I worked for the mouse in the Magic Kingdom back in the mid 90s. At that time they were using mostly AB PLC's. The ride programs were not resident. What we did in the morning was to call DACS (Digital Animation Control) and ask for the show to be transferred to HOPS (Hall of Presidents) for example. Then you get on the ride and look for obvious malfunctions. Some are pneumatic and some are hydraulic. The country Bears were hydraulic. You had to watch for leaking hydraulic fluid at the movement points on the bears. In the old days they were called audio animatronics because the program for each portion of the show was on an audio disk similar to the old 12" laser disks. One of the odd things is, on each of the rides each sound has its own card. Our shop was located underneath the Tiki Birds and you could push little test buttons in the cabinets and produce each individual sound of each show. I have been talking to some of the folks I know down there, and it is almost all Siemens or is being migrated to Siemens. Back in 2005, the mouse signed a 12 year pact with Siemens. check this out:
The Siemens-Disney alliance brings together the world’s leading family entertainment company with a premier global technology and infrastructure company in a 12-year strategic partnership that was announced in November, 2005. Disney already uses a range of Siemens products and technologies, but the alliance agreement expands the relationship and paves the way for the two companies to broaden their technical collaborations across several platforms including theme parks, cruise ships and other lines of business. As part of the alliance, Siemens will sponsor several rides and attractions at Walt Disney World Resort, including the Epcot icon, Spaceship Earth and its post show area which includes 9000-square feet of interactive exhibits based on Siemens technology. Other attractions sponsored by Siemens are the nightly fireworks display at Epcot, the holiday light show at MGM Studios at Walt Disney World® in Florida and a technology showcase at Innoventions in Disneyland®, as well as its two popular parades: Disney’s Electric Light Parade and Walt Disney’s Parade of Dreams. In addition, the companies are working together to develop and further apply new technologies across a range of platforms, as well as explore ways to integrate some of Siemens technologies into Disney’s current and future attractions and resorts both domestic and international. Siemens will also build on its existing relationship with Disney Media Networks and ESPN by sponsoring ABC’s video board at Times Square in New York City.
OK, nuff said.
Robert
