7DMT: what exactly is a "soft opening"?

[Spoisal]

So with the first media preview day for 7DMT announced for April 30th - many are speculating that soft openings will begin April 1st. What exactly is a soft opening? My family will be visiting April 13-20 and I would obviously love to get a chance to ride while we are there....not sure what to expect with a soft opening since I don't know what that is.

 

[tcherjen]

From what I read they let you ride the ride and then ask you to take a survey afterwards. I hope we get a soft opening in March.

 

[agavegirl1]

"Soft Opening" = "Dress Rehearsal" The ride is tested and CM roles are perfected. The ride opens off and on during these days. The last "Dress Rehearsal" at Disney I attended was Animal Kingdom a full 6 weeks before official opening. We received free park passes upon check-in to use toward the end of our stay. At that time, the CMs called it Dress Rehearsal.

 

[ekatiel]

We were there Thanksgiving 2012, when the new Fantasyland was in Soft Opening. We just walked by one day and discovered that it was open. We rode Little Mermaid just like we would have ridden any ride. A "soft" opening just means that they are opening it to work out any kinks. So, it could be open for a couple of hours one morning, and then closed again for a while, and then back open that evening or afternoon. I wouldn't count on it being open, but check the area often (and check these boards b/c people will post when it is open) and you might get lucky .

 

[mom2aandj]

Really, really hoping that there are soft openings before April! The media preview for TLM and the new Fantasyland expansion was December 5 and they started soft openings for TLM October 12. So, almost 8 weeks, which, if they follow the same timeline this time would put soft openings early/mid March. We're there March 20-28. Fingers crossed!!

 

[DLM1980]

This reminds me of the line from oceans 13

Soft Open, Grand Opening, when they opened the Flamingo, one day it was closed, the next it was open!"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-ahQXrgVUo

When we opened a new ride at our six flags we tested the ride with our employees, when disney tests a ride, they use the park guest

 

[frozengurl]

We will be there for a mini trip in April the 11-13 and then again me, my sisters, and BFF are going for a mini trip in May for my bday, May 2-4... I'm wondering how this Media Press release will affect our May trip, if we will get to ride it, and if we will possibly make a soft opening in April?!?

 

[Spoisal]

Soft Open, Grand Opening, when they opened the Flamingo, one day it was closed, the next it was open!"

Hilarious!

 

[mesaboy2]

It means it might be open or it might not. Applies to any particular day, hour, or minute. If you want to ride during a SO, stay near the ride and hope that you don't waste your day(s) away.

 

[Spoisal]

I wonder if they will try to have it open for EMH some days? We will have to head straight there (along with everyone else!) on our MK EMH days..

 

[MommaBarb]

We are in MK all or part of the day for 4 of our 6 days in early April. Here's hoping we get lucky.

 

[larryz]

When we opened a new ride at our six flags we tested the ride with our employees, when disney tests a ride, they use the park guest

Just like the whole FP+/MDE/MB system...