Originally Posted By Dznygrl The arcade helps to entertain those tweens/teens who are going through their "Disneyland sucks" phase. You can never go wrong with video games when it comes to teens.
Originally Posted By SFH Tony Baxter was heavily involved with and/or oversaw Big Thunger Mtn, Journey Into Imagination (the original one at EPCOT Center...it doesn't exist anymore) the 1983 Fantasyland renovation, Splash Mountain, Disneyland Paris (the park, not the hotels), the Temple of the Forbidden Eye, plans for Westcot (the idea before DCA), Disney Seas (plans for Long Beach, California that were dropped), Tomorrowland (1998), the new Autopia, the the Nemo/Submarine overhaul, among a bunch of other things. As for the Rocket Jets/Astro Orbitor, the choice was to either have them on the ground at the entrance of Tomorrowland, or not have them at all anymore Yes, the experience is much like Dumbo, but at least it still exists in some form. Notice that WDW's Adventureland got a ride similar to Dumbo... the Aladdin magic carpet ride... even though there's a Dumbo in their Fantasyland, too. SFH
Originally Posted By ArchtMig >>>Notice that WDW's Adventureland got a ride similar to Dumbo... the Aladdin magic carpet ride... even though there's a Dumbo in their Fantasyland, too.<<< Yeah, but that was just another example of Eisner era cheap off-the-shelf spinners and such that got plopped down al over the place. Paradise Pier is full of such cheap plops. Hopefully, the "new" Disney under Iger will be a bit more selective and creative with what they add to the parks.
Originally Posted By trekkeruss <<As for the Rocket Jets/Astro Orbitor, the choice was to either have them on the ground at the entrance of Tomorrowland, or not have them at all>> I don't see why those were the only two choices. What was wrong with where they were before, and why couldn't they have stayed above the PM/RR loading station? The Observatron certainly didn't need to be there, IMO.
Originally Posted By oc_dean I beleive the Orbitron/Astro Orbitor was too heavy for the center pylon. And I don't believe there was a budget to build a new one to withstand the added weight.
Originally Posted By trekkeruss Nothing prevented WDI from designing a new Astro-Orbiter that would be within the weight limitations of the old platform.
Originally Posted By Kayoss <<Nothing prevented WDI from designing a new Astro-Orbiter that would be within the weight limitations of the old platform.>> Um, yes. It's called budget. Merely building a duplicate of Disneyland Paris' Orbiter was much much cheaper then designing a new, lighter one. And remember, they counted both the remaining spinning monstrosity that was our old Rocket Jets as well as the 'urine playland' fountain as attractions too.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros Why couldn't they have done something like they did in WDW? It is possible that the WDW tower was beefed up to begin with, or they added more supports, but the Rocket Jets (I think that's the name) there look great. It is basically a reworking of the original design with the large rocket in the middle. They added planets around the edges, but it is essentially the same ride still. I don't think that exact design would work in DL (scale being a huge issue with it) but obviously they could have kept it up there. If nothing else, they could have just painted it brown and said it fit in with the land, like everything else they had before the renovation. WDW's rockets by day: <a href="http://www.negative-g.com/WDW/WDW-1997-Rockets.jpg" target="_blank">http://www.negative-g.com/WDW/ WDW-1997-Rockets.jpg</a> And by night: <a href="http://www.polkservices.com/images/wdw0210/rockets.jpg" target="_blank">http://www.polkservices.com/im ages/wdw0210/rockets.jpg</a>
Originally Posted By tonyanton Another possible reason for moving the rocket jets to ground level...less cast members needed to operate the ride (i.e. no elevator), plus no elevator maintenance needed.
Originally Posted By trekkeruss <<Um, yes. It's called budget. Merely building a duplicate of Disneyland Paris' Orbiter was much much cheaper then designing a new, lighter one.>> The mechanical aspects of ride was already on top of the platform, yes? All they had to do was change and/or add some decorative elements. Would it have really cost that much to do, considering they added decorative elements to it anyway, to "build" the crappy Observatron?
