I was reading mousesavers when a saw the blip concerning Space Mountain being shut down imediate ly following a safety inspection and going into "rehab" until 2005 for the aniversary celebration. Yikes! I am starting to believe all the rumors on the place "rotting away." I wonder what the safety concern was?
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Controversial Topics
Several months ago, I added a private sub-forum to allow members to discuss these topics without fear of infractions or banning. It's opt-in, opt-out. Corey Click Here
What the heck is going on in Disneyland???
- Thread starter DisOrBust
- Start date
wdwguide
Ex Guide Book Author
- Joined
- Mar 19, 2001
Here's what Disney has to say about the Carousel...
Historic Carrousel is Steeped in Disney Tradition and Magic
ANAHEIM, CA The King Arthur Carrousel, a DISNEYLAND icon since the parks inception in 1955, officially reopened to the public on March 5, 2003, after more than a year of refurbishments. The vintage Carrousel received a complete makeover, revitalizing the attraction from top to bottom - literally while maintaining the magic infused by Walt Disney himself nearly 50 years ago.
The King Arthur Carrousel is a favorite among our guests. Moms and dads who experience the Carrousel as children return years later with families of their own, said Cynthia Harriss, president of the DISNEYLAND Resort. Were pleased to continue Walts tradition and look forward to sharing it with future generations.
Disneys inspiration for the Carrousel in fact for DISNEYLAND itself - was a merry-go-round in Los Angeles Griffith Park where he spent weekends with his daughters years prior to DISNEYLANDS premiere. His dream of including a carousel in his new theme park ultimately led to Toronto, Canada, where Disney acquired the original, an intricately designed and well-maintained model made by renowned manufacturer William Dentzel in the early 1920s.
Disney planned to theme the carrousel in the medieval spirit of King Arthur and enlisted craftsmen to create an all-horse version, featuring only jumping steeds. Torontos menagerie-style Dentzel featured tigers, lions, deer, a giraffe and horses; all but the horses were removed and additional horses were sought to complete an attraction reminiscent of centuries past. At Disneys direction, horses were obtained from parks in Coney Island and northern California. A total of 85 horses, some dating back to the late 1800s, were collected, refurbished to accentuate the delicate carvings, and painted using traditional shades of black, brown, gray and white with colorful embellishments. Some were adorned with jewels, standers were converted to jumpers and the original three-abreast configuration was expanded to four-abreast in all 18 rows of horses. The romantic medieval theme was applied throughout the attraction complete with a high-peaked canopy surrounded by King Arthurs golden crown. Its supports featured lances with ten coats of arms representing the Knights of the Round Table. Located in Fantasyland within the noble courtyard of Sleeping Beautys Castle, King Arthur Carrousel debuted with DISNEYLAND on July 17, 1955.
The attraction received a new look in 1975 when Disney artisans painted all of the horses white to accommodate guests clear favorite color. Kimberly Irvine, DISNEYLAND art director for Walt Disney Imagineering, was part of the redesign team. We created more colorful blankets and elaborate saddles for the horses, says Irvine. She also helped design hand-made oil paintings depicting the story of Princess Aurora for the centerpole housing, harmoniously tying the attraction to Sleeping Beautys Castle. They updated the canopy and added 24-carat gold leafing to existing court jesters and cherubs, enhancing the ornate medieval theme. Less than a decade later, the attraction was improved yet again as part of a total redesign of Fantasyland, placing the spectacular carrousel in the center of New Fantasyland by 1983.
The most recent and certainly the most dramatic restoration of the King Arthur Carrousel commenced in January of 2002. Irvine, whos been an Imagineer for 33 years, served as art director for the project. She says her team is especially sensitive to guest affinities, especially when updating core attractions like the Carrousel. Ive found that if youre true to the attraction and maintain that Disney magic, guests will embrace the changes. The strategy worked. Its a whole new look, says Irvine. When you walk through the castle, its just breathtaking.
