Some insight into Space Mountain stoppages (and pics from the park today)

[WonkaKid]

While in line for Buzz today (where else would I be? ;-), a CM explained the reason for frequent stoppages of Space Mountain. It's this: the CMs have fourteen seconds to load each run, which is why they always rush guests out/into cars. If they exceed that time and a buzzer sounds, it means that too many cars have rolled into the station and the ride has to be stopped. They then have to roll each car into the station manually and then restart the ride. He explained that it typically happens six or seven times on any given weekend day. So now we know why it may feel that CMs rush us on and off of the ride .

Crowds at the park were moderate today and the weather verged on perfect. I've been sick for the past several days and I can't seem to kick it. I felt on Friday that I'd be fully recovered by today. However, I awoke in the middle of the night with severe abdominal pain and had to go to the bathroom to (trigger warning -- read the following text backwards ;-)) pu worht. When I got up this morning, I felt better and left a little late. As I approached the park, my stomach started to hurt again. Rushing to park, getting through security, the tram and the main gates didn't help matters. Then I rushed to meet friends. Then and there, I started to feel even worse and after three FL rides, I made way for the first aid station.

There they administered Pepto-Bismol and I lay down for about 45. I felt a little better and as the day wore on, it seemed to pass. I'm still not 100% but I don't feel anything close to how nauseous and pained as I was this morning.

Here are a few pics from the park. I did reasonably well on Buzz but some joker snatched first place from me ;-). I've explained many times in the past why a 2M+ score is hard to beat: because if you exceed 2,099,900, your score resets; you lose everything. Moreover, once you exceed a million, you have to (try) to keep your score tally running in your head. Sometimes I can, sometimes I can't. In any case, I managed to grab 1,964,900, which is still respectable.

Here are some pics from the park. Not so many today, since, as I explained, I wasn't feeling 100%.



Since Main Street is partially closed for the track refurb, it seems that they've opened some of the side passages to relive some of the traffic.



The current state of the Splash Mountain refurb:


I like that the bird had its wings spread when I snapped this one.






A postscript: recently I was with friends at the park and I was first, they were third on PP. My friends said something like "Rob's always first on Peter Pan" to someone between us. The person replied rather sardonically: "Yeah. We know." Incidentally, I usually arrive first but if a child is behind me and seems to care about being first, I'll always surrender the spot, as I did in the case above.

 

[Indiana Scott]

Hope you keep feeling better.
Thanks for the pics, you made my day!

 

[WonkaKid]

Hope you keep feeling better.
Thanks for the pics, you made my day!

Thanks! Feeling OK tonight. Hopefully a good night's sleep will put me right.

 

[DLgal]

So you've been vomiting and sick and you went to the park today anyway? Thanks for thinking about others. We're going tomorrow.

Ugh...

If you are sick and vomiting, you are contagious. Stay home.

 

[emmagator]

Could you elaborate on the Main Street closure?

 

[WonkaKid]

Could you elaborate on the Main Street closure?

Sorry. Partially closed due to the track refurb .

 

[azdisneylover]

(((Big hugs))). I hope you are on the road to recovery. That yuck going around, I got it twice! Plus, I had three teenagers sick! Not fun. Not to mention the hubby came down with it. Knock on wood. First weekend in a few weeks we all are feeling decent. I would suggest lots of soup and rest when you can. Keep hand sanitizer with you when visiting the parks, and of course, everyone should wash their hands with soap and water and avoid touching their eyes, nose, mouth, etc. Anyhoo, great pictures!! Can't wait to see more.

 

[dina444444]

I got evaced off of space yesterday, was still in the load station so not very exciting. We had moved into the place where they slide the disability car on. The car in front of us had an uneven weight bearing and they tried to fix it on the track (have 2 people the ride vehicle quickly) and it didn't happen fast enough and the control panel wouldn't move out of the stop position as the cm tried to launch the car. Usually they pull the car to the left and take it off the track when this happens but they didn't this time. It ended up shutting down the whole ride and they emptied the queue etc.

