As a result, each rod had to slow down before each curve, stressing the system and making the ride dumb. Failure.

The monorails were designed without AC (fail) and to incorrect measures resulting in costly rebuilding (fail).

The Pirates boat thing - look, stuff happens. But figure it out. This is not rocket science. Same with the Matterhorn sleds - how did anyone think that new seats without cushioning were a good idea? Did no one actually ride the stupid things?

Disney does a lot of stuff right, but when they bomb they bomb in style. Who else would build an outlet mall with rides next to Disneyland and call it a theme park, and then be shocked when no one was interested?
 
V

Variable

Well-Known Member
GiveMeTheMusic said:
Rocket Rods' budget was famously cut by Pressler, removing the banked turns from the track. As a result, each rod had to slow down before each curve, stressing the system and making the ride dumb. Failure.

The monorails were designed without AC (fail) and to incorrect measures resulting in costly rebuilding (fail).

The Pirates boat thing - look, stuff happens. But figure it out. This is not rocket science. Same with the Matterhorn sleds - how did anyone think that new seats without cushioning were a good idea? Did no one actually ride the stupid things?

Disney does a lot of stuff right, but when they bomb they bomb in style. Who else would build an outlet mall with rides next to Disneyland and call it a theme park, and then be shocked when no one was interested?
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Ahh, ok, I appreciate the backgrounder. The Pirates, more recent, I've followed along with that and been crammed into the new front row more than once, not enjoyed it's newfound wet ride status.

I know of a huge airport expansion that was half built before it was discovered that no seismic analysis had been done. Strangely no one was fired, no P.E. lost their credentials, there was just more money taken from tax payers to fix it. A nice 50% over run.
 
GiveMeTheMusic

GiveMeTheMusic

Well-Known Member
Variable said:
Ahh, ok, I appreciate the backgrounder. The Pirates, more recent, I've followed along with that and been crammed into the new front row more than once, not enjoyed it's newfound wet ride status.

I know of a huge airport expansion that was half built before it was discovered that no seismic analysis had been done. Strangely no one was fired, no P.E. lost their credentials, there was just more money taken from tax payers to fix it. A nice 50% over run.
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Disney works similarly. Are you awful at your job? Did you cost the company millions of dollars? Expect a promotion stat!
 
V

Variable

Well-Known Member
GiveMeTheMusic said:
Disney works similarly. Are you awful at your job? Did you cost the company millions of dollars? Expect a promotion stat!
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Lol. Well, I know someone who (not presently at D) certainly was good at their job, talked about so many good people they worked with, but was frustrated that there always seemed to be someone who fully embodied the Peter Principle being shuffled around.
 
GiveMeTheMusic

GiveMeTheMusic

Well-Known Member
Dr. Hans Reinhardt said:
Ouch. It wasn't that bad, but your point is, well, on point.
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I've actually been to better themed outlet malls than Sunshine Plaza, which was so ugly its mother would have dropped it on the steps of Notre Dame.

DCA 1.0 had its good points, but theming (outside Grizzly Peak) wasn't one of them. The hubris was such a thing to see though. George K quoted in the newspapers about how the resort was bracing for record crowds to come see DCA. Disneyland would be empty, they said! We're afraid we won't be able to meet demand! Shut off AP sales!

Simpler times.
 

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