"Behind the scenes"

[Musical Pete]

I thought this would be an interesting topic! - Have you been "behind the scenes" of a park or ride? - post about it!

 

I've personally been "behind the scenes" at Pleasureland, and BPB (infact I'm soon to do so at Pleasureland again during a 235 Club event, though I don't know what it will involve).

 

At Pleasureland during an ECC event, I walked roughly two thirds of Cyclone, in reverse direction (photos here - I'm the long haired guy wielding a tape measure ). Those hills feel scarily steep even at a mere 30-40 degrees or so as the final couple are, even at their small size, due to the lack of steps, and especially walking downwards. Grab the handrail tight and go slow! As the hills got larger and steeper further round (not much steeper, as old coasters rarely go beyond 45-50 degrees), it became really rather serious, as we weren't harnessed-up at all - walking up was difficult enough with just the small foot rungs for grip (BPB have now started adding tarred roof-covering type strips to the walkboard tops between the boards and rungs, for anti-slip purposes, which from personal experience is a great idea!) but walking down was really precarious, as just one slip could mean a painful fall..! - even facing backwards (ironically the correct direction of sight for the track) didn't help much, with just those little rungs, some of which were loose or missing, as were some of the boards! (I nearly fell about 40' through the structure due to a large gap in the boards, entering the second turnaround)

 

It was surreal afterwards, walking freely round the bottom of an old wooden coaster and between the station track, and measuring the hybrid PTC cars as the only person in the station (everyone else had gone back for tea & toast, and the two workers were securing a rail on a bit of ground-hugging track at the bottom of the big third drop, which was our trackwalk end point due to the higher sections being unfeasible - and don't forget the thing is only circa 60' high at most!). Our trackwalk took place before park opening by the way, as did the following!

 

There was another behind the scenes type Pleasureland instance in February last year, before the PB company memorabilia auction, when we had a tour of the closed park complete with hat hardons.. what am I saying, I mean hat hardons.. doh, I've said it again.. I mean hard hats . We only walked round the main midways however, the hard hats were due to the place technically being a building site at the time.

 

My next proper and most recent behind the scenes instance was at BPB this May, during a 235 Club trip. We walked Alice in Wonderland, Ghost Train, Goldmine and River Caves virtually all the way round each (apart from River Caves, where we understandably ventured round the various scenes). We also had a look round the workshops of Alice & Goldmine, and overall the whole experience was fantastically fulfilling. Goldmine was I think my personal favourite walk, as we went literally the whole way round (reverse direction, starting at the end) which took ages. After that our group (for we were split into two groups) also looked round Trauma Towers, with a look round the bottom end of the Tagada ride and the opportunity to go up into the locked-off control box. The other group seemed to go to Flying Machine instead (which I personally would've preferred, if I'd known at the time), having a look round the drive room which is visable from the Maxim shop. Apparently when in there, sand is still visable under the floor, which is the same sand the ride was built directly upon over 100 years ago. For some reason I'd really love to see that sand (perhaps beacuse outside the ride, everywhere is either tarmac or concrete)!

 

I filmed lots of video footage during those ride walks but only have photos online - clicky (infact there's some from our special stop at the north Monorail station, which has been out of public use for many years, as has the boarding point from the casino building's Paradise Room, from which we boarded!)

 

Hmm, I tell a little lie - I do have some video from the day online, but apart from the final part where myself and Keith Allen exchanged greetings on the way out of the Paradise Room onto the Monorail (he greeted me as Musical Pete, when my badge only displayed my real name..!) the rest isn't from the group ride walks. Instead, it's from my own personal trip to the Grand National drive room, escorted by manager (I think, or maybe operations supervisor) Jack Lee, whom I talked to for nearly half an hour afterwards. We went into great detail about the Nash (things like the fact it once ran EIGHT trains, and in seperate incidents dicapitated two misbehaving riders) and the park in general, with a little bit of general coaster chat thrown in. Jack is like me, in that he prefers the older "eyeball job" woodies to new rides ("eyeball job" being a John Allen phrase by the way, referring to the simple plans and build methods used before he revolutionised the process in the 60s/70's, making it much more scientific).

 

That unique Nash footage is watchable here.

