Teacups update?

[MNhockeyman]

Just curious haven't seen a thread in a while about it but how is the spinning going? Is it still tough???

[Disneyfreak]

Yep... We now know that the rumor about the teacups loosening is false.

[tod]

Do I have to go out there and check the teacups out myself?

--t
thinking that a midweek day trip to DL might be cool, actually...

[Ghoulish Delight]

We've been on them several times since all this happened and while a few teacups have loosened SLIGHTLY, they are still a far cry from what they used to and should be.

[kijay]

I'm curious as to how complaints about the teacups are handled? Are they still trying to blame the state for the non-spinning teacups? Or is there a new story they are passing around.

[Ghoulish Delight]

I'm curious as to how complaints about the teacups are handled? Are they still trying to blame the state for the non-spinning teacups? Or is there a new story they are passing around.

Let's clear this up, again. Disney NEVER blamed the state. That was reported on MiceAge as "inside information," however in all public statements, Disneyland simply said that they tightened the ride any never mentioned and state inspection or mandate.

[kijay]

Let's clear this up, again. Disney NEVER blamed the state. That was reported on MiceAge as "inside information," however in all public statements, Disneyland simply said that they tightened the ride any never mentioned and state inspection or mandate.

Thanks for correcting me. So what is the official response when one complains about the teacups though, and is there any hope in getting them back to normal?

[Ghoulish Delight]

The official response is that during maintanance, they tightened the "spin brakes," a routine procedure, and that they should loosen up over time. When the change was first made, a group of guests were told to give it month. It's now well passed that month, and they are still significantly tighter than before the adjustment, despite international press on the matter. I suppose the only hope is to continue filing complaints, and doing what we can to make sure the complaints are IN WRITING (they keep claiming "few coplaints, but that's because City Hall CMs are very reluctant to allow people to put complaints in writing because their performance is tied to the number).

[MNhockeyman]

This is sad. I was hoping things would have got better over the past few weeks since I heard anything on this. I guess I will just have to go to the gym a few more times a week so I still can have fun on the ride. I would be interested in finding out if any of the CM's that work the ride have a different story about complaints than the official stance of Disney.

[MattK]

This is off topic, but I've always found it strange that the state finds no problem in the Teacups having no height requirement when spinners in other parks that are identical all have height requirements (Knotts is 36", Legoland and Magic Mountain's are both 42"). Admittingly, they have different manufacturers, but I don't see any real difference. In fact, the one difference I have noticed (magnets on its doors that prevent people from opening them up during the ride, in addition to the G-force that keeps it close) would seem to make it safer than Disney's Teacups, which lack the magnets.

Several other parks' "flight" rides, like Dumbo, have height restrictions as well, although Dumbo does not, despite no real different between the rides.

Matt

[SteveK]

The official response is that during maintanance, they tightened the "spin brakes," a routine procedure, and that they should loosen up over time. When the change was first made, a group of guests were told to give it month. It's now well passed that month, and they are still significantly tighter than before the adjustment, despite international press on the matter. I suppose the only hope is to continue filing complaints, and doing what we can to make sure the complaints are IN WRITING (they keep claiming "few coplaints, but that's because City Hall CMs are very reluctant to allow people to put complaints in writing because their performance is tied to the number).

I recently talked to an aquaintence in DLR engineering and he stated that they are not going to loosen up over time. They are tightened and staying that way.
-Steve

[LegolandMC]

This is off topic, but I've always found it strange that the state finds no problem in the Teacups having no height requirement when spinners in other parks that are identical all have height requirements (Knotts is 36", Legoland and Magic Mountain's are both 42"). Admittingly, they have different manufacturers, but I don't see any real difference.

That is the difference. Manufacturers set their height limits, and how they determine that is up to them (we don't ask why, we don't question why, we just know that they set them). It's the same reason why the dark rides at DL such as Mr. Toad and Snow White only have the requirement of children riding with an adult, but at Legoland, we have a height requirement for Safari Trek, which is no more complex or dangerous than a dark ride.

[MattK]

DOSH has the power to raise a height requirement if it wishes, even if it conflicts with a manufacturer's (as it did with Spellbreaker at Legoland). Seems like a faint possibility that DOSH may one day see these conflicting height requirements and decidee to stick them on Disney's rides as well (which benefit from being around for 50 years and opening without any height requirements).

Matt