Rhinefeld (Germany)
- Thread starter Zachary
- Start date
Thanks, I didn't see it. It's been insanely windy the last couple days, I wonder if it got blown over....if so, they probably didn't have time to get it fixed before opening weekend.
My impression was that they were behind on a lot of the set-up, possibly because of this winter's weather. Yesterday was really their dress rehearsal. I'd wait a week, before getting too incensed by any of these kinds of problems.
This happened yesterday...
Caught me off guard. Will get a better one soon.
Caught me off guard. Will get a better one soon.
I saw that too. While some things on it still aren't working, it's definitely better than past years.
- Feb 17, 2014
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So, about the clock- I don't think people really realize what's up with it.
Over the last 5-ish years the park has gone in during the offseason and done a minor touch-up on it each and every year. From what I've been told, it's a maintenance nightmare but, typically, some work gets done- at least enough to make most of it run. The exception to this was 2013 when, reportedly, the park simply didn't have the time and/or money to do even the bare minimum- this is why it essentially didn't function at all last year. While it's nice to see that it did get its yearly off-season maintenance again this year, this really isn't out of character- 2013 was simply an exception to the rule.
To be honest, at the end of the day, it sounds like the clock needs a true full renovation. During the AB days the park could spend untold amounts of money throughout the season to keep the incredibly complex mechanical system that drives it running but, now, from what I understand, it's simply not financially feasible. While I'm always glad to see it running for a month or two after the park first opens each season, it's always just a temporary band-aid. Year after year it ends up deteriorating back to being essentially nonfunctional once again.
I love the use of an authentic, fully mechanical system just as much as the next guy, but at the end of the day, no one sees it and I'd much rather simply see the thing consistently functional- if that means gutting the internals and replacing it with a new computer-controlled system, I'm all for it. Theoretically, if done right, everything could/should look the same to the guests and, well, that's what matters.
Over the last 5-ish years the park has gone in during the offseason and done a minor touch-up on it each and every year. From what I've been told, it's a maintenance nightmare but, typically, some work gets done- at least enough to make most of it run. The exception to this was 2013 when, reportedly, the park simply didn't have the time and/or money to do even the bare minimum- this is why it essentially didn't function at all last year. While it's nice to see that it did get its yearly off-season maintenance again this year, this really isn't out of character- 2013 was simply an exception to the rule.
To be honest, at the end of the day, it sounds like the clock needs a true full renovation. During the AB days the park could spend untold amounts of money throughout the season to keep the incredibly complex mechanical system that drives it running but, now, from what I understand, it's simply not financially feasible. While I'm always glad to see it running for a month or two after the park first opens each season, it's always just a temporary band-aid. Year after year it ends up deteriorating back to being essentially nonfunctional once again.
I love the use of an authentic, fully mechanical system just as much as the next guy, but at the end of the day, no one sees it and I'd much rather simply see the thing consistently functional- if that means gutting the internals and replacing it with a new computer-controlled system, I'm all for it. Theoretically, if done right, everything could/should look the same to the guests and, well, that's what matters.
Zachary said:
This is one of the most important things to keep in mind. They never had to worry about spending money before, but now that they must make profit things like this suffer because they can not afford it.
With that said I like Zachary's idea of changing the system so that it is consistently operation with much less maintenance issues.
While it bugs me, it's not the worst thing wrong with that picture. The Christmas lights left up everywhere though...
Party Rocker said:
Wow. Just, wow.
Anyways, I'm not that worried about it, it's not very noticeable, and doesn't stand out at all, unless you were specifically looking for it.
However, I have to agree with Alpenghost, there are Christmas lights everywhere. There are Christmas lights in Banbury Cross, Rhinefeld, Oktoberfest, everywhere almost, that's the thing that's really bothering me at this moment, they are a lot more noticeable then that, it they weren't I would've noticed that over the lights by now.
I say let the outrage begin because of the constant complaints that the park even painted the building in the first place and that members had stated the park had better repaint the building properly afterwards; which, they clearly did not.
Honestly, the Christmas lights have been there for years. It helps the park switch over to Christmas Town quicker.
Honestly, the Christmas lights have been there for years. It helps the park switch over to Christmas Town quicker.
Lights are a necessary evil. We wouldn't have a great CT without them there all year.
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