According to Steve Springer, field superintendent in charge of the project, a team of more than 75 DISNEYLAND specialists built a new structure for the legendary Carrousel, including a new canopy, motor, electrical system and platform to start. Its essentially a brand new ride, says Springer. But it was important to us to keep the Carrousels antique authenticity. Maintaining the original look and feel, DISNEYLANDS team of artisans, carpenters and painters added details characteristic of a new Dentzel from the 1920s.
New and restored elements include:
Exposed mahogany natural wood flooring perhaps the most striking change, the floor reflects what likely was the original floor of the Carrousel, but over the years had received several coats of non-skid surfacing
Massive internal renovation the new operating system includes a new motor, new drive system, upgraded audio and closed circuit television to aid the operator in ensuring the safety of all guests; ADA accessible carpenters added a ramp and replaced a row of horses with a chariot, allowing guests in wheelchairs to either step out into the chariot or remain in their wheelchair for the ride;
Ornate canopy featuring a royal palette of colors including blues, purples, pinks and golden trim, the new canopy aptly reflects the medieval theme established by Walt Disney;
Delicately retouched features artisans refreshed oil paintings by hand, added new gold leafing to the jesters and cherubs, stripped and repainted the shields, and completely restored the title marquis;
1,700 lights alternating clear and amber-colored lights adorn the attraction, lining the mirrors on the centerpole, the canopy beams and the rim of the canopy itself.
KING ARTHUR CARROUSEL FUN FACTS
ENDANGERED SPECIES When the Carrousel was originally obtained in the mid-1950s, more than 4,000 operated in the United States. Today, experts estimate that there are fewer than 200 carrousels remaining as machines are disassembled and sold as collectibles. The value of the DISNEYLAND park horses alone is estimated at more than $10 million.
85 HORSES, NO TWO ALIKE DISNEYLAND park has a collection of 85 uniquely designed carousel horses. Now 68 horses appear on the Carrousel at one time (17 rows, four-abreast) while the remaining 17 await refurbishment.
DING PROOF To weatherproof and protect the precious horses, DISNEYLAND uses an automotive paint and process, completely stripping each horse before applying a fresh coat of paint. It takes 150 man-hours to rehab just one horse from the King Arthur Carrousel. The full-time job of refreshing, repainting and refurbishing carrousel horses is the sole responsibility of cast member Doug Price.
LEGENDARY TAILS One horse sports a shiny gold tooth. Some say that the tooth was originally painted gold for Mrs. Walt Disney so that she would always be able to spot her favorite horse. The golden tooth has survived three major renovations and countless touch-ups.
WHATS IN A NAME The DISNEYLAND facilities and operations teams who care for the King Arthur Carrousel have given informal names to many of the horses. A favorite is the lead horse, sometimes referred to as Jingles. Dentzel carousels characteristically featured a lead horse with special artistry completed by the lead wood carver. Jingles boasts ornate floral detailing which aided early ride operators who used the horse as a starting point when counting the Carrousels revolutions.
A MOMENT IN TIME A ride aboard King Arthur Carrousel takes approximately two minutes, traveling at speeds of 4.4 miles per hour.
12th CENTURY ROOTS The word carousel is derived from the Italian word carosello, meaning little war. Centuries past, knights-in-training rode wooden horses in circles, spearing metal rings to practice their jousting skills.
MUSIC TO MY EARS The original Wurlitzer organ remains part of King Arthur Carrousel, however; it no longer provides the rides musical accompaniment. A modern sound system plays traditional carousel melodies; it takes about two hours to cycle through the songs.
REFLECTIONS Cast Members hand polish the brass poles and horses nightly. The process takes nearly six hours to complete.
For general information, call (714) 781-4565 or visit disneyland.com.
Historic Carrousel is Steeped in Disney Tradition and Magic
ANAHEIM, CA The King Arthur Carrousel, a DISNEYLAND icon since the parks inception in 1955, officially reopened to the public on March 5, 2003, after more than a year of refurbishments. The vintage Carrousel received a complete makeover, revitalizing the attraction from top to bottom - literally while maintaining the magic infused by Walt Disney himself nearly 50 years ago.
