yeti will definitely not be fixed??

[greeneggs1082]

I don't know if I'd rather have a moving Yeti or a coaster without "structural damage"--that just makes me nervous. Wonder what the cost would be to fix it?

Technically, the actual coaster does not have any damage whatsoever. When Disney built the ride, they built the coaster, the mountain, and the Yeti as three separate buildings (so to speak). They each have their own foundations and internal structures. As long as they don't operate the Yeti in A mode and damage it's foundation further to point of it being a danger of falling over, they would not have to shut the ride at all if they decided not to fix the Yeti (basic maintenance or problems with the coaster/mountain aside).

 

[Sabi]

Will the Yeti get back to "A" mode? Unfortunately, I will have to say no. Everything I have read has indicated Everest would need some lengthy downtime to fix the Yeti and I do not see this happening until we get some more attractions in Animal Kingdom. Closing Everest would kill attendance there and Disney cannot afford that in 2009.

Yeti AA = Not Working/B-mode
but worst is...
Cloud Effect = WORKING??? or not?
Station Steam = Not Working
Waterfall A = Working
Waterfall B = Not Working
Bird on a Stick = Not Working
Cave Mist = Not Working
Projection = Working

 

[DebbieB]

Personally, I love EE even in B mode and I'd rather they not have to either close the ride down for months or risk damaging it for an even longer period of time by operating in A mode. In a perfect world they'd find a way to fix it on the fly so it could run as intended, but for me it really doesn't make a huge difference.

I agree, I love EE whether the Yeti is working or not.

 

[hogwartsdropout]

We rode EE yesterday 2x and the Yeti definitely swiped its moving arm at us as we passed underneath it both times.

I rode it yesterday too and he swiped at us also.

 

[Jubilee]

I just have to say, I am a Disney fanatic born and raised, but AK was my last park to fall in love with as I didn't even go to it until 2006-even though I had gone to Disney since it opened. I didn't even ride EE until 2008 and I only ever saw it in B mode...and it's still in my top 3 favorite rides!!!

I really hope they invest the money in it.

 

[windthefrogg]

I remember the A mode Yeti from previous trips and miss it, but I still managed to enjoy myself on EE 7 times on my AK day last Jan.

'Tis better to have been swiped at and lost, than never to have been swiped at all.

 

[Macca1111]

We rode EE yesterday 2x and the Yeti definitely swiped its moving arm at us as we passed underneath it both times.

Sorry, but no. She has been in B mode constantly since the discovery of the cracking foundation - wouldn't make much sense to start her up again in A mode if they're worried about it breaking/cracking more. You probably *think* you saw her move because that's what the strobe light back-up B system is designed to make you think, but she definitely hasn't swiped at anyone in the past year. It's not obvious unless you've seen her in her full A mode before tho.

 

[tinkerbell of winter]

OMG this thread scared me! I thought the ride was broken! I could care less about the Yeti, what I love is the view when you are going up the incline and the excitement of the ride!! I thought I wouldn't get to ride my favorite coaster next week!!!

 

[Allison]

You have quite the flare for the dramatic. The Yeti in B mode does not equal $200 million down the drain.

 

[brocklesnar69]

Oh man! I hope they fix it and/or dont shut dont the ride during my trip. It is one of the Top 3 Rides at WDW. That would SUCK if its shut down when Im there.

 

[M-I-C-K-E-Y]

Cracks in the anchoring platform, concrete foundation or metal plate?

I recall that the Yeti was on its own structural foundation, which would point to caisson(s) in the actual ground, coming up with some sort of structural steel.

The question I have is exactly where are the cracks? If they are on some sort of metal platform "up top," then it might be a matter of bracing or removing the Yeti while that plate is replaced and upgraded. That's the easy alternative.

If the cracks are in the concrete caissons, then they have a huge problem on their hands. They would probably have to remove the Yeti and all of the steel supporting "her" from the ground up. It's possible that they could support the steel when they repaired each caission, one at a time. However, if there's a serious problem with the concrete, anchor bolts, and the re-bar beneath grade, then this might result in complete excavation of each caission down to their final depth and replacement. Now, if those caissions are anywhere remotely near the actual ride's caissions, then it would be a large safety issue for the coaster.

There's a great deal of "possible" and "perhaps" going on here, and I'm hoping that this isn't worse than it could be. I can only imagine the discussions going on back and forth with the original structural engineers...

