Very, Very, Very, Very, Very Slow Dumbo

[Robo]

From what I've heard about nextGen there is not enough information out about nextGen to make this sort of claim. Would you like to enlighten us as to what you know?

While we don't know ALL of the aspects of NextGen,
we do know a bit about the NextGen QUEUE,
as it was publicly tested at R'n'RC a couple of different times within the last 2 years.

 

[mousermerf]

Well, if Dumbo 2 doesn't open until 2013 - doesn't put push Test Track 2.0 ahead of it for being the first NextGen queue?

 

[mesaboy2]

Well, if Dumbo 2 doesn't open until 2013 - doesn't put push Test Track 2.0 ahead of it for being the first NextGen queue?

Every prediction I've ever seen says it'll be ready later this year.

 

[hookedonears]

Because the one at Disney DOESN'T come to town on the back of a semi-

They've got building permits, safety needs, construction of the rest of fantasyland forest and storybook circus, stockholders, unions, weather, and a myriad of other considerations to deal with. They're also still working out kinks with the nextgen/xpass which will be necessary with the new interactive queue, as Dumbo is the first ride to be built around the next-gen idea... I'm sure they want to make sure they have everything figured out on the tech side before they get the ride live.

Now we're getting to the crux of the issue.

 

[chicagoshannon]

They started installing the arms on the 2nd Dumbo yesterday. I'm thinking it will be up and rumming a lot sooner than the fall.

 

[dkhurley]

I was just at Magic Kingdom this weekend and saw the base in place, so I wouldn't be surprised if the person saying the arms were being put on is right. Seemed like the next step after the base.

Also, why get mad about this? Casey Jr. Splash Zone is making great progress and the other areas of Storybook Circus are coming along greatly.

 

[popsynic]

They also need to MAKE the Dumbos. Unlike carnival rides where the seats are already in existence and with the spinner, Disney needs to create more of there seats. And with all the refurbs going on, it is possible the creation shop hasn't even started on them yet.

I thought the one that is not up and running was the old one that they moved, and therefore they have the Dumbo vehicles already? I didn't realise they were building new vehicles for it??

 

[popsynic]

The new Dumbo spinner was created from scratch and it takes a while to build it. Carni spinners have to be made too and were not manufactured in a day, relocating a mobile spinner is not the same as making a new one.
The old Dumbo spinner is being refurbed to new condition. It is also being rethemed to match the new one. I'm betting it takes longer to refurb than to build a new one. With a new spinner they just assemble and paint and it's ready to go. The old one you have to strip down, remove the paint and replace parts (and maybe even create custom parts for) before putting together again. Not to mention the craftsmanship and attention to detail far outmatch any carni ride out there.
I agree, if they were just relocating the old spinner to the new spot it would be a matter of weeks and not months. However, I'd rather they take their time with it and make it look new.

That makes sense

 

[popsynic]

I think another interesting question is, "Why did they close the original Dumbo so early before opening the current "soft opening" version?"

If they had just delayed the closing of the original ride by a couple of weeks ( or 3, maybe?) they could have had a Dumbo running continuously at MK, without a time when there was no Dumbo ride in operation.

It was in the back of my mind that they would have always intended to open the new one
at nearly exactly the same time as closing the old one.

This is a really interesting point. Wonder why they didn't start the new one running, then close the old one on the same day. It does seem that a different plan was in place at that point which has altered for some reason.

Perhaps have some have said - the mechanics on refurbing the older one may be more complex than one would imagine, and taking more time than originally planned - especially if new parts have to now manufactured from scratch that they hadn't originally planned for.

 

[WDSearcher]

I think another interesting question is, "Why did they close the original Dumbo so early before opening the current "soft opening" version?"

If they had just delayed the closing of the original ride by a couple of weeks ( or 3, maybe?) they could have had a Dumbo running continuously at MK, without a time when there was no Dumbo ride in operation.

It was in the back of my mind that they would have always intended to open the new one
at nearly exactly the same time as closing the old one.

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.

 

[DanBoris]

They started installing the arms on the 2nd Dumbo yesterday. I'm thinking it will be up and rumming a lot sooner than the fall.

Yep, you can see a picture of it here:

http://momjovi.com/2012/04/exploring-the-new-fantasyland/

I would think the second Dumbo should be open by summer. Someone on another board mentioned that they did build new vehicles for the ride and that they are on site and ready to be installed. The only reason I could see this getting held up is if they don't want to open the second spinner without the interactive queue.

I was also surprised that the old Dumbo closed before the new one opened, but construction scheduling can be a tricky business. Dumbo had to move for other parts of the project to go ahead so it's possible that delaying it would have messed up the construction timelines.

 

[goofyernmost]

By the looks of the "old" one in the pictures, it might have gone through extensive rebuild before being reinstalled. That thing has made a lot of revolutions over the years, it would have been smart to go through it and make it practically new again rather then wait for all the parts to just wear out.

