DL Subs, Again

[Sarangel]

From MiceAge.com:

Back on the subject of that rather infamous Submarine Lagoon, the rumored plans we'd told you about last year to dust off that old attraction are once again winding their way through the approval process.

In a story that has often been more complex than even Superstar Limo's fate, a Finding Nemo overlay for the old Submarine attraction is back again on a front burner. Using the Finding Nemo characters and the marketable tagline "The Subs Are Back, Let's Party!" Tony Baxter has been leading the charge in Imagineering (WDI) to return the fleet to service.

But it's not only been the funding from tightfisted Burbank executives that have been the problem, as both TDA and WDI have had to overcome the reality of dealing with the Air Quality Management District (AQMD) who aren't very enthusiastic about those underwater vehicles. Yep, those same folks that were responsible for the sudden mothballing of the Believe fireworks show have also been getting in the way of the Submarine's planned reopening.

The diesel engines that power the eight large vehicles are the culprits, and it will take a great deal of work to make whatever propulsion system that replaces the original engines compliant with the AQMD's rules regarding pollution output by private businesses. Updating the Subs to cleaner burning engines is not an insurmountable obstacle (in the past as a test one was converted to natural gas if I remember correctly), but it is one that has raised the price of the Submarine project much higher than originally estimated and has caused some of the delays.

 

[Chuck S]

Umm, isn't another reason the Subs went out of service the fact that ADA guests could not load? Reusing those 40 yp ride vehicles willnot solve that problem. If Disney could have made a fuel efficent ride system AND made it easy to load ADA guests, they probably would not have completely filled in the lagoon at WDW, which, of course, had much newer submarines than DL.

 

[SueM in MN]

It was not handicapped friendly at all (I wasn't in the DL one, but the WDW one was hardly easy for people without disabilities to get in).
If they had just repaired/repainted, etc, they would not have been required by the ADA to do anything to the ride. The ADA only comes into play for rides that are significantly altered or are new. And, even if it was significantly altered, they would have been subject to the "technical infeasibility" provisions of the law that says if it's not possible to comply with the ADA, you just have to comply to the extent that is feasible.

quote:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Quote from ADA law posted at http://www.access-board.gov/recreation/final.htm
Where an existing amusement ride is modified in a way that does not change the ride’s structural or operational characteristics to the extent that the ride’s performance differs from that specified by the manufacturer’s or original design criteria, the amusement ride is not required to comply with 15.1.1. Routine maintenance, painting, and changing of story boards are examples of activities that do not constitute an alteration.

As with other elements or facilities subject to the alterations provisions in ADAAG, "technical infeasibility" applies to alterations of amusement rides. In this case, compliance with the technical provisions is required except where the nature of the existing ride makes it virtually impossible to comply fully. In these circumstances, the alteration should provide the maximum accessibility feasible.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Here's link for anyone interested in ride accessibility