 

So, what else have people done "behind the scenes" at parks?

[CoasterFanatic]

I have been in the engine room for the Noahs Ark attraction at Kennywood. And here are some quick highlights.

 

- You can actually crawl under the plexiglass in the first room

- The original wallpaper is still in there from the original Hipppo room

- The motor that rocks the boat is pretty damn impressive

- You can stand behind the "imploding chamber" in the last gag

[Canobie Fan]

At Whalom park (now closed) I have been let in by te park sitter.. He said I could go anywhere I want just not inside things... So I climbed up and around flyer comet 6 or 7 times. I havealso climbed to the top of the waterslide tower

 

At Canobie I have been to the junkyard and also under corkscrews pit before the fence was added. I have also been in back of kellys field and on the wooded backside of cannonball. I have been in the staff offices at the park. I have seen into the rideparts area (open door.. lol)

 

At SFNE I have been on the SROS back road many times... It also goes next to BDKs drop and under the SLC. I have been in the raftrides river when it was waterless. I have been in Screams (S&Stower) op booth. I have been under HTGEs (madhouse) spinning drum, I have walked all the way around Cyclone (even the backside....) I have been into the GMs office ontop of mainstreet. I have been in one of the maint. shops .. Umm I have seen where the workers eat lunch. And I havre been around most of the "island" part (most most people 'can' do that). I have been in HTGEs (madhouse) op room... I have been up on the backside of "sky coaster hill" I have been to one of the Junkyard that has a few rides and some old Riverside signs.

 

At Lake Compounce I got to stand inside BDashs turnaround . I got to walk around most of the park in march with snow still on the ground. I got to go into the ball room when it was being fixed up. I got to go into a few staff only places. I have been under BDs return hills closer to the end of the ride. I got to see the new waterslide and river when it was still being made. I also got to see parts of the rotor when it was being repainted.

 

Funtown USA I have been on the far rightside of Excail in the woods. And also walked all the way around the Galaxi coaster. And I have seen a few staff only places along the back side of the waterpark and gokart track.

 

At Keansburg in NJ I have been inside the top floor of the Park Ops room. I have also been under the WildCat roller coasters.

 

At SFGAdv I have been all the way around Skull MT and seened the parking track where they can put the trains at night. I have been at the base of Kingda Kas tower (I guess ""anyone"" COULD get to that) I have been in back of Chiller where they park the trains at night (in back of the station)

 

At Quassy I have walked all around under the mouse coaster.

 

At WillGrove I have been on Cyclones "infiend" and I have stood under the drop of the turn around (when the ride was open )

 

I have been around parts of Bushkill after the flood so the park was closed but still messed up.

 

At PKI I have been in a staff only part (I think it was where staff eat)

 

At SFKK I have crossed from the front part to the back part of the park without useing the bridge

 

At funpark MA I walked around the "old" part of he park before it was turned into homes.

 

I have walked around in the fields that use to be Bensons Animal Park in NH

 

I have been to the closed Mt.Park and Lincoln Park both in NH. And I have track walked Comet at LP.

 

I have walked all around the old "Zoo" thats right across the street from TGE (its not part of TGE but TGE now uses parts to put stuff and overflow parking)

 

At Vidámpark I have walked around the junkyard and seen the old logride parts.

 

I have photos of most of this stuff.. I guess I should post them...

 

Hmmm I think im down unless I think of more later. 8)

[nannerdw]

I have had a few cool experiences at at different parks that weren't really behind the scenes:

 

I got to do the walkback for IJST when I went to King's Island.

 

I got the last ride out on Flight of Fear @ King's Island, so I was the only person on the train. The lights were on inside the queue room with the UFO. Unfortunately, the lights were not on inside the big cylinder around most of the track.

 

ERT on Thunderhead @ at the Dollywood ACE Spring Conference.

 

I got to get into Dollywood an hour and a half early for Tennessee Tornado and Slidewinder ERT. It was raining like crazy that morning, so I didn't participate in the ERT. Only a few people, who didn't mind getting soaked, still went on Tennesee Tornado.