Originally Posted By Dabob2 <<I think the dumbest things done recently at Disneyland was moving the Rocket Jets to the entrance of Tomorrowland.>> <Amen to that!! Whoever decided to do that completely missed the point of their entire existance. Lame!> Double amen! I rode them a couple of times since the move, and it's just not the same. So much better on top of the platform, giving you great views even when you were in a low "orbit." (And that ride is all about the sensation you get when you go DOWN). And, as someone said, it mars the hub as well. Especially the outdoor eating area of the Plaza Inn. Put 'em back high where they belong! <The mechanical aspects of ride was already on top of the platform, yes? All they had to do was change and/or add some decorative elements. Would it have really cost that much to do, considering they added decorative elements to it anyway, to "build" the crappy Observatron?> Exactly. I just get depressed looking at that thing, knowing what it used to be; it looks to me like the creepy skeleton of the Rocket Jets they "killed."
Originally Posted By Hans Reinhardt Wasn't that "thing" supposed to have lasers shooting out of it or something? The whole area was just botched, wasn't it. It would be great to read a full documentation of how a project, which was once so full of promise, ultimately ended up being one of DL's biggest flops.
Originally Posted By Kayoss <<Wasn't that "thing" supposed to have lasers shooting out of it or something? The whole area was just botched, wasn't it. It would be great to read a full documentation of how a project, which was once so full of promise, ultimately ended up being one of DL's biggest flops.>> Very good memory. You're right. It was supposed to have lasers, and all sorts of cool effects... projections, neon... even fibre optics were planned. But an AstroOrbiter has begun being built, exactly like Paris' version (which was always on the ground) so when the cuts came, they went ahead with finishing the new one, and we were left with the skeleton we have now sitting on top. Sigh. At least, in theory, it could still be turned back,
Originally Posted By oc_dean Remember the Dumbo accident in the early 90s? That caused a "cascade" affect that also alerted Disney to take down the Rocket Jets before the same type accident happened. With the mechanism in (seemingly) good shape ..... It seems retrofitting the same mechanism that is now serving as the Observatron into a new "Rocket Jets" seems economical. Just a theory. So ... I don't see how returning the Rocket Jets in a new design is going to put Disney into the poor house.
Originally Posted By DismayingObservation Behind the charming facades of our favorite attractions is some insanely powerful machinery. The fact that there haven't been more accidents is almost supernatural. Carefully engineered and constructed Rocket Jets restored to their lofty perch wouldn't be that difficult a task. I just hope they lose that faux Jules Verne look they now have. Patently icky.
Originally Posted By SONiCSenshi All this talk about Rocket Rods, Rocket Jets and People Movers Oh my! I wondering if anyone still has the high resolution and clear version of this photo? Thanks [url=<a href="http://tn3-1.deviantart.com/fs10/300W/i/2006/078/2/d/Rocket_Rods_Layout_Conc" target="_blank">http://tn3-1.deviantart.com/fs 10/300W/i/2006/078/2/d/Rocket_Rods_Layout_Conc</a> ept_Art_by_SONiCSenshi.jpg
Originally Posted By SONiCSenshi All this talk about Rocket Rods, Rocket Jets and People Movers Oh my! I wondering if anyone still has the high resolution and clear version of this photo? Thanks <a href="http://ic1.deviantart.com/fs10/i/2006/078/2/d/Rocket_Rods_Layout_Concept_Art_by_SONiCSenshi.jpg" target="_blank">http://ic1.deviantart.com/fs10 /i/2006/078/2/d/Rocket_Rods_Layout_Concept_Art_by_SONiCSenshi.jpg</a>
Originally Posted By Nobody Since you took the time to try that link twice, I thought I'd take a look. But alas... "You don't have permission to access the page at <a href="http://ic1.deviantart.com/fs10/i/2006/078/2/d/Rocket_Rods_Layout_Concept_Art_by_SONiCSenshi.jpg" target="_blank">http://ic1.deviantart.com/fs10 /i/2006/078/2/d/Rocket_Rods_Layout_Concept_Art_by_SONiCSenshi.jpg</a>. " Oh well.
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA Don't feel bad, Nobody can see the picture. Or wait, Nobody can't see the picture...
