Avatarland = hope for the Yeti?

[Reddog1134]

It probably isn't to most due to the fact that they have never experienced it when it was working. For the ones who have, it changes the ride from an experience to just another ride. The cave was lit quite well, and the track gives a strong illusion that you are going to crash into the wall. Can't see that in the dark or on a video.

I agree with this.

Not to mention, whenever you see a documentary or video about the ride they usually show the creator (Joe Rohde) saying how the Yeti is the climax of the ride.

 

[beer dave]

I agree with this.

Not to mention, whenever you see a documentary or video about the ride they usually show the creator (Joe Rohde) saying how the Yeti is the climax of the ride.

Yup-- wife and I got to hang with Joe at the adventurers club while he was working on Mt Everest. He gave us a very theatrical tale of how the ride was going to be. He said the ride starts just winding around the countryside, then builds momentum through out, culminating with the yeti almost grabbing you from the train.. It was very cool. I know people don;t like him on here, but we really enjoyed hanging. we went through all the rooms of the club with him. He was like a proud parent watching his baby in her first recital.

It also seems some of the joe haters are adventurer's club lovers-- Thanks for the AC, Joe.

 

[emilyindisney]

It almost surprises me a little that when venturing into new territory and building their largest animatronic to date, Disney wouldn't consider the force/leverage of making it move. Wouldn't the force exerted by the movement be something important to consider? Then again, as the first of it's size, maybe the notion didn't ever occur to anyone.

I know the yeti is supposed to make the ride become and experience and all the jazz, but I can appreciate that its a little crazy for them to disassemble the mountain just to repair a non-essential piece of the ride. However, I wouldn't be opposed to getting a good, in-person look at the exposed inside of the mountain!

 

[Son of Gadsden]

It probably isn't to most due to the fact that they have never experienced it when it was working. For the ones who have, it changes the ride from an experience to just another ride. The cave was lit quite well, and the track gives a strong illusion that you are going to crash into the wall. Can't see that in the dark or on a video.

Oh wow, well i can see how that might make it the climax of the ride.

 

[Alice Royal]

It's just not considered to be a significant aspect of the coaster anymore.

Tell that to the kids/young adults who saw Disco Yeti in all his former glory and nearly peed themselves because his arm got *this* close to their heads.

Yes, I am one of those, although I was about ten or twelve when it was working. I will never forget it.

Obviously, I'm not going to give myself false hope over a rumor on a message board, but for a lot of us, Betty holds a rather special place in our hearts and we want to see him fixed.

 

[Rumors Rocks]

~Disney is not going to fix this bear. The Yeti's swinging of arm portion lasts all of 2 nanoseconds and it appears to be swinging anyway. It wasn't until several years later on this board that I discovered it was the B-Mode Betty. It's just not considered to be a significant aspect of the coaster anymore.

~Also, Pandora is going to attract massive crowds, so all rides will need to be online.

 

[mm1971]

Was there when it first opened and remember Betty fondly. It was a pretty awesome animatronic in my opinion. I honestly think they'll leave it as is due to the cost and difficulty in fixing it. The only exception would be if they took the ride down for complete maintenance and needed to "open up" the mountain anyway.

 

[GrnMtnMan]

I think the dollar amounts involved are new attraction levels...I'd rather some new D or E ticket ride, then 3 brief seconds of animatronic movement on a ride that is pretty good as it is today.

 

[ThurlFan]

a ride that is pretty good as it is today.

I can go to Worlds of Fun in Kansas City for some 'pretty good' rides.

I saw Betty shortly after she debuted, and when fully operational SHE was the true attraction, and the roller coaster was just the delivery system.

I miss the days when we could expect more from Disney, because they expected more of themselves. Now they can pour a billion dollars into glorified traffic pattern analysis system, slap the word "magic" on it and people are fine with that - even excited about the personal tracking devices.

Sorry, I kind of went on a tangent there...

We now return you to your regularly scheduled Pixie Dust

 

[DanBoris]

~Disney is not going to fix this bear. The Yeti's swinging of arm portion lasts all of 2 nanoseconds and it appears to be swinging anyway. It wasn't until several years later on this board that I discovered it was the B-Mode Betty. It's just not considered to be a significant aspect of the coaster anymore.