 

I was with a group of friends, about to go on Batman: The Ride @ SFOG, when it suddenly closed due to rain. We sat in the station for about 3 hours, along with tons of other people. Eventually, all but about 15 people left from the station. We got to talk with the ride ops about the ride, which was pretty cool. When we finally decided to leave the station, we walked around the flooded park, seeing just a few people packed into random dry places. We practically had the park to ourselves for about an our once it stopped raining.

[Musical Pete]

Crikey, lovely stuff. Keep it coming! - and yes, if you have photos then post/link to them if possible. I'd especially like to see trackwalk photos! If only I had a camera back when I walked Pleasureland's Cyclone (and could remember more of the dimensions I took!)

[ebl]

At the 1999 ACE Fall Conference in Santa Cruz, they raffled off behind the scenes tours of the Santa Cruz Giant Dipper. I was lucky enough to win one and got to visit the tool room, the station with no one there, the inside of the fan turn, and the motor house for the lift.

 

Believe it or not, a huge leather belt transfers power from the lift motor to the big wheel driving the chain sprocket. It was fun checking out the nuts and bolts, all sorted out like in someone's garage.

 

That was a lot of fun.

 

Eric

[Twister II]

Dose the TTD transpertrack/launch pad area count?

 

Out TTD train got evacuated.

[robbalvey]

Hmm....too many to keep track off...here's the ones off the top of my head....

 

Obviously all the stuff we just did in Europe (lift of GeForce, Falken, Silver Star, Euro-Mir, backstage at Tivoli, TusenFryd, Movie Park, etc, etc....)

 

Walked through all of Matterhorn, Space Mountain, and most rides at Disneyland at one time or another. (Splash, Mansion, Pirates, and some old school ones like Mission to Mars!)

 

Walkthrough of USH's Mummy about a month before opening.

 

Walked the lift of GhostRider

 

Walked the track of PNE's Coaster

 

Backstage area of Raven

 

Backstage of most areas of Magic Mountain

 

Damn, I know there are tons more, but I can't think of them!

 

--Robb

[What Now]

An ACE event at Bonfante Gardens included a "Behind The Sceanes" Tour. On this tour we saw some interesting stuff as the parks employment center and the employee cafeteria. However, also saw the warehouse were the park maintain their rides (although there wasn't much in there, since the park was open).

 

Winter Coaster Solace. In this 2003 (they havn't done that since), Knott's offer tours of Ghostrider, Montezooma's Revenge, and Xcelerator. The Montezooma tour was especially interesting, becuase we got to walk up to the Flywheel. On the Xcelerator tour we got to see the Hydralics that propells the ride.

 

An ACE event at SCBB. On this tour we saw lots of cool stuff. Some of the highlights included the Props deparment, we also saw how the Brass Ring Machine Works, and of course the Leather Band that works the chain lift on the Giant Dipper. (No, we didn't do a track walk)

 

This years ACE Preservation Con included factory tours at S&S and Interactive Rides. First up was S&S, it was interesting, because their was ride parts everywhere from new and old rides (trains from several of SFMM's coasters were being worked on). We also got to the S&S Fun Park while it was still under consturtion. They managed to get a Screamin' Swing built and running the day before ACE was there (however it broke down before I had a chance to ride). There was also a ride that Stan Checketts had been working on for the last 15 years there. Apparently, not many people had ridden it before that event. Unfortunatly, my name wasn't drawn, so I didn't ride that either. Next was Interactive. The day ACE was suposed to be there was their moving date, so there wasn't much (there was a Frenquent Faller car, however).

[YoshiFan]

Last year at the Magic Kingdom WDW during Spectro Magic, they were trying to keep the walkways in Main Street clear so for people entering the park, there was a side door to go through at the first circle (where the Christmas tree is). It takes you to the backside of Mainstreet USA and through the backside of part of Tomorrowland. It was a little strange and I was surprised they were directing people into the park that way because Disney usually likes to keep backstage stuff out of the public's view.

[KrakenKing]

IoA: Backstage of "Jurassic Park River Adventure"... had to evacuate because of a breakdown, but we got to see a lot of the escape routes and such.

