Festival of Lion King Goes Down AGAIN

[TheRustyScupper]

1) The show was canceled AGAIN, yesterday, due to Sound System failures.
. . . saw a MOB walking from the first show, and almost knew immediately what happened
. . . lots of disgruntled and muttering folks
. . . the next show didn't go off until well after 12:00-Noon
2) The system is going down sometimes 4-5 times per month and up to 2-3 times per day.
3) In January 2014, I asked in print, why they were moving a 12-year old system.
4) I thought it was a bad idea by Rohde then, and it is being proven-out. *
5) The system was older technology, and "pre-used", when it was put into the original FoTLK show.
6) Moving it to the new theater just made things worse.
7) I can only wonder when they will finally break down and put in a MODERN system.
8) Has to be aggravating for folks with FP's to be turned away and the FP's canceled.

* OK, I admit I have a problem with Rohde's short-cutting and/or cost-cutting of projects. This short-sighted thinking always seem to backfire and cause revisions later, either in concept-redesign or structural-redesign. Starting my "working life" as an engineer taught me to not cost-cut for the sake of immediate savings, but to make-it-right-the-first-time. (Maybe I am glad now to have not taken the WDW job offer as Engineering Manager, when it was offered to me in 1995.)

 

[Planogirl]

That's a shame. I wonder how long they would have to take the show down to install a new system?

 

[rteetz]

That's a shame. I wonder how long they would have to take the show down to install a new system?

Well if disney would put money into it probably not very long but knowing disney and how they drag things out it would probably take longer than it should.

 

[Confederate Scott]

Enjoyed that show the first time we saw it. However about five minutes into the second time I was wondering what we were doing there.

 

[tooh8ful]

That show is always the height of my youngest daughter's trip. As a toddler she would watch the Lion King over and over. The look on her face, even now, when she sees a lion king production is sheer joy.
I hope they get it straightened out before October, for purely selfish reasons.

 

[thiabelle]

Been on the Dis too long... I saw Rusty's post and my absolute first thought was "What does MOB stand for? Manager of ....". Then I realized sometimes a MOB is just a MOB

 

[larandtra1990]

Well if disney would put money into it probably not very long but knowing disney and how they drag things out it would probably take longer than it should.
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I often wonder why people who complain so much even bother going? Maybe you would have more fun at Universal or some other theme park since they probably do such a better job of running their facilities. Or try a different type of vacay. Geez.

 

[rteetz]

Well if disney would put money into it probably not very long but knowing disney and how they drag things out it would probably take longer than it should.
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I often wonder why people who complain so much even bother going? Maybe you would have more fun at Universal or some other theme park since they probably do such a better job of running their facilities. Or try a different type of vacay. Geez.

Since you referred to my comment. I have never been to universal and don't have any plans to go there at this time. Disney can and should be held to a high standard. They set the highest theme park standards and they should live up to what they themselves set. Letting shows go bad and have problems like FOTLK or the POTC which is in refurb right now is not good. Other rides and shows are still in need of refurbs but disney won't take them down for long periods of time because some guest will complain that it will ruin their vacation because they missed that one ride. I love disney and always have. Disney is the top theme park company and they should be held to that by doing the best.

 

[peg110]

Other rides and shows are still in need of refurbs but disney won't take them down for long periods of time because some guest will complain that it will ruin their vacation because they missed that one ride.

I cannot believe that this would be the reason for NOT doing a refurb. People will complain if it's down for safety reasons. People will complain if it's down for a refurb. People will complain if it runs slow. People will complain if they are fixing that ride over this ride. People will complain if a drop of rain comes down. The theme here is that people will complain if things aren't 100% what THEY want not considering that what they want is different from what the other person wants. Then that person will complain.

Point is, is that Disney is probably used to "Complaints". I suspect the repair/refurb schedule considers many other things. First is Safety followed by "Profits" (which probably has a small consideration of the complaints), then other factors such as a larger plan to replace something, budgets, etc...

So while complaints are going to happen I suspect it's only small factor. The budget/profit is probably a bigger one which is evident in that they are using a "Used" sound system.

 

[larandtra1990]

Fair enough. I agree that as patrons who value a WDW vacay over other places, we should expect a higher standard. Thats fair. I guess my issue is more with those who constantly complain yet dont understand the business end of things. I do see problems when WDW does " reactionary and rushed" responses to other parks doing something new. I find Stitch to be abhorrent and the removal of AE was tragic. I find the consistently changed and poorly executed JII not up to Disney standards. but, I only compare Disney to Disney, not to other inferior parks which are not even close. They certainly make misteps at times..That awful hat stayed up way too long at the studios. But, they are usually smart enough to fix things. Its a process and takes time and I would rather have them be meticulous than rush as they have on some things and make it worse.

