The PodMovers!

Originally Posted By oc_dean

Well ... ever since this Lutz column came out....
<a href="http://www.miceage.com/allutz/al112806d.htm" target="_blank">http://www.miceage.com/allutz/
al112806d.htm</a>

It seems the fate of the Peoplemover has taken yet another direction.

Doesn't mean it's over. Just that there can be no open-air train format where people can reach out and touch anything outside the trains.

The thing though ... there are so many peoplemover designs - so what if a Peoplemover II is not going to be an open air train like the former?

Like the MonoPod on Syndrome's Island in "The Incredibles" ... link 4 together ala the original Peoplemover trains .... tadahhh .... you got a high capacity attraction narrated iether by Mirage or Edna. (Only slight hints to THAT cartoon!)

But the most important thing ... As I've been reading in other forums ... SO many people are in agreement over something:

As one poster says... "Just don't make it a complete overly of the Incredibles. I like that it is just a nod to the film."

So, I have a lot of enthusiasm that the best elements of this "MonoPod" can be incorporated into a brand new 'Peoplemover'... and not be a blatant push into a full-out cartoon ride!

One thing about "The Incredible's" film that I may stand corrected on .... It seems the beginning takes place around 1947/48. Everything seems to look like it is around the year 1950. Then they say "15 years later" ... which puts the film squarely into the early 60s. It's possibly 1963 or 1964. A look at the decor in the Incredible's home will show that. Well ... the 1967 Tomorrowland fits very well into the futurism on Syndrome Island of the same time period.

Now, today ... much of the "1967" Tomorrowland is mostly intact. Only some minor fabrication and paint from the '98 makeover slightly cover it.

With the Coca-Cola Tomorrowland Terrace "Rolly Crump" planter back .. TL:98 paint coming off in favor of white/silver/blue, and the 'oval' 60s futurism in the 'Tomorrowlanding' shop sign .... It seems the "early 60s" futurism of the MonoPods will fit quite nicely into the fabric of this "1967: A World On The Move" theme, slowly being restored.

While the design doesn't not have to be 100% what the MonoPod exactly looked like .... I have hopes that this is an attraction that can be fun ... a total joy for the new decade.

It's just this so called "2009/2010" opening (egads!) just a little too far off. It will be TEN years since the Rocket Rods shuttered (2000).

But I'm excited and hopeful...

I'm getting forklempt!

Talk amongst yourselves....

POD_MOVERS.

They are Pods .. AND they are (people)Movers....

discuss!

 

Originally Posted By trekkeruss

<<there can be no open-air train format where people can reach out and touch anything outside the trains>>

Picture the scene in Top Gun, when Maverick is in the hanger and finds out that Charlie is a civilian instructor at the school. They're talking about his MIG encounter, and Maverick says about his 4G dive, "I was inverted." It's then that a fellow pilot chimes in as if clearing his throat, "Bulls***!"

 

Originally Posted By believe

How about this. Bring back the Rocket Rods, but as a slowed down version (so much less wear and tear). Hook up an enclosed train to them, and, voila, a modern people mover!

 

Originally Posted By Mr X

How about they use their Steve Jobs connection to the fullest...

Ladies and Germs, I give you...

The IPODMOVER!!

Yes, now you, too, can go to Disneyland, get on the ride, and jack your iPod right into the attraction for a real time, music JAM of a ride through Pixarland (er, Tomorrowland!)!! Connection sold seperately, $49.95, available at any participating Tomorrowland retailer. Check out the hottest tunes connected to the coolest ride in all of Pixarorrowland!!

{Zune owners, look for a Universal Studios equivalant coming to a theme park near you!}

 

Originally Posted By inlandemporer

If the pods could swivel like Buzz, I think they might actually be popular.

 

Originally Posted By oc_dean

Another thing comes to mind for those thinking about the high costs of it all.

Think of when we buy things at Costco.

The cost is lower since we buy in bulk.

Look at DL's, DLP's, TDL's, and HKDL's BUZZ LIGHTYEAR rides. - All identical! Disney must have asked the manufacturers who provided a lot of machinary, parts, and fabrication to cut Disney a deal since they built the same ride for 4 "MK" parks.

If a "MonoPod" type ride is a hit .. why not build it for other Disney resorts around the globe?

I know we're all sick of cloning the same ride to death to every Disney "mk" park ... but if it means all the difference to building one at DL .. then I say hack at more cloning.

It's terrible to see an empty track.

I soooo hope for another attraction on those tracks.

 

Originally Posted By LVCajun

<so what if a Peoplemover II is not going to be an open air train like the former?>

but that's one of the things I enjoyed most about it. The feeling of floating above tomorrowland in the open air was great. They already have an enclosed trip above TL..the monorail.

 

Originally Posted By EdisYoda

Who's to say that it HAS to be themed to "The Incredibles"? People movers of similiar design have been on the drawing boards for several years. I think this would be a great addition, even though I would miss the open air quality of the former people movers. But, alas, Osha won't let them keep that part.

