Finding Space below the Ground

[PragmaticIdealist]

Disneyland has found all sorts of tricks for maximizing its use of real estate. Few parts of Disneyland are situated underground, however.

There is potential for more subterranean development at Disneyland in order to increase capacity and further earnings growth.

http://www.subsurfacebuildings.com/default.asp

[Circarama]

Great thread, I think that Disneyland could definitely benifit from subterranean develpoment, given the fact that it is such a small Park.
When I was younger, I was always perplexed by Pirates and Haunted Mansion. Where was I, when I was on those attractions? I didn't realize that you never actually go underground on Haunted Mansion, but you definitely do on Pirates.

[Tom Chaney]

Mr. Toad really goes to hell!?

Actually, with the right transport system in the queue, they could put the show building 1/4 mile outside the berm.

[Twist_of_Fate]

I didn't realize that you never actually go underground on Haunted Mansion, but you definitely do on Pirates.

YOU SIT ON A THRONE OF LIES!!!!! La-la-la-la, I'm not listening. You stay above ground. The Haunted Mansion actually takes you through that building and Pirates transports you to the bayou and down a magical waterfall. AND I WON'T HEAR IT ANY OTHER WAY!

Just messing around. I think it would be cool if Disney did start utilizing more underground space. I am intrigued by the idea of using transportation in the queue to take people to show buildings outside the berm...very interesting.

[Datameister]

Vertical space is definitely underrated. Even just sinking a taller building into the ground will save a lot of space, even if it's not fully "submerged."

Case in point: Indiana Jones. I don't know how many of you have actually seen the track layout for that ride, but it's ridiculously convoluted in all three dimensions. The track passes above and below itself on numerous occasions, and hardly anyone knows or cares. Space would be a lot more limited if the ride stayed on one level the whole time.

So I say WDI should build a tall, partly underground show building where the Festival of Fools arena is now. There'd be a lot of room for a new Frontierland E-ticket.

[Circarama]

Actually, with the right transport system in the queue, they could put the show building 1/4 mile outside the berm.

That's kinda what they did with Indy, but instead of a ride vehicle, they make you walk. Thank you Paul Pressler!
Transportation thru a queue to outside the berm would be a great way to expand Park capacity without the guests knowing that they were no longer inside the Park. Heck, they've already done it with Pirates, Haunted Mansion, Indy, Splash and Small World!

[Circarama]

Vertical space is definitely underrated. Even just sinking a taller building into the ground will save a lot of space, even if it's not fully "submerged."

Case in point: Indiana Jones. I don't know how many of you have actually seen the track layout for that ride, but it's ridiculously convoluted in all three dimensions. The track passes above and below itself on numerous occasions, and hardly anyone knows or cares. Space would be a lot more limited if the ride stayed on one level the whole time.

So I say WDI should build a tall, partly underground show building where the Festival of Fools arena is now. There'd be a lot of room for a new Frontierland E-ticket.

Yeah like some kind of mine shaft drop. Think Tower of Terror underground and themed to the Old West!

[speederscout]

Great thread, I think that Disneyland could definitely benifit from subterranean develpoment, given the fact that it is such a small Park.
When I was younger, I was always perplexed by Pirates and Haunted Mansion. Where was I, when I was on those attractions? I didn't realize that you never actually go underground on Haunted Mansion, but you definitely do on Pirates.

Ah, but Haunted Mansion DOES take you underground. You most certainly are below ground level after the stretching room, and you absolutely travel under the train tracks and small hill behind the mansion on your journey. Not to mention coming back up to ground level when you exit the crypt at the end.

[Circarama]

Ah, but Haunted Mansion DOES take you underground. You most certainly are below ground level after the stretching room, and you absolutely travel under the train tracks and small hill behind the mansion on your journey. Not to mention coming back up to ground level when you exit the crypt at the end.

All true. But contrast that to thinking that you are somewhere under Disneyland proper, like under the walkway in front of HM and the Rivers of America(which is what I assumed). When I was a kid, I didn't know where I was. I had no idea that I was inside a big metal building outside of Disneyland's berm.

[Mr. Disney]

Ah, but Haunted Mansion DOES take you underground. You most certainly are below ground level after the stretching room, and you absolutely travel under the train tracks and small hill behind the mansion on your journey. Not to mention coming back up to ground level when you exit the crypt at the end.

I thought that too, but technically, you don't. Remember, All of New Orleans Square is built above ground. When you come out of the Stretching room, you are actually at the same level that when you are passing trough the tunnels to enter Main Street.

[Datameister]

^ He's right, you know. It all depends on your definition of "underground." Yes, the HM queue takes you under the ground, but not below the level of the surrounding land.

Now, where in the park do you travel uphill to get to NOS? How do you end up above ground level? The path from Adventureland goes down and then up again, but it seems to me like you go more down then up.

Indy and HM both do two things that no other DL ride really does: They use the queue to actually get you somewhere (rather than just hold people in a line), and they use the queue as part of the attraction. On Indy, most people never dream that the queue takes them around the Jungle Cruise river and out past the berm. On the Haunted Mansion, most people don't think about where they are, either. And both rides use the queue for entertainment--the show starts as soon as you enter the temple or the mansion, respectively.

[MickeyMania]

Are we counting the elevator room as part of the queue? Because I always considered it part of the ride. The queue is the court part, and works as a giant holding pen since only so many people can enter they foyer at one time.

[Circarama]

Are we counting the elevator room as part of the queue? Because I always considered it part of the ride. The queue is the court part, and works as a giant holding pen since only so many people can enter they foyer at one time.

You're right, I would have to say that the only attraction that actually uses the queue as a means to get under the berm is Indy.

[dlandlubber]

Yeah like some kind of mine shaft drop. Think Tower of Terror underground and themed to the Old West!

Actually ToT does go underground, a cast member told me when you board your actually not at the bottom of the shaft. There are about 4 floors underground to allow you to drop 13 stories w/out the building being that tall.

[disneyhound]

Yeah like some kind of mine shaft drop. Think Tower of Terror underground and themed to the Old West!

Remember that scene for "National Treasure" where they are in that shaft with all the old wooden ladders and platforms falling apart. When we first saw that picture, we thought that would someday be incorporated into a ride. It was a disney flick, right?