Trouble at the MK???

[dstrawn9889]

especially when you hear that a CM cannot shut down the ride, barring safety concerns, on their own volition, it has to be approved? i thought the CM's used to have that kind of power, to shut down the attraction and call maintenance

[Wizzard419]

Wiz... It's not a cosmetic reason. The major draw to the attraction doesn't work at all. The point of the ride isn't to ride a escape mine train through a mountain, it's to find and escape the clutches of the yeti.

I disagree with you on Walt. If his Carousel of Progress had a scene where John, the main character, didn't move. Walt would have shut the whole thing down to repair it instead of just going on as if nothing is wrong.

But that's the thing, that one AA figure isn't the main draw, the thrill ride is. If the ride were a slow moving dark ride where you took a good minute or two to get past it would be a problem. If the central figure that you were going to be focused on for several minutes was broken, that is totally different.





Dstraw, If you mean "shut down" as in stopping the ride itself, they sort of can do that since they have emergency stop buttons, they could also jam the ride up by not letting cars through fast enough. But they would probably need someone to sign off if they were going to shut the entire ride down and send people away.

[cy1229]

Being a roller coaster freak, the draw to ExpEv for me is the ride, not the almost-Yeti almost getting me. But that's me. I don't like that the Yeti isn't working properly, and am hopeful that the Suits are working on a plan to get at the problem and fix it with minimal disruption. If you think about it, ExpEv and Dinosaur are about the only two big-time rides that AK has going for it. Shut one down, and some people might skip the park altogether. The design of the ride is such that the track, mountain, and Yeti were all built simultaneously and carefully engineered. Probably makes it pretty difficult to get at it. (I learned that watching TV. I want to now say to my Dad, See? You CAN learn something watching TV! but even at my middle age he would probably cuff me for disrespect. )

I think people have come to expect so much more from Disney because Disney has always delivered that much more. I remember on our trip in 2001, we were on the dining plan, and we ate dinner at Artist Point (which was VERY VERY VERY good). At that time, tips were included with the dining plan. When we told the server we were using points, his face fell for a very brief amount of time, then he "sucked it up" and delivered excellent service, just like one would expect. I know CM's work really, really, hard, and don't get paid much for doing it, so I do my best to not complain to them, and not register a complaint if I don't get the big cheesy smiles or whatever. Unless someone is really, really rude, or really screws something up, I chalk it up to a bad day. I say all that, Soarin, to say don't take it personally, we know CM's work their hineys off to make the day great for people.

And I don't think it's asking too much that things not be "broken" for very long before they're fixed, given the amount of tickets. No one likes a lowering of standards. I agree that Walt wouldn't stand for it.

[Wizzard419]

I have a distinct feeling that the yeti is in the category of "F*@(ed up royal" from not being able to see engineering issues in development. Disney has had problems in the past on other E-tickets, like Indy and the falling rocks effect at DLR, where it breaks and due to the design there is no pratical way to repair short of major construction and a long term shutdown of the ride. If the rumors are true about it being darn at the foundation, then it may involved a full scale removal of the foundation for the yeti, rebuilding from the ground up, and possibly having to rip a hole in the side of the shell just to get work done.

I know a lot of people jump on the "clearly, they must have done it on the cheap" but that doesn't always hold true. They most likely did put a ton of time and resources into the development but simply did not see this coming. I am also confident that they are even less happy about it not working than the guests are since they sunk a huge chunk of cash into it, pimped it multiple times, and then had it break a short while after launch.

[MmeLeota]

I know a lot of people jump on the "clearly, they must have done it on the cheap" but that doesn't always hold true. They most likely did put a ton of time and resources into the development but simply did not see this coming. I am also confident that they are even less happy about it not working than the guests are since they sunk a huge chunk of cash into it, pimped it multiple times, and then had it break a short while after launch.

Hmmm...sounds like another massive AA undertaking at DLR, doesn't it? Hello Murphy!

I totally agree Wiz, sometimes it's not a matter of "on the cheap". Granted, I have not been on EE so I can't make a sound judgement...but it sounds like it would be such an undertaking to fix properly, that they are doing what they can with the circumstances.
Plus, when it comes to things done "on the cheap" it necessarily wasn't the original plan...What would you do if you had this fantastic idea for an attraction/show/parade...etc and it was approved, but then the execs slashed your budget. What do you do? You're expected to put forth a picture perfect product on a shoestring budget.
I'm not saying this is the issue with the Yeti, but this could be another issue with the lackluster performances in recent years at both WDW and DLR.