 

Originally Posted By Moderation

If the only problem is reach outs,haven't any of these people heard of chicken wire? How about futuristic space chicken wire?

 

Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan

>>{Zune owners, look for a Universal Studios equivalant coming to a theme park near you!}<<

ROFL!!!

 

Originally Posted By mrichmondj

I suspect that someone has their wires crossed on the California OSHA regulations. "Reach outs" wouldn't necessarily be a problem for a new PeopleMover.

However, the former Rocket Rods were plagued with OSHA issues because the ride broke down so frequently. Every time a ride breaks down, it has to be documented by OSHA as a "safety incident." Rocket Rods had so many "safety incidents" piled up during its brief period of operation that it became a serious liability for the Disney legal team. IF there had ever been someone hurt on the Rods, which no one was, they would have had a stack of "safety incidents" to carry into court and back up claims that the ride was "unsafe."

I expect the legacy of the Rocket Rods on that track is more of a hindrance to future use of that infrastructure than anything else and could easily be misconstrued into the previous incarnations of the PeopleMoved being against OSHA standards, too.

 

Originally Posted By Dabob2

That's an interesting point.

But if the problem really IS "reach-outs," then the design of the pods could fix that, I think. Remember the original PM's had four to a car, sitting two abreast. If the new version were mono, they could situate the seat right in the middle, making reaching the sides pretty difficult even for tall people, I'd think. That would allow them to keep them open-air.

They might also make them semi-open air, with just enough on the sides to make reaching out even harder.

 

Originally Posted By oc_dean

Plus ... like most omnimover rides ... a lap bar could automatically lower to thigh level before leaving the station. It could be designed with a curvature around the sides .. making it as difficult as possible for people to attempt to climb out of their seats.

Another thing that I saw written by many people in other website forums ... Is trying to use plexi glass, or any other type of clear window. I think only after one day .... the windows can get pretty nasty for a merriad of reasons.

Even the front window on the Monorails .. despite the pilot right there to keep an eye on people .. still gets dirty one way or another.

It seems the only kind of a MonoPod design is going to have to have zero windows anywhere. But have the Pod body panels high enough to keep people's darn limbs from doing stupid things.

GEEZ ... It's really amazing that these days (as apposed to the 50s and 60s) rides have be "dummy" proofed. Because there are so many dummies out there who do stupid things!

The Peoplemover went through upgrades twice to keep people from trying to climb out or reach out. Once in the early 70s (or maybe 1968?), and again in the 80s.

People might remember ... When the Peoplemover first came out in '67 there were no bars surrounding each car. Then in the 80s .. they modified them AGAIN this time .. completely making a full 360 wrap-around "cage".

NOW :O ..... It *almost* has to be a chicken wire cage complete surrounding any type of car/train!! For the love (*&^%!!!

But if each pod handles 2 people .. like an omnimover ... create a door design that's immediate to each side .. a field of vision that would be about 150 degrees ... and a forward dash area that has a perimeter outward enough that is still far enough away for those hands to reach out of ........ then they can do it.

I'm sure there are engineers on this stuff.

But a simple post to discuss these issues doesn't hurt.

But I do feel that clear windows are going to be a pain to keep clean. (Not to mention pesty people who are hell bent of petty vandalism.)

 

Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan

>>plexi glass, or any other type of clear window. I think only after one day .... the windows can get pretty nasty for a merriad of reasons.<<

For evidence, look closely at the sneeze shields in a salad bar.

On second thought, don't do that. : p

 

Originally Posted By inlandemporer

Or the shields on the Maliboomer.

 

Originally Posted By FerretAfros

I'm trying to understand how there are areas where there isn't enough space to allow for people with long arms, but somehow they will be able to get a wheelchair in there to let handicaped guests out in case of an emergengy or a break down. I know that it could just be a problem on one side of the vehicle, but that seems improbable, given my memories of the PM.

Would it be possible to rebuild parts of the walls in ways that make it easier for the ride to go through the buildings? If they could move the support beams (which can definately be done, it might just cost more than adding shields on each vehicle), that would be the best alternative. Couldn't they also make the walls perfectly flat, so there is nothing to grab onto so you can't break yourself, and have the vehicles travel fairly slowly through that area? If someone was to touch the wall there, they would feel it moving, but not enough to cause any real damage to the person or the wall. Higher speeds could cause some scratches that the lawyers might not like, but it seems like there would be a way around the space issue if they were moving slowly enough.

 

Originally Posted By oneyepete

If any thing was reachable, the idiot with the pen, marker or other device would have a hay day.

 

Originally Posted By avromark

If they did enclose the trains wouldn't the ventilation/cooling unit drive up the operating costs of the ride? I don't know about you but I don't think I'd be to comfortable in an enclosed vehicle, I have a feeling the temperature would be a tad on the hot side during quite a bit of the year.

 

Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA

^^^I get claustrophic just thinking about it. Truly.

 

Originally Posted By onlyme

Maybe a caged enclosure would help. Kinda like Casey's train......as long as you didn't mind looking a tad silly.