7 Dwarfs Mine Train in Testing [Archive]

MOJoe

11-13-2013, 09:38 AM

Last night people in MK reported that the 7 Dwarfs Mine Train was operating. Great News! There were "people" riding in the cars! Those "people" however, were Test Dummies. Looks like the Mine Train is "on track" for an early 2014 opening.

mickclub1955

11-13-2013, 10:04 AM

Glad to hear this!!!!!:coaster:

andypooh

11-13-2013, 10:10 AM

Great news. Next trip August 2014. Looking forward to riding

Goes4FastPass

11-13-2013, 10:42 AM

And a holiday 2013 preview we hope.

I rember seeing dummies riding Kali RIver Rapids then a few days later we saw signs inviting us to a "rehearsal" and we got to ride. that was the wettest "reherasal" I ever went to!

Kenny1113

11-13-2013, 11:10 AM

buzznwoodysmom

11-13-2013, 11:29 AM

A few weeks back I heard lots of rumors about possible soft opening starting thanksgiving week. I didn't get my hopes up because the ride still looks like there is a lot of work to be done. We will definitely keep an eye out while there and make sure to check the ride often. It would be amazing to be able to test ride since we have no plans for Disney next year.

Terra

11-13-2013, 12:52 PM

Hmmm...

I will keep look out for "rehearsal" invites this weekend. ;)

Agree!! We'll be there this weekend celebrating my oldest son's birthday!!
What a great present that would be!

disneymom15

11-13-2013, 02:48 PM

So hoping that the Mine Train opens early. We have a bunch of newbies coming with us in January, it would be so awesome if they could experience this.

Bay Lake

11-13-2013, 03:19 PM

Looks like I may get to ride it in late Feb.

yjgirl32

11-13-2013, 03:52 PM

Wahoo. This is awesome

SueQ

11-13-2013, 04:15 PM

We'll be there March 29th!!

Lindsey310

11-13-2013, 04:17 PM

Great news!!! I'm hoping it will be open when we go down in February!!! :D

87 days!!!!! :cloud9:

gottaluvtink

11-13-2013, 07:19 PM

I would be so happy if it were to open early, like January 11 through the 19! :D

DisnIse

11-14-2013, 09:25 AM

I think it'd be too much wishful thinking that they would do a soft open at New Years.... we are actually going to Disneyland this summer, so we will probably not be able to ride the mine coaster until NEXT Christmas...
Although my boys might be able to talk us into a long weekend in the fall.... hmmmm

Susan A

11-14-2013, 09:30 AM

That's quick. Three weeks ago we peeked through a peep hole oh the wall. It didn't look near completion to me. The tracks were in though.
I'm glad they use dummies before they use people! :mickey:

Ian

11-14-2013, 09:41 AM

We'll be there 12/7-12/14, so I'll make sure to keep my eyes peeled!

PopPhan

11-14-2013, 10:17 AM

We'll be there 12/7-12/14, so I'll make sure to keep my eyes peeled!

Look me up, Ian. I will be there 12/4 - 12/11! Staying at Pop (of course! LOL)

Altair

11-14-2013, 07:55 PM

We'll be there 12/7-12/14, so I'll make sure to keep my eyes peeled!

We'll be there the same week, too. I'll be the free spirit doing things in my own free spirit ways. :thumbsup: Hope to bump into you. :mickey:

tundramom

11-14-2013, 07:59 PM

How exciting, I didn't ever consider that it would be ready for our late Feb. trip, now I'm optimistic!

Goofy4TheWorld

11-14-2013, 08:56 PM

Did the test dummies need a FP+ reservation to get on? :D

Fantasia2005

11-15-2013, 10:16 AM

We'll be in MK Dec 10th....hoping for a test ride!:mickey:

sneezyone

11-15-2013, 12:57 PM

I'll be over a couple of times before Christmas, I'll let you guys know what I see..

It's awesome living only 90 minutes from the house of mouse!

