Journey to Atlantis Refurb

[BriMan]

Journey to Atlantis will be closed from Jan 4th - Jan 24th for it's annual Winter refurb.

Wild Arctic will be closed from Jan 4th - Jan 9th to revert back to it's regular "Arctic" theme, having removed the Polar Express layover.

[tiredoldspook]

Darn I am going to Sea World on the 16th, I was hoping for a nice wet ride on Journey, darn that Sea Horse.

[DisneyFanKevin]

From Screamscape:

Heads up to anyone planning a trip to SeaWorld Florida. I’ve been told that Journey To Atlantis just closed for the next several weeks for a major winter rehab, which is typical for this time of year. From what I’m told the ride will likely reopen around Jan. 25th. The good news is that Blackstone has apparently dropped a little money-bomb on this project and are asking the park to try to restore as much of JTA’s special effects back to the way it was when it first opened. Longtime JTA fans have long complained about just how many of the ride’s more impressive effects have been lost over the years, so this is great news. However, don’t look for it to be fully restored by the end of this little rehab. This will be an ongoing project being done little by little over the next several months. More importantly, this is a great sign of quality things to come from Blackstone’s ownership of SeaWorld and Busch Gardens.

Since I have never been on JTA, can someone tell me which effects they are talking about?

[Splatter]

It is hard for me to say which elements you are missing out on because different ones seem to work at different times. I have only been on it three times maybe in the last five years but originally in 1997 there were so many more story element effects and it really was the "spiderman" or "Tower of Terror" of the water ride world. Even the queue had audio effects and the queue line video with news station vans all over with breaking news coverage of Atlantis rising at Sea World. An old fisherman who knew the evil of Allura the sea gorgon within the walls of Atlantis was evil and when he hears that there are people touring through the ruins he quickly goes to rescue in his rowboat. That is what was played in the queue video as I remember it. This being the same fisherman you see later in the first show scene of the ride. Many fiber optics, audio synches and projections with even a cool scare before the large drop of the Atlantian ornate fixture above falling a bit and making a cloud breaking noise. Those things have been missing from the ride that were there in opening years and they really made that ride great.

As for as these returning and working after a refurb. I would doubt it highly because it seems to have had the same style of refurb last year. I would love for Sea World to prove me wrong though.

[Tbad556]

Wow, that sounds like JtA used to be amazingly detailed. I just figured some small effects were missing this whole time but you make it sound like the whole environment is now missing. I really hope they do bring those effects back.

[mantaguy]

Another effect that hasn't been working is the water curtain, very similar to the one on the final lift on Ripsaw Falls. On the lift after the first drop, a curtain of water is falling ahead, and just as you pass under it, it stops, so you don't get wet. Then it restarts after the boat passes through.

[ChiefBrody]

Quite exciting that all those former effects may be restored, especially as I might get the chance to go back to Orlando this year, so it would be nice to see JTA in full working condition.

[Nightshade]

I appreciate this in every way possible. Especially since the recently re-did Wild Artic for the holiday event.

[Drew]

Behind The Thrills posted a photo update of the Atlantis refurb. Follow the link for pictures..

http://behindthethrills.com/index.ph...ews&Itemid=119

[BriMan]

Pics from today

[jainey99]

It's nice to see Blackstone dropping some money on the park right away. Hopefully this is a sign of good things to come.

[BriMan]

It's back open.

















From the Aquarium inside.








And just because this doesn't really fit anywhere, they are redoing the pathway in the Waterfront.

[Splatter]

Did you ride it? Were the effects any sharper or....any old ones back?

[BriMan]

Did you ride it? Were the effects any sharper or....any old ones back?

I did not ride it. Maybe this weekend though.

[BriMan]

I'm sure this has been added since it reopened, but that it was worth mentioning.

TREASURE!