Splash Mountain finale animatronics not functional

[Tropical Wilds]

What a letdown. Especially for whoever anticipated it would make it through the year. Hope they get the needed part soon and fix it overnight if possible.

I'm not sure there's a single part that fixes the broken jumping water, non-buzzing behives, out of sync audio, missing shadow effects, turtles floating on the water, etc.

I tend to wonder if they're sinking no more money into it in anticipation of retheming it to something less intensive and in need of less maintaining. Though leaving it open while non-functioning so as to not effectively shut down Frontierland with no place in the park to absorb the additional people (especially considering the loss of Mickey's Fair and the limitations of Fantasyland) is the real reason.

 

[SaraJayne]

But at this point Splash has been down and not working right since at least September.

I'm pretty sure the yeti comment was tongue in cheek. LOL

The yeti has been broken for years...with no plans to repair it.

 

[rchris6]

I would rather have a functional SM than Avatar Land....sheeesh

Agreed!

 

[Tropical Wilds]

I'm pretty sure the yeti comment was tongue in cheek. LOL

The yeti has been broken for years...with no plans to repair it.

Really? I think it was working the last time I went... Then again, I've been there how many times and only noticed it was even there the last time I went. That said, when I asked a CM they said it is often totally not working, and when that's the case, the shut the lights off around him so you can't see him. LoL

 

[MaleficentRN]

Wow! This video gives a running inventory of the problems. Really depressing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KvqU8IjDTuk&feature=related

 

[PIRATEGIRL007]

Really? I think it was working the last time I went... Then again, I've been there how many times and only noticed it was even there the last time I went. That said, when I asked a CM they said it is often totally not working, and when that's the case, the shut the lights off around him so you can't see him. LoL

The Yeti has not worked fully in years, shortly after opening it was modified to a "B" mode then the motion fully stopped. She actually hasn't moved at all in at least 3-4 years now despite many thinking they have seen her move. The strobe light effect combined with the speed you pass her gives that illusion to some.

There are several versions of the Yeti.

Full "A" mode, hasn't happened since shortly after opening in which the Yeti fully moved and swooped down at you.
"B" mode hasn't happened in years, Yeti moved some still giving the illusion of swooping down at you.
Disco Yeti- most common, a strobe light effect
Darl (or Emo) Yeti- either veiled by sheet or the light just cut off. Everytime the sheet comes out some of us get our hopes up, only to have them dashed when she returns to her Disco mode.

FWIW there are several effects at EE that no longer work, not jus the Yeti, the waterfalls, the 'steam/fog' effect and the circling bird no longer consistenly work either.

But back to the original topic, Splash was way off the music and we saw some decapitated/stroke looking animatronics in Sept. It is creepy. We also saw some of the animatronics removed and in a backstage area awaiting repair on our KTTK tour.

 

[MikeandReneePlus5]

The problem is that parts of WDW are just getting really old, and they need to be refurbished. I guess they could shut the whole place down for a year and do it all.

But aside from that, really what would you have WDW do that is different than what they are doing?

Because it seems to me they are refurbishing pretty darn fast!

Just look at MK!

Space Mountain just got re-done, Tiki just got re-done, ITASW just got re-done, BTMRR is under wraps now, all of FL is basically being re-done, as well as huge chunks (if not all of) Main St.

And yet people will ***** about SM needing to be re-done and what the heck is wrong with Disney and when did the Disney difference go away and blah blah blah

oh and the Speedway. better get on that too Disney what the heck are you thinking running too slow cars around a track?

all that said SM needs some love and so does Soarin. And TT...which is getting it of course. Star Tours did and look at that now? It's great.

I figure they'll get to it all...and they probably have a timeline tied to the opening of new FL when mos things will be spiffily refurbed.

The Yeti's never gonna happen though.

 

[OneLittleSpark7]

worry not. look how fast they fixed the yeti.

 

[flortlebap]

That sucks. SM is a huge attraction - for it to be in such a bad state of disrepair is pretty shocking, tbh.

 

[Epic Epcot]

As some of you have stated the water does more damage to the ride then you can imagine. I know that's why they refurb SM every year to touch up paint and "attempt" to fix some of the animatronics.

I wouldn't expect any major upgrades to SM anytime soon considering they are upgrading TT in Epcot and BTM in MK. If SM get a major upgrade I wouldn't expect anything before 2014. This way new Fantasyland will be open and they can divert some SM traffic to 7 Dwarfs Mine Coaster (IMO).

With that said it is sad to see the state of this ride. I'm going in March and will make sure to take a video and give everyone an update.

 

[Tropical Wilds]

As some of you have stated the water does more damage to the ride then you can imagine. I know that's why they refurb SM every year to touch up paint and "attempt" to fix some of the animatronics.

I wouldn't expect any major upgrades to SM anytime soon considering they are upgrading TT in Epcot and BTM in MK. If SM get a major upgrade I wouldn't expect anything before 2014. This way new Fantasyland will be open and they can divert some SM traffic to 7 Dwarfs Mine Coaster (IMO).

With that said it is sad to see the state of this ride. I'm going in March and will make sure to take a video and give everyone an update.

I read about how badly the water damages the animatronics, it's pretty amazing. It's not just direct water contact, but it's everything, from the air humidity being higher, the chemicals...