Originally Posted By FerretAfros Nope, it's not scheduled to open until February. When the refurbishment first began, they were targeting it reopening for the holidays, but they've since pushed that date back
Originally Posted By Dabob2 When they re-opened Space, of course, the track was the same but they DID institute other changes: the queue, the sound system, and of course the effects on the lifts and the "re-entry." Any word on anything new to BTMR other than some cosmetics in the queue? It's been down so long, you'd think they might have taken the opportunity to improve the experience with some better effects in the indoor sections and some updated AA's outdoors... It would be wonderful if they surprised us with that, but so little isn't leaked to the internet any more, that sadly I think if they were planning any such upgrades, we'd have heard about them by now.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros I haven't heard of any other upgrades, but I also wouldn't be surprised if we saw some. Since there won't be major changes (it's the same track layout with the same major scenes), I wouldn't be surprised if they wanted to wait to announce any other 'upgrades' until shortly before it opened (if there are any at all) The two big things that I imagine they would focus on are the queue and the earthquake scene. Ever since the accident in Paris a few years ago, they've turned off many of the earthquake effects; this seems like the perfect opportunity to go back and re-engineer them to function in a reliable way. Earlier this year, WDW got some interactive queue elements as part of the NextGen upgrades, so it seems like those could make an appearance in DL too. Everything indicates that NextGen elements will be coming to DL eventually, so I don't see why they wouldn't use this opportunity to do it now. Many of the queue upgrades can be done in overnight hours between operating days, but it seems like a long refurb would make it a lot simpler to install I've heard nothing to indicate that they actually are adding/changing anything, but those seem like the two obvious choices
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA The earthquake scene has never worked effectively. Even the year it opened. It's always been clunky and mechanical.
Originally Posted By ecdc >>Ever since the accident in Paris a few years ago<< Que? I don't recall this...what happened?
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt <a target="blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://thedisneyblog.com/2011/04/25/disneyland-paris-accident-big-thunder-mountain-faux-rock-fall-injures-5/">http://thedisneyblog.com/2011/...jures-5/</a>
Originally Posted By FerretAfros >>The earthquake scene has never worked effectively. Even the year it opened. It's always been clunky and mechanical.<< Well yah, the shaking and sliding rocks are about as cheesy as they come, but it's even worse when they're not even turned on. All of the effects in Big Thunder are quite simple (bats on strings, eternally spinning possum, static coyotes, etc), but at least most of them are functional. The earthquake is even worse than normal when nothing around you is moving; it's just the obviously-digital projection and the cars randomly rocking back and forth while they play loud rumbling noises around you
Originally Posted By FerretAfros I should probably add that I'd be fine with something completely different there too. But the ending of the ride is so anticlimactic that there really needs to be something worthwhile on the final lift hill. The tiny drop after you get to the top certainly isn't enough to get people excited about the ride
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt I remember some of the marketing hype surrounding the finale scene for Big Thunder when it was still under construction. The old Preview Center on Main Street had a model of the attraction and concept art showing the earthquake and falling rocks was on display. Boy was the reality of the finale a big let down when the ride finally opened.
Originally Posted By ecdc Thanks for the link, Hans. I don't even recall hearing about it when it happened. Hope everything turned out okay.
Originally Posted By phruby Here is the concept art from 1978. <a target="blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/randar/10163556955/in/photostream/">http://www.flickr.com/photos/r...ostream/</a>
Originally Posted By phruby <a target="blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/randar/10163623756/in/photostream/">http://www.flickr.com/photos/r...ostream/</a>
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA Totally remember the preview center and the models and renderings for Big Thunder.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros Maybe they could figure out a reliable way to resurrect the falling rock/ice effect from the early days of Indiana Jones. I never got a chance to see it, but it sure sounded cool in theory
Originally Posted By doombuggy Last time I was on it the panel that hides the sub woofers in the roof were gone. So here these HUGE sets of speakers over head. I've always laughed at the rocks that defy newtons law, and that the pipe that holds them stick way out.
Originally Posted By Bellella I think I remember seeing those up in the ceiling, and I wondered what they were. Totally faked me out. NOT!!!
