Is Splash Mountain doomed to subpar standards?

[PhineasTheGhost]

Went today. Brer Fox is back.

Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Da Zip-A-Dee-Aye!

[Horbigast]

It's funny how AA figures seem to be neglected these days, even with some percieved aversion to them from the imagineers. If I recall correctly, Walt was so excited about AAs because (among other things), they were performers that never need a break (figuratively), or a paycheck, or a union. In the 60s they were the perfect solution to shows that called for actors to perform all day. Now it seem slike they're almost as high-maintenance as live cast members.

Considering that most of the AAs in SM came from the America Sings attraction (unless they've been replaced with more modern figures), it's not surprising that these things, now pushing 40 years old, need constant upkeep.
Combine that with the "AA explosion" that occurred in Disneyland between 1963 and 1973, I would imagine that the figures from those times are breaking down with more frequency and requiring more time and resources from a service department stretched too thin as it is. Sure, a great many on the most popular attractions have been replaced, but I would imagine there's still some old clunkers around the parks.

Splash Mountain is such a wonderful attraction I hope they don't let it go to pot, despite the monumental task of keeping up all those figurines.

[Big Disney Fan]

Went today. Brer Fox is back.

That's good. What about Brer Rabbit on the handcar or one of the vultures?

[bodhran105]

It's funny how AA figures seem to be neglected these days, even with some percieved aversion to them from the imagineers. If I recall correctly, Walt was so excited about AAs because (among other things), they were performers that never need a break (figuratively), or a paycheck, or a union. In the 60s they were the perfect solution to shows that called for actors to perform all day. Now it seem slike they're almost as high-maintenance as live cast members.

Considering that most of the AAs in SM came from the America Sings attraction (unless they've been replaced with more modern figures), it's not surprising that these things, now pushing 40 years old, need constant upkeep.
Combine that with the "AA explosion" that occurred in Disneyland between 1963 and 1973, I would imagine that the figures from those times are breaking down with more frequency and requiring more time and resources from a service department stretched too thin as it is. Sure, a great many on the most popular attractions have been replaced, but I would imagine there's still some old clunkers around the parks.

Splash Mountain is such a wonderful attraction I hope they don't let it go to pot, despite the monumental task of keeping up all those figurines.

What i'd like to know is why they have to stick with the traditional idea of AAs. You know, that each part of the animatronic is run through specialized sound sequences. Why not go all digital and make them brand new? Sure, would cost a lot, but would it slow down the need for all of this upkeep? Having brand new parts and not being run off of 50 year old vinyl discs.

[CostaFreak]

What i'd like to know is why they have to stick with the traditional idea of AAs. You know, that each part of the animatronic is run through specialized sound sequences. Why not go all digital and make them brand new? Sure, would cost a lot, but would it slow down the need for all of this upkeep? Having brand new parts and not being run off of 50 year old vinyl discs.

I think AA's have always been run digitally. Efteling is the only park out there that I know of that uses the cheaper analog system to control its AAs (I could be wrong though).

[monkey4057]

That's good. What about Brer Rabbit on the handcar or one of the vultures?

Still broken. And just wondering: what's with Brer Bear in the Laughin' Place? His fur is blue and he's hard to make out.

[bodhran105]

I think AA's have always been run digitally. Efteling is the only park out there that I know of that uses the cheaper analog system to control its AAs (I could be wrong though).

^Austria, right? I've always been interested in the park, but I presume they use updated technology. I heard about their new projection mapping shows- Which I must say, what I remember seeing on youTube is 10x better than the projections of The Magic,The Memories, and You. So, I'm going to guess they have such specialized projections, I'm gonna throw in a decent AA system.

But then, I swore a lot of the older attractions were still using the old analog discs. Like CoP, Pirates, and Splash.


(We wants the red head!)

[CostaFreak]

^Austria, right? I've always been interested in the park, but I presume they use updated technology. I heard about their new projection mapping shows- Which I must say, what I remember seeing on youTube is 10x better than the projections of The Magic,The Memories, and You. So, I'm going to guess they have such specialized projections, I'm gonna throw in a decent AA system.

But then, I swore a lot of the older attractions were still using the old analog discs. Like CoP, Pirates, and Splash.


(We wants the red head!)

Holland actually. It's twelve years into the 21st century and not only is their system analog, they have separate shaped disks to match every joint movement of their AAs and still manage to accomplish 90% of the fluidity of Disney's robots for chump change. But somehow their projection shows are light years ahead of Disney's...talk about irony.

*I was right though, Disney's AAs have always been digital. They just switched to an updated version of the technology called Autonomatronics in 2009. Kinda like switching from a Cold War military mainframe to a MacBook; same technological premise, just more advanced.

[bodhran105]

^Ahhh, O.K. Thanks for the correction. I still thought most of the the older attractions were still on analog. Good then. Glad to hear that.

Then what dooms them to this constant housekeeping?