Originally Posted By FerretAfros Here's a pretty good picture that shows the supports. Since the orange was rounded at the bottom, having the diagonals weren't really an issue. All of the mechanical stuff related to the ride is in a small core at the center of the base, where the diagonals all meet up at the waterline. But since the new boardwalk has vertical walls, they had to go straight down from the edge of the platform, or the diagonals would have gotten in the way. The concept art all seems to show a walkway underneath the loading platform, which would have required the entire platform to be rebuilt to remove the diagonal bracing. Instead, they just put the walls out at the edge of the diagonals, and pushed the boardwalk out from underneath the platform. It makes the whole thing look a lot bigger than in the concept art, even though a lot of it is just empty space because of the original structural framing from the orange design. <a href="http://darkbeer.smugmug.com/Theme-Parks/Disneyland-Resort-121709t/10682459_37SJP#743831564_gtdB2-A-LB" target="_blank">http://darkbeer.smugmug.com/Th...dB2-A-LB</a>
Originally Posted By mickeymorris1234 Can you imagine the cost though to rebuild the platform. Removing the steel and once it is cut it has to be mealted down again before it can be used, plus the concrete which would mean rebar, and new concrete being pumped in, and they would have to go all the way to the footers before they could build up again. More man hours, more equiptment, more everything. This was the more economical choice.
Originally Posted By mickeymorris1234 So Al keeps saying they are on track for a May 29th opening. Um, doesn't it take like two weeks to test a ride before whatever government offices have to approve it actually approve it? Does only to ride mechanics have to be finished or does the whole thing need to be done before they can begin testing?
Originally Posted By oc_dean I heard testing for "The Jewel" begins in the SSL building very soon!! A little blue bird on my shoulder told me. really
Originally Posted By Bob Paris 1 Is it just me or is this damned ride taking FOREVER to open?!? It almost feels like TLM will be cycling guests through before this simple stupid swing ride finishes construction!!!
Originally Posted By mstaft Gotta disagree, Dr. Hans. IMHO, if DCA had good bones, they would not have to be ripping so much of it out to build DCA 2.0- not would they have to invest $1 Billion. Just one man's opinion. Mark www.InsightsandSounds.blogspot.com
Originally Posted By ni_teach I also heard testing for "WOC" was also going well in the SSL building. ;-) I think that SSS is looking great and really look forward to it being open soon. It is so much better than the Orange.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros "Um, doesn't it take like two weeks to test a ride before whatever government offices have to approve it actually approve it?" I'm not sure what the standard procedure is, but this may qualify as something a little different. Since it's the exact same ride system that was there before it went down for the refurb, I don't know how much additional regulation it will need. During a previous standard-maintanence refurb that the orange had, the entire ride was dismantled, similar to how it was down for the rebuild. Also, I believe they've been doing tests on the ride itself for several months now, since there really doesn't seem to be any other reason to have built it so long ago. I'm not sure if that will help with the legal requirements, but I don't think it would hurt. And I completely agree about it taking forever. When did the ride close down? Mid-September? Eight and a half months ago? That's long enough to have a baby! In less time than that, they completely removed the Golden Dreams building, dug a new foundation, and have all the major structural framing down for a new building. And they were barely able to finish redecorating the swings?!?
Originally Posted By lesmisfan well the official day supposedly is the 11th same with world of color. I know that they have are updating cast members on the system that knew the attraction but are also training any cast member who knows the funwheel on it as well.
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt "Gotta disagree, Dr. Hans. IMHO, if DCA had good bones, they would not have to be ripping so much of it out to build DCA 2.0- not would they have to invest $1 Billion. Just one man's opinion." You are entitled to your opinion, but you might want to look again. Almost all the changes are cosmetic. The Swings are a case in point: no matter the hype, it's exactly the same ride as the Orange Stinger only with a different storyline.
Originally Posted By yamabuki making good progress: <a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v647/dustysage/FridayVisions/2010/05-23-10/IMG_7121.jpg" target="_blank">http://img.photobucket.com/alb...7121.jpg</a> pictures of the new entrance and observation deck <a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v647/dustysage/FridayVisions/2010/05-23-10/IMG_7371.jpg" target="_blank">http://img.photobucket.com/alb...7371.jpg</a> <a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v647/dustysage/FridayVisions/2010/05-23-10/IMG_7324.jpg" target="_blank">http://img.photobucket.com/alb...7324.jpg</a> looks gorgeous at night! <a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v647/dustysage/FridayVisions/2010/05-23-10/875840453_zb3cB-O-1.png" target="_blank">http://img.photobucket.com/alb...-O-1.png</a> <a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v647/dustysage/FridayVisions/2010/05-23-10/875840363_crmAB-O.png" target="_blank">http://img.photobucket.com/alb...AB-O.png</a>
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt Indeed it does. I would love to see some vintage style posters for the PP attractions on the walls of the lower level.
Originally Posted By Moon Waffle Last Friday 5/21 they were running the swings (with no people, of course) over and over again in the evening. It looked just great. The motion adds a lot to the pier. And the details are great, as has been pointed out. I am very surprised that a simple swing ride could look so good.
Originally Posted By Dabob2 I was LMAO as much as anybody when Disney PR first referred to it as a "jewel," but... Hey, it looks about as good as such a thing can look. I still hesitate to use the "j word," but I have to give them props for the detail, the light fixtures, the wood work - well done.
Originally Posted By yamabuki the entrance sign was installed today - <a href="http://twitpic.com/1qq5mc" target="_blank">http://twitpic.com/1qq5mc</a> and the construction walls came down today, however work still continues <a href="http://twitpic.com/1qofeq" target="_blank">http://twitpic.com/1qofeq</a>
Originally Posted By TP2000 Even Al Lutz is impressed. He posted this note late Sunday night around 2:00AM... >>"Editor's Note 5/24: The construction walls are planned to come down around the Silly Symphony Swings early this morning. While the grand opening has been pushed back until June 11 (with soft openings beforehand), now you'll be able to see the money they poured into getting the details right on this little ride. It's light years beyond the cheap Orange Stinger. If you're impressed with this extreme makeover, you're going to be blown away with the details they are pouring in to Little Mermaid and Buena Vista St! - Al Lutz"<< Wow. If a remake of the existing swing ride looks this good, you do have to wonder what they'll be doing for Little Mermaid and such.
Originally Posted By DlandDug Whenever I hear the word "jewel" used in conjunction with this, I think of the Tower of Jewels at Lakeside Amusement Park in Denver. It's a true Victorian-style relic-- a vestige of the time period the designers are trying to impress upon DCA. Here's a vintage postcard view: <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5ucgL83AHw8/Sw2QXovodWI/AAAAAAAAA18/Kbw22k4p2X8/s1600/5BH911+Tower+of+Jewels.jpg" target="_blank">http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5ucg...wels.jpg</a> Here's a contemporary view, at dusk: <a href="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1156/1351303230_be416067d0.jpg?v=0" target="_blank">http://farm2.static.flickr.com....jpg?v=0</a> And after dark: <a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3259/3164832419_275d27697f.jpg" target="_blank">http://farm4.static.flickr.com...697f.jpg</a> I can only hope that the SSS will be as charming and magical as this century old "jewel!"
Originally Posted By yamabuki I'll say this much, the lighting for SSS will look a lot better than that
