Norway Ride & Rivers Of Light (Disappointing Progress Updates)

[mab2012]

I'm going to go out on a limb and guess that those few who are holding up their relatively stellar records of meeting deadlines as evidence of their superior competence do not work in industries that are heavily impacted by seasonal consumer spending cycles.

 

[KYMickey]

I'm going to go out on a limb and guess that those few who are holding up their relatively stellar records of meeting deadlines as evidence of their superior competence do not work in industries that are heavily impacted by seasonal consumer spending cycles.

No we probably don't but the type of industry you're in doesn't have any significant influence on your competence to make projects come in on time and on budget. As a matter of fact project managers in an industry like Disney that is significantly impacted by consumer spending cycles should be better at it if anything. I'm sure their timelines are developed so that whatever they are working on opens at a time in the year where it will be beneficial to the most visitors. That's much like it is for any industry, practice or time to come online when they are needed! I don't see any difference doing it for industry than it is doing it for Disney in the long run.

 

[AndyR]

So I have to ask, while Disney designs (Imagineers) the attractions, its usually some specalist ride vendor who does all the real engineering work on them. E.g. Screaming' was designed by Ingenious Buro and was built by Intamin & Mission Space was designed and built by Environmental Tectonics Corporation.

 

[rteetz]

So I have to ask, while Disney designs (Imagineers) the attractions, its usually some specalist ride vendor who does all the real engineering work on them. E.g. Screaming' was designed by Ingenious Buro and was built by Intamin & Mission Space was designed and built by Environmental Tectonics Corporation.

Yep Disney designs the attractions and signs off on everything, outside contractors then actually build them.

 

[ParrotBill]

Just returned from WDW. General concensus talking to CMs is ROL has major problems and won't open for months. Not this summer. :-(

 

[rteetz]

Just returned from WDW. General concensus talking to CMs is ROL has major problems and won't open for months. Not this summer. :-(

It really depends on how quickly they get the issue resolved. The new target was July 4th. If they know that can't meet that they'll extend the jungle book show.

 

[LeeAndRobin]

Just returned from WDW. General concensus talking to CMs is ROL has major problems and won't open for months. Not this summer. :-(

Forget the CMs. Will someone please PLEASE ask a bus driver so we can finally get a definitive answer?

 

[TheRustyScupper]

its usually some specalist ride vendor who does all the real engineering work

1) In many cases, yes.
2) Disney basically dismantled the Imagineering Dept, and laid off 90% of the Imagineers several years ago.
3) Now, the can't seem to get things done well, on-time or on-budget.

 

[rteetz]

1) In many cases, yes.
2) Disney basically dismantled the Imagineering Dept, and laid off 90% of the Imagineers several years ago.
3) Now, the can't seem to get things done well, on-time or on-budget.

Based on what I've seen Imagineering has had a problem being on budget since its inception. Of course they used to be on time all of the time but they didn't used to be on budget all of the time.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Based on what I've seen Imagineering has had a problem being on budget since its inception. Of course they used to be on time all of the time but they didn't used to be on budget all of the time.

So I really have no idea on this but do they hold their contractors responsible for going over time or is it a big deal or what? Like I know many projects in the real world if a project doesn't get done on time companies can be fined or the overall project cost gets reduced (as in a company pays for something to get done by X'd date but it doesn't then they don't pay that company the full amount) based on how late it is.

For example my husband's company builds and retrofits powerplants so if a company they buy parts from are late in delivering something like valves or concrete, etc then his company fines that other company depending on how late they are.

I know disney is def. not operating on full real world stuff but didn't know how they handle going over on project time.

 

[rteetz]

So I really have no idea on this but do they hold their contractors responsible for going over time or is it a big deal or what? Like I know many projects in the real world if a project doesn't get done on time companies can be fined or the overall project cost gets reduced (as in a company pays for something to get done by X'd date but it doesn't then they don't pay that company the full amount) based on how late it is.

For example my husband's company builds and retrofits powerplants so if a company they buy parts from are late in delivering something like valves or concrete, etc then his company fines that other company depending on how late they are.

I know disney is def. not operating on full real world stuff but didn't know how they handle going over on project time.

These days Disney purposely takes longer on projects. They will do this to spread out the costs over multiple fiscal budgets. This in the long run makes it "cost less" for Disney than it would if they did it in a reasonable amount of time. I am not sure if or how Disney punishes contractors for actually not being on time.

