Originally Posted By DLer TDR: Is JTTCOTE a "problem child" in terms of maintenance or uptime? I know TT in it's early years burned through a lot of rubber on the ride vehicles and has a lot of difficulties with weather closures during the afternoon thunderstorms in the Florida summer.
Originally Posted By TDR_Fan <<TDR: Is JTTCOTE a "problem child" in terms of maintenance or uptime? I know TT in it's early years burned through a lot of rubber on the ride vehicles and has a lot of difficulties with weather closures during the afternoon thunderstorms in the Florida summer.>> Hardly. Journey to the Center of the Earth uses an advanced and refined version of the Test Track technology, and is far less prone to maintenance problems. I believe there were a few things to work out in the first months or so, but it does not shut down nearly as often as Test Track. Though the fact that it's mostly indoors may have something to do with that too.
Originally Posted By Skellington88 >>Considering how expensive and prone to failure the TT/JTTCOTE ride system is, I'm a bit shocked that WDI is going that route again with the Carland ride for DCA.<< Its possible that with modern computer technology and engineering the problems with the ride system have been kincked out. I've always thought the EMV 2.0 ride system has potential but it was never fully utilized here in the states (rocket rods and test track dont excite me sorry). A ride set in the CARS universe would be abit more appealing than a barebone thrillride as long as its richley themed and uses practicle effects and Audio Animatronics (NO PROJECTIONS!)
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<I think the Test Track system works fine as there is no exposed coaster track showing and it allows for some unique vehicle designs.>> It isn't reliable. TT, a decade after opening, is still plagued by problems. And, from what I know, JTTCOTE isn't all that better in that department.
Originally Posted By TDR_Fan <<And, from what I know, JTTCOTE isn't all that better in that department.>> Really? I have never seen Journey to the Center of the Earth down on the same frequency as Test Track. It's supposed to be much more reliable.
Originally Posted By Skellington88 >>Really? I have never seen Journey to the Center of the Earth down on the same frequency as Test Track. It's supposed to be much more reliable.<< It is more reliable but that isnt saying much. Journey still breaks down frequently and is very expensive to maintain.
Originally Posted By TDR_Fan <<Journey still breaks down frequently and is very expensive to maintain.>> I don't think that's true. In the 15 or so times I've been at Tokyo DisneySea, I've never encountered Journey to the Center of the Earth breaking down even once. Not even during heavy rain, or very windy days. Test Track and Rocket Rods, on the other hand, seem to break down almost every day. And for lengthy periods of time too! Even though Journey to the Center of the Earth only goes down for a refurb once a year (and for about 2 weeks), it is in perfect condition. I can't say the same for Test Track and the defunct Rocket Rods. Where did you read that it was expensive to maintain? I was told that the refined Test Track system they use make maintenance much easier.
Originally Posted By a1stav I heard because of the "drop" portion of Journey it has some transmission problems. Also most of the ride is a slow moving dark ride, yes?(I have never been on it) So it seems to me that the ride system of TT (sustained speed) is missed on this ride. You do have a point about exposed coaster track, but I assume that there would be a way to do the Mummy style LIM Darkride/coaster and still hide the track. How about using the people mover LIM system (it can go fairly fast 33mph I seem to remember).
Originally Posted By TDR_Fan <<I heard because of the "drop" portion of Journey it has some transmission problems. Also most of the ride is a slow moving dark ride, yes?(I have never been on it) So it seems to me that the ride system of TT (sustained speed) is missed on this ride.>> Not sure about that. Journey to the Center of the Earth reaches a maximum speed of 47 mph during the finale. I think the Test Track technology was perfect for the attraction, as the launched uphill drop was necessary to simulate the volcanic eruption. Test Track reaches about 65 mph during the finale too; most of the time, it's more or less a slow moving tour through the factory. The only thrill in the attraction is in the last 30 seconds or so of the attraction. I think the indoor, show scene section of Test Track is very poor. Nowhere near as detailed or lavishly themed as Journey to the Center of the Earth, which is the best Disney attraction ever created in my opinion.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros A LIM system similar to the PeopleMover can go quite fast. Depending on how the vehicles are attached to it (which can be done in any number of ways) if can be extremely fast. For example, Superman at Six Flags Magic Mountain uses LIM's to get the cars moving over 100 mph before sending them straight up the towers. While I doubt that Disney would need the cars to go that fast, there is the potential for the same system to do something like that.
Originally Posted By DLer Either a JTTCOTE or a Cars attraction using EMV 2.0 technolgy in the back of Fantasyland would seem like that would be a nice addition to the MK. You wouldn't need some 199ft mountain either - simply a well-themed show building with great themeing would suffice. Couple such a new attraction with a nice refurb job on Space Mt. and MK should be well-equipped to make sure that any new visitors coming to Orlando to see IOA's HPland should include WDW in their plans.