DANAM

11-15-2013, 02:08 PM

Oh so excited! 43 days and counting hope we are there when they are testing.

readytogo2

11-15-2013, 03:48 PM

Did the test dummies need a FP+ reservation to get on? :D

bet they booked it 60 days out

Katzateer

11-16-2013, 08:15 AM

We'll be there the same week, too. I'll be the free spirit doing things in my own free spirit ways. :thumbsup: Hope to bump into you. :mickey:

We will be there also at POP. We ought to all get together at the AOA pool lounge one night after the parks close. We will be there until the 10th but the 9th MK will be a late night since it is open until 11. Maybe we could get together the 8th??

DakotaDisney

11-16-2013, 06:01 PM

I was just at the Magic Kingdom on Thursday, Nov. 14 and I'm sorry but I really think it's going to be awhile before the mine ride is ready.
I would be surprised if it would be ready for a preview during the Holidays. But that would be nice for those of you who are going.
I wish it would have been ready when I was there. I think it will be a fun ride!

Terra

11-18-2013, 07:50 AM

Was just there yesterday, on the 17th and no soft opening ;) No trains running at all.
I can't wait until it's done. My 7 year old was so excited to "Take a Peek" at the peeking section. It looks like it is going to be amazing and it will open up New FL :)

thejens

11-19-2013, 01:19 AM

My 9 year old son asked if we are going to WDW this year. I said no, not this year, we were just there! And he said, "but Mama, I know you want to ride on that 7 Dwarfs Mine Train!"

He knows me. :)

BowTie7

11-19-2013, 05:45 PM

While I'm sure the park wants to get the ride open as soon as possible, remember that the ride is both a family coaster and a dark ride. Even if the coaster portion is testing, without inside information it will be hard to guess when the show part of the ride is ready for the public.

DizneyFreak2002

11-19-2013, 09:06 PM

Don't get your hopes up for any guest ride tests or soft openings in December... Instead, look for MAYBE January, mid to end of the month (February could be more likely though)... With a possible official opening sometime in March/April time frame...

DizneyFreak2002

12-06-2013, 01:50 PM

Sounds like February 7, 2014 may be a date to look out for...

MarkC

12-06-2013, 02:21 PM

A quick footnote on why they use test dummies. Our pastor's wife grew up in Orlando and said they used test dummies on Space Mountain. Some of them were coming out decapitated.

She also pointed out that on tours, a lot of people would get dehydrated from the heat and pass out and here she is at 17 trying to tend to them.

Ok, back on topic-- we'll be there on Jan. 16-21 with our Mom's so a test run would be awesome.

Altair

12-15-2013, 05:54 PM

We were there last week and it didn't look close to opening. :(

Lindsey310

12-15-2013, 06:26 PM

Ooh!!!! I really hope 2/7 is the date! We will be there starting on 2/9!

55 days!!!!! :mickey:

DizneyFreak2002

12-15-2013, 10:01 PM

We were there last week and it didn't look close to opening. :(
Because it is not close to opening... Look to Feb 7 as a possible date for soft openings with official grand opening in the Spring...

DizneyFreak2002

12-15-2013, 10:03 PM

Ooh!!!! I really hope 2/7 is the date! We will be there starting on 2/9!

55 days!!!!! :mickey:
If the date is Feb 7, that would be the soft opening date target, not the grand opening... Soft opening does not guarantee a ride on the attraction, nor does it guarantee a complete experience... And it is luck if you happen to be around for the soft open testing...

TinkerbellT421

12-30-2013, 05:55 PM

Ah ****, we will be there 1/24 - 2/1, guess we might just miss a soft opening. Story of my life. lol :thedolls:

Ian

12-30-2013, 06:49 PM

Based on the way it was looking when we were there and knowing the snail's pace at which Disney works I'd be pretty surprised if it was ready for even a soft opening on the 7th.

DizneyFreak2002

12-30-2013, 06:53 PM

Based on the way it was looking when we were there and knowing the snail's pace at which Disney works I'd be pretty surprised if it was ready for even a soft opening on the 7th.

