Originally Posted By phruby I've been wondering. How do they get such a large crane into BTMR? Do they drive it in or fly it in? How do they put it together? They seem to do it overnight. Is a crane that size really necessary?
Originally Posted By FerretAfros As with any crane of that size, they bring in the pieces and assmeble it on site. Like Ikea furniture or an Erector set, the major components are already put together, and they just bolt the finished sections in place until its the right height/length. They could probably get the job done without such a large one, but it appears that this size was chosen so that they would only need one crane to serve the entire site. It needs to be tall enough to clear the peak of the mountain (which really isn't all that tall by construction standards), and long enough to span the site. Since they had to set it up on the edge of the site, rather than in the middle, it has a pretty long boom (especially considering the relatively short height), but nothing too out of the ordinary.
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt I've always been mystified by how constructions cranes are built. Right now in San Francisco we have about 10 of them on the skyline and I often wonder how they erect them.
Originally Posted By phruby I was checking out youtube. It seems cranes build themselves. They bring up each section to a cage where the section is bolted into place. Then the cage moves up a section and the crane brings up another section. Looks like each section takes about 1/2 hour to install.
Originally Posted By disneydp Could someone tell me where the base of the crane is located? Hard to tell from the Mattercam. Do you think they will redo the que? Thanks!
Originally Posted By FerretAfros From pictures I've seen online, the base of the crane seems to be on Big Thunder Trail. It's either right at the ride's exit, or just across the bridge from it. As for the queue, I've heard that they may be demolishing and rebuilding the Rainbow Ridge buildings, since they've aged significantly and are getting difficult to maintain. A similar project took place on Schweitzer Falls in the Jungle Cruise in early 2005, when the structure collapsed while the ride was closed for refurbishment. While there are plenty of people freaking out about the (potential) loss of the 'historic' (AKA old) buildings, I don't think we have any reason to believe that it will be done poorly (if it is even part of the project)
Originally Posted By Dabob2 "From pictures I've seen online, the base of the the crane seems to be on Big Thunder Trail." And didn't they close the trail to pedestrians? That would make sense.
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt "A similar project took place on Schweitzer Falls in the Jungle Cruise in early 2005, when the structure collapsed while the ride was closed for refurbishment." Interesting. I didn't know that.
Originally Posted By Mickeymouseclub I remember that being discussed on LP, so i googled Schweitzer Falls on LP and FerretAfros in post #2 Topic Who's got the Best Backside 2/27/2012 gives a complete explanation and description of that collapse. I am guessing he keeps a daily diary of Big Thunder history so i would tend to believe his current synopsis fully detailed in this post! And you are right it is interesting to think about the daily history that flashes by over the years . I almost wish i had kept a diary. The Disney Soap Opera as lived on LP.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros Hahah, that's really funny! I don't remember writing that post at all. I think I remember the story about the collapse because it's just so odd, and managed to be completely fixed within the timeframe of the refurb anyway. It definitely looks different now than it did in the years before the rebuild, so I'm also briefly reminded of it on each visit.
Originally Posted By Mickeymouseclub I always look up when I am under the waterfall and noticed the JC at the MK looks worrisome on my most recent visit.
Originally Posted By disneylandfan8 That would explain why the falls have looked different to me on the JC. I seem to remember the water coming down in one big drape but now it seems to be broken up into a few drapes.
Originally Posted By DBitz2 >>"From pictures I've seen online, the base of the the crane seems to be on Big Thunder Trail." And didn't they close the trail to pedestrians? That would make sense. << I was at the Park over the weekend. The base is indeed on Big Thunder Trail, close to the edge of the ride property, near the ride's exit. They had a construction fence going down the middle of Big Thunder Trail, now allowing access back to Big Thunder Ranch and on around to Fantasyland. I think, during the week the trail is blocked off to guests, but access is opened on the weekends. Keeping it closed on the weekends would prove disastrous for the Big Thunder Jamboree activities. Access was closed off from the Frontierland side a few weekends ago when I was there, with the only way into the ranch being via Fantasyland. The Jamboree area was very dead since it wasn't catching guests making that loop. Photos don't really do justice to the massive reach of the crane. The arm reaches WAY out. I think that it could probably pick up items from the ride zone and convey them all the way backstage.
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt One of the bloggers at Miceage said that guests at DL have been asking cast members how to get to "the big yellow ride". LOL. God, people can be dumb. Speaking of giant cranes, how would you like to visit a Disney park and see this eyesore: <a href="http://www.laughingplace.com/Showpic.asp?filename=http://s231432788.onlinehome.us/lotion/pics/SS20130128-WDWMK/big/P08-6.JPG&caption=The+lights+coming+down+from+the+castle" target="_blank">http://www.laughingplace.com/S...e+castle</a>
Originally Posted By FerretAfros For stability, cranes usually can't use the entire length of their span, so I'd be surprised if it could reach all the way backstage (assuming we're talking outside the Railroad, not the space between BTMRR and the Village Haus), but it seems like it could certainly reach well into the Festival Arena. Looking at an aerial image, if you figure where the crane is, and its longest span to reach the far side of the attraction, it's certainly long enough that it could reach into Rivers of America...on the other side of the island. Depending how exactly it's set up, it might even be able to make deliveries to the Twain/Columbia dry dock next to Splash Mountain! That picture of the crane behind the MK castle (which now appears twice annually, to set up and remove the Christmas lights) just reminds me of how terrible the wand looked next to Spaceship Earth. While it was a fun addition for the Millenium Celebration, it certainly outstayed its welcome.
Originally Posted By 999HAUNTS We were just talking Saturday about how they should offer bungee jumping during the day
Originally Posted By ralphjr Hopefully they won't get any ideas.... "You mean we can just throw up an unthemed metal structure and some guests want to ride it? Hello "Disney Tigger Bouncy Bouncy Fun Tower"!"
Originally Posted By FerretAfros >>"You mean we can just throw up an unthemed metal structure and some guests want to ride it? Hello "Disney Tigger Bouncy Bouncy Fun Tower"!"<< Sounds like the project pitch meeting for the Maliboomer.