 

Sea World: Backstage of "Kraken"... got to go into the control room and got to go under the station where the floors drop into. There was a, I guess you could call break room, down there we went into. There was an extremely bad storm, and my friend and I were friends with a lot of the workers for the ride, so they let us go in there to stay safe. It was cool. We also got to see the floors drop down and stuff under the ride when they tested it again after the storm, it was cool. We were also aloud on the 2nd "Test Run".

[Canobie Fan]

Random photos of mine...

 

The old zoo next to TGE.

 

Mt.Parks old coaster...

 

Some junk left at FunPark MA

 

SROSs drop from the backroad (it rained so all my photos sucked)

 

How to run an S&S tower..

 

Under a Vekoma madhouse

 

Ride parts at SFNE

 

Backside of Cyclone (rain made the photo suck )

 

Old rides at SFNE from the Riverside days.

 

SFNEs SLC from the backside

 

Junkyard at Storyland

 

Junk yard at Vidámpark

 

Whaloms midway

 

My Hippo on flyer Comet (yes.. there is a reason for the Hippo...more on that later)

 

How to run a SurffDance

 

Old rockinrider at Canobie

 

Castaway Island when it was being made

 

SROS from "the outer" side of the river... it took me about an hour to get to it.. and I had the fun of walking in snow 2-3 feet deep..

 

Inside BDs turn around

http://s7.invisionfree.com/CanobieFans/index.php?act=Attach&type=post&id=6400995

 

S&S car

http://s7.invisionfree.com/CanobieFans/index.php?act=Attach&type=post&id=6401002

 

Backside of Excal

http://img164.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dscf38526aa.jpg

 

Inside flyer comets tunnel

http://s7.invisionfree.com/CanobieFans/index.php?act=Attach&type=post&id=5413020

 

I have much more other stuff.. But im to lazy to dig it up.

[Jew]

Hmm...

 

Pretty much everywhere backstage at SFMM...

 

Pretty much everywhere backstage at USH...

 

Pretty much everywhere backstage at KBF...

 

Lots of backstage areas at PGA...

 

All of the stuff Robb got to do on the Europe trip minus the EGF lift walk...

[dsngiem]

Behind Toontown at DLP and between the themed areas leading upto the performance areas where they do the community showcase stuff. They didn't let us take cameras. It was like "show a lens and die." We saw the dent a defective firework made in the roof too. Plenty of wheels, parts of attractions, like Dumbo's ear being rehabed. There was a big map of all the passage ways to and from DLP and DCA (mainly for the parade routes) and we got cheap, super cheap (in terms of theme parks) snacks, sodas and ice cream from the back stage vending machine.

[Sir Clinksalot]

Got to see ALOT of backstage areas of DL when I sang there a few times, got to enter from the old West St. entrance. I got to walk through ToonTown when it was being built. Also have been backstage behind Pinnochio and Snow White.

 

I got to see alot of backstage areas at SFMM when I knew people that worked there. Got to see Batman:TR and Psyclone when they were being built.

[Flyingcoasterfreak]

I did a job shadow @ SFEG last season.

[USRoadTripper]

Having worked at Disney, obviously I have been backstage at all the Disney parks except for Animal Kingdom. I have photos of myself being beaten on the head by the Ellen animatronic in Universe of Energy and the Elasmasaurus biting my arm. I also have pictures of myself and some friends on the roof of Energy. I got to see the entire deconstruction of Horizons from the back, and have photos of some props and ride vehicles as they removed them. I've been under a Body Wars probe while it was in motion, and climbed behind the projectors for Buzzy's head in Cranium Command.

I also got evacuated from Men in Black : Alien Attack and got to walk through a part of the ride and out through a backstage area.

 

-Julie

[Jose Eber]

Last year at the Magic Kingdom WDW during Spectro Magic, they were trying to keep the walkways in Main Street clear so for people entering the park, there was a side door to go through at the first circle (where the Christmas tree is). It takes you to the backside of Mainstreet USA and through the backside of part of Tomorrowland. It was a little strange and I was surprised they were directing people into the park that way because Disney usually likes to keep backstage stuff out of the public's view.

 

I've been there too a few times -- I didn't like that they were directing us backstage and stuff -- didn't sit well with me -- the magic left!

 

BUt you do get out of MK rEALLY quickly.

 

I've been backstage at DL in the Splash area, and at WDW there isn't a place I haven't been it seems like.

