Al Lutz Mega-Update - DCA Magic Mornings?, Lots of Refurbs, PFF Moving, Tiered Prices

[RedRosie]

I'm going in late September and I look forward to some major rides being closed for refurb - I hope that helps with the crowds! (How's that for a glass half full!!)

 

[Sossy]

Oddly enough, the current info for travel agents seems to be easily found online. As any other info this can change, but might be a better hint at what they are thinking. They are currently saying to plan on the known HM, SM, and Matterhorn closures. Confirms CS in Sept and POTC Sept 7- Nov 23, but no mention of IJA.

Personally, I'll be happy as long as they keep BTMRR up until after my trip. Not being able to set firm dates yet, we'll go with what we can get!

 

[rowan1813]

Where did you see that? Did I miss something? I just can't imagine that DL would eliminate a large group of riders like that. Especially when they seem so good at accomadating everyone at all the other rides. I just hope that after all these closings they somehow make that ride smoother. Right now that ride is so bumpy and jarring it gives me a headache.

I didn't mean 5'5" specifically; I just picked a random height that was shorter than mine. All I am saying is looking at those sleds and the amount of room they seem to be allowing, I'm not sure how much of us that have longer legs or are pooh-sized are going to fit. DB couldn't fit into SM; he is 6'8" and DF (6'4") and I (5'11") can barely fit in the cars at all. I don't know what its going to be like when they put the new cars on the Matterhorn tracks; I was just bemoaning these changes that I know will probably make it next to impossible to ride one of our fav rides comfortably. But who knows what it will actually be like?

 

[BeccaG]

... I was just bemoaning these changes that I know will probably make it next to impossible to ride one of our fav rides comfortably. But who knows what it will actually be like?

I am with you! And I was basing my earlier assessment on pictures I saw of the new sleds....not remembering where I saw those....but maybe I can dig em' up....

 

[Dobie]

I'm going in late September and I look forward to some major rides being closed for refurb - I hope that helps with the crowds! (How's that for a glass half full!!)

And with no rides open, there will be no lines!!!!

 

[TeddiBarra]

I remember my first trip in a LONG time (as in hadn't been since 1995) in Oct 2003. It was my first time taking a child of my own.

Space was closed (for a LONG time), Splash was closed, and BTRR was closed.

So, it happens.

Glad now, that forums like these exist vs "the old days". Was toying with a short fall trip for just DH & I, but I can't cope with POTC being closed I don't think. Anything but my Pirates! That said, it is a TON of closures, especially around Sept 7th - 15th. A TON.

 

[Mouse13]

And with no rides open, there will be no lines!!!!

 

[hsmamato2]

OH.NO. how accurate are these reports? b/c if they are accurate,it sounds like October is a dead month,which is when we're going for our once in a lifetime visit. how can this be,when all posts indicate that early October is so busy? I seriously feel like crying right now...and I don't say things like that too much. What is the point of visiting when so many important attractions will be non working? now I have to figure out how to rework my entire trip...and I don't know that it's possible.....I mean what is the freakin' point?

 

[hsmamato2]

Hydroguy, et al., it is one thing to say that if you will be disappointed if rides are down, not to go in the off season. I don't fault Disney for needing to refurb their rides. I think the off season is the sensible time to that. But I think (I hope), you can understand, that this is a rather dramatic number of rides, of E-Ticket rides, being taken down at the same time. People could, and should be rightly upset.

to take down two of the parks most iconic, HM and POTC, at the same time seems rather flagrant to me.

These are just rumors, and I personally don't think TDA will do that. But I have nothing other than hope to base that on. I'm fortunate to have that flexibility. I feel really bad for others who do not.

um...yeah. this was the point of visiting.

 

[Disney Dreams]

I couldn't help but chuckle and think of Disney Dreams when Al made comments like:

Both of those days had over 40,000 local Annual Passholders flood through the gates of the two parks, swelling the attendance and making things rather uncomfortable for the 50,000 domestic and international tourists visiting that day

That was only one of many remarks he made that had that overall slightly negative slant which Dreams has mentioned before. (She's right!) This article today was chock full of them!

Awww, someone thought about me. - blush - Thanks, SherryE.