Originally Posted By a1stav "Superman at Six Flags Magic Mountain uses LIM's to get the cars moving over 100 mph before sending them straight up the towers." Thank you for the support, one minor correction though. Superman uses LSM (linear synchronous motors) rather than LIM (linear induction motors). The TT ride system is based on vehicles that are self propelled and self guided. They have onboard motors and steering systems, is seems to me that there could be a better and less expensive ride system used for Journey. "I think the Test Track technology was perfect for the attraction, as the launched uphill drop was necessary to simulate the volcanic eruption." I think a LIM launch would be even better to simulate the volcanic eruption. <a href="http://www.rcdb.com/ig474.htm?picture=9" target="_blank">http://www.rcdb.com/ig474.htm? picture=9</a>
Originally Posted By TDR_Fan <<I think a LIM launch would be even better to simulate the volcanic eruption.>> But I don't think the conventional coaster track (besides looking out of place) would allow for great movement during the launch. It is possible to use LIMs or LSMs in an angled and curved launch? I was under the impression that they needed a straight or vertical piece of track to do that.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros I'm not sure what the exact type of motor used is, but California Screamin' at DCA uses some sort of motors embedded in the track that just sit there and do something "magical" (for lack of a better word) to make the cars move. They use this for the initial launch while the track is level in the bay, and again for the climb up the larger hill. The climb is not really a launch (it's about the same speed that a chain would take you up the same hill), but the motors do work at an angle. I assume if they can maintain a constant velocity up a hill, they could also make a car accelerate up one too.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros Also, Volcano: The Blast Coaster at Kings Dominion in Virginia uses a similar system (I think it's LIM...I know it's the one that switches from AC to DC power to pull and push the copper strips on the top of the cars) to launch the cars out of the top of what else, but a volcano. I don't remember the specifics about where the launch takes place (it's been about 6 years since I was there), but they either have the motors just before or actually on the vertical launch, which does a really good job of giving a feeling like you are shooting out of a volcano (much better, I thought, than the JTTCOTE system...I didn't even know in that one that we were supposed to be getting shot out, I thought we were running away from the lava monster). So there are defintately other systems out there the could be used to make the same effect.
Originally Posted By TDR_Fan <<I didn't even know in that one that we were supposed to be getting shot out, I thought we were running away from the lava monster>> The storyline is that when you are about the be attacked by the magma worm, the volcano suddenly has an eruption which sends you shooting all the way back to the surface of the Earth and down a vent in the side of the volcano. Not unlike what actually happened in the Jules Verne novel. That's why as you launch, steam from all sides engulf you.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros I think that would be a lot more clear if there was something in the tunnel other than just generic looking rocks. If the steam started while you were still inside that might help. Also, they could start to have more lava flows around you (they seem to stop at the scene with the lava monster), that would help too. It would be really cool if they could do something with trick lighting or projections to make the walls turn to lava as you pass. As it is now, you are just going fast through a generic cave that says nothing to show you are in an eruption.
Originally Posted By TDR_Fan <<. If the steam started while you were still inside that might help.>> It does. Just seconds after you are confronted by the magma worm, steams shoots out from all crevices as you launch upwards through the tunnel. And just before you drop, you are surrounded by steam again. But I agree, the effect can be made much more convincing. Hopefully, they will address this in an upcoming refurb of some kind. The only problem is that the tunnel is extremely dark, and the vehicles are moving too fast to be able to take in any kind of detail on the walls.
Originally Posted By a1stav "Also, Volcano: The Blast Coaster at Kings Dominion in Virginia uses a similar system" Check the link above. I am just brainstorming ideas on how to do a Journy attraction with a different approach. I am sure the the ride is wonderful as it stands, I want to see it VERY much. That is why I think that they should look at doing a "Verne" area at the MK.
Originally Posted By DLer a1: I think I've brought this idea up before - is there not some kind of opportunity, what with modern movie technology, of possibly Disney or whomever holds the rights doing some kind of Captain Nemo "franchise" of movies, books and/or themed park attractions? You could have a kind of "environmental technologist" with all of these fantastic devices operating behind the scenes or on the fringes of the 1800's world. Verne's writing provides the concept in such books as 20K Leagues and/or Mysterious Island - Disney themselves blended the Captain Nemo concept with another Verne book to build a ride already (JTTCOTE) - certainly the concept could be taken a step or to farther both in amusement park rides and/or feature films, right?
