Rock 'n' Roller Coaster - is something wrong?

[abnormaldan]

Upon our latest trip to WDW in Jan/Feb '13, both my wife and I noticed something strange about Rock 'n' Roller Coaster, one of our FAVORITE attractions.
The lighting seems to be... strange. Now, for all I know, this has always been the case and we'd never noticed it but, I'm not sure, so maybe one of your can confirm my suspicions.

The way we remembered the ride was that the street signs that you pass are well lit. You can see them well before you get there, which leaves you time to read them, or to at least recognize them.

This time, however, it seemed like the lights were activated by a timer or motion sensor. We like to wait for a front-row seat on this ride, so it was very noticeable that the signs were not illuminated until a split-second before we passed them, leaving little to no time to read, or even recognize them.

Has anyone else noticed this? Has it always been this way, or is something a bit off? Have they put timers on the lighting to save energy? Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

 

[cleophus12]

I really couldn't say if the lighting has changed. I usually have my eyes closed.

 

[mesaboy2]

Upon our latest trip to WDW in Jan/Feb '13, both my wife and I noticed something strange about Rock 'n' Roller Coaster, one of our FAVORITE attractions.
The lighting seems to be... strange. Now, for all I know, this has always been the case and we'd never noticed it but, I'm not sure, so maybe one of your can confirm my suspicions.

The way we remembered the ride was that the street signs that you pass are well lit. You can see them well before you get there, which leaves you time to read them, or to at least recognize them.

This time, however, it seemed like the lights were activated by a timer or motion sensor. We like to wait for a front-row seat on this ride, so it was very noticeable that the signs were not illuminated until a split-second before we passed them, leaving little to no time to read, or even recognize them.

Has anyone else noticed this? Has it always been this way, or is something a bit off? Have they put timers on the lighting to save energy? Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

Haven't heard of any changes. Turning lights on and off frequently can be more wasteful than leaving them on. Memory can be a funny thing.

 

[chartle]

Haven't heard of any changes. Turning lights on and off frequently can be more wasteful than leaving them on. Memory can be a funny thing.

This was covered on Mythbusters and actually that's mostly a myth for modern lighting. For some lights the start up current is the same as the amount of electricity to run it for a few seconds, for some less then a 10th.

http://www.straightdope.com/columns...y-should-you-turn-lights-off-or-leave-them-on

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2oo_EGODkrs

But I'm wondering if this is to "hide" signs from other parts of the ride. I think there are two trains in the ride building at the same time. So if it was always lit up you could maybe see it from another point in the ride.

 

[denecarter]

I always thought the lit up as you approached them... making everything seem faster.

 

[mesaboy2]

This was covered on Mythbusters and actually that's mostly a myth for modern lighting. For some lights the start up current is the same as the amount of electricity to run it for a few seconds, for some less then a 10th.

http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/222/to-save-energy-should-you-turn-lights-off-or-leave-them-on

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2oo_EGODkrs

But I'm wondering if this is to "hide" signs from other parts of the ride. I think there are two trains in the ride building at the same time. So if it was always lit up you could maybe see it from another point in the ride.

Fair enough. I personally don't think anything's changed with regard to RnRC lighting though.

 

[chartle]

Fair enough. I personally don't think anything's changed with regard to RnRC lighting though.

I'm researching this as I type this. I would love to say I was in the queue ready to ride but its just me looking at youtube videos.

 

[chartle]

I'm researching this as I type this. I would love to say I was in the queue ready to ride but its just me looking at youtube videos.

Here is a front seat POV and it does look like, that whenever this was shot, that some signs light up as you approach.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYBP9A6P2t0

 

[g3pak]

My wife is there today and already rode it at least 3 times. I will ask her.

In the mean time- I think you noticed that because you are in the front seat. I have noticed it when riding up front but not further back.

They turn the lights off and on in sync with the coaster so that you do not see all of the signs in the building as you ride. You have to remember that it is a second or two between those in the front and those in the back passing the signs. I suspect they set up the timing for those riding in the middle.

FYI- I am about 95% sure there is only one coaster on the track at a time. It takes longer to load the train than it does to ride the track, plus for safety reasons they would only have one out there at a time. That is why you sometimes wait a few/ several seconds at the entrance to the tunnel before starting.

 

[chartle]

1. FYI- I am about 95% sure there is only one coaster on the track at a time. It takes longer to load the train than it does to ride the track, plus for safety reasons they would only have one out there at a time.

