Polynesian Wave Machine

[SpaceAce]

Can anyone fill me in on the Polynesian Wave Machine from the early years? I just heard about it in a Disney Trivia Book from the Library. It said there was a machine made to create artificial waves for the Polynesian beach. It was turned off either beause it did not work or because it caused a lot of erosion damage to the beach.

Was anyone there to see it work?

 

[Tess]

I've never seen it work--but have certainly heard about it. Depending upon whom you speak to (or which book you read), the machine is either still at the bottom of the lagoon or was removed shortly after installation. The most common reason cited for ceasing its use was, as you note, erosion. It's my understanding the machine wasn't in operation very long after the opening of Polynesian and MK. Still, it would have been something to see.

 

[dbail2]

There is a picture on Tikimans site:

http://www.tikiman2001.homestead.com/poly1_5.html

" A more exotic water element never made it to a regular operational state. The "wave machine", a subject of intense cast member interest in the early seventies, was actually built off the southern shore of Beachcomber Isle in the Seven Seas Lagoon. This mechanism was intended to provide breakers capable of sustaining surfers. And that's exactly what it did when completed after several delays. Unfortunately, the waves eroded the shoreline near Luau Cove and the machine was permanently shut down. It later became an artificial reef." From Widen Your World.

 

[AKQJ10]

The failed wave machine is, for the most part, still there, but has not been in operation for many years.

If you take a watermouse from the Poly, you can actually get pretty close to what's left right above the water's surface. There are signs telling you to keep away, but you can still get a good look.

I know I have a photo somehere... I'll post it when I find it