 

[Lesley Wake]

While in line for Buzz today (where else would I be? ;-), a CM explained the reason for frequent stoppages of Space Mountain. It's this: the CMs have fourteen seconds to load each run, which is why they always rush guests out/into cars. If they exceed that time and a buzzer sounds, it means that too many cars have rolled into the station and the ride has to be stopped. They then have to roll each car into the station manually and then restart the ride. He explained that it typically happens six or seven times on any given weekend day. So now we know why it may feel that CMs rush us on and off of the ride .

Yeah, I rode once with an Imagineer who is very tall. He explained that because he takes more time to get situated, he always asks to go into the disabled car that’s on the side. That way he has time to get seated in a way his legs will fit.

So, if you ever think you will take more time to get into the car, just ask to go into the disabled one when you get to the front of the line. The CMs will definitely appreciate it!

 

[agamble]

I had heard that about Space before. Though I've heard the buzzer before and not had the ride stop. SO it must depend on a bit more than that.

One of our best memories so far this year was my daughter and I getting sent around for a second ride on Space Mountain. They didn't unload our train (probably because of timing). We and the guys behind us were all for another ride around. It was awesome!

 

[WonkaKid]

... Though I've heard the buzzer before and not had the ride stop. SO it must depend on a bit more than that.

I believe that the buzzer is a warning. Shortly thereafter is when the ride shuts down.

 

[JKalai]

I was there yesterday and was behind a car that had one of the lap bars malfunction. I knew what was happening as the CM's were in a rush to get the guest off the ride before it's too late, but it almost seems like they are yelling at them. I would be confused too if I didn't know that the timing of the cars depend on the ride functioning.

 

[chickapin parterre]

...it is a slam stop at the buzzer.....great now I will be thinking about Disneyland every time I watch the closing seconds of a basketball game!!!!

 

[wowsmom]

Yeah, I rode once with an Imagineer who is very tall. He explained that because he takes more time to get situated, he always asks to go into the disabled car that’s on the side. That way he has time to get seated in a way his legs will fit.

So, if you ever think you will take more time to get into the car, just ask to go into the disabled one when you get to the front of the line. The CMs will definitely appreciate it!

This would have been good to know when my son was growing like a weed! We had one time where he'd grown a couple inches since our prior visit (about a month before) and couldn't get his legs unfolded to get off the ride. It was stressful! Now he knows exactly how to put his legs so it's not a big deal.

 

[cmwade77]

If you need longer than about 7 seconds to get in and out of Space Mountain, then you should be asking for the ADA car, but that does mean you will have to use the ADA entrance. But this will give you as much time as you need.

 

[JeninBrant]

We saw this happen on Space. This guy was too tall and couldn’t get on. The lights went on and cars were stopped. People were actually pissed that they had to ride with the lights on. (I always hope for the lights to turn on! Lol)

 

[MrJT]

So you've been vomiting and sick and you went to the park today anyway? Thanks for thinking about others. We're going tomorrow.

Ugh...

If you are sick and vomiting, you are contagious. Stay home.

I am with you on this. I guess that I could understand if it was a once in a lifetime trip. But if you have an annual pass, and you go pretty much every week, it might be wise to stay home.

 

[lalasmama]

Yeah, I rode once with an Imagineer who is very tall. He explained that because he takes more time to get situated, he always asks to go into the disabled car that’s on the side. That way he has time to get seated in a way his legs will fit.

So, if you ever think you will take more time to get into the car, just ask to go into the disabled one when you get to the front of the line. The CMs will definitely appreciate it!

YES! The cast members are great about it!

If you need longer than about 7 seconds to get in and out of Space Mountain, then you should be asking for the ADA car, but that does mean you will have to use the ADA entrance. But this will give you as much time as you need.

On Space Mountain, I have never used the ADA entrance, and used the many (many!) times. They have never told me that I have to do the ADA entrance to use it.

Usually what I do is tell the CM, "I need extra time get situated, so I need to use the slow-load car please. I don't want to make you guys do a restart," at the front of the regular line. They tell me/us where to go, depending on if the car is ready to board or on the track. I load myself in the car with or without assistance depending on my ability that day, and they usually tell me that it will be a few minutes to see if there are more that need to be loaded into that car. When they deem it time, off we go! At the end of the ride, they just do the slide thing to bring us back off the track.