I think people have come to expect so much more from Disney because Disney has always delivered that much more. I remember on our trip in 2001, we were on the dining plan, and we ate dinner at Artist Point (which was VERY VERY VERY good). At that time, tips were included with the dining plan. When we told the server we were using points, his face fell for a very brief amount of time, then he "sucked it up" and delivered excellent service, just like one would expect. I know CM's work really, really, hard, and don't get paid much for doing it, so I do my best to not complain to them, and not register a complaint if I don't get the big cheesy smiles or whatever. Unless someone is really, really rude, or really screws something up, I chalk it up to a bad day. I say all that, Soarin, to say don't take it personally, we know CM's work their hineys off to make the day great for people.

Totally agree here too cy1229...Soarin - Sorry if it seems like everyone is expecting so much from Disney, but that's what Disney's reputation is. The details. Prices have gotten so expensive, that people really do expect perfection for the price they are paying. They decided to spend more of their hard-earned money for the chance at a more detail-oriented vacation rather than less money for a lackluster experience.
We have been on both sides of the coin, so we try not to complain to any frontline CMs either. Most of the time it can be chalked up to a bad day. (though we had a grumpy old man at the TTA who kind of left a bad taste, but I'll explain more in our report later) We will let a CM know if we see something that really should be brought to attention, but not in a complaining way. We also like to smile and ask a CM how they are doing...it's amazing what a refreshing change that is when you're on the other side...when it feels like no one cares. We know what it's like to be underpaid and forced to deal with the public's whining. We understand that it's not the frontline that makes the decisions...the execs are where the money strings are pulled.

[Soarin08]

Yeah, no offense taken, but I just feel like the average guest- not people here- honestly doesn't think about the time and effort it really does take to run the parks and be a CM. The average guest doesn't give a crap that I've worked close to 60 hours this week hiring CMs to ensure the guests have a magical experience on the cruises. The average guest just cares about themselves. They don't care about how we all work ourselves half to death to make everything as perfect as we can. It's people like the guy at lunch at the Biergarten who fall into this category, by the way.

But maintenance issues can happen anywhere... even Disney. I agree with Wizz on the fact the yeti was indeed an ambitious engineering marvel, but it sadly has never gone the way it was intended. DAK can't afford to shut down the ride to fix it, as what other headliner would the park have? None, really, and then who would go there? Exactly.

I think working for the company has really changed my perspective, as prior to 2009, I'd have been flipping out if something wasn't working for a split second on a vacation. Now I just chalk it up to the fact that as perfect as Disney is whilst be compared to other parks, it still will never achieve the perfection everyone seems to always be demanding.

[NaCler]

Animal Kingdom survived before EE, I'm pretty sure it would survive again if EE was down for a year to fix it. Maybe put the yeti on the ground, not hanging from the wall so he would be more stable.

Off soapbox now...

[Wizzard419]

I actually want to say that the notion of "Budget has been slashed" is a bit of a false one. Budgets themselves, in larger companies, are usually a lot more stable. The money is already alotted for the project itself and they know the boundaries. The only time it becomes a problem is if there is an unforseen issue, such as a giant sinkhole being found in the land you're working or emergency updates to building codes, which force a re-design.

There is one thing I really don't like about disney vacations, at least the last time I was at WDW, the constant calls I got at the end of each day from wherever I was dining as well as guest relations (asking how everything was, how trip was going, etc.) it was really creepy. I don't know if I set off some profile for them, I never gave my room number nor used the card that was tied to the room, so that implied they gleaned the info off of the card I used and compared it to the database.


Added on since Salt guy posted

I'm trying to recall, but I think there is a massive drop between the track and the foundation, so it would look like an angry dwarf in that respect.

[MmeLeota]

I actually want to say that the notion of "Budget has been slashed" is a bit of a false one. Budgets themselves, in larger companies, are usually a lot more stable. The money is already alotted for the project itself and they know the boundaries. The only time it becomes a problem is if there is an unforseen issue, such as a giant sinkhole being found in the land you're working or emergency updates to building codes, which force a re-design.

There is one thing I really don't like about disney vacations, at least the last time I was at WDW, the constant calls I got at the end of each day from wherever I was dining as well as guest relations (asking how everything was, how trip was going, etc.) it was really creepy. I don't know if I set off some profile for them, I never gave my room number nor used the card that was tied to the room, so that implied they gleaned the info off of the card I used and compared it to the database.


Added on since Salt guy posted

I'm trying to recall, but I think there is a massive drop between the track and the foundation, so it would look like an angry dwarf in that respect.

I know what you're saying about already having budgets planned and the money is not usually an issue. But I've seen it happen in a big corporation. Money being aken away from one area and moved to another for one reason or another....mid project.

[NaCler]

Added on since Salt guy posted

I'm trying to recall, but I think there is a massive drop between the track and the foundation, so it would look like an angry dwarf in that respect.