The King Arthur Carrousel is a favorite among our guests. Moms and dads who experience the Carrousel as children return years later with families of their own, said Cynthia Harriss, president of the DISNEYLAND Resort. Were pleased to continue Walts tradition and look forward to sharing it with future generations.
Disneys inspiration for the Carrousel in fact for DISNEYLAND itself - was a merry-go-round in Los Angeles Griffith Park where he spent weekends with his daughters years prior to DISNEYLANDS premiere. His dream of including a carousel in his new theme park ultimately led to Toronto, Canada, where Disney acquired the original, an intricately designed and well-maintained model made by renowned manufacturer William Dentzel in the early 1920s.
Disney planned to theme the carrousel in the medieval spirit of King Arthur and enlisted craftsmen to create an all-horse version, featuring only jumping steeds. Torontos menagerie-style Dentzel featured tigers, lions, deer, a giraffe and horses; all but the horses were removed and additional horses were sought to complete an attraction reminiscent of centuries past. At Disneys direction, horses were obtained from parks in Coney Island and northern California. A total of 85 horses, some dating back to the late 1800s, were collected, refurbished to accentuate the delicate carvings, and painted using traditional shades of black, brown, gray and white with colorful embellishments. Some were adorned with jewels, standers were converted to jumpers and the original three-abreast configuration was expanded to four-abreast in all 18 rows of horses. The romantic medieval theme was applied throughout the attraction complete with a high-peaked canopy surrounded by King Arthurs golden crown. Its supports featured lances with ten coats of arms representing the Knights of the Round Table. Located in Fantasyland within the noble courtyard of Sleeping Beautys Castle, King Arthur Carrousel debuted with DISNEYLAND on July 17, 1955.
The attraction received a new look in 1975 when Disney artisans painted all of the horses white to accommodate guests clear favorite color. Kimberly Irvine, DISNEYLAND art director for Walt Disney Imagineering, was part of the redesign team. We created more colorful blankets and elaborate saddles for the horses, says Irvine. She also helped design hand-made oil paintings depicting the story of Princess Aurora for the centerpole housing, harmoniously tying the attraction to Sleeping Beautys Castle. They updated the canopy and added 24-carat gold leafing to existing court jesters and cherubs, enhancing the ornate medieval theme. Less than a decade later, the attraction was improved yet again as part of a total redesign of Fantasyland, placing the spectacular carrousel in the center of New Fantasyland by 1983.
The most recent and certainly the most dramatic restoration of the King Arthur Carrousel commenced in January of 2002. Irvine, whos been an Imagineer for 33 years, served as art director for the project. She says her team is especially sensitive to guest affinities, especially when updating core attractions like the Carrousel. Ive found that if youre true to the attraction and maintain that Disney magic, guests will embrace the changes. The strategy worked. Its a whole new look, says Irvine. When you walk through the castle, its just breathtaking.
According to Steve Springer, field superintendent in charge of the project, a team of more than 75 DISNEYLAND specialists built a new structure for the legendary Carrousel, including a new canopy, motor, electrical system and platform to start. Its essentially a brand new ride, says Springer. But it was important to us to keep the Carrousels antique authenticity. Maintaining the original look and feel, DISNEYLANDS team of artisans, carpenters and painters added details characteristic of a new Dentzel from the 1920s.
New and restored elements include:
Exposed mahogany natural wood flooring perhaps the most striking change, the floor reflects what likely was the original floor of the Carrousel, but over the years had received several coats of non-skid surfacing
Massive internal renovation the new operating system includes a new motor, new drive system, upgraded audio and closed circuit television to aid the operator in ensuring the safety of all guests; ADA accessible carpenters added a ramp and replaced a row of horses with a chariot, allowing guests in wheelchairs to either step out into the chariot or remain in their wheelchair for the ride;
Ornate canopy featuring a royal palette of colors including blues, purples, pinks and golden trim, the new canopy aptly reflects the medieval theme established by Walt Disney;
Delicately retouched features artisans refreshed oil paintings by hand, added new gold leafing to the jesters and cherubs, stripped and repainted the shields, and completely restored the title marquis;
1,700 lights alternating clear and amber-colored lights adorn the attraction, lining the mirrors on the centerpole, the canopy beams and the rim of the canopy itself.
