Originally Posted By vbdad55 <Even the ex King Kongs at US's universal parks worked far more often than not and those were the largest AA's ever made for a theme park. < wait a min on this one .... this was one of my all time favorite rides - but the downtime on the ride surely seemed more often than beingup. The last 2 years before they sadly closedit - I never got to ride it-- made about 4 visits to the park - one timeexclusively to ride Kongfrontation - and it was down.
Originally Posted By dshyates The Kong animatronic wasn't the problem it was the crazy tram ride system. Mainly the part where Kong would grab the car and shake it. But maintenence issues is what killed Kong. And they have wanted to kill Jaws for years, but Spielberg wouldn't allow it. Well, last this week Spielberg broke the ties with Uni so I expect to see Jaws gone within 5 years. Rumor has it that if Potter does as well as hoped they may add Diagon Alley to the Jaws real estate and hook it to Hogsmeade somehow with the Hogwarts Express steam train.
Originally Posted By barboy /// this was one of my all time favorite rides /// MINE TOO!! ------ might have been my absolute favorite attraction at any park at any time up until my first visit to Disney Sea of '04. I do like Mummy very much but I sure miss Kongfrontation at Universal Orlando. And Yes, the Kong rides were plagued with many problems over the year, so I read about anyway, but on my visits they did work and at least they were fairly long term **moving** AA's. But the Yeti is so very new---- was it '05 or '06 when EE opened? Really, there is no good excuse for the single most important feature of the single most important attraction(arguably of course) at WDW to not be working........ especially so soon and with no signs of fixing it. This is unforgivable and some theme park heads should roll. If money is tight and the guests are not coming in by the hordes anymore close a hotel or two, stop grooming the sides of the roadways, garage 50 transports but fix that AA first. And if there is money left over then go back to working on the roads and then get some buses back online.
Originally Posted By TMICHAEL >>>To give you some idea of the amount of power we’re talking about here … Just the thrust of the Yeti’s arm has the equivalent amount of force to a 747 jumbo jet taking off<<< I had laugh at this, the exact same thing was said of the finale T-Rex on JP when it was built at Uni-Hollywood.
Originally Posted By barboy ///I had laugh at this, the exact same thing was said of the finale T-Rex on JP when it was built at Uni-Hollywood.//// Wait, wait one minute here---- I think you're on to something but I also think you might have missed the exact target; wasn't the talk about aircraft power part of the Hulk hype of IOA early on? So I think you nailed the right company(Universal) but just missed on the specific attraction.
Originally Posted By MPierce >> It would be beyond financially asinine to: run two more Nemo shows/one evening parade, use up additional electricity around the park, pay rides/custodial/vending cast for another 3-5 hrs. << Why not close all the Parks at 5:00pm or even 4. Think of all the money WDW could save then. I'm sure glad you're not on the board of directors. The more time you have access to the guest the more likely they are to spend money. Anybody in the entertainment industry knows that, and it's all about getting warm bodies thru the turnstile. Now when you start getting past about 9:00pm people start winding down. I think 5:00pm is way to early for a theme park to close, unless you are catering to the kindergarten set.
Originally Posted By dshyates MPierce. I am sure Disney would love to close all their parks at 3PM with a noon opening. Actually I believe they would rather us each just give them $75/day and not open the parks at all.
Originally Posted By MPierce >> I believe they would rather us each just give them $75/day and not open the parks at all. << I believe you're right. I think the only thing that keeps the parks open is to sell the Disney Dining Plan, and Merchandise. I guess that is an unfair statement on my part, but I'm still down from my trip.
Originally Posted By MPierce Well it's kind of easy to overlook those since they are the best kept Disney secret in the whole wide world!
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<Well it's kind of easy to overlook those since they are the best kept Disney secret in the whole wide world!>> Your TEXAS SIZED BIG MOUTH is gonna ruin the secret for everyone. If I were Disney, I'd have you taken out!