Come to think of it, you are correct. There would probably be problems with jumping yeti also. Wiz, you are very knowledgeable of WDW. How many times have you been there?

[Wizzard419]

I do wonder if, on new rides, budgets don't have the option to get slashed midway through the project? The reason I wonder this is since construction on disney stuff is always done by outsourced work. So, you can't decide mid way in that you want to cut the costs since they would pitch a fit and possibly walk.

I've only been a few times since I get my Disney fix weekley via DLR, but I do like to watch and read up on mechanics of their crap, plus working with an imagineer (Disney, I still have your concept art so you can suck it!) helps keep me out of florida. Last year I was thinking that I might end up going once a month due to work travel.

[MmeLeota]

I do wonder if, on new rides, budgets don't have the option to get slashed midway through the project? The reason I wonder this is since construction on disney stuff is always done by outsourced work. So, you can't decide mid way in that you want to cut the costs since they would pitch a fit and possibly walk.

I've only been a few times since I get my Disney fix weekley via DLR, but I do like to watch and read up on mechanics of their crap, plus working with an imagineer (Disney, I still have your concept art so you can suck it!) helps keep me out of florida. Last year I was thinking that I might end up going once a month due to work travel.

That's a good point about the outsourcing...once construction has started, the budget has to be in tact.
Though budgets can still be cut during the design phase too...

Wouldn't that be nice? Weekly trips to DLR and monthly trips to WDW??? Wow! One lucky duck!!! I take it the monthly thing hasn't panned out yet?

[rphillips14]

I'm sorry but if the Yeti could work once, it seems to me it should work again. Does it effect my choices of what parks to visit. Honestly, we spend less time at AK than any of the other parks.

It seems like Disney would have the reources, manpower and ability to make sure the ride is 100%. It shuts down each day at 5 PM (in AK) and doesn't open back up till the next morning. I gotta believe they could get a model working in the shop and install it in those hours or over a number of days...whatever...it's DISNEY. They are better than the rest and when I pay several thousand dollars to fly my family across the country and go to Disneyworld I expect a magical experience. Plus, they have working animatronic models all over the park. I gotta believe there are engineers there that can fix whatever is wrong with the Yeti because it worked at one time.

Also, I have never talked back or complained about a CM in any of our trips because I do think they do a great job!!

In the end, we love Disney and will go if the Yeti is working or not but I believe there should be a major focus on...yes, perfection for every ride, show or event. Why, becaue it's Disney, the happiest and most magical place in the world!

Just my opinion...

[Wizzard419]

Which kind of negates any attempt to fix it as well, since you were going to go anyway.

Anyway, the monthly Orlando trips didn't work becuase I didn't get on the project with a DoD contractor (there are a ton in Orlando) but that is probably a good thing too since I remember how bad it gets during the summer (even during mid/late spring it's pretty bad) with the humidity, plus torrental rain, and the feeling of air drowning.

[SorcererDonald16]

Soarin, I do think that Disney should be perfect. That is what makes Disney so much better than all the other theme parks. Their attention to detail is something that has been prevalent through the years, so why shouldn't they be expected to continue the tradition instead of skating by at bare minimum. If there is a major AA that is broken, like the Yeti, it should be repaired, no matter how long the ride needs to be down for repair. The yeti is the main focus of the queue area and the ride, it should work as developed. There is a huge difference in a lungeing Yeti and a strobe light and fans. Walt would have shut it down years ago, that's the problem.

I agree with this. I am not a roller coaster person AT ALL, but I rode EE several times because of the story and, namely, the AA. The coaster itself is not the draw for me, the story behind it is. The last time I was able to ride it (before I injured my back), I finally saw Disco Yeti. Maybe my reaction time/vision just processes really fast, but to my eyes it was clear as day and was just *there*. The past couple years, my back was finally back to normal and I could've ridden it, but decided not to bother/risk hurting my back/stirring up my heart rate again. To a non-coaster fan like me, the main draw left now is the view from the lift hill. Unfortunately, just seeing that is not worth me putting myself through that ride (the reverse part scares the living daylights out of me ).

Like disneylizzy and others said, the problem with the Yeti or any other malfunctioning element on an attraction isn't with the CMs. I don't think any Disney fanatic with a grain of sense would blame you or your workmates for things like this, Soarin! Friend of mine worked at MK for years until recently, so I know 99% of regular CMs are dedicated to excellence but can only do so much. The problem lies with TDO/some in management who seem to prefer the nickel and dime attitude when it comes to repairs. Granted, the Yeti is a special problem because of the structural damage involved and the amount of time likely needed to fix it. But if Disney had invested in AK earlier instead of opening it so bare bones as it was and not doing much of anything after the Asia expansion, there would have been other draws to accommodate crowd flow with EE down.