~Also, Pandora is going to attract massive crowds, so all rides will need to be online.

There are probably 1000's of details, a lot of which are even more minor then the Yeti, around WDW that you would not notice where missing if you had never seen them in the first place, but it is these very things that set Disney apart.

 

[DRDISNEYMD]

There are probably 1000's of details, a lot of which are even more minor then the Yeti, around WDW that you would not notice where missing if you had never seen them in the first place, but it is these very things that set Disney apart.

~Well, I agree with you. Beer Dave was the first poster to actually describe what the ride was like before B Mode Betty. I didn't know the entire coaster slowed down under the Yeti, it sounds amazing. So, I understand where the disappointment stems from.

~When I was a teen still at home, our family went to Disney in 1998 for the grand opening of Disney's Animal Kingdom. I was there the first year, when the park was brand new and there was no Mount Everest or Kali River Rapids.

~But, I have fond memories of the Kilimanjaro Safari. I loved the bridge that rocked back & forth and was taken by surprise with the story line of helping to save baby Jambo from the poachers. I loved that story, but it's gone now. The bridge which also used to be a feature, is entirely hit or miss. Also, riding in front of the monorail and collecting cards was popular and finding the paint brush on Tom Sawyers island, etc.

~Unfortunately, that's just part of life. We have to find new things to appreciate as the world around us continues to evolve. Disney still holds more magic than the other vacation options we've experienced.

~Frankly, the problem is that our society has never quite caught up to Disney's high standards and as a result Disney has plenty of wiggle room to be complacent regarding certain aspects of the theme parks.

 

[Rumors Rocks]

I think the dollar amounts involved are new attraction levels...I'd rather some new D or E ticket ride, then 3 brief seconds of animatronic movement on a ride that is pretty good as it is today.

 

[beer dave]

~Well, I agree with you. Beer Dave was the first poster to actually describe what the ride was like before B Mode Betty. I didn't know the entire coaster slowed down under the Yeti, it sounds amazing. So, I understand where the disappointment stems from.

Hey-- I didn't re read my post, but it didn't slow-- The cave was better lit, with no strobe-- as the track dives into the exit of the yeti room, there is a psuedo track above, twisted. as you enter the room, the track appears to be connected to the twisted track leading towards the ceiling/ wall of the cave. The yeti's hand swoops down just as the train drops into the exit tunnel, seemingly inches above your heads. The first time on, I had the "oh sxxx" moment of " how is this going to work?" because the illusion of the damaged track was so good. No speed change-- just well lit and choreographed.

 

[MommaChip]

Is the ride still enjoyable without the movement of the yeti? We will be riding it for the first time next month.

 

[MommaChip]

And what is avatar land? Avatar isn't disney.... Will this ruin the park??

 

[Reddog1134]

Is the ride still enjoyable without the movement of the yeti? We will be riding it for the first time next month.

Yes, but it was better with a functioning Yeti.

And what is avatar land? Avatar isn't disney.... Will this ruin the park??

Contrary to popular belief, it will NOT ruin the park.

 

[littlebittyhouse]

ok so I thought I was losing my mind when the last time I went and EE wasn't as exciting as it was when I went in 2006.

It is still a great ride but NOTHING like it was when she moved.

 

[beer dave]

Yes, but it was better with a functioning Yeti.




Contrary to popular belief, it will NOT ruin the park.

Don't confuse "popular" with "repetitive".

 

[King Triton]

Come on Disney, you have to fix the Yeti. Even if you have to close down the ride for a couple of months. The magic is in the details. Disney's quality is what sets Disney apart from everyone else. Oh yes, fixing the Yeti is a very big deal. Are you listening Disney?

 

[Yellowstonetim]

Is the ride still enjoyable without the movement of the yeti? We will be riding it for the first time next month.

Very much so! It is a great coaster and there is something about the section where you go backwards on a corkscrew in the dark that is very intense even when I rode it 5 or 6 times. You will enjoy it!