I seem to remember this not working when they first tried it at the opening of DL...

Big Wallaby · Post by **Big Wallaby** » Thu Feb 16, 2012 8:28 pm

But I think they may have perfected it. Here is the video of John Lasseter testing a brand new original ride, as it will appear at California Adventure. This is one of those rides I hope they will duplicate somewhere on the East Coast.

Here is the link. Enjoy.

Zazu · Post by **Zazu** » Thu Feb 16, 2012 11:03 pm

Big Wallaby wrote:But I think they may have perfected it. Here is the video of John Lasseter testing a brand new original ride, as it will appear at California Adventure. This is one of those rides I hope they will duplicate somewhere on the East Coast.

The Flying Saucers weren't an opening attraction at Disneyland; they arrived in August 1961, and lasted until September 1966.

There were two problems with this ride system. First, the air plenum under the flying floors (there were two) was not designed with the greatest possible care. As a result, the system would occasionally go into oscillation with all of the saucers hopping up and down and unable to fly. A reset involved shutting down the whole system, walking the guests out, and starting up again. Perhaps half to 3/4 hour, IIRC.

Today, with a better understanding of pneumatic physics (and fast enough desktop computers to model the system), this should not be a problem.

The second issue that began about four years into the run was valve failure. When Imagineering contacted the vendor about it, their first question was, "How many times have you operated the valves?" A quick calculation on the back of an envelope suggested the answer was in the range of 50 to 100 thousand times.

The vendor then laughed so hard he dropped the phone. Turns out the valves were designed for the Saturn rocket program, and had an expected design life of 3 operations. Not 3 thousand, *3*!

Well, once the rocket goes up....

Thus the attraction, still a popular E-coupon, was closed after just five years when the last of the spare valves were used. I understand that the last few months, one side was cannibalized for the other, with cardboard and duct tape keeping the holes shut.

Needless to say, the new system does not rely on surplus space hardware.

As for the east coast, Imagineers have been looking at the big basement underneath the Carousel of Progress. The only thing holding them back is that it's full of the power supplies for the PeopleMover track, and those would all have to be relocated.

I regret that I never rode the Flying Saucers. There were only so many E-coupons in the book, and I always thought I could ride it some other day. Now maybe I'll be able to!

WEDFan · Post by **WEDFan** » Fri Feb 17, 2012 7:16 am

Zazu wrote:Well, once the rocket goes up....

...Who cares where they come down? I take it that's not your department, Zazu?
:D:

Zazu · Post by **Zazu** » Fri Feb 17, 2012 11:43 am

WEDFan wrote:...Who cares where they come down? I take it that's not your department, Zazu?
:D:

What, do I *look* like a college professor?

Oh wait, I do.

And he was right about the pigeons, too.

BRWombat · Post by **BRWombat** » Fri Feb 17, 2012 5:13 pm

Such a great wealth of information, and the ability to present it so interestingly. Always.

Zazu, I think I want to be you when I grow up. :)

delsdad · Post by **delsdad** » Fri Feb 17, 2012 6:38 pm

Zazu wrote:What, do I *look* like a college professor?

Oh wait, I do.

Youre not old enough to be a professor!

5th Dimension · Post by **5th Dimension** » Sat Feb 18, 2012 12:59 pm

Zazu wrote: As for the east coast, Imagineers have been looking at the big basement underneath the Carousel of Progress. The only thing holding them back is that it's full of the power supplies for the PeopleMover track, and those would all have to be relocated.

Are you implying that they are thinking about replacing COP with bumper cars?! Why can't they put it in that building next to toy story mania?!

Zazu · Post by **Zazu** » Sat Feb 18, 2012 9:35 pm

Zazu wrote:What, do I *look* like a college professor?

Oh wait, I do.

delsdad wrote:Youre not old enough to be a professor!

Twenty years in college classrooms, rising to Department Head (and thirteen years training at Disney) say otherwise. So does my gray hair.

DonutGoddess · Post by **DonutGoddess** » Sat Feb 18, 2012 10:20 pm

Zazu wrote:Twenty years in college classrooms, rising to Department Head (and thirteen years training at Disney) say otherwise. So does my gray hair.

You would make a pretty interesting college professor! :D

delsdad · Post by **delsdad** » Sat Feb 18, 2012 10:56 pm

Zazu wrote:Twenty years in college classrooms, rising to Department Head (and thirteen years training at Disney) say otherwise. So does my gray hair.

I'm not questioning your credentials, just your youthful appearance !
THIS is what a college professor looks like!

And you have many years to go to get there!

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I seem to remember this not working when they first tried it at the opening of DL...

I seem to remember this not working when they first tried it at the opening of DL...

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