Very, Very, Very, Very, Very Slow Dumbo

[mesaboy2]

Why have a time period with no Dumbo?

Possibly:

1) New Dumbo not ready, and
2) Old Dumbo closure delay slowing other aspects of FLE.

 

[Robo]

I'm guessing, but I think a PP's suggestion that holding off the old Dumbo closure would have held up other parts of construction (castle wall, maybe even Mine Train) is entirely plausible.

Not the Mine Train. It's quite a distance from the old Dumbo.



The Castle Wall is very much nearer to the old Dumbo.

So, Jaimie, we'll call that one "plausible."

OK, Adam, but our viewers will likely want us to revisit that one
at a later date.





Below: Old Dumbo can be seen (partially matted out) just below the #4.

 

[WDSearcher]

But...but...what it it's your once in a lifetime trip?

If it's your "once in a lifetime trip", then you're likely going to have a marvelous time whether there are two Dumbos flying or not.

People can make themselves crazy trying to schedule their "one and only" trip to anywhere for the one day or the one week when everything is up and operational and the weather is perfect and the crowds are low and ... and ... and ... What about the people whose "once in a lifetime trip" happened during Hurricane Frances? There's only so much you can plan for.

If the crux of anyone's trip is a ride on Dumbo, then hopefully they've done their research and will plan that trip at a time when Dumbo is not being refurbished (and the chance of hurricane is low).

 

[WDSearcher]

Now, why they didn't wait until the NEW one was ready before dismantling the old one, remains a mystery to me.

The answer is simple, really. "Because they didn't want to."

Kind of like when Moms and Dads say, "Because I said so." Same concept.

 

[goofyernmost]

As I said, this has been done multiple times since the Dumbo ride was opened at WDW.
I've seen prior shut-downs of the original Dumbo to affect a refurb.
Just a rebuild, and bring it back on line.

I'm not seeing any secret agenda here at the new location.

Just likely not a priority for Disney to get the second spinner in operation.
Not due to meticulous, complex operations or proprietary construction concerns.

Exactly, and it would only be wise to take care of a future rehab. now when it was already torn apart and have a long range schedule for any further rehab. Saves money both now and ahead. It's probably the wisest thing they have done, thinking wise, in quite a time.

 

[mesaboy2]

The answer is simple, really. "Because they didn't want to."

Kind of like when Moms and Dads say, "Because I said so." Same concept.

Maybe. Maybe not.

I recall at least one report last year--dont remember the source--that Dumbo was supposed to remain in continuous operation during the "move". Could be that report was wrong. Could also be that report was right until something popped up to change it, such as a delay with the new Dumbo.

I know Disney has made some puzzling moves in recent weeks and months, but I would think at least attempting to keep one of the iconic attractions from being down for any length of time would be taught in the first week of Disney Theme Park Management 101. Or, I could just be giving a suit somewhere too much credit.

 

[pilesoflaundry]

They aren't simply moving the ride mechanism from one spot to another. They are spending the time to refurbish the mechanics and the cosmetics. Disney has standards.

Exactly.

I see people have no idea what it takes to plan a theme park on the scale of Disney, compared to the gypsy fairs who blow through over the weekend in the Walmart parking lot.

Yup. Disney is a lot safer than those fairs. I have friends that work the carny circuit and the stories I could tell you about ride break downs, crappy maintenance and such .

Disney is a huge million dollar company, if they don't do things right the first time and someone gets hurt or the permits aren't in place they can be sued.

It's apples and oranges to compare them to the fair. I do think it's taking a bit longer than expected but my guess is not that it can't be done faster, they just want it all done at once and are waiting until it's just right.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

I concur. I do not see why people feel the need to explain away what is essentially Disney's decision to try and save money. Yeah, it's not "magical" but it's the truth.

I would agree, sort of. Another way of saying "Disney trying to save money" is that Disney is run efficiently (generally, and relatively speaking). If it wasn't, people would be complaining about ticket prices rising because of a sense that Disney wastes time and money left, right and center.

It is to our advantage as consumers of Disney products for them to run an efficient operation. If they were willing to turn it over to the government instead, for instance, we could have a working second dumbo in about 5 years for 10 gazillion dollars. I'll take Disney management, thank you.

 

[WDSearcher]

Maybe. Maybe not.

I recall at least one report last year--dont remember the source--that Dumbo was supposed to remain in continuous operation during the "move". Could be that report was wrong. Could also be that report was right until something popped up to change it, such as a delay with the new Dumbo.

I know Disney has made some puzzling moves in recent weeks and months, but I would think at least attempting to keep one of the iconic attractions from being down for any length of time would be taught in the first week of Disney Theme Park Management 101. Or, I could just be giving a suit somewhere too much credit.

