Originally Posted By Witches of Morva ORDDU: Have any of you ducklings out there been paying attention to what's going on with the drawbridge to Sleeping Beauty's Castle, lately? From what my sisters and I have seen of it, it was recently refurbed and not necessarily for the better. ORWEN: They built an actual fence on the drawbridge, itself, obviously to prevent anyone from falling into the moat. But it makes the castle look less convincing as a castle, now. ORDDU: Also, the little semi-circle alcoves where guests once sat down to relax have been sealed off in such a way that you can no longer sit down. Why did they block them? ORGOCH: Got answers?
Originally Posted By monorailblue My guess is the seats are being permanently removed. If guests stood on them, the walls were undoubtedly too short for OSHA standards. But only time will tell.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros I agree that the new fence on the drawbridge really takes away from the illusion. It was always a tough illusion in the first place to believe that it was a real drawbridge, but the chain fence helped that; now there's really nothing to indicate that it would work, since the solid fence has posts both on the wooden bridge and in the stone walkway As for the seating area, I've also heard a rumor that they could be unsafe if somebody stood on them. It's amazing that in the park's 59+ years we've never heard of any incidences where this has been a problem, yet we still must dummy-proof them just in case some highly-uncoordinated person decides to stand on them. That said, the benches really weren't comfortable at all (almost no foot/leg room) and I rarely saw them being used. It looks like the construction walls are temporary, so hopefully they'll reopen as additional walkway space. I could see them making for lovely photo spots, if the cameraman were to stand on the outside of the moat, and then get the people standing in the alcoves with the castle behind them. It would let them be the focus of the picture without needing to block traffic through there
Originally Posted By Witches of Morva ORDDU: My sisters and I found the seats for the alcove semi circles to be comfortable enough. We've spent lots of time sitting there over the years, just soaking up the magic. Plus it's a wonderful spot to sit while trying to pick up gorgeous hunks as they go in and out of the castle-- ORGOCH: --Speak fer yerself, tramp! I never sat there fer that reason!!! ORWEN: We used to see lots of guests sitting there over the years, actually. If anybody is dumb enough to try standing on the top of the low wall, there, then they deserve to fall in. ORDDU: If you visit the Magic Eye web footed site they have pictures of what we're talking about.
Originally Posted By Witches of Morva ORDDU: Try using this incantation while conjuring up the Magic Eye web footed site inside your crystal balls: mintcrocodile.blogspot.com
Originally Posted By Dabob2 Boo for the fence. The drawbridge actually was functional, but now it looks like it's not any more. More to the point, it just doesn't look very good, or "period." At the very least they could (and should) put the shields back.
Originally Posted By tonyanton perhaps the shields will still return... I read on another site that the new fencing is designed to be (relatively) easy to remove for any opening/closing of the drawbridge for special events.
Originally Posted By CuriousConstance You can tell it's in front of the black gate they had before, so I'm sure it is easily removed.
Originally Posted By doombuggy "It was always a tough illusion in the first place to believe that it was a real drawbridge" No illusion it is a working draw bridge it's been raised twice in the parks history.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros >>No illusion it is a working draw bridge it's been raised twice in the parks history.<< I know it's been used, but I would be surprised if all the machinery is still functional at the moment, since it hasn't been used in 3 decades. Yes, it could theoretically be used again, but it's not like they actually use it on a regular basis I also read somewhere that there were daily drawbridge ceremonies during the new Fantasyland's first summer, so if that's true, then it was used a lot more than twice!
Originally Posted By doombuggy "daily drawbridge ceremonies during the new Fantasyland's first summer" Not true
Originally Posted By Witches of Morva ORDDU: My sisters and I seem to recall an article we read back in 2005--possibly by Al Lutz--which claimed that the castle's drawbridge had been 'neutered' during the refurbishment that was taking place at the time for the purpose of decorating everything for the 50th. In other words, the mechanisms used to make the drawbridge function were removed. If this is true, it's very sad. ORWEN: Also, if this is true, it means Princess Aurora and company have no way of protecting themselves from unwanted guests in the future. Any ol' bum can wander in off the street into their private domain! ORGOCH: Even with a drawbridge Snoozin' Floozie an' Prince Fill-er-up couldn't keep the likes a yerself outta their house!! An' even if the dang drawbridge DID work, what's ta keep all them nosey pry pokes from runnin' 'round ta the back side a the castle where there ain't NO kind a protection ta keep an over blown, stalker witch outta the place???
Originally Posted By FerretAfros >>...the castle's drawbridge had been 'neutered' during the refurbishment that was taking place at the time for the purpose of decorating everything for the 50th.<< It wouldn't surprise me. I also wonder when the castle will get another full refurbishment. It would be great if they could finally remove the gaudy gold railing for the (planned but never executed) 50th show with the 3 fairies. It has some small lights embedded in it that are used in the fireworks, and probably fits the new fall protection requirements, but it doesn't look so great and is very out of place on top of the castle ramparts. It would also be nice if they could turn the castle back to a more grey tone, but I'm not holding my breath on that
Originally Posted By Witches of Morva ORDDU: I agree with you Ferret, dear. Those gold railings are such an eye sore. It makes the castle look like something out of Las Vegas.
Originally Posted By monorailblue David Koenig (on another site) reports that the alcove seating is gone for good and that some railing is to be attached to the entire drawbridge-area wall to increase its height. The ugly gold railing on the castle is there to stay, I'm sure, as it is considered entirely unsafe for anyone to step out onto that little patio without a higher railing. Has anyone every fallen into the castle moat from anywhere other than the edge of the landscaping when pulling a weed or changing a lightbulb? Also, if we're being honest, I liked the old white Christmas trees in the moat more than the current castle Christmas decorations. I was working the last year the trees were installed, and one was blown over by heavy winds, as I recall. They did not return.
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt In 1955 it was acceptable for parents to whip their kids with a tree branch, blacks couldn't sit at lunch counters in the South, and bridges at theme parks could be built with little safety in mind. Things change.
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt In 1955 it was acceptable for parents to whip their kids with a tree branch, blacks couldn't sit at lunch counters in the South, and bridges at theme parks could be built with little safety in mind. Things change.
