Expedition Everest

[rphillips14]

I agree with Wizard...I think. Sometimes, Disney uses the fact that customers still come to the attraction as a reason to let the good minor details fall into disrepair. For instance, the Yeti-again, I have to believe that the smart, smart, creative people at Disney, who have a zillion animatronics on property can come up with a way to "make a yeti" swing his arms without tearing down the whole mountain. It's like the engineers at NASA suddenly forgot how to shoot off a rocket. I think it's just an organizational choice because, we, the public, keep going in droves regardless of the Yeti's lack of movement. When I go back, we'll again be the first in line and when I see "Disco Yeti" I will again grumble but run back through as many times as we can.

[cy1229]

I agree with Wizard...I think. Sometimes, Disney uses the fact that customers still come to the attraction as a reason to let the good minor details fall into disrepair. For instance, the Yeti-again, I have to believe that the smart, smart, creative people at Disney, who have a zillion animatronics on property can come up with a way to "make a yeti" swing his arms without tearing down the whole mountain. It's like the engineers at NASA suddenly forgot how to shoot off a rocket. I think it's just an organizational choice because, we, the public, keep going in droves regardless of the Yeti's lack of movement. When I go back, we'll again be the first in line and when I see "Disco Yeti" I will again grumble but run back through as many times as we can.

NERD ALERT

We have to remember the physics of the situation. The Yeti AA is really big, and suspended above the track. That kind of mass up above its foundation can generate a serious amount of torque when it swings its "arm" around. The foundation for the Yeti is built right in among the foundations for the track and the façde. Reinforcing that requires complete dismantling of the other two. While I don't want to think the Imagineers made a significant calculation error when working up the specs for the whole thing, it's happened with other entities before (remember NASA and the Mars probe that crashed because some moron forgot to take feet and put it into meters?). The other alternative is to find a way to anchor the thing from above or the side, which probably has been analyzed before and determined to be not feasible.

It's still a great coaster, and the sounds and illusion of the track having been broken are still fun. It's not as great as it was, but it's still really good. It's not like it's been slowed down or made more tame, ala BTMRR.

[Len90]

NERD ALERT

We have to remember the physics of the situation. The Yeti AA is really big, and suspended above the track. That kind of mass up above its foundation can generate a serious amount of torque when it swings its "arm" around. The foundation for the Yeti is built right in among the foundations for the track and the façde. Reinforcing that requires complete dismantling of the other two. While I don't want to think the Imagineers made a significant calculation error when working up the specs for the whole thing, it's happened with other entities before (remember NASA and the Mars probe that crashed because some moron forgot to take feet and put it into meters?). The other alternative is to find a way to anchor the thing from above or the side, which probably has been analyzed before and determined to be not feasible.

Just think about the amount of force being placed on that foundation. I would say miscalculation by imagineering.

[theBIGyowski]

yeah...it was definitely a miscalculation

as has been said before...the problem is that they promoted the attraction as an encounter with the Yeti...that it was realistic looking...and how great the imagineering was in all of the different structures and foundations intertwining...etc

had they just said it was a thrill ride where you see the Yeti at the end...no one would be upset with Disco Yeti...but it was and has always been about the Yeti...who is apparently scared stiff by strobe lights

[Wizzard419]

Yes and for whatever reason (my money is that the construction company may have had issue with the foundation itself) it had to remove the feature but since repairs would be so time consuming that it would require long term closure and construction, they are holding off. They might actually start on repairs to it during the expansion as everything is going to be a mess anyway.

[theBIGyowski]

Yes and for whatever reason (my money is that the construction company may have had issue with the foundation itself) it had to remove the feature but since repairs would be so time consuming that it would require long term closure and construction, they are holding off. They might actually start on repairs to it during the expansion as everything is going to be a mess anyway.

I'm willing to be they will wait until all of the Avatar stuff is done...because at that point the demand won't be as high for EE.

[Wizzard419]

It might, but at the same time attendance will be up for that park once/if the land opens, so they will probably still want to go on other stuff after they get through with the rides there.

I wonder what impact having major construction going on has on vacation bookings for WDW? Even if it is in a weaker park like AK and (if they are using Camp Minnie Mickey) no major attractions are closed, the guest probably won't be happy knowing they are missing out since they may not be back for several years or ever again.

[theBIGyowski]

It might, but at the same time attendance will be up for that park once/if the land opens, so they will probably still want to go on other stuff after they get through with the rides there.

I wonder what impact having major construction going on has on vacation bookings for WDW? Even if it is in a weaker park like AK and (if they are using Camp Minnie Mickey) no major attractions are closed, the guest probably won't be happy knowing they are missing out since they may not be back for several years or ever again.

Oh I'm sure the Fantasyland Expansions have kept certain families from making trips. I can imagine families with small children who may wait an extra 6-12 months so they can know New Fantasyland is complete. Or ones that may have done so prior to the opening of B&TB and TLM.

With AK...there probably won't be much of a change as most people see AK as an "extra" park and are mainly down there for MK and Epcot.

[Len90]

Yes and for whatever reason (my money is that the construction company may have had issue with the foundation itself) it had to remove the feature but since repairs would be so time consuming that it would require long term closure and construction, they are holding off. They might actually start on repairs to it during the expansion as everything is going to be a mess anyway.

I like your thinking. However the construction should all be on the other side of the park, thus not interfering with EE like you may think. I do think an attendance drop off is possible once the new fantasyland is complete and construction at AK starts.

The question now is will TDO spend the money to repair disco yeti so he can function when avatar land is ready to be opened. Or will they just forever keep it in B mode.

[Wizzard419]

They may never build the land, they still have about 6 months to break ground but it sounds like they haven't done anything yet and the franchise itself has also not had any activity in a while since they were still writing the treatment.

Repairing it vs leaving it until a major rehab (as in replacing the track) has the biggest con of p*ssing off guests who won't be back anytime soon in the name of a cosmetic repair vs a mandatory structural repair.

Though I do wonder, do they show the moving yeti in their vacation planning videos?

[Len90]

They may never build the land, they still have about 6 months to break ground but it sounds like they haven't done anything yet and the franchise itself has also not had any activity in a while since they were still writing the treatment.

Repairing it vs leaving it until a major rehab (as in replacing the track) has the biggest con of p*ssing off guests who won't be back anytime soon in the name of a cosmetic repair vs a mandatory structural repair.

Though I do wonder, do they show the moving yeti in their vacation planning videos?

Spoke to a CM about the move and they are clearing out the area. New theater for Lion King is being built in Africa behind Tusker House, Mickey and Minnie are gone from there, and the other characters are soon to follow. To me it seems like six months is the right time frame.

[theBIGyowski]

so...

The Yeti will be replaced by an angry Na'vi warrior.

Got it.

[Wizzard419]

Nah it will just be the main antagonist from the movie in his mech.

Actually, that actor and Sigourney are supposedly going to be in the next film.