 

[STLstone]

1) Norway (Epcot):
. . . the boats FINALLY start to go into the water TONIGHT (4/11/2016)
. . . these are the previous boats and boat designs
. . . many of the CM's don't think the boats can maneuver one of the turns, while Imagineers say, "Yes"
. . . the CM's think even if they navigate the turn, they will "bunch up"
. . . the ride test trials start SLOWLY tonight so we should see
. . . no word on soft or hard opening dates
2) Rivers of Light (AK):
. . . the show was cancelled from April 22nd due to technical difficulties
. . . three of the C's working on the project think June is a reasonable opening date
. . . again, we will see
. . . no word on soft or hard opening dates

NOTE: The above info is from CM's working on or in the rides, and not an official statement from WDW.

Have you heard any update about the Frozen ride test trials?

 

[mcjaco]

These days Disney purposely takes longer on projects. They will do this to spread out the costs over multiple fiscal budgets. This in the long run makes it "cost less" for Disney than it would if they did it in a reasonable amount of time. I am not sure if or how Disney punishes contractors for actually not being on time.

Costs are costs. It's budgeting plans that can change. Spreading it out, just means budgeting can change from year to year. The cost is still the same no matter how you dice it up.

Disney would likely have contracts similiar to any building contract that is subcontracted out. Deadlines, fines, bonuses etc. Disney doesn't do anything that's out of the ordinary from any other construction project out there. It's the subject matter that's different.

 

[rteetz]

Costs are costs. It's budgeting plans that can change. Spreading it out, just means budgeting can change from year to year. The cost is still the same no matter how you dice it up.

Disney would likely have contracts similiar to any building contract that is subcontracted out. Deadlines, fines, bonuses etc. Disney doesn't do anything that's out of the ordinary from any other construction project out there. It's the subject matter that's different.

That's why I put costs less in quotes because it doesn't actually cost less. To Disney it looks better to spread it out.

 

[mcjaco]

That's why I put costs less in quotes because it doesn't actually cost less. To Disney it looks better to spread it out.

Tastes Great. Less Filling.

 

[Eoghann]

So I really have no idea on this but do they hold their contractors responsible for going over time or is it a big deal or what? Like I know many projects in the real world if a project doesn't get done on time companies can be fined or the overall project cost gets reduced (as in a company pays for something to get done by X'd date but it doesn't then they don't pay that company the full amount) based on how late it is.

I don't know for sure but I would be astonished if there wasn't liquidated damages penalty clause for late delivery (there's various ways to do it, by date, labor hours etc). It would be extremely unusual for a subcontract not to include something like that.

That works well for buildings or vehicles using established technology. New technology is a different beast entirely and you run into situations that no one predicted. You can't compare a RoL with the average construction project. Frozen Ever After is another story...

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I don't know for sure but I would be astonished if there wasn't liquidated damages penalty clause for late delivery (there's various ways to do it, by date, labor hours etc). It would be extremely unusual for a subcontract not to include something like that.

That works well for buildings or vehicles using established technology. New technology is a different beast entirely and you run into situations that no one predicted. You can't compare a RoL with the average construction project. Frozen Ever After is another story...

I completely agree if the new technology being used is causing the delays. If it's not a tried and true method it's likely that you would run into at least one roadblock to success. As for other projects that use methods already proven to work well....yeah that one I'm less understanding.

And with my husband's company the fine depends on the company and project; at times they fine them a set penalty dollar amount and for others they up the amount they charge per hour for the engineers working on the job (though of course my husband doesn't get paid what they actually charge per hour for his work). So it would make sense if Disney did have these types of clauses in their contracts that they use a variety of fining just like you mentioned.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

Have you heard any update about the Frozen ride test trials?

1) The boats did make the suspect curve.
2) But, the boats were empty, thus riding "high", and avoiding the angle of the boat hull sides.
3) The next trial is to load them with people and see if they still make the bend.
4) Still no date for soft or hard opening . . . much like Rivers of Light, several technical issues need to be resolved.

 

[STLstone]

1) The boats did make the suspect curve.
2) But, the boats were empty, thus riding "high", and avoiding the angle of the boat hull sides.
3) The next trial is to load them with people and see if they still make the bend.
4) Still no date for soft or hard opening . . . much like Rivers of Light, several technical issues need to be resolved.

Thanks for the update!

 

[John Byers]

This isn't sounding too good for my trip the last week of June