Will the Sneetches ride ever open?

[WebmasterBarry]

If you have visited Islands of Adventure, you may have noticed a track that winds all over Seuss Landing. You may have wondered what ride it is and where you can queue up for it. Put away your room key and don’t try to find a Universal Express pass for it. The ride may never open.

The Sneetches ride, also known as Sylvester Monkey McBean’s and His Very Unusual Driving Machines, was basically an overhead tour of Seuss Landing. The ride followed the story of the Sneetches. Guests choose to travel in cars along the Plain Belly side or the Star Belly side. The paths took different directions, but told the same story. Guests could bump other cars and make Suessian sounds.

The ride slated to open with the park in 1999, but it didn’t. The sign outside the ride once said that it was opening in 2000. Then the year was changed to 2001. Finally, the sign was painted over and no year is currently there.

Why didn’t the ride open? Many rumors circulated. One rumor said that the electrical system was mis-wired. Another rumor mentioned that Circus McGurkus may hold a problem. The Sneetches ride ran through Circus McGurkus. Since the ride was not enclosed, guests could spit or drop items onto the diners below. The diners could, in retaliation, toss food at the passengers above.

The main reason why the ride may never open is because of evacuation problems. If the ride were to break down, there is not easy escape route to evacuate guests. The park would need to bring in cherry pickers to reach the guests. This would be a long and unpleasant process. The ride would have also had the lowest throughput in the park, even lower than Pterandon Flyers. Pterandon Flyers has a throughput of about 170 guests per hours. Thus, the wait time would be extremely long.

Will the ride open? It’s doubtful. However, sometimes you may be able to see a car with a Seussian character in it run along the track. During Grinchmas, the ride queue is turned into the Grinch’s Lair, a meet and greet area for the Grinch. You can see part of the ride. The queue area also has scenes from The Butter Battle Book.

[sneetch]

that's sad. I was hoping that this ride would eventually open. I love the sneetches.

[sneetch]

that's sad. I was hoping that this ride would eventually open. I love the sneetches.:(

[acmepreach]

I took some time last February to wonder around and see how far I could get. The story of the sneetches is really pretty interesting. The way the ride is themed is terrific. Of course, I think cat in the hat is one of the best rides at IOA. I wondered through the que area and you can see how the lines could work. A simple way to adjust the ride is to enclose the cars and widen the track for breakdowns. That could be done but I don't think that is the problem. I think it has to do with low capacity. It is a ride similar to the T-flyers and they were a disaster in the beginning. It just doesn't make sense to do this right now. It does add some legend and history to the park.

[Paris]

I have seen the Wedway, err, Tomorrowland Transit Authority, evacuated once -- I can see where it would be a problem without the wider walkpaths next to the track.

However, this type of ride is everywhere.

Paramount King's Island has it:

http://www.pki.com/i/520thumb.jpg

And I saw a special on Parc Asterix in France where they have a foot-pedaled inline overhead track attraction. The same evacuation issues can be said of every single skyway still in operation. I don't think the mechanics were such that it would be a constant malfunctioning attraction.

And while Pteranadon Flyers has no choice but to accept its capacity restraints -- given the stress of the weight on the track, you CAN make the Sneetch cars a bit longer, Wedway-style almost, and there wouldn't be a capacity problem if you are able to load and dispatch a dozen or two folks at a time.

[Paris]

Oh, and as for the Circus McGurkus passthrough, if the park ever thought that would be a problem it could put up a glass or plastic wall -- the way Wedway has as it cuts through public places. As for the stalled cars, surely there must be a way to pad the vehicles with bumpers and allow to shift the vehicles into neutral so that they could be bumped back into the entrance if it ever did come to that.

It's a shame because the infrastructure is there, the egg on the face is still there, and that would be the fourth ride/fifth attraction in Seuss Landing and, in my opinion, truly complete a great island.