More walls have been removed from the back side of the hill (sorry, cannot call it a mountain cause it is not one)... The waterfall feature is current on and being tested... Not sure what the inside of the queue looks like, or even the one/two indoor show scenes, but it is a little further along than what meets the eye...

Lizzie

01-08-2014, 04:26 PM

Is this in testing yet?

DizneyFreak2002

01-08-2014, 04:33 PM

Is this in testing yet?

With people? No... but they have been cycling the trains...

Lizzie

01-08-2014, 04:39 PM

So probably no soft openings this week?

WDWdriver

01-08-2014, 04:56 PM

So probably no soft openings this week?

Not likely. The usual test protocol is to run the trains empty for an extended amount of time. Then they run with water-filled test dummies that simulate the weight of human riders. They test in every mode imaginable - all the weight up front, all in the back, evenly distributed, overweight, etc, etc. Then they have to be sure that all of the possible abnormal situations are covered - automatic ride stops, manual ride stops, E-stops, power disconnects, etc. etc. All of this testing can take months. Then they have to write the operating procedures according to strict Disney standards. Then they can train the ride operators. All of this has to be done and certified before the first guest can ride.

Lizzie

01-08-2014, 04:59 PM

Thanks!

ransam

01-08-2014, 08:29 PM

can't wait.

DizneyFreak2002

01-08-2014, 09:16 PM

Not likely. The usual test protocol is to run the trains empty for an extended amount of time. Then they run with water-filled test dummies that simulate the weight of human riders. They test in every mode imaginable - all the weight up front, all in the back, evenly distributed, overweight, etc, etc. Then they have to be sure that all of the possible abnormal situations are covered - automatic ride stops, manual ride stops, E-stops, power disconnects, etc. etc. All of this testing can take months. Then they have to write the operating procedures according to strict Disney standards. Then they can train the ride operators. All of this has to be done and certified before the first guest can ride.

I noticed they have been testing the vehicles with some sort of weights, not the water filled test dummies they usually use... Are these new "dummies" they are using?

There are pictures out there of these weighted "dummies" to see and they look nothing like the water filled ones...

WDWdriver

01-10-2014, 01:41 PM

I noticed they have been testing the vehicles with some sort of weights, not the water filled test dummies they usually use... Are these new "dummies" they are using?

There are pictures out there of these weighted "dummies" to see and they look nothing like the water filled ones...

I'm not an engineer, so I probably shouldn't try to answer that. My previous post was based on watching the testing of EE and my experience of working at the attraction.

DizneyFreak2002

01-10-2014, 03:44 PM

I'm not an engineer, so I probably shouldn't try to answer that. My previous post was based on watching the testing of EE and my experience of working at the attraction.

Just thought maybe you knew if they were using different weighted dummies since these cause to swing a but and tilt and rock...

BrerGnat

01-10-2014, 06:25 PM

Maybe water filled dummies are "old school" by now. Maybe there have been new developments in this area? Just speculating, because I really don't know.

DizneyFreak2002

01-11-2014, 11:51 AM

Maybe water filled dummies are "old school" by now. Maybe there have been new developments in this area? Just speculating, because I really don't know.

Could be the case... Like you, I really don't know... The weights being sued look very simplistic... Just a bar/stick/pipe/pole??? sticking up from the seat with weights (think of the weights you lift for working out) stacked on the bar/stick/pipe/pole...

I would also think they would use some sort of person-like dummy to test head clearance... Cause mistakes can happen during construction and heights miscalculated... After all, didn't they miscalculate the distance between the Dumbo car and the wall around the base of the spinner causing the Dumbo's to scratch and become damaged?????

1DisneyNut

01-11-2014, 12:25 PM

Sounds like they are doing load and stress dynamic load testing. You just need weight that is within the ride/structure's weight ratings to simulate the weight of guests.

This looks for abnormal shifting, vibrations, etc. that were unanticipated. If they find something, they add structural reinforcement/bracing or vabration dampening etc.

Technology has came a long way in recent years. They probably have sensors all over the structure and ride vehicle with software that analyzes the results.