[Nrthwnd]

The last night I was in DL, a Sunday, in early 1996, me and my friend got stuck (with others) in Splash Mountain. For us, it was just before the 'dip & buzzbuzz' as we used to call it, lol.

 

Eventually, announcements were made to us, a CM went to every log and gathered us all up and we got to traverse those little pathways in and around such Disney attractions. Eventually made our way to (literally) the back door of the show building with stairs leading to ground level.

 

It was wierd seeing the back of the building which held the attraction inside of it. and if we looked left as we went down the stairs, we saw the Haunted Mansion bldg. too and to the far right was the (then) Country Bear Jamboree bldg. Just quietly odd-looking, in the falling gentle rain...

[Ghost]

At Disneyland Resort Paris... Full tour backstage (in car) and been inside the sound/video studios (sorry, don't have a name).

 

Also been in the park well over 2 hours after closing time together with the film crue that made the special about the Light Parades ("from one lightbulb to another")... and yes that's my family on the special on the DLRP DVD... was great fun to do.

[pianojohn]

At the 1984 ACE Convention, we got to walk the lift of the Flyer at the Toronto Exhibition. It was pretty cool but kind of scary too!

 

And during the auction at Idora Park in Youngstown, OH the same year I got to walk part of the Jack Rabbit, known that year as the Back Wabbit!

 

Hmm...also got some pics and walked around Drachen Fire at BGW when it was still under construction back in 1991.

 

And now I am always "backstage" at WDW when performing at the parks. THE VIP room at The Living Seas is awesome, as there are a few large windows that look into the tank, and the piano I play is clear plexiglass!!

 

I also got to play a special event at the Great Movie Ridein the Gangster Room. It was cool walking through the ride up to that point and then sitting there with all the scenery around while the guests had cocktails and appetizers!! It is still cool to walk the tunnels under the Magic Kingdom!

 

Oh, I also got a backstage look at Rio del Tiempo (sp?) at EPCOT when it broke down. We had to manually push our boat backwards and exit before the big Fiesta scene at the end!!

[Musical Pete]

At the 1984 ACE Convention, we got to walk the lift of the Flyer at the Toronto Exhibition. It was pretty cool but kind of scary too!

Yeay for kinky lifts! (I'd like to have ridden that, especially due to the long four-row-car trains - infact checking RCDB, they looked older PTC to me, very similar construction, right down to upper chassis members, and with those grab hoops too, hmm!)

 

I didn't intend to focus on things people see due to breakdowns etc, though I suppose it counts. I was once evacuated from Valhalla (BPB ofcourse.. I should be renamed "BPB Pete"!) when it shut down while we were on the top reversing section. The boat was pushed backwards and we disembarked to the left onto an evacuation platform, just before the drop. It was great walking along hidden walkways inside, seeing the outside of the revolving tunnels, the boat storage/maintenance area, and also the defunct PMBO track in there holding up the front wall (track from the original drop and/or turnaround) - strange to see Arrow hyper track painted black, standing vertically, supporting a wall! (actually it's not strictly Arrow track, as PMBO was completely fabricated here in England, but that's another story!)

 

Actually thinking of PMBO, I'd love to go into the storage/maintenance rooms below the platform. I've peered down many a time while waiting at gates for the next train, seeing the replacement wheels rack and second/third trains. Maybe that'll happen on another 235 Club trip - there's one in October with some special stuff lined up, including a look at the new Nash trains in storage, if they arrive from PTC in time..!

[Spideyfreak]

I got to see the control room for Dinosaur at Animal Kingdom.

 

I also got a tour of Spider-man at IOA. We went to the control room and got to toy with some effects on the ride, saw the cleeaning machine for the glasses, and got to see the computer room. The best part as the maintenance bay. We got to see an ride vehicle run through the profile and saw that they had a sperate test circuit for the RV's.

 

It was so cool. And no, I was not allowed to take pictures.

[BarryH]

I've been in backstage areas of Spider-Man and the Hulk during VIP tours.

[Musical Pete]

As promised, a bit of behind the scenes stuff happened on Saturday at Pleasureland, Southport. Photos here (near the top but a bit further down ).