[CINDY-LOU]

We just returned yesterday (3/28) and asked one of the workers about the Sneeches ride . She said they could never get it to work properly and it would never open but remain as a display. Then we went over to the Cat in The Hat but it was closed because they could not get the lights to work.! They gave us a E-pass to ride it later which worked out fine for me!!!! :D CINDY-LOU :confused:

[Horizons16]

Paris

You have a very good idea with that one. Like the Diesel rescue for the monorails in disney. Thats a good point.
~STeve

[locoexw]

So what is the "thing" between One Fish and the Cat in the Hat? Looks sort of like an iceberg, maybe?

[rocketman23]

That'd be Mt. Crumpit, and no it's not really related to the Driving Machines. It is only open during Grinchmas and is an ice slide for the kids, nothing that incredible.

[Snow Brite]

We LOVED Suess Landing. I think it was really one of the best spots in all of Orlando. Everything there was terrific from Red Fish Blue Fish, o the Cat in the Hat, to having Green Eggs and Ham for breakfast and the Suessousel (sp???) and my kids favorite was If I ran the Zoo.
But we wandered around for quite a while trying to figure out where that ride started. You can see it above and my kids reallllly thought it looked like fun! So we looked and looked and finally realized the entrance for the Sneetches was it and it wasn't working. All three days we woudl check back...

Now we know!

Jennifer

[the Dark Marauder]

McMonkey McBean will Never open. ever. it will only be used as decoration. every now and then you can see a car with suessian characters on it riding on the track. the big iceberg is Mount Crumpit, only open during Grinchmas. it's a fun slide, epsecially if it's been slicked down recently. then you can go ZOOMING!:)

[the Dark Marauder]

anyone ever been to the Orlando International Airport? cuz if you have, then you know how you have to take a monorail-type shuttle from one side to the next. take a guess who built that...

[Mr. Carni]

Originally posted by the Dark Marauder
anyone ever been to the Orlando International Airport? cuz if you have, then you know how you have to take a monorail-type shuttle from one side to the next. take a guess who built that...

Did they go out of business, too? I understand the Co. who designed McMonkey went belly up (and with no stars on their bellies!)

[the Dark Marauder]

Disney built the momorail-shuttle you take at OIA.

[Deevan]

Just a side note... Reports are that before and after hours they have been testing vehicles with members of management on McMonkey McBean's. The ride system still works fine, and has been upkept by Universal's technical services department. So maybe there is a future for this ride?

Jason

[the Dark Marauder]

the *supposed* rumor is for it to open by Christmas.

[rocketman23]

This Christmas??? That doesn't seem accurate at all if that's what it means. They have snow machines by the track and the queue is the Grinch's Lair. An employee from Universal told me at IAAPA that they may look at opening Driving Machines before any new rides open at IOA, but I doubt it'll be that soon if they try it.

[the Dark Marauder]

when i heard that i was like "no way" and i am highly doubtful on it opening that soon. sometime next year, possibly, if at all next year...

[USFFan8814]

I would LOOOVVVEE to see this open! I want to ride it! :)

[Horizons16]

I had heard it was never going to open

[the Dark Marauder]

i wouldnt expect it to open. i'm not holding my breath over it.

[USFFan8814]

My brother,who works at Universal and hears about all of USF's planned attractions,said that McMonkey McBean will NEVER open!

[IOATech]

Some things have been happening with this ride, I would not say never. Not being written off just yet.

[lovable]

The ride will not open because the track could not hold enough weight. Its ok for a few characters, but with allowing guests to ride it there was a small chance of the track falling. They decided it would be safer to just not open the ride.

[rangebob]

Where did you hear that from. From the look of that steel that is up there it should be able to hold a couple of tons.

[tuck]

I would look for a opening around the same time Shrek and jimmy Neutron opens this summer..........That would give Universal 3 things to push for the Summer of 2003

[YenSid1222]

This is not at all true...this ride exists in parks all around the world. It runs fine with full loads of people everywhere. Don't believe whoever is spreading that word.

[lovable]

This is what has been said to me by people in the know at UO. If its not true, all the better because I am dying to ride it. But I was told pretty much to not get my hopes up.

[ProfesserBaxter]

Okay, I work at UO at DD and there's nothing told to us that its going to open, BUT.... they also never said that its never going to open, they're trying to get it operating, they had mangement do a ride through, so there still is hope for MMVUDM. As for the grinch's lair they can strike that set real quick, in about two to three weeks everything can be removed. Its just like HHN

[Barb]

I would love to see this ride finally open. I won't give up hope. I just hope they don't limit it with height restrictions like the Flying Pteradactyls.