2. That is why you sometimes wait a few/ several seconds at the entrance to the tunnel before starting.

1. It can have more than one by using "Blocking sections".

This website explains it better than I can, but they can have 5 trains running at the same time, 2 "on the track at the same time".

http://rnrcfans.webs.com/thecircuit.htm

On any roller coaster, if you go through a straight section of track that has cat walks and stairs next to it and is higher than any element or hill in front of you, its probably a block brake section of track where they can stop you if the train in front of you hasn't cleared the block in front of you. The reason you have to be higher than any track in front of you is so the train has enough momentum to get you through the ride from a dead stop.

2. Same kind of the same thing as when you are stopped on the monorail "waiting for traffic ahead of you to clear". You are waiting for the train in front of you to move into the next track section.

 

[mesaboy2]

1. It can have more than one by using "Blocking sections".

This website explains it better than I can, but they can have 5 trains running at the same time, 2 "on the track at the same time".

http://rnrcfans.webs.com/thecircuit.htm

On any roller coaster, if you go through a straight section of track that has cat walks and stairs next to it and is higher than any element or hill in front of you, its probably a block brake section of track where they can stop you if the train in front of you hasn't cleared the block in front of you. The reason you have to be higher than any track in front of you is so the train has enough momentum to get you through the ride from a dead stop.

2. Same kind of the same thing as when you are stopped on the monorail "waiting for traffic ahead of you to clear". You are waiting for the train in front of you to move into the next track section.

Before I got stuck on it last year, the lights came on during the ride and I clearly saw another vehicle on the track behind us. When we stopped just before the unloading area, the other vehicle was stopped at a level section midway through the track.

 

[chartle]

Before I got stuck on it last year, the lights came on during the ride and I clearly saw another vehicle on the track behind us. When we stopped just before the unloading area, the other vehicle was stopped at a level section midway through the track.

Yes since you didn't clear your section the other train stayed in the block behind yours.

You may have also noticed that when you went through that section it may have slowed you down just a little. Block brake sections can also be used as trim brakes. Brakes designed to slow you down just a little if you are going too fast.

 

[mesaboy2]

Yes since you didn't clear your section the other train stayed in the block behind yours.

You may have also noticed that when you went through that section it may have slowed you down just a little. Block brake sections can also be used as trim brakes. Brakes designed to slow you down just a little if you are going too fast.

I know. I was just backing up your post with personal experience.

 

[chartle]

I know. I was just backing up your post with personal experience.

I know. I was just backing up your post with more of my vast knowledge of roller coasters. x2

 

[g3pak]

I stand corrected, apparently several times over. I was basing the "one coaster on the track at a time" more on the length of the ride than anything, although I assumed an extra level of safety would be involved, too. I knew about block sections but thought they would be used to trim on a normal ride or to stop the one train in an emergency. With the ride lasting 70 seconds, I would think they could barely get a second coaster launched before the first one is done and would therefore wait until the first coaster has cleared the last braking area before launching the next.

It says 4 are going at one time, so I would think 3 would be in between the final straighaway, the unloading and loading areas, and the launch, but apparently I am wrong.

BTW, that website is cool. I wish they could make the track diagram bigger, but that is impressive!

Mesaboy- you were stuck on it? You mean stuck on it in the middle of the ride? I bet that was crazy.

 

[mesaboy2]

I stand corrected, apparently several times over. I was basing the "one coaster on the track at a time" more on the length of the ride than anything, although I assumed an extra level of safety would be involved, too. I knew about block sections but thought they would be used to trim on a normal ride or to stop the one train in an emergency. With the ride lasting 70 seconds, I would think they could barely get a second coaster launched before the first one is done and would therefore wait until the first coaster has cleared the last braking area before launching the next.

It says 4 are going at one time, so I would think 3 would be in between the final straighaway, the unloading and loading areas, and the launch, but apparently I am wrong.

BTW, that website is cool. I wish they could make the track diagram bigger, but that is impressive!

Mesaboy- you were stuck on it? You mean stuck on it in the middle of the ride? I bet that was crazy.

Loved it. We were stuck at the last braking section in sight of the unload area. When we were eventually walked out, we did not go forwards but back (to my surprise and delight) into the one large room that the entire track is within then back up along the launch tube. The car behind us was already emptied by the time we left, but it was stopped in that middle braking section. I suspected something was up when the lights came on during.

 

[Robo]

I know. I was just backing up your post with more of my vast knowledge of roller coasters. x2

And, I'm just backing up-

Beep-beep-beep-beep-beep...

 

[Tiggerish]

And, I'm just backing up-

Beep-beep-beep-beep-beep...

I almost fell out of my chair laughing... how is it that kids say it today? oh yes, ROTFL