Cat in the Hat question for Earl/CoasterFEV

[johare]

Earl/CoasterFEV,

We've been going to IOA regularly since it opened and in all that time the 'Thing 1 & 2' characters which come out of the box have only had working legs ONCE. Every other time their legs are either hanging down or only one is working making them look like they are riding a scooter. How difficult could it possibly be to get this simple thing working properly?!? Maybe you should just put them on scooters!

We rode again last night and both Thing 1 & 2 were crippled as usual and a couple other simple effects were not working either... the piano didn't slip forward when it fell towards us and 'moms foot/leg' didn't pop out of the door at the end...it was already there. The pots and pans in the kitchen didn't slide down when the shelf fell either. There are also some effects which NEVER seem to work like the closet doors or Thing 1 (or is it 2) swing on the rope.

These may all sound like minor things, but they really cheapen the ride experience when you notice them and they don't seem like they are things which would cost a whole lot to correct.

[CoasterFEV]

The 'closet doors' and the wardrobe are, unfortunately, still part of an ongoing lawsuit with the company who designed these particular effects.

Other than that, I'll let Earl or IOATech tackle the issues of animation at CiTH.

[fboy9287]

I bet CITH would be a really fun ride to work on.

[WebmasterBarry]

I've only seen the closest doors open once. The doors at the end of the closet always seem to be open.

[IOATech]

Sorry, no genuine info. I can say that several "doors" in a few attractions are not in show. Some never will be (2 sets in Ripsaw Falls, 1 in Bluto's Barges) because of timing issues which may pose a problem if the doors do not open on cue if a ride vehicle profiles in that zone. The effect is not worth the risk to ride, or vehicle stoppage in these cases.

[chris mcfly]

i know this post is old, but where are there doors on Bluto's?

[Kungaloosh1937]

The "doors" are the Octopus tentacles at the end of the cave.

[MIB999999]

are the doors allowing access to the ultrasaur area now working??.

[CoasterFEV]

The "show action doors" (as they are technically referred to) on the Jurassic Park River Adventure at IOA are, still out on rehab.

The doors were out for preventative maintenance and only scheduled to be out for a very brief period. Unfortunately, an outside company performing the maintenance made a small mistake which - although small - still takes a few extra weeks to repair.

Shouldn't only be (hopefully) about another 2 weeks to get the doors back in show.

[MIB999999]

hey CoasterFEV can i have that big C-Clamp holding the other door open when they are done????:jester:

[IOATech]

Hands off my C-clamp!

[WebmasterBarry]

Maybe you need to have a MiB shoot-off for the C-clamp. :)

[MIB999999]

how bout it IOATech. a MIB shoot-off for the "C" clamp. sounds fair to me:D :jester:

[johare]

Rode CitH again yesterday. Thing 1 & 2 are still crippled as they come out of box. Cartwheeling Thing is broken. Fish's mouth doesn't work in one spot near beginning. Fish didn't spin in toilet. Piano didn't fall forward. Pots and Pans didn't slide down shelf. etc...

WHY IS UNIVERSAL letting this ride turn to CRAP?!? Seems like a few hundred dollars and a day or two of work is all it would take to correct 90% of these problems, but they don't bother.

[IOATech]

First of all, I welcome the shoot-off challenge. The C-clamp is in no danger of losing its home!

As far as the Cat animations, I could fix them if they let me.

Seriously I can't speak for that area but these are questions I have also asked but I have no information to provide. Perhaps we should solicite a member of that crew for that nugget.

[WebmasterBarry]

I went on Sunday and Thing 1 and Thing 2 were working when they came out of the box. The light didn't come on when the Cat in the Hat appeared at the beginning, though.

Perhaps IOATech can work some overtime? :)

[CoasterFEV]

If I am correct in assuming that IOATech works in the Toon/Nublar area, then he already is working overtime!

Check out how good the River Adventure animation, operation, and the boats have looked recently! (Other than the Show Action Doors, it's the best the ride has looked and run in quite a long time.)

