Big Thunder Mountain is due to be closed from 21st August to 13th October 2006 for a huge refurbishment. It's been many many years since the attraction has had such a thorough rehab.
Work has started already though - you can see that the rockwork on one side of the mountain is much cleaner and brighter than it was before. They're obviously working at night on it!
(//http://joel.at.dlp.online.fr/dlp/20060704/DSC00078.JPG)
Photo from: http://joel.at.dlp.online.fr/dlp/20060704/ (http://joel.at.dlp.online.fr/dlp/20060704/)
Yes in one way it's great that they're now doing some work at BTM, which really is necassary since a long time. But on the other it's sad that BTM must need to be closed for such a long time. So I cannot ride my most beloved right on my next trip. :cry:
I got told by a friend who works at BTM that they are indeed doing overnight cleaning. All the dirt and moss are being high-presured hosed down.
Does that mean that maybe BTM can be open on somedays during this Reahabperiod ?
No doubt it that means it is getting prepared for the main restoration team to come in and re paint the mountain etc.
Another thumbs up for DLRP, they've got a nicely themed closure sign with (shock horror) a correct English translation!
(//http://pp.mousekingdom.com/albums/userpics/11000/MVB_0937.jpg)
Scaffolding has now appeared around the loading station!
Photos here:
http://www.disneytheque.com/index.php?/ ... r-BTM.html (http://www.disneytheque.com/index.php?/archives/68-Coup-de-balai-sur-BTM.html)
Great! That's one part which really needs work too. Do you think they'll be able to do anything about the graffiti?
Not sure, but a friend of mine who works at BTM told me they're going to install like those small gates for each seat at the loading station (don't know the name of it) like they have at Space Mountain, Rock 'n' Roller Coaster, Pirates, ...
Quote from: "raptor1982"Not sure, but a friend of mine who works at BTM told me they're going to install like those small gates for each seat at the loading station (don't know the name of it) like they have at Space Mountain, Rock 'n' Roller Coaster, Pirates, ...
I know the ones you mean (I think people usually call them "air gates"), and I remember being surprised each visit recently that they still don't have them there. They even have them on Peter Pan's Flight now, so your source must be right. :)
It's clearly visible that the years have taken their toll when one has a proper look at BTM,the refurbishment can only improve the experience when it opens again.7-8 weeks might seem a long time but I believe that that the management has kept in mind that it's better to do one great job than a few smaller jobs.At least the ride will be open again when the schools close for the autumn break and a peak in visitor numbers is most likely. :wink:
Are Disney good at keeping on target when it comes to these sort of things? Is the 13th October a reliable re-opening date? I'll be there from the 12th to the 15th so I really hope they are as BTM is my favorite ride!
There are always right on time for re-opening the attractions.
They already count in a special time for unpredicted cases.
So it will open on 13th.
Look how clean it is! :o
(//http://joel.at.dlp.online.fr/dlp/20060926/DSC00551.JPG)
http://joel.at.dlp.online.fr/dlp/20060926/ (http://joel.at.dlp.online.fr/dlp/20060926/)
when i`m watching the pics from the refurbrishment I notice many... and many more details which I must have missed during my visits ;-)
i hope they will finish till 13th of October
Like a whole new mountain!!
I'm thrilled to see Big Thunder Mountain like this. Great! But on the other hand; isn't it quite sad that we are happy to see this kind of things. I mean, come on... this is Disney, it should always be in great shape. We shouldn't even notice the fact that the Mountain looks cleaner as before. Well, I forgive them because of their financial situation, but it remains sad.
l'll be able to go if they keep to the date.....JIPPPIEEEE
Oh they'll keep to the date, don't worry. :wink:
Does anyone know how is the refub going?
There are recent photos here: http://www.photosmagiques.com/gallery/t ... _06?page=2 (http://www.photosmagiques.com/gallery/trip_6_8_oct_06?page=2)
And you see how orange the mountain is looking now here:
(//http://www.dlp.info/Guide/images/News/Disneyland/Frontierland/Attractions/BigThunderMountain/01_BTM-Rehab2006-01x.jpg) (//http://www.dlp.info/Guide/images/News/Disneyland/Frontierland/Attractions/BigThunderMountain/BTM-Rehab2006-01x.jpg)
http://www.dlp.info (http://www.dlp.info)
Although that was taken at sunset, so it's probably not always quite that bright. It's still a HUGE difference, anyway. :shock:
QuoteAlthough that was taken at sunset, so it's probably not always quite that bright. It's still a HUGE difference, anyway.