 

[scrump]

Wow, I've only gone on it once, and I don't remember the swipe at all. I must go back!!!

 

[dansamy]

Engineers are dumb. At least that's what my husband says every time he has to crawl into an airplane fuel tank through a 6in square access hatch. The engineers say "You'll fit, there's xx sq ft of space there." Yeah, there is, but you geniuses only designed an access portal [_] this big. And no one over the age of 6 can fit their shoulders and/or hips through it.

I'll bet some engineer is scratching his head and re-doing his math right about now. Muttering the whole time "it works on paper"......

 

[naomi78155]

When did they ad EE? I have not been in about 7 years and I know it was not there then.
I hope they get it fixed soon!

 

[wilde_oscar]

Oh man! I hope they fix it and/or dont shut dont the ride during my trip. It is one of the Top 3 Rides at WDW. That would SUCK if its shut down when Im there.

This would be a refurb that will be several years in the making, you are not going to surprise anyone with this large of a project, papers need to be filed... Jim Hill needs to milk it for at least 4 columns

and you are looking at probably 6 months of work to take things apart, dig holes, reinforce the structure, pour concrete, put things back together, seismic testing, radiation suites. etc.

 

[M-I-C-K-E-Y]

Engineers are dumb...

I am not an engineer, but I work with them extensively and have seen both extremes - wonderful and idiotic! Just remember the old footage of that bridge in the PNW that was rippling in the wind prior to its colapse.

 

[wilde_oscar]

If the cracks are in the concrete caissons, then they have a huge problem on their hands. They would probably have to remove the Yeti and all of the steel supporting "her" from the ground up. It's possible that they could support the steel when they repaired each caission, one at a time. However, if there's a serious problem with the concrete, anchor bolts, and the re-bar beneath grade, then this might result in complete excavation of each caission down to their final depth and replacement. Now, if those caissions are anywhere remotely near the actual ride's caissions, then it would be a large safety issue for the coaster.

yes the caissons for the ride and the building and the yeti structure are that close... it means excavation to the original foundation depth... someone paid attention in school

 

[wilde_oscar]

I'll bet some engineer is scratching his head and re-doing his math right about now. Muttering the whole time "it works on paper"......

the version I heard it was not an engineering problem it was a problem with the concrete, which is a problem the SE should have been addressing

 

[Macca1111]

Cracks in the anchoring platform, concrete foundation or metal plate?

I recall that the Yeti was on its own structural foundation, which would point to caisson(s) in the actual ground, coming up with some sort of structural steel.

The question I have is exactly where are the cracks? If they are on some sort of metal platform "up top," then it might be a matter of bracing or removing the Yeti while that plate is replaced and upgraded. That's the easy alternative.

If the cracks are in the concrete caissons, then they have a huge problem on their hands. They would probably have to remove the Yeti and all of the steel supporting "her" from the ground up. It's possible that they could support the steel when they repaired each caission, one at a time. However, if there's a serious problem with the concrete, anchor bolts, and the re-bar beneath grade, then this might result in complete excavation of each caission down to their final depth and replacement. Now, if those caissions are anywhere remotely near the actual ride's caissions, then it would be a large safety issue for the coaster.

There's a great deal of "possible" and "perhaps" going on here, and I'm hoping that this isn't worse than it could be. I can only imagine the discussions going on back and forth with the original structural engineers...

That's the one, cracking in the concrete. I don't know anything about engineering, but that's what we've been hearing is the root problem. They very carefully built the structure to withstand the amount of torque that it required (we all remember Joe Rhode's description of it being "the amount of force that a 747 (or something like) needs to take off") and it didn't work in the real-world application. Seriously expensive and difficult refurb if they do decide to fix it.

 

[aubriee]

I think it is extremely unlikely that Disney would close two headliners simultaneously heading into the summer peak season. In fact, that might even be one of the reasons nothing has been done to fix the Yeti - SM was breaking down frequently and NEEDED this rehab to keep operating. EE is operational but lacking one effect. Its pretty obvious which closure had to take priority!

More than one effect is missing. How about the big white owl that used to raise up at the end of the first forward moving portion of the ride, where the tracks are yanked up (just before you start to go backwards)? Sorry, but I miss that white owl. I heard one of the problems with fixing the yeti is that the company that made her is now out of business.