KING ARTHUR CARROUSEL FUN FACTS
ENDANGERED SPECIES When the Carrousel was originally obtained in the mid-1950s, more than 4,000 operated in the United States. Today, experts estimate that there are fewer than 200 carrousels remaining as machines are disassembled and sold as collectibles. The value of the DISNEYLAND park horses alone is estimated at more than $10 million.
85 HORSES, NO TWO ALIKE DISNEYLAND park has a collection of 85 uniquely designed carousel horses. Now 68 horses appear on the Carrousel at one time (17 rows, four-abreast) while the remaining 17 await refurbishment.
DING PROOF To weatherproof and protect the precious horses, DISNEYLAND uses an automotive paint and process, completely stripping each horse before applying a fresh coat of paint. It takes 150 man-hours to rehab just one horse from the King Arthur Carrousel. The full-time job of refreshing, repainting and refurbishing carrousel horses is the sole responsibility of cast member Doug Price.
LEGENDARY TAILS One horse sports a shiny gold tooth. Some say that the tooth was originally painted gold for Mrs. Walt Disney so that she would always be able to spot her favorite horse. The golden tooth has survived three major renovations and countless touch-ups.
WHATS IN A NAME The DISNEYLAND facilities and operations teams who care for the King Arthur Carrousel have given informal names to many of the horses. A favorite is the lead horse, sometimes referred to as Jingles. Dentzel carousels characteristically featured a lead horse with special artistry completed by the lead wood carver. Jingles boasts ornate floral detailing which aided early ride operators who used the horse as a starting point when counting the Carrousels revolutions.
A MOMENT IN TIME A ride aboard King Arthur Carrousel takes approximately two minutes, traveling at speeds of 4.4 miles per hour.
12th CENTURY ROOTS The word carousel is derived from the Italian word carosello, meaning little war. Centuries past, knights-in-training rode wooden horses in circles, spearing metal rings to practice their jousting skills.
MUSIC TO MY EARS The original Wurlitzer organ remains part of King Arthur Carrousel, however; it no longer provides the rides musical accompaniment. A modern sound system plays traditional carousel melodies; it takes about two hours to cycle through the songs.
REFLECTIONS Cast Members hand polish the brass poles and horses nightly. The process takes nearly six hours to complete.
For general information, call (714) 781-4565 or visit disneyland.com.
Another Voice
Charter Member of The Element
- Joined
- Jan 27, 2000
and the castle and 'Matterhorn' and the Tom Sawyer Island fort, and 'Haunted Mansion' and 'Splash Mountain' and 'Pirates of the Caribbean' and
Remember that Disneyland fell under the reign of Paul Pressler a decade ago. The rumors say the no preventive maintenance has been done for the better part of a decade, no routine maintenance done for years and years and even most repair work has stopped since the opening of California Adventure. Disneyland was sacrificed so that Pressler could hit his numbers and impress all the executives just up the road. The trick worked, but now the park is paying the price.
Also thrown into this mix are the horrendous maintenance problems at California Adventure. The rumors say that essentially Disneyland's single maintenance staff was stretched to cover two parks. But DCA was so cheaply built that its new rides often require much more maintenance than thirty year-old Disneyland attractions. Both 'Mulholland Madness' and 'California Screaming' are the "seasonal operation" versions (meaning they weren't meant to operate ever single day). Disney's rumored justification was that their superior maintenance would keep the rides running; but Disney failed to actually provide any of that maintenance. Even running the rides at 1/3 capacity is still tearing them up.
The result is, according to rumors, is that each and every ride in Disneyland is in need of repairs. Every time Disneyland starts of a "minor rehab" they find such serious structure problems that massive rebuilding has to occur. Even simple things like the carousel have to be completely demolished and rebuilt. The castle is rumored to be so unsound that it can never be inhabited again. With 'Indiana Jones' scheduled to go do for a rehab after Spring Break, people are supposed to be already preparing themselves for the worst.
