Subsonic Radio

I have a few questions that I hope all you Disneyland experts can help me out on.

1. Why did they take out the Peoplemover in the first place?

2. When they removed it, did they initially take down the track as well? (I vaguely remember the track being completely gone during one visit)

3. Why was the Rocket Rod ride so short lived? One year it was there and the next it was gone.

4. When the hay are they going to bring the Peoplemover back?? (Yes, I have signed the petition. )

I apologize if there is already a thread addressing these questions. I have always wanted to know, though! Thanks!

Slimmer Kimmers wrote:I have a few questions that I hope all you Disneyland experts can help me out on.

1. Why did they take out the Peoplemover in the first place?

2. When they removed it, did they initially take down the track as well? (I vaguely remember the track being completely gone during one visit)

3. Why was the Rocket Rod ride so short lived? One year it was there and the next it was gone.

4. When the hay are they going to bring the Peoplemover back?? (Yes, I have signed the petition. )

I apologize if there is already a thread addressing these questions. I have always wanted to know, though! Thanks!

I'll take a stab at these:

1. They thought it was boring and wanted to replace it with a thrill ride to go along with the 1998 redesign of Tomorrowland.

2. The track has never been removed.

3. Many reasons, most of which surround the physics of the ride. The Peoplemover track is not a banked track, it is essentially flat through turns. Not a problem for the slow-moving Peoplemover, major problem for the speedy Rocket Rods. The would have to brake so hard into turns that the vehicles burned through tires and brakes far, far too fast for Maintenance to keep up.

4. They can never bring back the Peoplemover in its original, open-air design. There are California state laws on the books that came into existence after the Peoplemover opened regarding distances between tunnels/walls/etc. and open-air vehicles. The Peoplemover used to be ok, because having existed before the pertinent laws, it was "grandfathered in"... once the ride closed, the grandfather clause no longer applied. There are rumors that Disney wants to do an Incredibles-themed ride on the old Peoplemover track, using the enclosed pod vehicles from that film.

Thanks for informing me about this whole issue, spaulo! I was always curious about it. I'd really just like the Peoplemover back in some reincarnated form. I guess an Incredibles theme would be ok. They just need something up there! It looks horrible!

spaulo wrote:

Slimmer Kimmers wrote:I have a few questions that I hope all you Disneyland experts can help me out on.

1. Why did they take out the Peoplemover in the first place?

2. When they removed it, did they initially take down the track as well? (I vaguely remember the track being completely gone during one visit)

3. Why was the Rocket Rod ride so short lived? One year it was there and the next it was gone.

4. When the hay are they going to bring the Peoplemover back?? (Yes, I have signed the petition. )

I apologize if there is already a thread addressing these questions. I have always wanted to know, though! Thanks!

I'll take a stab at these:

1. They thought it was boring and wanted to replace it with a thrill ride to go along with the 1998 redesign of Tomorrowland.

2. The track has never been removed.

3. Many reasons, most of which surround the physics of the ride. The Peoplemover track is not a banked track, it is essentially flat through turns. Not a problem for the slow-moving Peoplemover, major problem for the speedy Rocket Rods. The would have to brake so hard into turns that the vehicles burned through tires and brakes far, far too fast for Maintenance to keep up.

4. They can never bring back the Peoplemover in its original, open-air design. There are California state laws on the books that came into existence after the Peoplemover opened regarding distances between tunnels/walls/etc. and open-air vehicles. The Peoplemover used to be ok, because having existed before the pertinent laws, it was "grandfathered in"... once the ride closed, the grandfather clause no longer applied. There are rumors that Disney wants to do an Incredibles-themed ride on the old Peoplemover track, using the enclosed pod vehicles from that film.

Spaulo you are a well spring of information. You never stop amazing me with you depth of knowledge!

I have a few hobbies... Disney theme parks, baseball, college football... I like knowing as much as I can about each

I didn't know about the state laws. That really sucks. I guess we'll never see it again in it's glory. It's so annoying how a few dumb people can ruin things for everybody. After 50+ years, a boy falls out of the tea cups, instantly, the ride is considered unsafe. Too bad this country is so sue happy. We need to listen to Doc Brown and abolish all lawyers.

Anyways, back on topic.

An addendum to number 3. It was mostly the motors burning out and catching on fire because of all the slow / fast issues due to the budget cut to reinforce the tracks (banking)

spaulo wrote:I have a few hobbies... Disney theme parks, baseball, college football... I like knowing as much as I can about each

COLLEGE FOOTBALL??? GO GATORS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I didn't know about the state laws. That really sucks. I guess we'll never see it again in it's glory. It's so annoying how a few dumb people can ruin things for everybody. After 50+ years, a boy falls out of the tea cups, instantly, the ride is considered unsafe. Too bad this country is so sue happy. We need to listen to Doc Brown and abolish all lawyers.

Wasn't that Old Joe who said that? Or was it something about killing all of them?

Jacca5660 wrote: COLLEGE FOOTBALL??? GO GATORS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tebow sucks

hehe

When it did work, I got the chance to ride the rocket rods once. I thoughht the ride was fun. No matter what they put ther, I wish that they would put something. It looks bad with that empty track just sitting there.

spaulo wrote:

Jacca5660 wrote: COLLEGE FOOTBALL??? GO GATORS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tebow sucks

hehe

^ Had to put in my E-mail so I could enlarge the fonts. USC fan right??

We straying from the topic, but no actually, Cal and Notre Dame fan...

While we're on the topic of Rocket-Rod era Tomorrowland, does a Disneylander want to explain the story of the "Observatron"? What it is, why it's up there and why the astro orbitor is sitting next to the castle instead of where the observatron is?

Cheshire Cat wrote:While we're on the topic of Rocket-Rod era Tomorrowland, does a Disneylander want to explain the story of the "Observatron"? What it is, why it's up there and why the astro orbitor is sitting next to the castle instead of where the observatron is?

I worked in Tomorrowland during the change of it. CMs received a pamphlet of what was to come. "Every 15 minutes the Observaton will open up, play music, and have lights to send messages to distant planets in an attempt to contact other life"

While the latter part is totally stupid, I had such grandiose visions of what the music and lights would be. I pictured lasers and lights shooting ALL over Tomorrowland and looking fantastic. In reality, it's a peice of poop. The 1999 Tomorrowland was (is?) so pathetic. It just p*** me off how stupid management's decisions can be.

subsonic wrote:In reality, it's a peice of poop.

BWAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!

So succinct, so to-the-point... Sub, you're like our own little Oscar Wilde, without the sexual deviance... (I think)...

Does it at least do something every 15 minutes? Or does it just sit there and be completely useless?