Delay it now when another one is operating or wait and have it down later. What would be your choice?

 

[mousermerf]

Yep, you can see a picture of it here:

http://momjovi.com/2012/04/exploring-the-new-fantasyland/

I would think the second Dumbo should be open by summer. Someone on another board mentioned that they did build new vehicles for the ride and that they are on site and ready to be installed. The only reason I could see this getting held up is if they don't want to open the second spinner without the interactive queue.

I was also surprised that the old Dumbo closed before the new one opened, but construction scheduling can be a tricky business. Dumbo had to move for other parts of the project to go ahead so it's possible that delaying it would have messed up the construction timelines.

The really odd thing they did was they tore the cladding back off the tent building and re-gutted the second Dumbo loading area canopy recently.

Like they decided it was all crap and redid it. Not sure what happened, but apparently something was done wrong, rushed, or put up temporarily to get the first half open.

But for the last few days half the big Dumbo tent has been less "assembled" than it was when they opened Goofini and Dumbo 1 together. Edit: This pic - you can see they took the covering back off the lower portion of the tent: http://www.epcyclopedia.com/2012/04/18/new-fantasyland-and-skyway-bypass-photo-update/100_4099/

 

[troynkasey]

If you want Six Flags standards, then rush in and throw something together. I want Disney standards. If it takes them longer because they're refurbing the old Dumob, then so be it. Right now, it's at the same level it was at prior to the expansion, so we're not losing out on anything.

We're going in less than a month and it won't be open. I'm okay with that because I know it gives me something to experience next time we go and I want a good product, not a hastily completed product. They can take as much time as they want.

 

[goofyernmost]

If you want Six Flags standards, then rush in and throw something together. I want Disney standards. If it takes them longer because they're refurbing the old Dumob, then so be it. Right now, it's at the same level it was at prior to the expansion, so we're not losing out on anything.

We're going in less than a month and it won't be open. I'm okay with that because I know it gives me something to experience next time we go and I want a good product, not a hastily completed product. They can take as much time as they want.

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

 

[Robo]

I'd buy into the flowery rhetoric about "taking the time to do it right,"
if this was some delicate cutting edge attraction, but Dumbo is not a complex attraction.

The ride has been fully rebulit several times during it's existence at WDW,
and each time it was not rocket science (pun intended) to get the attraction back up to par.

There are also fully three MORE attractions at WDW (not even counting the newly-built Dumbo) based on the same spinner technology with guest-controlled hydraulic lift mechanisms.
(Astro Orbitor and Aladdin's Flying Carpets at MK, and Triceratops Spin at DAK.)

I doubt that the delay in getting the refurbed Dumbo up and running has much to do with fine-tuning the minute complexities of a unique high technology attraction.

I'm sure they get it back up before too long... when they're ready.

 

[goofyernmost]

I'd buy into the flowery rhetoric about "taking the time to do it right,"
if this was some delicate cutting edge attraction, but Dumbo is not a complex attraction.

The ride has been fully rebulit several times during it's existence at WDW,
and each time it was not rocket science (pun intended) to get the attraction back up to par.

There are also fully three MORE attractions at WDW (not even counting the newly-built Dumbo) based on the same spinner technology with guest-controlled hydraulic lift mechanisms.
(Astro Orbitor and Aladdin's Flying Carpets at MK, and Triceratops Spin at DAK.)

I doubt that the delay in getting the refurbed Dumbo up and running has much to do with fine-tuning the minute complexities of a unique high technology attraction.

I'm sure they get it back up before too long... when they're ready.

I wasn't referring to fine tuning of the ride, I was referring to the general replacement of worn parts, cleaning mechanism, painting and spit and polish, if you will. Though not high tech it is a complex machine with thousands (probably) of moving parts. Even replacing gaskets on the hydraulics would take some time considering the numbers involved. There would be no real sense of putting a ride that could easily be mechanically refurbed right up and then doing this stuff later. Even the simplest of refurbs require man hours and actual labor and time to achieve it. It is somewhat comparable to the idea that people think that they should replace light bulbs before they burn out because otherwise it would be bad for the show. Having a hydraulic cylinder blow out while someone is riding is something to be avoided at all cost.

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

 

[mesaboy2]

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

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.

 

[Robo]

I wasn't referring to fine tuning of the ride, I was referring to the general replacement of worn parts, cleaning mechanism, painting and spit and polish, if you will.

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.

 

[kaligal]

If you want Six Flags standards, then rush in and throw something together. I want Disney standards. If it takes them longer because they're refurbing the old Dumob, then so be it. Right now, it's at the same level it was at prior to the expansion, so we're not losing out on anything.

We're going in less than a month and it won't be open. I'm okay with that because I know it gives me something to experience next time we go and I want a good product, not a hastily completed product. They can take as much time as they want.

That's all well and good, but the question is why not do all that time-consuming work after they get the new one up and running?

Why have a time period with no Dumbo?