Originally Posted By barboy ///Why not close all the Parks at 5:00pm or even 4. Think of all the money WDW could save then. I'm sure glad you're not on the board of directors. /// I'd have to say it's because EPCOT, Magic Kingdom and Studios draw more guests(right? isn't AK the least attended of the 4?) and they have big night shows as well whereas AK has no made for night extravaganza. Also, I think most guests would say that AK has the least to offer of the 4 and thus need less time there to see everything. Not me...... I could spend all day and well into night at that amazing park. I would love to be there well into nighttime but how can Disney justify keeping it open say until 9 or 10. Come 8 pm that place would be a ghost town outside of the high seasons.
Originally Posted By beamerdog >> If you ever go to DL though, I find the San Diego Zoo comes a close second. Ok, they don't have the theming and entertainment, but the animal exhibits are also first rate. << I'd recommend the San Diego Wild Animal Park over this and be sure to take the tour on a stake body thru the interior of the park. The entrance is what was the inspiration to the entrance to Jurassic Park. Great entertainment.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<The Mouse's death squad could never catch me on my ECV!>> Oh, those fatties on their Segways might surprise you!
Originally Posted By TMICHAEL >>>Wait, wait one minute here---- I think you're on to something but I also think you might have missed the exact target; wasn't the talk about aircraft power part of the Hulk hype of IOA early on? So I think you nailed the right company(Universal) but just missed on the specific attraction.<<< No, it was definitely about the Jurassic Park T-Rex here in Hollywood. The aircraft talk on The Hulk was about the first inversion after the launch. That is a unique inversion that very much mimics the G forces a fighter pilot feels after coming off of Carrier... supposedly. That, AND the launch does have its own power plant.
Originally Posted By barboy /// That, AND the launch does have its own power plant./// Aha! that now makes sense....... that is what I was thinking about. It's just that I seem to remember all this talk about Hulk's launch by means of tire looking items on the track inside the launch tunnel. Thanks for the clarity.
Originally Posted By sjhym33 I dont think Disney sees a need to do anything to expand AK's hours. The reality at AK has almost been busy mornings and slow afternoons. I remember when we first opened being slammed at opening with lines for Kilimanjaro Safari's going over the bridge towards the Tree of Life and at 4 pm running tours with 10 people in a vehicle. People learned early on that the animals are active in the morning and lay around during the hot midday. Also for some reason AK seems hotter than the other parks. I suspect it is all that foliage. I dont think Disney feels investing in the type of experiences that would keep guests in the park into the evening are worth the money. Maybe someday
Originally Posted By MPierce >> Also, I think most guests would say that AK has the least to offer of the 4 and thus need less time there to see everything. Not me...... I could spend all day and well into night at that amazing park. I would love to be there well into nighttime but how can Disney justify keeping it open say until 9 or 10. Come 8 pm that place would be a ghost town outside of the high seasons. << >> dont think Disney sees a need to do anything to expand AK's hours. The reality at AK has almost been busy mornings and slow afternoons. I remember when we first opened being slammed at opening with lines for Kilimanjaro Safari's going over the bridge towards the Tree of Life and at 4 pm running tours with 10 people in a vehicle. People learned early on that the animals are active in the morning and lay around during the hot midday. Also for some reason AK seems hotter than the other parks. I suspect it is all that foliage. I dont think Disney feels investing in the type of experiences that would keep guests in the park into the evening are worth the money. Maybe someday << You would definetly have to offer more than is offered today to extend the park hours. Beastly Kingdom to counter HP, and a night time parade extravaganza, that would rival Tapesty of Dreams. I didn't say it would be easy, but this beautiful park deserves it.
Originally Posted By dshyates What about instead of a night parade, they add a WoC-style spectacular here: <a href="http://tinyurl.com/cgg8ww" target="_blank">http://tinyurl.com/cgg8ww</a> If you look on the north east side of the picture, you will see an area screaming to be a viewing area. And it would be something totally unique to WDW. And they can use their great big imagineer heads to come up with a Nocturnal Trek maybe give out the googles like the K.P. phones and just have a CM at the exit of the Trek so they get them all back.