[USO2003]

http://usf.i8.com/SMMUDM6.jpg

[Horizons16]

its looks cool... its a real shame.

[eclipseSD]

There is still hope.

From Screamscape:
) One of the latest wild rumors flying around claims that the park was testing a few vehicle on the Driving Machines track... one allowed people to peddle themselves around like they were on a bike. I know many of the Legoland parks have a similar attraction (pictured here). Can anyone confirm if this rumor is true or bogus?

[IOATech]

Testing has indeed been conducted.

[Dznefreek]

How will you be able to control the speed/pace of the ride and is there still not the question of emergency escape.

[Paris]

Dzne, I can tell you how Carowinds and King's Island control their pedal-powered McBean-esque rides. While there are pedals they are also motorized. If you don't pedal they continue to move -- only slower. The track has various sensors along the path to automatically switch the pedal to the slower motor mode if the car in front of it hasn't cleared the next sensor.

Like McBean there is no emergency escape option. However, because of the pedals one can always pedal their way back into the station if there is any kind of power-usurping malfunction. Maybe someone more familiar with the Paramount parks can explain any evacuation procedure, but it's quite possible that an attendant might be able to pedal a car from the station all the way around the track to herd the rest of the stalled cars in. I don't know. I never saw a cherry picker anywhere near either park last summer.

[mulchpuppy]

Forgive me if I screw this post up - first time on this type of board. I'm more of a troller than a poster 'round here, but I had to register just so I could tell USO2003 what a stunningly great picture that was. No kidding, that's just an incredible image.

[IOATech]

He took that photo from an off-limits location, having gotten into the backstage area. The person who took the picture compromised our ability to maintain his safety, and trespassed. Good photo, bad judgement.

[Funderbunk]

Just popping in here - maybe I'm wrong, but on the issue of evacuation. As I understand it, the track height is 15 feet. It seems to me this is well within ladder range. I don't think you'd need a cherrypicker...

[Dznefreek]

It seems to me this is well within ladder range. I don't think you'd need a cherrypicker... You have to consider the wide range of ages, those who cannot negotiate a ladder, and the liability involved.

[Tekneek]

If this thing is open when we make our trip to Disney in September, IOA is being added. If not, we may skip Universal altogether. Guess it is up to Universal, now. :)

[Mmketeer]

Hi Barry,

Thank you very much for posting this....I wish I had read it before our trip this week to IOA cause we were wondering about this.
We saw the cute little character car thingy on the track from the the entrance and I thought to myself... oh that's cute I want to ride that. Well, after wondering around Suess Landing and riding the Cat and the Hat etc. I realized this track thing was not a ride and couldn't be rode. However, my husband denied this fact and claimed that their was no way the would spend that much money on just a decoration. Well after riding the rides at the rest of the park we decided it would be fun to investigate this track thing at Suess Landing further so we went back into Suess Landing and followed the character car around the track as best we could.

We ended up at the end of Susess Landing where you could buy ice cream and where the last gift shop stood (sorry only been to IOA this one time so I am not familar with all the names). We saw the que for this ride and even figured out where the guests would exit and enter the ride. Needless to say, I lost the bet with hubby on this thing actually being a ride and not just a decoration. So, we grabbed a ice cream cone and sat in front of the store front that lead into the ride and we decided that we wanted to know when this thing closed and why it wasn't it open?

Being a CM for Disney and getting the privelage of going behind the scences etc. I am always curious about park rumors, history and hidden things. I always try and pick out the behind the scence things that your not suppose to notice...it's just me and after working for Disney for 10 years you have to find something else to do when you have been there and done that to death.

