Gertie the dinosaur at Disney's Hollywood Studios received emergency repairs after a severe crack appeared in her tail near the Echo Lake waterline. Here's the latest news out of Walt Disney World Resort.
The damage became visible over the weekend when horticulture crews removed dead vegetation around Echo Lake following recent freezing temperatures in Central Florida. WDWNT shared an image on Facebook showing a deep crack in the iconic structure that houses Dinosaur Gertie's Ice Cream of Extinction.
Quick Repair With Visible Results
Walt Disney World Resort maintenance crews patched the crack by February 16, according to WDWNT. The Quick-Service ice cream inside the brontosaurus-shaped stand continued operating throughout the repair process without interruption.
However, Disney Park guests report a noticeable color difference in the newly repaired section of Gertie's tail. Whether Disney plans to repaint the area or let the Florida sun fade the new paint to match the surrounding areas remains unclear.
The extent of time the crack existed before discovery is unknown. The damage only became visible after vegetation removal exposed the base of Gertie's tail where it meets the water.
An Echo Lake Icon Since 1989
Dinosaur Gertie has stood in Echo Lake since Disney-MGM Studios opened in 1989. The brontosaurus statue references Gertie the Dinosaur, one of the earliest animated films, created by Winsor McCay in 1914.
The structure has become such an icon of Disney's Hollywood Studios that Walt Disney World Resort designed an exclusive green dinosaur Christmas cookie for Disney Jollywood Nights, the park's after-hours holiday event.
The repair comes shortly after Disney's Animal Kingdom permanently closed DinoLand U.S.A., including the DINOSAUR attraction, on February 1. Gertie is now one of the few remaining dinosaur-themed elements across Walt Disney World Resort as Pueblo Esperanza, a Tropical Americas-themed land, replaces the extinct DinoLand U.S.A.
Have you noticed any other ongoing maintenance projects at Walt Disney World Resort? Disney Fanatic would love to hear from you in the comments!
