Some rumors...

boilerbabe · Post by **boilerbabe** » Jan Thu 08, 2009 11:32 am

Len90, I found Astro Orbiter scary too! I think the angle of the rocket and you're up so high. I had to go on it again though b/c the views are so fantastic!!! I hadn't been on that ride since I was 8 yrs. old, we went on our past trip, I'm 31 now, I felt like I had discovered a whole new ride! It was exciting!!! I was a little dizzy afterward, but it was worth it. It was my DH's first time riding that, he loved it!

spodie · Post by **spodie** » Jan Thu 08, 2009 1:02 pm

Mr.ToadWildRider wrote:
Try the AstroOrbiter

I think that will be many people's alternative and the lines will be rediculous, since it's a ride that's not exactly accomodating to large crowds... I really hope I'm wrong though. Perhaps the casual tourist will not even venture into that area of the park thinking that there is no reason to go there becasue SM is down... <----Wishful thinking

DisBeamer · Post by **DisBeamer** » Jan Thu 08, 2009 11:11 pm

I like the Astro Orbiter too, but I find the spinning part kind of takes away from the view. I mean, you still get a cool view but it goes by too fast for me to really enjoy it. That and the fact the wait times are always so long.

Honestly if something 'bad' happens to the TTA, that may be the final straw that keeps me from going back to WDW. That's not just my favorite ride, it's like ... one of my favorite things anywhere. So, fingers crossed.

wdwannabe · Post by **wdwannabe** » Jan Fri 09, 2009 12:47 pm

Gosh, you don't think WDW would get rid of the TTA?!! Oh my! One should hope not!

Let's not even go there!

agingerbugg · Post by **agingerbugg** » Jan Fri 09, 2009 1:16 pm

wdwannabe wrote:Gosh, you don't think WDW would get rid of the TTA?!! Oh my! One should hope not!

Let's not even go there!

I am sure they wouldn't, it is too popular. They are probably just closing due to safety concerns with the SM refurb. According to news reports I have seen, they are replacing the ceiling inside SM and god forbid something go wrong, it is too much of a risk to have people riding beneath it while it is being repaired/replaced.

DisBeamer · Post by **DisBeamer** » Jan Fri 09, 2009 5:08 pm

I can't imagine they would. It doesn't seem to take much effort to run, only takes a few CMs at a time and soaks up crowds in TL well. On the other hand, Disney does things all the time that I'm not sure make sense, so I always wonder.. It's really not that popular a ride if you think about it. I can't count the number of times I've been in completely empty trains (which I think is great, but would look bad to a bean counter, y'know?). Regardless, I think it has a low enough operating budget to keep it safe that that agingerbugg is right; it's just periodic closings for safety.

I also read (somewhere ... on here?) that they're recording a new track for it to put in after it reopens, so that seems to bode well.

My original comment stands, though; closing it permanently might be the final deal breaker for me. Kind of a scary thought (well, for me anyway

).

wdwannabe · Post by **wdwannabe** » Jan Fri 09, 2009 9:18 pm

DisBeamer wrote:
My original comment stands, though; closing it permanently might be the final deal breaker for me. Kind of a scary thought (well, for me anyway ).

Oh, DisBeamer, I hope not!

spodie · Post by **spodie** » Jan Fri 09, 2009 11:00 pm

DisBeamer wrote: It's really not that popular a ride if you think about it. I can't count the number of times I've been in completely empty trains (which I think is great, but would look bad to a bean counter, y'know?).

The last time I was there, there were lines every time we went to go ride it. They even had to stop people from going up the escalator because there was no room to stand and wait at the top. It was kind of strange because I've never encountered a line for it when I have been there, and the past time I went, it was the least crowded of every time I've been there.

Post by **Len90** » Jan Fri 09, 2009 11:15 pm

I know when I went in July the TTA had absolutely no line and the vehicles were pretty much empty. I know we had our own car which I thoroughly enjoyed. Closing it permanently for me, would be a disgrace. I really enjoy everything the attraction has to offer.

Post by **js3901** » Jan Fri 09, 2009 11:49 pm

I believe that in addition to the closure due to the ceiling in SM, they are also going to repair some of the broken panls on the track way, and also repair/replace some of the rougher parts of the track itself. might as well if the attraction is down.

Cheshire Cat · Post by **Cheshire Cat** » Jan Sat 10, 2009 12:13 am

The last time I was there, there were lines every time we went to go ride it. They even had to stop people from going up the escalator because there was no room to stand and wait at the top.

I've seen this happen too at the more crowded times... it's funny when the cast members and guests don't realize it in time and the platform keeps bringing up people with nowhere to go

.

DisBeamer · Post by **DisBeamer** » Jan Sat 10, 2009 3:30 am

spodie wrote:
DisBeamer wrote: It's really not that popular a ride if you think about it. I can't count the number of times I've been in completely empty trains (which I think is great, but would look bad to a bean counter, y'know?).
The last time I was there, there were lines every time we went to go ride it. They even had to stop people from going up the escalator because there was no room to stand and wait at the top. It was kind of strange because I've never encountered a line for it when I have been there, and the past time I went, it was the least crowded of every time I've been there.

I think I've only ever seen that once. It was during MNSSHP last October, and the cast member at the bottom of the ramp looked completely baffled as to why so many people were in line.

That was a pretty good example of the way it can absorb crowds, and one of the reasons I think they like to keep it up. Granted, I don't go to WDW in the summer so maybe it's more common when the MK is packed; it was as empty as usual just before Christmas 07. The vast majority of the times I've been there, however, it's pretty much a ghost town. Which is great, since I can just ride around and around, I suppose.

Given that it's a constant, fast loader, I'd be curious to see how many visitors it sees a day versus, say, Peter Pan or Dumbo. I wonder if it'd be comparable, since they load soooooooo slowly.

That said, I still believe that the fact it's pretty much below the radar in terms of operating costs and such will keep it safe. I agree with js - probably no time like the present to fix it up if it has to be closed for a short period anyway for SM's work.

boilerbabe · Post by **boilerbabe** » Jan Sat 10, 2009 12:45 pm

I really hope they do not close the TTA permanently. I LOVE this ride! For us, the times we usually go to WDW, the TTA is not crowded. But, I remember being at WDW in July and there's a line to even get on that. I don't know what in the world they would put in it's place and I certainly hope they wouldn't just leave that empty!

Why did they close the Peoplemover in DL?! Does anyone know?!

figmentaholic · Post by **figmentaholic** » Jan Sat 10, 2009 2:29 pm

I am going to be terrilbly depressed if they close the TTA. It isnt air conditioned, but it is covered, and it is a great way with no lie to get off your feet, and if they are running it fast, the air that goes by does pretty good in cooling you down. And since there is no line, you can go whenever you want.

Man, I hope they never close it. It is one of my favoites in the MK!

Post by **js3901** » Jan Sat 10, 2009 2:51 pm

figmentaholic wrote:I am going to be terrilbly depressed if they close the TTA. It isnt air conditioned, but it is covered, and it is a great way with no lie to get off your feet, and if they are running it fast, the air that goes by does pretty good in cooling you down. And since there is no line, you can go whenever you want.

Man, I hope they never close it. It is one of my favoites in the MK!

after the disaster that was Rocket Rods out at DLR, I don't think that the WDC would make that mistake again with a PeopleMover attraction. due to the updated laws, if they remove it, they wouldn't be able to put it back in. they are Grandfathered in.