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Audio Animatronics are found in dozens of Disney rides across the theme parks and we
love Animatronics!
Many of these figures are extremely impressive and with any sort of technical mechanics,
things are bound to fail and go wrong.
If you’ve been watching this channel for a while you’ll know its been quite some
time since our last animatronic malfunction video but we’re back.
We’ll take a look at malfunctions featuring some very well known animatronics while teaching
you a little more about these robots as well as some Plan B’s Disney has in place.
So today we’re gonna be counting down the Top 10 Disney Fails and Animatronic Malfunctions
Number 10 A main character featured in Pirates of the
Caribbean is the Auctioneer; he’s an impressive audio animatronic which we’ve shown on the
channel before.
Now since Animatronics are such a key part of an attraction’s storytelling, there are
certain figures that when they malfunction, it causes the ride to shut down.
The auctioneer is supposed to be one of these key figures but it doesn’t seem like thats
the case with this video from Disneyland that was sent into us.
{Redd} Now quit your clucking!
The gentleman wants the run!
Don’t cha boys?
{Pirates} We wants the rum!
{Auctioneer} Now you scurvy scum do I hear 10!
It’s really interesting how his legs collapsed sideways but the rest of his upper body was
moving like normal.
This was probably a case of hydraulic pressure in his legs being lost but it really just
looks like he has a bad back.
Now if you are on a ride and see an animatronic malfunctioning, it never hurts to let a cast
member know so the issue can be looked after and they can return to working order.
Number 9 Staying at Disneyland this next one brings
us into the Guardians of the Galaxy Mission Breakout pre showroom with the Rocket Raccoon
audio-animatronic.
Now sometimes when Rocket get’s a bit fed up with the collector he takes a little nap.
{Rocket} I’m gonna blast this thing and destroy all the control system which will
open up every cage in this freak show and free my friends.
And then we’ll be on our merry way.
Well in this specific case, all the guests were sent on their merry way out of the pre-show
room once Cast Members saw him malfunctioning.
Now the Rocket Animatronic is a pretty vital component to setting up the story.
You wouldn’t be able to have a complete experience without the pre-show so Disney
has set up a plan B. When the Rocket Animatronic malfunctions and isn’t operating he appears
on the screen instead of physically showing up in the room.
{Rocket} For those of you that have not been paying attention, the names' rocket.
One of the Guardians of the Galaxy.
oo and look what I swiped!
Now move it
A little clue to figure out if you’ll be seeing the Rocket animatronic is spotting
the walkman is in the display case.
If you walk into the room and see its missing, then you’ll be getting plan B!
Number 8 This next malfunction brings us into the finale
of the Gran Fiesta Tour in the Mexico Pavilion at Epcot.
The Three Caballeros animatronics were added to the ride in 2015 but sometimes when they
take their big final bow at the end of their world tour, well they have some issues getting
back up.
Now these figures look lifeless but if you pay close attention you can still see that
Panchito’s foot and Jose’s left hand and foot are all still moving.
{Music} Ahhh we have the stars to guide us.
They’re dancing beside us to play as we go.
We sing and we Sumba we shoot eiiii corumba.
Who needs iii corumba, oh yes I don’t know.
It’s strange how these are the only parts moving don’t you think?
Number 7 Splash Mountain is home to dozens of audio-animatronics
and it seems like this ride in particular always has an animatronic that’s malfunctioning.
It’s pretty rare that all the figures in the finale are working and on a trip to Disneyland’s
Splash Mountain back in September, the fox seemed to have bust a move and then busted
his back.
The next day we went back to see how Mr. Fox was doing and they got him back up but his
mouth was the only thing that was moving.
As I was reviewing the footage I noticed some other things, like the Chicken on the third
level wasn’t moving as well and one of the Hens was missing.
On another visit, the chicken that should be here was also missing.
Now it is common for Disney to remove one animatronic at a time to fix the figure so
it’s actually not a bad thing when an animatronic is fully missing.
Number 6 The Hondo Onaka animatronic IS the pre-show
of Millennium Falcon Smugglers Run.
Without a working Hondo you can’t have the pre-show, or can you?
Well when Galaxy’s Edge was first in previews at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, the Hondo
animatronic was having some issues.
He must have been malfunctioning and as soon as guests walked into the pre-show room Hondo
was covered and disguised with what looks like a shipping container.
Much like with Plan B in the Mission Breakout pre-show, Smugglers Run also has a Plan B
where Hondo just appears on the screens to the right and left.
{Cast Member} Hey Hondo.
The recruits are here.
Hondo.
Honda
{Hondo} Are we all in?
Good, good, good.
For those who don’t know me, I am Hondo Onaka and welcome to my completely legitimate
shipping company, Onaka Transport Solutions.
It’s definitely not as exciting as an animatronic but it still provides the story points needed
to fly the Falcon.