It's deffinately not that bright during the day!! I even dare to say that the hue has been adjusted to make the photo look more red than it really is.
l kind of hope so cause this is a bit too much of a good thing in my opinion!! :wink:
so it is going to be ready for 14th, isn`t it?
For the final time - yes.
Of course, things can go wrong, but I've never ever known Disney miss their refurbishment dates.
Quote from: "Baloo"For the final time - yes.
Of course, things can go wrong, but I've never ever known Disney miss their refurbishment dates.
it sounds GREAT :!: :!: :!:
Yup cant wait to see it for real!
It's open! Apparently it only opened in the afternoon though, after a security alert in the morning closed Frontierland. After the land reopened 5 minutes later, fastpass started at 9.20 and then the attraction opened at around midday. Eventful...
First photos (or photo): http://www.disneymagicinteractive.com/f ... &start=420 (http://www.disneymagicinteractive.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=444&start=420)
The new airgates are NICE!
(//http://scrooge.site.voila.fr/btm02.jpg)
Great that it reopened :) I couldn't be at DLRP without going on BTM!
But--don't laugh at me--what's different on the airgates? Just the colour or was it otherwise different before?! :oops:
Quote from: "Nala_84"what's different on the airgates?
They are completely new!
(//http://www.photosmagiques.com/gallery/albums/big_thunder_mountain/loading_station.jpg)
i think it loooks great, they've done a fantastic job!
I was at the park on Saturday and Sunday and in my opinion the re-opening was a bit messy.
On Saturday we got to the park at half 8 and waited outside Frontierland. At 9 they let us in and there was a big rush towards Thunder Mountain but we were greeted by 2 security staff telling us to go back with no explanation of why. As we walked out of the Frontierland entrance they were letting people in again so once again there was a rush to Thunder Mountain only to find out that it was closed.
We went on Phantom Manor and by the time we had come out Thunder Mountain was open so we got in the queue, waited about 45 minutes, got near to the stairs down to the platform and a staff member opened a gate and told us to leave the queue line, again with no explanation of why (I'm guessing it broke down) but we were given fast pass tickets. It must have re opened again sometime in the late afternoon and seemed to run ok all day on Sunday but had queues of up to 140 minutes.
It looks so much better now. Cleaner, fresher just a much better environment in general. Out of interesst, how often do they refurbish big rides like this? Is it once a year or less often? Or are they all closed at some point in the year for a short while, but this was just a big big refurb? hope someone can help...
Most attractions are closed for a few days at least, but big two-month refurbishments like this don't happen very often. Last one I can remember was Space Mountain back in 2004. The main reason these refurbishments were long was because they left it so long to do them in the first place. I suppose they don't want to shut their two main attractions, but the longer they leave it the longer the refurbishment at the end.
Things like POTC and Phantom Manor are much more cared for (because the guests won't complain quite so much if they're closed), and so only need about 2 weeks each year.
This BTM closure was a very very rare event, hence all the fuss. The results are amazing though, hopefully it'll never get that dirty again.
Quote from: "DisneyBud"Out of interesst, how often do they refurbish big rides like this? Is it once a year or less often? Or are they all closed at some point in the year for a short while, but this was just a big big refurb? hope someone can help...
I don`t really know how often they refurb such big rides... for BTM it was a first refurb ever... Space Mountain also had one refurb... when it was transformed into Mission 2... but still they have to keep everything working all the time so small works are done every day...
Other rides often have rahter small refurbs... seasonal rather for example after summer season and before halloween and christmas...
Am I right? :->
BTW don`t you think that BTM runs now slower than before? When it goes down the tunnel to enter the mountain, in my opinion, it used to go much more higher on the first lift... don`t you think so too?
Oh and before the drop where the photo is taken... was this break before there? or is it new?
Quote from: "Matts"BTW don`t you think that BTM runs now slower than before? When it goes down the tunnel to enter the mountain, in my opinion, it used to go much more higher on the first lift... don`t you think so too?
yea i think it was faster at on point but still it is much better then wdw's
omg just looking at the pics makes me wanne take a ride right now!