And thank you for also saving me the time (and resulting frustration) of reading Al's newest speculations. No need to read a bunch of negativity.

Btw, I would LOVE to know where / how Al gets his numbers. As we know, Disney does not release them so while I am sure he puts them in there to sound more reputable, to me it just turns me off even more so and makes me question everything.

Hmmm... maybe I should start "Dreams Daily Disney Drabble" (copyright, all rights reserved) and ramble on about anything I want that's Disney-related.

Thanks again for the thought and the shout-out,
Dreams

 

[Disney Dreams]

OH.NO. how accurate are these reports? b/c if they are accurate,it sounds like October is a dead month,which is when we're going for our once in a lifetime visit. how can this be,when all posts indicate that early October is so busy? I seriously feel like crying right now...and I don't say things like that too much. What is the point of visiting when so many important attractions will be non working? now I have to figure out how to rework my entire trip...and I don't know that it's possible.....I mean what is the freakin' point?

Okay, first: I would not call Al's articles a "report." They are his summary/speculation based on things he has heard or been told by others. He does not work for Disney.

Secondly: No matter when you go, something COULD be closed for a variety of reasons. There are countless things to see, do, explore, and enjoy at Disneyland. Do not fret (or cry) because of something being closed or because of something Al has said.

Lastly: You are going to Disneyland! (That's the freakin' point! )

- Dreams

 

[pinktink83]

AACK!!! They better have POTC open the week after Thanksgiving when we're there!!!!!! That's my FAVORITE!!!!

 

[PrncesKMW]

After re-reading this, I noticed that August 21 is the end of blackout dates for most of the annual pass holders. While that is a Sunday, what does the first non-blackout usually mean for the parks? Will it be completely mobbed from dawn til dusk?

 

[rentayenta]

AACK!!! They better have POTC open the week after Thanksgiving when we're there!!!!!! That's my FAVORITE!!!!

It will be open. We're going that week too. It's the solid beginning of the holiday season.

 

[DreamtheImpossible]

I'm upset! We thought September would be a great time to go with less crowds, predicted that maybe only one or two rides would be down for refurb, but it's looking like all of our favorites will be out of commission!

 

[TeddiBarra]

After re-reading this, I noticed that August 21 is the end of blackout dates for most of the annual pass holders. While that is a Sunday, what does the first non-blackout usually mean for the parks? Will it be completely mobbed from dawn til dusk?

Expect it to be exceptionally crowded that day. So far, the Disney crowd forecasts have been very accurate for this summer in terms of restricting CM passes. The ONLY CM blockout date is that Sunday. Therefore, I think Disney expects high crowds.

 

[jaydoe]

I'm not one who follows Al's stuff to much.....so I'm curious to know how acurate his predictions are?? I'm sure some of you have followed him a little more closely and have a better idea of how true all of this is.

I really, really hope Pirates is opened in October. Pirates just seems like a natural fit for halloween time!

 

[Dobie]

I'm not one who follows Al's stuff to much.....so I'm curious to know how acurate his predictions are?? I'm sure some of you have followed him a little more closely and have a better idea of how true all of this is.

I really, really hope Pirates is opened in October. Pirates just seems like a natural fit for halloween time!

Some of Al's predictions are accurate and some are not. When he is dead wrong, he goes into snark-a-holic mode and blames Disney for being inconsistent.

 

[cmwade77]

Ok, I usually find his opinions are dead wrong. (Example: He hated on Soarin' so much before it opened that Disney actually found someone that looked like him to be the person that has to take off the Mickey ears. This was done on purpose).

As far as facts about what is going to happen, I find his accuracy to be about:
Prices - 10% (until about a week before they are officially announced as increases, then it jumps up to about 95% accurate)
Food - 20%
Rides - 45%
Shows - 50%
Other - 40%

 

[HydroGuy]

I'm upset! We thought September would be a great time to go with less crowds, predicted that maybe only one or two rides would be down for refurb, but it's looking like all of our favorites will be out of commission!

Sorry you thought wrong. Sept always has HM and Space Mtn down. Plus more. After the busy summer season that is when things get fixed. It is true Sept has low crowds but I do not think anyone around here will tell you it is a good time to go if you want to avoid refurbs.