Universal Whats up?

[ArmandtheWise]

I came back from my two day trip to Orlando and everything was going good until I reached Marvel Island at Universal. The ride I was most hyped up about, Spider-man had about two major break downs. I was standing in line for ten minutes and then we hear that the ride has been malfunctioned. We waited an extra twenty minutes and the ride finally gets fixed. We finally make it to where you board the rides but then suddenly the ride malfunctions again. We wait for another three minutes and nothing happened.

I tried to show some optimisim but my friends and family got so pissed off and moved on and I wanted to show them how good the ride was. I was the only one that stayed behind and about ten minutes later it gets fixed and I finally get to go on the ride. Even though I went on the ride, I still wanted my group to join me but I have to admit, how much can a person have to wait for a ride. It was like being ripped off. They all swore to never return to any universal parks because this is like the sixth time that a ride has had technical difficulties. Meanwhile everytime we go to a Disney park there are no accidents at all. I am sad to say that I ould never get to ride Jurrasic Park, Popeye, Spider-Man etc. never again.

How many of you people think its true that Disney manages to keep there rides intact while Universal rides keep shuting down?

 

[Timmy Boy]

The rides are computer controlled. They're not perfect. Disney's attractions do the same thing. Test Track is famous for going down probably once a day.

It's actually probably being "too" safe. Such as, when I worked at Dragons. There would be sensors on the ride track, to tell where the train is. The train would go past the sensors, and cause them to become un attached to the computer. The compute realizes this, and estops the ride. Techs come by and re establish a connection, but the computer still thinks that the sensor is not in place, therefore it will not allow the ride to be reset.

There's a lot more into it then meets the eye.

 

[Planogirl]

Disney rides never break down? Like Tim said, Test Track does regularly and I could tell you stories about Spaceship Earth. All rides break down from time to time but I think that the more complex rides break down more often.

 

[FireandIce]

The rides are computer controlled. They're not perfect. Disney's attractions do the same thing. Test Track is famous for going down probably once a day.

It's actually probably being "too" safe. Such as, when I worked at Dragons. There would be sensors on the ride track, to tell where the train is. The train would go past the sensors, and cause them to become un attached to the computer. The compute realizes this, and estops the ride. Techs come by and re establish a connection, but the computer still thinks that the sensor is not in place, therefore it will not allow the ride to be reset.

There's a lot more into it then meets the eye.

 

[phamton]

I think Test Track is cursed. I have tried to ride it 8 times and have only managed to get on 2 of those times. All the other times, it breaks down right before I get on. I've finally given up on that one.

 

[kenban]

Its been my experience that most of the times that spaceship earth stops its because someone needs extra assistance getting on or off the ride. Most people just don't realize how complex Test track really is. The cars actually are driving themselves the track only provides power and a check to make sure none of the cars go too far off to one side or the other. The break downs are almost always caused by the section of track which runs outside. The changing conditions cause changes in how the cars handle which is just too much for the computers on the cars. Another interesting fact about Test Track the entire track is actually smooth the bumbs in the road are done by the car.

But then I have had good luck with Spiderman. I remember on my trip in December there was one point in the afternoon that 4 major rides (between both IoA and US maybe more were down but thats just what I was trying to ride) were down at the same time but everything was back up about two hours later. Those were the only break downs at Universal that I was aware of my whole trip.

I go to a lot of amusement parks and I don't care how simple or complex a ride is it can and will break down at some point. You just got unlucky and I would not let something like that stop me from going back to a park again.

 

[F-L-A]

How many of you people think its true that Disney manages to keep there rides intact while Universal rides keep shuting down?

Yep, Disney's attractions never break down. You know why? They're magical!


And you know what else? The Easter Bunny exists. Well, he did. Unfortunately, I saw him get run over by a car the other day. My car. No more chocolate eggs, kids.

 

[ChrisFL]

Yep, Disney's attractions never break down. You know why? They're magical!


And you know what else? The Easter Bunny exists. Well, he did. Unfortunately, I saw him get run over by a car the other day. My car. No more chocolate eggs, kids.

that's so wrong.

But back to the topic...Spiderman has, IIRC 70 (yes, SEVENTY) different computers controlling it. It probably still is the most technologically advanced ride on the planet and with that, things do tend to break down on occassion.

As for Test Track, yes, I worked for 3 months on a contract at Disney where I walked the parks every day. Test Track, TTA, and Splash Mountain, all went down many many times while I was working. It's pretty obvious too, because nowadays you can hear quite loudly the speaker of the ride ops or a recording saying that the ride has stopped, please stay in your seats, etc.

 

[robvia]

If your family and friends let little things bug them on trips, then it's best you go alone and don't worry about impressing them. You basically wanted them to share in your excitement, but they wanted nothing of it just because of a few glitches.
You'll have more fun if you come back to the parks on your own and tour early in the morning. You can go where you want, when you want.
People have this fear of being alone in a park. It's the complete opposite. Many people see my coaster shirts and start talking to me. For the coasters, I get in the 2nd row, and there's usually a seat in the front row available when the gate opens. I go on the rides many times, usually in the front row, without waiting much.