Also the boat/height restriction modifications at Bluto's! (Techs are still having nightmares involving seatbelts)

Plus the conveyor replacements at Ripsaw! (oof - and these aren't easy to do either)

Trust me, the dino techs (as they are referred to) are already working plenty of overtime to keep these two islands in spectacular shape!

[johare]

Barry, were Thing 1 and 2 REALLY working? The legs are supposed to move so it looks like they are running out of the box. Nearly every time I've seen them the legs just dangle there or are held in place with rubber bands. It's really funny when one leg is broken and it looks like they are riding a scooter.

It's nice that some of the other attractions are getting attention, but there is absolutely no excuse for the neglect seen at the CitH attraction. Heck, they are too lazy to even adjust the focus/convergence on the projectors which display the text on the walls in the queues. It would be different if this problems just occurred, however they've been there for the most part for nearly two years. How the heck could they EVER expect anyone to invest any time in getting Monkey McBean open when they can't even spend a few dollars and a little time on what they have.

[All Aboard]

Johare, you got 2 things coming out of the box!?!?!?! What are you complaining about, consider yourself lucky ;) Last time we experienced CitH, only Thing 2 (in scooter riding mode, I believe) came out of the box.

Are there more than just the closet (in & out) doors on this attraction? Seemed last time I notice other sets of doors - all of which were inoperable.

I think the bottom line is, only repeat guests like us notice these things and newbies don't know what they are missing. So, the urgency for repair gets reduced. I guess USF/IOA is still lucky that there is not an equivalent of WDWBLUES.COM out there yet!!

In any event, my daughter loves the attraction and the only thing she's noticed is the lack of Thing 1 coming out of the box. Which, it seems, has now been corrected.

My one gripe about the flow of the attraction is how quickly your couch gets turned away from the "stair climbing" scene. I'd like to get a better look at that.

[Earl]

You mean just the way the creative group left them. Rest assured there's nobody in the Tech Services group that's "too lazy". As far as McMonkey goes, it's not a time issue. It's a bad design from the original manufacturer that will not work. As it stands, it is cost prohibitive to create anything on the ride system for the capacity it would generate.

[johare]

Hey gcurling, nice to see that you are a repeat visitor to IOA now! :-)

Earl, is the 'creative group' responsible for nobody bothering to make sure the text displayed in the queues is in focus? Looked great for about a year, but those things do need a little maintenance now and then. What about the fish not operating properly or the piano not falling? If the 'creative group' was assigned the task of creating an attraction which would operate maintenance free I could see blaming them, however with the exception of the closet doors and thing 1 & 2 coming out of the box, it shouldn't have required too much effort to keep everything else in working condition.

[MIB999999]

Originally posted by IOATech
[B]First of all, I welcome the shoot-off challenge. The C-clamp is in no danger of losing its home!

ITS on IOATech
well assuming the most unlikely event that i would lose, i do not get the c clamp, but what do you get???? :smooth:

[WebmasterBarry]

Originally posted by johare
Barry, were Thing 1 and 2 REALLY working? The legs are supposed to move so it looks like they are running out of the box. Nearly every time I've seen them the legs just dangle there or are held in place with rubber bands. It's really funny when one leg is broken and it looks like they are riding a scooter.

Yes, they were working and moving! :)

[Earl]

Johare,

The answer is yes. Or should I say to the vendors that delivered all of the equipment in that facility that is impossible to maintain. Yes, it sounds like to ought to be simple. Unfortunately it is not. So, ultimately the responsibilty lies with those who bought off on it and left big piles of pooh behind.

Sorry, just my personal opinion.

[IOATech]

Originally posted by MIB999999


ITS on IOATech
well assuming the most unlikely event that i would lose, i do not get the c clamp, but what do you get???? :smooth:

I get to keep my clamp!!