As I posted earlier:

I think this might have been related to other considerations that we don't always think about ... like, say costuming. Could be that some support area -- costuming, training, safety, etc -- was prepping their part of the new area -- handbooks, SOGs, costume fabrication, etc -- and got behind or had vendors delivering late or something like that. And if you don't have the costumes or if the safety procedures are still being written or whatever, then you can't open the area. That trickles down. My guess is that it was originally planned as you said -- a Dumbo running continuously at MK -- but that a glitch in a backstage area meant that they couldn't quite make it there. So then construction pulls back a bit to accommodate.

When we see all the new physical elements "over the wall", we sometimes forget about all the support work that has to happen beyond that in order to get something open and operational.

 

[smileygirl55]

Wait so Dumbo is currently closed? I really planned on my daughter riding Dumbo in a few weeks. I thought the plan was always to have one running until they got the other one up and going.

 

[mesaboy2]

Wait so Dumbo is currently closed? I really planned on my daughter riding Dumbo in a few weeks. I thought the plan was always to have one running until they got the other one up and going.

No, it is open in its new location. It was closed for a couple of months.

And WDSearcher, I'm usually pretty good about reading everything--guess I missed that one.

 

[Hannathy]

As I posted earlier:

I think this might have been related to other considerations that we don't always think about ... like, say costuming. Could be that some support area -- costuming, training, safety, etc -- was prepping their part of the new area -- handbooks, SOGs, costume fabrication, etc -- and got behind or had vendors delivering late or something like that. And if you don't have the costumes or if the safety procedures are still being written or whatever, then you can't open the area. That trickles down. My guess is that it was originally planned as you said -- a Dumbo running continuously at MK -- but that a glitch in a backstage area meant that they couldn't quite make it there. So then construction pulls back a bit to accommodate.

When we see all the new physical elements "over the wall", we sometimes forget about all the support work that has to happen beyond that in order to get something open and operational.

No excuse! These are professional people. That is why you have planners and project engineers. That is their job to plan and have projects completed and run on schedule. They have had years to get their ducks in a row. No excuse for not having things planned and orchestrated for a rather simple and ordinary move of the old Dumbo.

 

[smileygirl55]

No, it is open in its new location. It was closed for a couple of months.

Thank you!!

 

[Disco]

The new Dumbo took 4 months to complete. The old Dumbo needs to be refurbed and rethemed and don’t forget to add the time it took to be dismantled and moved. I would say it would take an extra month or two to complete.
As to why the old one was closed before the new one was completed? That is probably the easy part to determine. They either want it open in time for peak season or they want it to open in conjunction with Pete's sideshow.
It was closed in January so with the added time it should be open sometime between late June and July.

 

[goofyernmost]

I think this is funny. I understand a certain amount of upset when one was closed before the other opened (sorta), but, to complain that it is taking to long to open the second, well, really? WDW has operated for the last 40 years with only one Dumbo Spinner, now all of a sudden it is a major fail because they haven't finished the second one yet. It doesn't take long to get spoiled, does it?

 

[Disco]

I think this is funny. I understand a certain amount of upset when one was closed before the other opened (sorta), but, to complain that it is taking to long to open the second, well, really? WDW has operated for the last 40 years with only one Dumbo Spinner, now all of a sudden it is a major fail because they haven't finished the second one yet. It doesn't take long to get spoiled, does it?

True, but it will be exciting to have the completed attraction with the dueling Dumbos and the circus acts in the tent. I can understand why people want it to be done.
I'm just miffed about the time it will take the new coaster for the Seven Dwarves to be completed. They keep hinting it won't be open till early 2014?! They'd better be done by the end of next year. We've been waiting for a decade and a half for a proper replacement for the sub ride, talk about a long time!

 

[WDSearcher]

No excuse! These are professional people. That is why you have planners and project engineers. That is their job to plan and have projects completed and run on schedule. They have had years to get their ducks in a row. No excuse for not having things planned and orchestrated for a rather simple and ordinary move of the old Dumbo.

Really? At your workplace, you've never had a vendor deliver late or someone not get something finished in time or a weather delay or an unanticipated problem or ANYTHING? Wow. Great luck, that!

 

[SkaGoat]

No excuse! These are professional people. That is why you have planners and project engineers. That is their job to plan and have projects completed and run on schedule. They have had years to get their ducks in a row. No excuse for not having things planned and orchestrated for a rather simple and ordinary move of the old Dumbo.

You've apparently never been involved with even a moderately sized construction project.

Sure you make an initial plan when you start but anything from materials being back ordered, to a foreman making a mistake during actual construction can delay things, and by a lot.

If a concrete footing is poured improperly, or there was some unforeseeable defect in the concrete that would mean you'd have to rip up all the concrete you just poured and redo it, could delay the project by a week or more. Stuff like this does happen.

I assume they intended to have an overlap with Dumbo, but something delayed the opening of the new one, but to stay on schedule for the rest of FLE they had to start dismantling the old one on a very specific date.

 

[goofyernmost]

Really? At your workplace, you've never had a vendor deliver late or someone not get something finished in time or a weather delay or an unanticipated problem or ANYTHING? Wow. Great luck, that!

And how do we know for sure that it wasn't planned this way from the beginning? Does anyone on the boards have a copy of the construction schedule?