{Hondo} The Resistance will get the supplies they needed!
Number 5 Projections play a big part in the animatronics
on Frozen Ever After at Epcot.
As much as they look great when they work, you can get some pretty wacky and unsettling
looking malfunctions like slot machine Olaf.
{Olaf} Summer snow, for Sven and me and you.
We’re going up to Elsa’s Ice Palace with you and you.
If you think that looked strange get ready for Olaf Skellington.
{Olaf} We’re going up to Elsa’s Ice Palace with you and you.
All of you!
See you there!
We just need to change the music and its a completely different ride.
Now speaking of music and sound, this next malfunction with Olaf is interesting so see
if you notice anything.
Usually when an animatronic malfunctions and freezes, their show audio still plays which
doesn’t make much sense cause if the character isn’t alive with animation then how could
it be speaking.
{Music}
I actually think this is a great decision on Disney’s part to cut the dialogue when
the classic Frozen malfunction takes place.
I mean the only thing he’s doing is blinking, and probably blinking for help.
So don’t worry buddy, somebody gonna come get you.
Number 4 The highlight of Na’Vi River Journey in
Pandora at Disney’s Animal Kingdom is the Na’vi Shaman of Songs; she’s a massive
figure.
The Shaman is the most advanced and complicated animatronic system Disney has developed to
date, but when figures are this complex, issues are bound to arise.
There are times when the Shaman Malfunctions and although it's yet to be caught on camera,
Disney has a quick contingency plan in place.
When they notice a problem with the animatronic, she’s lowered into the ground for maintenance
and a screen is brought down to project a video of the Shaman.
{Shaman Singing}
Disney tries to have as little downtime with this ride as possible so this switchover happens
pretty quick.
The Shaman is the biggest wow moment in the ride, so it might be a bit of a let done to
not see her but the way I see it is that B mode Shaman is better than no Shaman at all.
It keeps her cousin company at Expedition Everest: Go Disco Yeti!
Number 3 We’re going back to the Animatronics on
Frozen Ever After and like we saw with the Olaf projection malfunctions, Elsa has experienced
her own problems and just can't seem to let it go.
{Elsa} No rue’s for me.
I’m free.
Let it go, let it go
It looks weird seeing her without a face but it isn’t as unsettling as Olaf Skellington.
Next to Olaf, Elsa seems like the animatronic that malfunctions the most on the ride and
although she’s usually an extremely fluid figure sometimes she gives frozen a whole
new meaning.
{Elsa} No rue’s for me.
I’m free.
Let it go, let it go
Now, remember how we talked about Disney having contingency plans?
Well, there’s one set in place that if the ride itself breaks down and malfunctions leaving
you stuck in front of Elsa, she’ll finish singing Let it Go then in true Disney fashion
she stays animated waving to guests in the boat.
{Music}
It’s pretty clever, isn’t it?
Just like any Disney character would do in a show or parade breakdown!
Number 2 This next one takes us into Buzz Lightyear’s
Astro Blasters at Disneyland.
Now on this list, a common malfunction we’ve seen are static animatronics like how Buzz
is here.
{Buzz} The scanner is detecting more trouble in sector 9.
No doubt its the work of that enemy of the galactic alliance the Evil Emperor Zurg.
Well back in June of 2018 a malfunction similar to Ursula losing her head happened to Buzz
lightyear and instead of his head it was his hand.
{Buzz} The scanner is detecting more trouble in sector 9.
No doubt its the work of that enemy of the galactic alliance the Evil Emperor Zurg.
Without those cells, we’ll all be powerless and at the mercy of Zerg.
Now, this must have just been an issue with a couple screws coming lose that hold his
hand in place since his fingers are still functioning like normal.
Around Buzz lightyear, you’ll see this rod and in a case with a malfunction like this,
they would put a curtain around the animatronic to block it from the queue while maintenance
repairs the figure.
Number 1 For this last one, we’re gonna literally
shake things up as we head on Spaceship Earth at Epcot.
Now, this ride is filled with dozens of audio-animatronics and they go from looking like this to malfunctioning
like this.
{Music}
I mean that’s a pretty violent shake, we need that one more time.
Even the lab worker leisurely goes about his day then sips a little too much coffee and
ends up all like.
Even King triton on the Little Mermaid Ride seems to have a case of the shakes.
{Guest} Dude are you okay?
hahahahah
Now what I’ve realized in all three of these malfunctions is that all the figures are limited
motion animatronics.
They aren’t advanced a-100 figures, but I feel like the shaking issue has something
to do with the compliance software failing.
Compliance was a software setting developed by Disney that acts as sort of a shock absorber
and alleviates pressure during the animatronic movement.
That mixed with issues in the hydraulic pressure with the actuators and valves could definitely
cause this malfunction.
It’s quite the sight
So have you ever experienced an animatronic fail and malfunction while on a Disney ride?
I’d love to know!
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