 

[bubba's mom]

I have always had more things at Disney close on me for rehab than break-down, and at Universal, nothing has ever broken down or been closed for rehab....lucky i guess....

oh wait!!! just remembered: 1st trip to MK w/ DS....Small World & TSIsland closed for rehab and BTMRR broke down...BUT, could use the FP we had for it at any other FP attraction (except Mickey's Philharmagic)

 

[yaytezIOA]

How many of you people think its true that Disney manages to keep there rides intact while Universal rides keep shuting down?

If thats the truth, then why leave disney? Stay in the little pixie dust filled bubble. Things break down, they get fixed, then break down again. We spent three hours on a New Years eve in line for Space Mountain while it was broken down. It was fun, but the point is...if its mechanical, it will break down. If its computer driven, then god help us all.....THE MACHINES ARE GOING TO TAKE OVER. WE ONLY DELAYED JUDGEMENT DAY.

 

[t-and-a]

We were at Magic Kingdom one particular time, and Space Mountain was broken down from about 6 PM until closing time. Space Mountain has broken down many times while we were at Disney. Also Rock N Rollercoaster broke down on our visits too. We have experienced so many breakdowns at Disney, I can't even name them all. Rides break down at Disney and Universal, and we should all be glad that there are checks and balances in place to take care of the problems. It was just bad luck that you went to IOA and Spiderman broke down.

 

[AlexandNessa]

How many of you people think its true that Disney manages to keep there rides intact while Universal rides keep shuting down?

Sorry, not me! In December we waited forever for the orange side of Mission Space. We had ridden once on the green side because my cousin's girlfriend was afraid. My cousin had never ridden the orange side, and when we told him the orange side was SOO much better, he wanted to do that with us next. His GF decided to wait in line with us and use the loser lounge exit at the last minute, knowing she could. We waited so long that she said she was glad she waited with us because she would have wondered where the frick we went. They kept saying that it would be up shortly, but a 10 minute posted wait turned into an hour. We also waited for Test Track which, surprise, had a malfunction. Every other time I try to ride that it's closed temporarily due to technical difficulties. We also got stuck in the line for ToT when one of the cars stopped working, and they filtered everyone who was standing in line to the remaining cars. That was another 20 minute posted wait that turned into an hour.

These things happen. It's not just Universal. We'd rather be safe than sorry.

 

[calgarygary]

I know things never break down except at US/IOA - it's very frustrating. Hopefully all of those "Disney is magical, Universal is....." folks will find themselves in the line for BTTF on April 1.

 

[bubba's mom]

"Disney is magical, Universal is....."

i believe "ghetto" is the word you are looking for.....

 

[julieannbabe]

i was very lucky on my trip two weeks ago - none of the universal rides broke down.

back in 2003 - ET was always stopping and starting.

I was lucky with test track at Epcot too - went on it twice on two different days and it didn't break down once.

i guest it is luck of the draw.

 

[damo]

We were there for a full week at the end of February and nothing broke down at all. We went to the Pirates and Princess party while we were in Orlando and experienced 10 minute breakdowns of both Haunted Mansion and Buzz while we were on the rides.

 

[rolshan]

I have had several breakdowns on Splash Mountain. It did not ruin my day.

 

[macraven]

i first went to disney in 1974, only one park then.
have gone to disney and universal yearly since 1993.

in the last 4 years, especially the last 1.5 years, i will list what rides broke down while i was at disney. only listing the ones i was on at the time.


splash mountain...stopped going up the hill before the big drop

space mt...3 different times...lights went on and i am still on the ride.
took 20 minutes before it started again.

TTA.....2 x's.....last year sat for 40 minutes on this before it was started up again.....missed the fireworks, stuck inside space mt section.
can you say boring.....

pirates....5 x's......missed a dinner ressie over this. last sept sat for 50 minutes on it.

test track......

haunted mansion and it didn't stop because of loading a wheelchair guest.
someone threw an object out of the car and everything shut down.

philamargic......film stopped

american adventure....as above

journey into imagination, the purple figment ride......3 x's

buzz lightyear

space ship earth

those are the ones i got stuck on the last 1.5 years.

it's not that it ruined my day when i got stuck on a ride but it annoyed the heck out of me time wise.
have missed meeting up with others and did miss an adr last fall
i hate sitting on a ride when it shuts down, especially when it is at an area that is a dead spot to me.

at universal, i haven't been stuck on any of them but have found dd down for a time period.


it's the mummy dust that keeps the uo rides operating and not breaking down when i am on them........

 

[damo]

Oooh, I forgot we also got stopped on Pirates under the new Davy Jones mist image for about 10 minutes as well. So, for one night we sat for about a total of 30 minutes on rides while they weren't running. No biggie.