'Space Mountain' has been a ride that has always needed a good amount of maintenance. It's a lot of metal slamming against metal and the Disneyland ride vehicles are substantially larger than WDW's ride (D/L's holds 12 people on a single track). With all the slack maintenance over the last decade it's gotten worse and worse. They finally decided that the entire track would have to be replaced. That's bad.
The original schedule called for the ride to be shut down after summer. But the new rumors say that they literally discovered massive damage to the ride during a morning inspection. It was ordered closed immediately. To show you how fast and unexpected this happened, Cast Members had already handed out Fast Passes to the ride.
The is one striking story that has been going around. After plans for the enchancements of Disneyland's major attractions were killed for the 50th Birthday (even before the ink was dry on the drawings), people consoled themselves that maybe they should spend all their time and effort on cleaning and spiffing up the rides to make Disneyland look like new. These days, people are saying the great gift they could give Disneyland is simply making sure the building are still standing in 2005.
Remember that Disneyland fell under the reign of Paul Pressler a decade ago. The rumors say the no preventive maintenance has been done for the better part of a decade, no routine maintenance done for years and years and even most repair work has stopped since the opening of California Adventure. Disneyland was sacrificed so that Pressler could hit his numbers and impress all the executives just up the road. The trick worked, but now the park is paying the price.
Also thrown into this mix are the horrendous maintenance problems at California Adventure. The rumors say that essentially Disneyland's single maintenance staff was stretched to cover two parks. But DCA was so cheaply built that its new rides often require much more maintenance than thirty year-old Disneyland attractions. Both 'Mulholland Madness' and 'California Screaming' are the "seasonal operation" versions (meaning they weren't meant to operate ever single day). Disney's rumored justification was that their superior maintenance would keep the rides running; but Disney failed to actually provide any of that maintenance. Even running the rides at 1/3 capacity is still tearing them up.
The result is, according to rumors, is that each and every ride in Disneyland is in need of repairs. Every time Disneyland starts of a "minor rehab" they find such serious structure problems that massive rebuilding has to occur. Even simple things like the carousel have to be completely demolished and rebuilt. The castle is rumored to be so unsound that it can never be inhabited again. With 'Indiana Jones' scheduled to go do for a rehab after Spring Break, people are supposed to be already preparing themselves for the worst.
'Space Mountain' has been a ride that has always needed a good amount of maintenance. It's a lot of metal slamming against metal and the Disneyland ride vehicles are substantially larger than WDW's ride (D/L's holds 12 people on a single track). With all the slack maintenance over the last decade it's gotten worse and worse. They finally decided that the entire track would have to be replaced. That's bad.
The original schedule called for the ride to be shut down after summer. But the new rumors say that they literally discovered massive damage to the ride during a morning inspection. It was ordered closed immediately. To show you how fast and unexpected this happened, Cast Members had already handed out Fast Passes to the ride.
The is one striking story that has been going around. After plans for the enchancements of Disneyland's major attractions were killed for the 50th Birthday (even before the ink was dry on the drawings), people consoled themselves that maybe they should spend all their time and effort on cleaning and spiffing up the rides to make Disneyland look like new. These days, people are saying the great gift they could give Disneyland is simply making sure the building are still standing in 2005.
Spaceman Spiff
one by one, cleaning the universal boards of riff-
- Joined
- Apr 6, 2000
I thinking that too Planogirl, maybe 2007 is a better year for me to vsit DL.
King Triton
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Feb 10, 2000
hmmmmmm.....maybe instead of paying Disney's top executives million dollar bonuses, the company should put that money in maintaining the park. Just a thought.
ChrislovesMinnie
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Oct 13, 2000
It really makes you wonder. The "Big" guys make tons of money and the parks get nothing. What will it become for the future?
It really is a shame.
It really is a shame.
I have been saying this for years. Eisner was good for Disney back in the 80's , but now, he and the other bigwigs continue to siphon $$$$ from the company to make themselves little tyrants. Maybe we should send the marines to anaheim. Yes, truly a shame.
By the way, great website DNSDisney! Share this page
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