 

[littlejimmy]

Well if disney would put money into it probably not very long but knowing disney and how they drag things out it would probably take longer than it should.

and I happen to think the opposite. I think Disney will take care of it on a timely basis, like they do most other things. just a difference of opinion, I guess.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

The budget/profit is probably a bigger one which is evident in that they are using a "Used" sound system.

Ya, Think?

 

[peg110]

Ya, Think?

Just a lucky guess.

 

[rteetz]

I cannot believe that this would be the reason for NOT doing a refurb. People will complain if it's down for safety reasons. People will complain if it's down for a refurb. People will complain if it runs slow. People will complain if they are fixing that ride over this ride. People will complain if a drop of rain comes down. The theme here is that people will complain if things aren't 100% what THEY want not considering that what they want is different from what the other person wants. Then that person will complain.

Point is, is that Disney is probably used to "Complaints". I suspect the repair/refurb schedule considers many other things. First is Safety followed by "Profits" (which probably has a small consideration of the complaints), then other factors such as a larger plan to replace something, budgets, etc...

So while complaints are going to happen I suspect it's only small factor. The budget/profit is probably a bigger one which is evident in that they are using a "Used" sound system.

It is a reason tho that's the problem. Why do you think it took this long to get POTC down for a refurb. It was originally supposed to be longer too. Phil Holmes the VP of the MK hates taking rides down because of that very reason. Disney doesn't want to ruin those once in a life timers because they are spending the most money. POTC has been a safety problem for a long time from what I've heard it could use a six month refurb but is only getting 3.5.

 

[rteetz]

and I happen to think the opposite. I think Disney will take care of it on a timely basis, like they do most other things. just a difference of opinion, I guess.

The old disney let's say up until about the mid to late 90s, would never let things go. If a ride had one animatronic not working properly or if something else was wrong with a show it would be taken down and fixed asap. Today they wait and wait until they have no choice. POTC for example was just in terrible conditions with a lot of AAs not working, boats taking on a lot of water, people would come out more soaked on pirates than splash mountain. Disney used to never let things get to that point.

 

[LeeAndRobin]

Disney used to never let things get to that point.

Given that you are like 17 years old, I assume you are not speaking from experience here?

 

[rteetz]

Given that you are like 17 years old, I assume you are not speaking from experience here?

I am not but that doesn't mean it's not true. I don't see what my age has anything to do with this. I also have been to WDW several times over my life starting from when I was 8 months old. Now I don't remeber that first trip but I can tell differences between the others.

 

[LeeAndRobin]

I am not but that doesn't mean it's not true. I don't see what my age has anything to do with this. I also have been to WDW several times over my life starting from when I was 8 months old. Now I don't remeber that first trip but I can tell differences between the others.

Some comments:

1) As you get older, and go on more trips, you pay more attention to small details. So you notice things you wouldn't have when younger or on initial trips (regardless of age). Which means that you don't see the warts on the first trip (unless they are huge warts) because a) you don't have a frame of reference and b) you're looking at the big stuff, not the tiny details.

2) While your age has nothing to do with it, you tend to state things on this site as if they are coming from years of personal experience (where "years" > 20). I was simply pointing out that this is not the case.

3) I agree that upkeep has gone down at Disney, but it has everywhere else also, including at the university I work at. None of this is happening in a vacuum...

 

[3DisneyFanz]

Some comments:

1) As you get older, and go on more trips, you pay more attention to small details. So you notice things you wouldn't have when younger or on initial trips (regardless of age). Which means that you don't see the warts on the first trip (unless they are huge warts) because a) you don't have a frame of reference and b) you're looking at the big stuff, not the tiny details.

2) While your age has nothing to do with it, you tend to state things on this site as if they are coming from years of personal experience (where "years" > 20). I was simply pointing out that this is not the case.

3) I agree that upkeep has gone down at Disney, but it has everywhere else also, including at the university I work at. None of this is happening in a vacuum...

I won't address number 2 but as for your number 1 I don't think that's true. We went to Carrowinds a lot when I was younger. I remember my first trip to Disney in the early 80s and being amazed at how clean it was, how there were no paint chips and no gum stuck places. It was one of the things that I noticed everytime until it just slowly stopped. We never saw the evidence of repainting anymore and rides started to routinely have major blemishes.

As for number 3 I can't help but think back to everyone's Mom's favorite phrase "If your friends all jump off a bridge are you going to jump too?"

 

[LeeAndRobin]

I won't address number 2 but as for your number 1 I don't think that's true. We went to Carrowinds a lot when I was younger. I remember my first trip to Disney in the early 80s and being amazed at how clean it was, how there were no paint chips and no gum stuck places. It was one of the things that I noticed everytime until it just slowly stopped. We never saw the evidence of repainting anymore and rides started to routinely have major blemishes.

I think you've pretty much proven my point here. The more often you went, the more warts you saw. Not necessarily because there were more there, but because you were looking closer, at smaller details.