Originally Posted By Dabob2 <that clip gave me the impression that the ride was still very much in development when he passed.> Oh, it was. But he still participated in designing the interior (in that things were run by him and he could have vetoed anything he didn't like), and most definitely insisted on an exterior design he liked, which of course was built 3 years before he died. Much was up in the air when he died, but it's not accurate to say he didn't participate in its design at all.
Originally Posted By monorailblue The Autopia height limits as they stand are relatively recent changes. Until just a few years ago (maybe a decade now?), there was no height limit to ride--the only limitation was that the ride be at least one year of age and be able to sit in the vehicle and use the normal restraint. Also, the height to drive alone was 52". But then two changes were made: height to ride at all became 32" despite nearly 50 years of no height requirement to ride, and the height to ride alone was raised to 54". The 32" height to ride is the lowest in the resort, tied with Luigi's and Mater's, btw. My understanding was the 54" height was raised primarily to deal with the problem of young people not being able to make it around the Autopia course. Pre-2000, when I worked on Auto, it was astonishing how many kids who just barely made the 52" height couldn't make it through the ride without help. New Autopia featured longer tracks than the prior version (I believe), so the problem compouneded. Eventually, when they decided a minimum height should be required, they also raised the drive-alone height to help with that problem.
Originally Posted By Bellella I never would have guessed Autopia had the highest height requirement. That question about Opening Day Attractions was kind of stupid. It had two right answers, not one. The Jungle Cruise and Dumbo were Opening Day attractions.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros ^^From what I recall, there were some technical issues with Dumbo (which persisted on and off for a few years after it opened) which caused its opening to be delayed a few days. That said, Disney recognized it as one of the original attractions during the 50th (complete with golden ride vehicle), so I tend to agree that it should be a 'correct' answer
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt FWIW, from Wikipedia: "The ride was scheduled to be one of Disneyland's opening day attractions, but instead opened a month after the park's grand opening, due to the fiberglass prototypes weighed 700 pounds."
Originally Posted By FerretAfros I read Roller Coasters, Flumes, and Flying Saucers many years ago, recounting the early days at Arrow Dynamics with a heavy emphasis on DL's opening. I don't remember it ever mentioning the weight of the vehicles as a problem, but perhaps I've forgotten it over time. It did mention that the hydraulics were particularly finicky, and the oil needed to be replaced after each ride cycle early on; the attraction was originally staffed by the normal hosts/hostsses and a mechanic
Originally Posted By CuriousConstance This quiz has made me start to wonder if maybe I don't devote enough of my life to obsessing about Disney.