So anyway, when I saw a park photographer coming towards us I waited till he opened the door to the fake store front and asked him about the ride. I unfortunatly couldn't see in the shop area around him, but he tell me it wasn't a ride and closed the door behind him. Humm? Then we asked a lady walking by on the street that was dressed in a button down shirt and pants (so I assumed she had some authority as she was not wearing any type of IOA costume) and she said that was not a ride too and added it's just scenery. Very strange...at this point I was thinking to myself, "I have seen enough ride ques to know that it was to either suppose to be a ride or a ride that had to be closed." Anyway, right before I completly gave up on the park employees I asked a street sweeper who also just happened to be walking by this area and she also said it wasn't a ride.

I think their maybe some sort of conspiracy thing going here....what's the big deal about saying "yeah, that thing just never opened." Heck, I was under the impression that their must have been a major accident on the ride for them to shut it down and then decide they better just try and pretend it never existed. It's not like a ride never opening has never happened, it took how many years before Disney was able to get Test Track to the point where it was open and not breaking down everyday. It happens...nothing for IOA to be embarressed about so why do you think they are denying it's existance? Oh well, at least now I know the truth...thanks again for posting this Barry and IOA's hotel guest front of the line access is unbelievable! I swear I wouldn't have believed how great of an advantage this was if I hadn't have done it myself. I'll never got to any of Universals' Parks without paying to stay on property now...plus I got to bring my four-legged kids too! IOA was a lot of fun and RPR was beautiful! Great job Universal!

Mmketeer

[DocBosch]

Well, I don't think it's so much that Universal is trying to hide the truth, but more that the employees in Suess Landing are tired of answering the same question. The same way you were curious about the ride, there are dozens of other guests who are just as intrigued. I can imagine that these people constantly ask the workers about the ride. After a while of that, I'm sure the workers realized it was a lot easier to just tell the people that it isn't a ride (technically it isn't) and that it's just a decoration (which, technically, it is), then explain the whole story. Odd are, thats all most guests want to hear.

-Kevin

[Pooh's LiL' Gurl]

Originally posted by sneetch
that's sad. I was hoping that this ride would eventually open. I love the sneetches.:(

Same here definatly.

[dan-tot]

When US had cameras they had a camera that showed the lagoon in IOA. I saw them running the ride on a regular basis. I could see the cars on the outside portion of the ride. You are right the tracks came over the resteraunt it seemed like it was only about 10 foot off the ground.



Dan-tot

[Dad2BandC]

I was told yesterday that it will open around Christmas by an employee at Suess Landing. They also had a car going around the track.

[DLyouth27]

Sorry to bring back an old topic, but I was wondering, are there any updates on this? Is the ride any closer to opening? Thanks!

[F-L-A]

It will never open. Any reports of it's alleged opening are false.

[BrerFrog]

Without saying too much, I walked the track for this attraction last night and even its service area for the ride vehicles (make that intended service area) and while the ride looks in no way like it will ever be opened... it was also very well kept and had the ability to run. Anyone who says that know its future is just predicting and I could see it go either way, but its not anytime soon.

[Tekneek]

If they would open this up, it would instantly elevate Universal's standing with me. It's such a tease to be there watching those things go around and not be able to do it too. Was it really intended to be an operating ride? Sometimes I wonder if it was ever the intention of it. It does seem like a lot of trouble just for the atmosphere... If the blunder really is as reported, it is truly an example of bad quality control in the design of an attraction. Whoever made it should not have been paid.

[mw06]

The ride will open next summer. There should be an announcement sometime after HHN, possibly along with another new ride for IoA.

[damo]

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=920285

[SuperAmazing]

Well, I don't think it's so much that Universal is trying to hide the truth, but more that the employees in Suess Landing are tired of answering the same question. The same way you were curious about the ride, there are dozens of other guests who are just as intrigued. I can imagine that these people constantly ask the workers about the ride. After a while of that, I'm sure the workers realized it was a lot easier to just tell the people that it isn't a ride (technically it isn't) and that it's just a decoration (which, technically, it is), then explain the whole story. Odd are, thats all most guests want to hear.

-Kevin


You also have to keep in mind that this ride was suppose to open years ago. A lot of amusement park employees are teenagers or just young in general... Ride operator, trash sweeper, etc. is not really a job of choice. People who worked there when the ride was officially suppose to open have probably left their job by now... Which would only leave new employees with not much of a clue at all.