Subsonic Radio

Sorry I couldn't come up with a better subject, but here's my question to all you knowledgeable people out there. Do you know about any companies that create the AA figures and other ride items for Disney? I know they aren't all created at or near the parks. There was one company here in the Twin Cities called MTS that made the Carnotaur in Dinosaur, but they no longer work with Disney.

Just looking out for my future employment - especially in the engineering field.

Well, your best bet is always Walt Disney Imagineering which is based out of Glendale, CA... but I don't know which contractors they tend to work with, or if they tend to go lowest-bidder like the government

They have some long standing relationships with Suppliers, within the automotive, fiberglass, boating & design arenas.....and they will tend to go for the lowest price bid, so long as the quality standards are met.

I'll check for you.

Oooh, thanks Jacca!

I asked this question to a close friend who has been a tech at EPCOT for almost 20 years. Here is his answer:

What are the companies??

They're different every time.
For example, a company called ETC designed Mission Space. Disney would not let them complete their testing on the finished ride, so they sued Disney. Now they can't (or won't) make anything else for Disney.

Disney seems to ruin their relationships with other companies very thoroughly. A famous phrase of the outside contractors is "The job isn't completed until the lawsuit is settled."

Sad but true.

That is sad to hear. Too bad Disney couldn't have better relationships with their contracted designers and manufacturers. Thanks for checking into it for me Jacca!

Esmeralda wrote:That is sad to hear. Too bad Disney couldn't have better relationships with their contracted designers and manufacturers. Thanks for checking into it for me Jacca!

You're welcome!!!

It really is too bad, as there are a fair number of suppliers trying to work with Disney, and who WANT to work with Disney........I guess we will just keep trying.

There is a simlar story about the California Screamin Coaster. It's a stock coaster from Ingenieur Büro Stengel GmbH. But Disney modified it so heavily after installation, when the company discovered the modifications (after an accident the story goes) they basically washed their hands of it.

The coaster that is inside RnR at MGM was designed and built by Vekoma. It's also a stock coaster from them. I'm not really sure what a "Stock" coaster really is, since as far as I know none of the are "mass produced" but I assume it means they have the plans on file and can adapt it to your site with miminal changes.

I've heard Vekoma got in trouble with Disney for posting on their website that Disney was a customer. Apparently, when you a supplier to Disney you are prohibited from advertising that you are a supplier.

johno