The attraction at Knotts involved in the incident was a shoot-the-chutes ride using a large boat seating several people across instead of log. The boat did have lap bars (if I recall correctly) and the women was ejected, in front of her four children, under circumstances that havent been determined yet. I believe the attraction is still closed. At the time of the accident, Disney was trying to purchase the exact same ride as one of the panic additions to California Adventure and occasionally you can find artwork showing it in some of the promo stuff for DCA.
Splash Mountain
Disneyland has a checkered history. The attraction was nearly a year late in opening, the final drop was built incorrectly (its steeper than its supposed to be), the entire fleet of logs was scrapped before opening due to safety problems and had to be rebuilt, and now the attraction is undergoing an extensive rehab for other structural problem and some significant damage thats been caused by the limited maintenance its received over the last decade. Personally, I will never get onto anything that floats that locks me into a seat without a chance to get out.
The 50th Birthday updates were described to me as so blue sky theyre damn near ultraviolet and no one at WDI expects any of the plans to come pass. First, Corporate is not going to put that kind of money into Disneyland (or any of the parks for that matter) because the return isnt there. Second, what little money Disneyland does have is being poured into that canker sore theyve built in the parking lot. Thats more of a concern (and an embarrassment to certain key executive) than some marketing promo for the dead guys place (a charming new nickname in honor of someones 100th Birthday). Third, Disneyland cant afford to shut down its major attractions for a lengthy amount of time. It had been thought that California Adventure would be stealing attendance from Disneyland, giving the park time and a reason to tinker with the attractions. Right now, Disney needs every paying customer it can get to offset the losses across the way.
Most importantly, D/L 50 is being viewed as nothing but a marketing event. What is likely to happen (you read it here first), is that several attractions will receive set decoration make-overs similar to the Its A Small World and Haunted Mansion holiday redressings. Show elements reprogrammed figures, new props, maybe a new narration would be added or changed, but the physical structure of the attraction would remain the same. All of the make-overs would share a common birthday party theme to unify the entire celebration and provide an easy to market concept (come celebrate with the pirates, ghosts and Pooh!). The changes would last just for the length of the celebration, the better to encourage people to see this once in a lifetime event. Hey, it worked for the final days of the Electrical Parade a few years back. In any case, 2005 is so far away compared to the immediate problems in Anahiem.
Lastly, about the weenies. The Company, aside from pin sales and annual pass renewals, they really couldnt care less about what the fans write on the Internet. I think Mr. Hill is far more concerned about proving his piety to the fanatics on certain other websites than trying to warn us to shut-up. An alleged storm among the NFFC crowd about the placement of the flaming skull will have no impact on whether it ever shows up or not. But toeing the Party line will keep the perks flowing in.
Besides, if Mr. Pressler is affected by anything thats said out in the ether, Im sure the millions of dollars he receives each year might be able to buy him some kind of solace.