The reason I will bet my clamp is that you are very likely to win. I have a total of 4 runs of MIB behind me. The truth does indeed suck, but I readily admit I have little experience in the actual "rider"area here. Yes, you may walk out with the coveted clamp but I have 2 more!

At least I'm willing to take you on!

[IOATech]

CoasterFEV, Thanks for the kind words.

I admit I don't have a clue as to the capacity you fill, (but I'm thinking really really hard!) but you have a firm grasp on the facts, and convey our attitude "in the trenches" perfectly. Come on by one night and say hi. I'll be in the grotto.

[johare]

Well Earl, regardless of who's responsible I think it's time that Universal took responsibility/ownership of the attraction and start to do something about it rather than just engaging in finger pointing. Some parts (ie, doors) may be impossible to maintain, but you're not going to convince anyone that it's impossible to fix the focus on the text projectors in the queue. And if getting the legs to consistently work properly on Thing #1 and #2 is beyond the abilities of the tech's at IOA then I think they are in the wrong business.

[Earl]

Your are certainly entitled to your opinion and if you would like to see how this business operates, human resources is accepting applications. There's no finger pointing, it's a fact that there are still many issues that need to be resolved for substandard equipment that was delivered. Getting that done is all about priorities. Working through the ride system problems takes prioirity over show elements. What may seem trivial to take care of from the outside, may indeed be more complicated. Nobody is in the wrong business and it's not being done due to lazy techs as you suggested. Universal's Tech Services group consists of a very fine bunch of people who have put in a tremendous effort to get the park to the level it operates at today.

[MIB999999]

Originally posted by IOATech


I get to keep my clamp!!

The reason I will bet my clamp is that you are very likely to win. I have a total of 4 runs of MIB behind me. The truth does indeed suck, but I readily admit I have little experience in the actual "rider"area here. Yes, you may walk out with the coveted clamp but I have 2 more!

At least I'm willing to take you on!

clamp or no clamp i would love to have a dueling laser pointer round with you. i am out there almost every weekend on sat or sun, sometimes both.
i have some small clamps and when i saw that big one holding the gate open i thought," now that thing would hold a lot of aliens in place."
by the way what would you bet if you thought you were likely to win. ???? :bounce:

[MrNonacho]

At first, I thought this whole discussion of the c-clamp was a bit silly. I would say to myself, "Self, just how impressive could that one simple tool be?" I would stay up many hours at night pondering this question.

Today, I decided to put myself at ease and see this god-like clamp with my own eyes. With much trepidation and overwhelming anticipation, I boarded the familiar yellow raft and began my River Adventure. As we drew closer to the legendary Holy Show Action Doors of Perpetual Refurbishment, my eyes were drawn to the lower corner of the right-hand door.. There it was.. THE clamp! Live and in person! I must say, a finer c-clamp has not been witnessed by my eyes! The image of that stoic clamp flawlessly clamping away has been imprinted into my consciousness for what may very well be all eternity...

Forgive me for doubting the clamp.. Until one sees it in person, one cannot understand its importance. I am a different and better person for having been in its presence.

LONG LIVE IOATECH'S BIG BROWN C-CLAMP OF TRUTH! :)

[WebmasterBarry]

I can imagine a boatload of people on JPRA doing "I'm not worthy!" at the c-clamp. :)

[johare]

Barry, do you think we could create a separate forum for discussion of the c-clamp?

[WebmasterBarry]

So we've got board requests now for:

1.) Earl
2.) Universal resorts
3.) The All-Mighty C-Clamp

:confused:

[larworth]

Is the c clamp made or ordinary metal? Or is it really gold or platinum that has been painted brown to fit the surroundings.
I know we should be focusing on its' more spiritual aspects, but I do worry about rust with all my icons.

[nhrenee]

Great! First color changing paint in Marvel, now a c-clamp on a river adventure. I have to start writing this stuff down :smooth: :p

[WebmasterBarry]

How about painting the C-clamp with some color-changing paint? :)

[MIB999999]

JPRA now has a guard around the c-clamp. :jester: