Video - Splash Mtn finale Jan 22 (all animatronics broken)

[GrumpyFan]

Broken to me means not functioning properly. Even if there isn't something mechanically wrong with each of the animatronics, something was causing all of them to be motionless at that time. So as far as I (and most other people I think) look at it they are currently broken.

I wasn't implying they weren't in need of repair, nor that it was excusable, just that it was likely due to a larger failure that is hopefully fixed quickly.

 

[Horizonsfan]

Different kind of park guests at DL than WDW. A lot of the guests at DL are locals, or people who have been there multiple times. WDW, on the other hand has a good majority of their guests who are first-time or infrequent (once every 6-10 years) visitors and those who come further distances and pay a lot more. So, it's harder for WDW to close multiple high volume attractions at once. If they do, the number of complaints goes up significantly.

That's just TDO BS excuse. Since WDW average guests are coming less often and spending more money at a time, TDO should ensure that they get their money's worth with proper show. Or else they should expect that once in four years visitor to just become a one-time visitor.

You could argue that one broken AA doesn't warrant a comple ride shutdown, there's no way to defend the centerpiece of the climax scene (seen from two attractions) not working with the ride operational. (Hello EE:wave

 

[Slugger]

How do you figure? If they closed at 10:00PM, they'd have 10 hours to work, and an extra hour before the park opens.

Just because the park closes at 10pm doesn't mean maintenance starts working on the rides at 10pm. You have to wait until the rides are clear of all guests and you also have to wait until Ops has finished its closing procedures and has turned the rides over to maintenance. The same thing happens in the morning time. Ops can't start opening procedures until maintenance has turned the ride over to Ops.

So if the park closes at 10pm then it takes atleast an hour before maintenance starts working. Then in the morning time Ops starts opening procedures roughly an hour and a half before park opening. You through in an hour long lunch and you are only looking at about 7 1/2 to 8 hours of actual work being done.

 

[alissafalco]

Just because the park closes at 10pm doesn't mean maintenance starts working on the rides at 10pm. You have to wait until the rides are clear of all guests and you also have to wait until Ops has finished its closing procedures and has turned the rides over to maintenance. The same thing happens in the morning time. Ops can't start opening procedures until maintenance has turned the ride over to Ops.

So if the park closes at 10pm then it takes atleast an hour before maintenance starts working. Then in the morning time Ops starts opening procedures roughly an hour and a half before park opening. You through in an hour long lunch and you are only looking at about 7 1/2 to 8 hours of actual work being done.

Um, OK, but you still have 365 nights to do that....so that's a lot of hours to do repairs!

 

[captainkidd]

Just because the park closes at 10pm doesn't mean maintenance starts working on the rides at 10pm. You have to wait until the rides are clear of all guests and you also have to wait until Ops has finished its closing procedures and has turned the rides over to maintenance. The same thing happens in the morning time. Ops can't start opening procedures until maintenance has turned the ride over to Ops.

So if the park closes at 10pm then it takes atleast an hour before maintenance starts working. Then in the morning time Ops starts opening procedures roughly an hour and a half before park opening. You through in an hour long lunch and you are only looking at about 7 1/2 to 8 hours of actual work being done.

And you don't think highly trained mechanical engineers can fix a bunch of small AA's in 7 hours?

 

[Pioneer Hall]

And you don't think highly trained mechanical engineers can fix a bunch of small AA's in 7 hours?

Well they need to prioritize what they do. I don't think that each attraction has their own team of engineers working on it every night.

 

[IlikeDW]

And you don't think highly trained mechanical engineers can fix a bunch of small AA's in 7 hours?

maybe, maybe not. but they probably could have stopped them from breaking by doing regular maintenance on them overnight.

 

[wdwfan22]

Why not? Disneyland does it all the time and people still have a good time their. Its exactly this type of thinking that is causing things like this ... refurb's ruin vacations ... they don't, what ruins vacations is the abysmal state the attractions like Splash and a headline show Fantasmic! are currently in ... the line that the average guest doesn't know any better just gives TDO and the suits a free pass to continue their BS.

My money is going to the Cruise Line, where at least you still get a superior product with the Disney name.

If the average guests really did know better than they would not be allowed to let it get as bad as it currently is, because people would stop visiting and attendance would drop. Truth is the average guest doesn't care, they care about getting on as many attractions as possible during the course of the day. This is why they are allowed to get by with it doesn't mean it's right but it's the way things are.

 

[BigThunderMatt]

Well they need to prioritize what they do. I don't think that each attraction has their own team of engineers working on it every night.

That's exactly true. As I've stated in other threads, WDW has two maintenance crews as opposed to DLR's three. WDW only has electrical and mechanical, DLR has electrical, mechanical, and show figures.

The work that show figures would do at DLR falls under mechanical at WDW. However, since mechanical also includes ride systems which have 100% impact on safety if they are not functioning properly, the mechanical team can get to show figures IF and ONLY IF they have completed all other mechanical items on their list in addition to standard checks they have to perform every night.

The sad truth is that maintenance workers at Disney are in short supply and Disney refuses to hire in more full time. It all comes down to money. Disney does not want to spend the money to make sure these "parts on order" are on hand for the maintenance crews they DO have to install, nor do they want to pay to beef up their maintenance staffing. It's lose-lose all around.

 

[RSoxNo1]

No one is saying that Splash should close right now. Yes, it should do if the park has capacity to take up the slack. If things were run how they used to be. But it can't. Years of under investment is to blame, as is a savage cutting of maintainence staffing and budget. In a way, it is sadly too late now to save this situation. A situation that is just one example of the problem with the bigger picture. 20 years ago the attraction would never have gotten this bad in the first place. And any sudden park issues could be soaked up with other offerings.

And this is the company that used to actually have a third Omnimax projector on permenant hire, under covers and just sat on standby incase one of the other 2 projectors used in the same pavilion went faulty.

For example.

First off, I'm saying that if these much of the attraction is broken - the attraction should close. There needs to be higher standards for show then their currently are.

As for what us fans can do. We're all Disney fans - for me, this type of thing has caused me to split time between Disney World and Disneyland. I will be pushing my family to do their 2013 Family trip in Disneyland as well.

To those of you comparing the standards of Disney World to your local amusement park - it's not a realistic comparison. The biggest difference is that the price point is no where near the same. A Disney World Vacation requires (for most people) a flight, a hotel room, possibly a rental car, and park tickets. Comparatively, your local amusement park visitor is usually within 2 hours of the park, or in the area for another reason and has decided to hit up the park for a one day visit.

Someone else made the comparison of the MLB to NBA, but I actually think there are a lot of parallels between the two. Sure, they're offering completely different sports, but the price point is similar. However, to look at it another way - A few years ago, I had the opportunity to shadow the GM of the Rays AAA team, the Durham Bulls. We talked a lot of baseball, but we also talked about business. I asked if his competition in the area was College sports. He pointedly told me that no, his competition are any other form of entertainment in the price range. Most notably, movie theaters.

There aren't too many places that you can go where for $85 you can be entertained for a full day over a variety of different mediums. We simplify things as being theme park attractions but consider the offerings at a park like the Animal Kingdom. You can see two Broadway style shows, see a 3D special effects show, ride a 20 minute African Safari, and ride a thrilling highly themed roller coaster. That's a pretty diverse selection and it's being offered by what is widely regarded as the most incomplete of the Disney parks.

 

[Howdy]

Reminds me of my Small World experience at Disneyland Paris. About 1/4 of the way through the ride, all the audio turned off but the dolls kept moving. It was without question the creepiest ride moment I ever had.

the CM at the exit would find me curled up on the floor in the fetal position! EFFFF THAT!

 

[DABIGCHEEZ]

While this is sad to see, I would find it hard to believe that ALL of the animatronics were broken. Most likely this is the result of a switch, relay or circuit that all of those units are on being broken, shorted or just not functioning at the time of the video. Regardless, I agree that it's bad show, but hopefully one that is quickly rectified.

I guess you did not see my post saying it was pretty much in this state on my trip in Aug.(and who knows how long before) Guess it depends on your definition of "quickly".

 

[nemofinder22]

WDW finally has its first holiday overlay!!!!

But really that is just sad.

 

[DABIGCHEEZ]

Just because the park closes at 10pm doesn't mean maintenance starts working on the rides at 10pm. You have to wait until the rides are clear of all guests and you also have to wait until Ops has finished its closing procedures and has turned the rides over to maintenance. The same thing happens in the morning time. Ops can't start opening procedures until maintenance has turned the ride over to Ops.

So if the park closes at 10pm then it takes atleast an hour before maintenance starts working. Then in the morning time Ops starts opening procedures roughly an hour and a half before park opening. You through in an hour long lunch and you are only looking at about 7 1/2 to 8 hours of actual work being done.

Hello, a good portion of the ride finale(not to mention others throghout) is BROKEN!!! FIX IT!!!

I don't care if it take 8 hrs, 10 hrs, or a weeks worth of nighttime 10 hr shifts to do the repairs... just FIX IT!! :hammer:

 

[dreamscometrue]

Disney does not want to spend the money to make sure these "parts on order" are on hand for the maintenance crews they DO have to install, nor do they want to pay to beef up their maintenance staffing. It's lose-lose all around.

Thanks for the info BigThunderMatt, but I want to ask the same queestion I did earlier...who is Disney? I really want to know and am not trying to be rude. I would like someone on here to tell me who can make things change. Disneyland had it's lean years, but not anymore. That can't be just because of Al Lutz.

What (who) has to change to get the funds and attention to WDW so that extensive maintenance as in days gone by becomes as important as billion dollar next gen and billion dollar expansion (FLE, Avatarland, DVC resorts, etc.)?

 

[theRIOT]

Aw, c'mon guys. Just use some of that patented Disney Magical Pixie Dust (TM)
and close your eyes and imagine the animals.

It's getting to a point where I'm embarassed to call myself a former CM.

I love the parks, but management needs to seriously get with it.

Bad show!

 

[MaryJaneP]

While this is sad to see, I would find it hard to believe that ALL of the animatronics were broken. Most likely this is the result of a switch, relay or circuit that all of those units are on being broken, shorted or just not functioning at the time of the video. Regardless, I agree that it's bad show, but hopefully one that is quickly rectified.

I noticed this (non-moving finale) on my first ride during our last WDW trip. I mentioned to CM at end of ride that everything seemed to be "non-functioning". He said that they needed to reset a breaker or circuit or something. Sure enough, when I rode again later that trip, almost everything was moving. A few items were not moving, but not everything. The video shows what I saw on my first ride, a non-moving finale.

 

[disney fan 13]

Scary to think what it will look like this time next year... Good thing I did not renew my AP...

 

[GrumpyFan]

I noticed this (non-moving finale) on my first ride during our last WDW trip. I mentioned to CM at end of ride that everything seemed to be "non-functioning". He said that they needed to reset a breaker or circuit or something. Sure enough, when I rode again later that trip, almost everything was moving. A few items were not moving, but not everything. The video shows what I saw on my first ride, a non-moving finale.

Interesting, and just slightly satisfying...
But, it still points to a problem that needs to be resolved if it is continually happening. Which, based on this recent video, it appears that it is.

 

[Pioneer Hall]

I guess you did not see my post saying it was pretty much in this state on my trip in Aug.(and who knows how long before) Guess it depends on your definition of "quickly".

Well I can assure you that the boat and animatronics have been working more often than not since August. I have ridden the attraction every few weeks since June, and I have never seen the boat in this state at all in that time.