As an aerospace engineer it appears to me that the fundamental issue at play is similar to what is problematic in helicopter design. The basic structure of the facade and support of the ride and animatronic is subjected to both vibration stress and stress from the large gross movements of the equipment. This in effect multiplies the wear and tear on everything. Moreover the strain on various structural members and fittings is so complicated that it’s difficult to model even with advanced software and test structures.
To make the Yeti work safely it appears that the best way is for it to have its own isolated mounting structure anchored to an isolated foundation so it does not affect and is not affected by the vibration, movement and strains exerted by the roller coaster itself.
Unfortunately that would mean taking apart that section of the ride facade and building an entirely new isolated support structure for the Yeti and then building the ride facade back enclosing, but not connected to, the Yeti structure.
OR, build a Yeti that’s so light weight and stress / vibration tolerant that it does not affect and is not affected by the rest of the ride.
The first solution would surely work but cost a bunch and take a lot of time. The 2nd solution would mean developing something expensive and new perhaps using composites and other new tech and not a sure thing.
i think your second idea will be possible one day. based on the stuff we’ve seen from project exo im sure theyre keeping those materials in mind for an eventual reimagining of the yeti.
Hey there! At-home Animatronic engineer here. Yall know the issue isnt the yeti itself, right..? Its the structure of the building, the architecture that supports the yeti. Show mode A (i think) was causing the support beams to kinda jiggle loose and slowly break? Basically too much movement from such a massive animatronic was compromising the structural integrity.
I get it, the structure of the Ride’s Building prevents Imagineers from doing the obvious (but, as had already been discussed above, there are other solutions – it’s a shame we got a Cheapskate in charge of the Walt Disney Company, or this would get taken care of!)
FYI, the Yeti is not the only animatronic broken – remember the Himalayan Gold Eagle 🦅 that soared at the end of the broken rail track (before you go backwards?) Geeze, just fix it (add a Yeti’s arm trying to snatch that Eagle 🦅 , too!)
Once again, here’s where I will say that projections cannot replace audio animatronics! Kudos to that Young Engineer!
what i don’t understand is why do we see the broken tracks before we see the video of the yeti destroying them? wouldn’t it make more sense to reverse it?
The Disney of old would NEVER have taken the cheap way out and would have moved the happiest place on Earth to fix that Yeti without delay. Anything less than pure excellence was simply unacceptable. Alas, not now- now they set up a couple of cheap strobe lights to placate the masses who aren’t placated at all – Disney’s standards have fallen so far it makes me sad
Comments for Disney Fan Fixes Broken Yeti Animatronic on Expedition Everest
Chris Kinney
I was lucky enough to be able to experience the Yeti when it moved. Disney, please listen to fans and fix it, no matter how long it takes!
Victor Nazarian
As an aerospace engineer it appears to me that the fundamental issue at play is similar to what is problematic in helicopter design. The basic structure of the facade and support of the ride and animatronic is subjected to both vibration stress and stress from the large gross movements of the equipment. This in effect multiplies the wear and tear on everything. Moreover the strain on various structural members and fittings is so complicated that it’s difficult to model even with advanced software and test structures.
To make the Yeti work safely it appears that the best way is for it to have its own isolated mounting structure anchored to an isolated foundation so it does not affect and is not affected by the vibration, movement and strains exerted by the roller coaster itself.
Unfortunately that would mean taking apart that section of the ride facade and building an entirely new isolated support structure for the Yeti and then building the ride facade back enclosing, but not connected to, the Yeti structure.
OR, build a Yeti that’s so light weight and stress / vibration tolerant that it does not affect and is not affected by the rest of the ride.
The first solution would surely work but cost a bunch and take a lot of time. The 2nd solution would mean developing something expensive and new perhaps using composites and other new tech and not a sure thing.
chelsea
i think your second idea will be possible one day. based on the stuff we’ve seen from project exo im sure theyre keeping those materials in mind for an eventual reimagining of the yeti.
Gregg
Same! And, agreed! We all love Disco Yeti, but A Mode was amazing. Props to the inspired young imagineer in this article, too.
Corrin N.
Hey there! At-home Animatronic engineer here. Yall know the issue isnt the yeti itself, right..? Its the structure of the building, the architecture that supports the yeti. Show mode A (i think) was causing the support beams to kinda jiggle loose and slowly break? Basically too much movement from such a massive animatronic was compromising the structural integrity.
Luna
This has come up many times. I didn’t even think it was new information. Now if we can make the trolls from Malstrom come back.
CJ
I get it, the structure of the Ride’s Building prevents Imagineers from doing the obvious (but, as had already been discussed above, there are other solutions – it’s a shame we got a Cheapskate in charge of the Walt Disney Company, or this would get taken care of!)
FYI, the Yeti is not the only animatronic broken – remember the Himalayan Gold Eagle 🦅 that soared at the end of the broken rail track (before you go backwards?) Geeze, just fix it (add a Yeti’s arm trying to snatch that Eagle 🦅 , too!)
Once again, here’s where I will say that projections cannot replace audio animatronics! Kudos to that Young Engineer!
Gene DiNapoli
what i don’t understand is why do we see the broken tracks before we see the video of the yeti destroying them? wouldn’t it make more sense to reverse it?
sbslaw
The Disney of old would NEVER have taken the cheap way out and would have moved the happiest place on Earth to fix that Yeti without delay. Anything less than pure excellence was simply unacceptable. Alas, not now- now they set up a couple of cheap strobe lights to placate the masses who aren’t placated at all – Disney’s standards have fallen so far it makes me sad
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