Am I being unreasonable or is Disney neglecting UK visitors?

[PudseyChancer]

I am feeling a bit disappointed. Firstly I heard all about Summer Nightastic and thought great, then I found out that it is only till August 14th. Now I know they may well run it longer but the point is they are planning and communicating that it will stop on the 14th, a poke in the eye for international guests who are still in full holiday mode.

Now today I just found out that they are shutting down Toy Story Mania on the 16th of August. I accept there will always be rehabs, I know that and understand the need normally, but why TSM just after the movie has opened and loads of kids are going to want to go to TSMM and when it is still prime non-US holiday time

First of all, I understand your disappointment, it's a long way, you've spent a lot of money, and it's disappointing when key rides are out of action during the two weeks you're there. To be honest, I am surprised that they're shutting rides in August full stop, I always thought that Labor Day signalled the end of the American holidays, and that's at the beginning of September.

We're going in September and will miss Star Tours (absolutely gutted!) and IASW (much less gutted!), but whatever time they stop running rides, someone will miss out, so I don't really know what the answer is.

Still, it gives you an excuse to go back!

 

[2Tiggies]

Still, it gives you an excuse to go back!

Excuses like that are always acceptable.

 

[Disneynutinlondon]

Been away for a couple of days, just catching up.

I just wanted to remphasise my real point here.

For UK and other international visitors the summer holidays do not end on August 14th and I feel that Disney are ramping down about 2 weeks too early to be completely fair to non US visitors and given that US school holidays are about 11 weeks and finish about mid August and we only get about 6 weeks the impact of that is much bigger on us.

I am sure it is based numbers reducing towards the end of August but I think if enough people made the point, they may consider extending these events and delaying refurbishments by one or two weeks without much hardship to them and to the benefit of us.

I have cooled off on this now, I admit I was steamed when I first heard about TSMM but I am still going to let them know how I feel. I think we have a right to receive the "full experience".

I completely agree with you. We're going August 21st for a week and we're totally gutted about not being able to do TSM. Like most of you we are WDW regulars and whilst we accept that we can't possibly do everything every trip we were looking forward to being able to do something new this trip and I do feel that Disney have not taken the UK/Europeans into account. It's just like the DCL cruises when they come our way the only cruises that coincide with our summer holidays are the very last 1 or 2 on the schedule

 

[amackay]

I don't think Disney is neglecting UK visitors at all, i'd actually say we get fairly good deals compared to our US counterparts.

Despite August being peak holiday season in the UK it's also the time when free dining is on (therefore one of the less busy times of the year in terms of overall park visitors). I agree with Disneys view that major attractions should be refurbed during times when there are heavily discounted room rates/free dining.

 

[Disneymad]

This is kind of odd. I regularly see people recommend visiting the last 2 weeks of August for lower crowds and as mentioned, better deals with rooms/free dining etc - this is because it's considered low season because it's outside of prime USA holidays.

You can't have the cheap prices, free dining and short lines and then expect Disney to keep all the attractions open for a very small %. And yes, it's small in the grand scheme of things.

And if they move TSM being closed back by 2 weeks, it means it overlaps with Star Tours shutting. So now it's a question of you missing out on 1 ride or other people missing out on 2. Both events occur in the same low season as far as Disney are concerned and by staggering the closures they're making it fairer overall for the majority. Not singling out a minority.

 

[2Tiggies]

I think doing TSM in the middle of the Summer is a strange call, especially when the movie is out, but I presume they know what there doing!

Last year we were there 2 and half weeks in the middle of Easter and Spring Break. At the end of the first week they closed Space Mountain - until almost the end of the year. I thinks sometimes they just have to do what they have to do.

It doesn't make sense to close headliners in busier months because it affects the limits of the park's capacity - so if that period is one where there is a strong likelihood of parks nearing capacity (MK more specifically is affected by this) then it is not a smart move to do a refurb.

 

[HeresYourEars]

Just wanted to pop in and say that I believe most school children in the USA return to school the day after 'Labor Day' (this year that's 2 Sept)...not in mid-August.

While I understand how some non-US visitors may feel, I truly don't think that Disney is singling out UK visitors for inconvenience. And many people in this country actually travel further, stay longer, and spend more, than our overseas friends.

I think that Disney is simply doing what it needs to do to maintain their profit margin, and to run their parks as they see fit, which is completely understandable in my humble opinion.

I'm sure you'll have a wonderful time.

 

[scojos]

Next year is a big year for WDW (40th) so it could well be that they don't want any refurbishments during the year and are trying to get them all done now....

It does seem like there are an awful lot scheduled for the end of this summer!

Maybe there is going to be some kind of Disney OFSTED in September?

DONT MENTION OFSTED

 

[Miss Mo]

Been away for a couple of days, just catching up.

I just wanted to remphasise my real point here.

For UK and other international visitors the summer holidays do not end on August 14th".

Well if you are talking school holidays then they do end exactly there in Scotland! I'm back teaching on Monday 16th August! Not that I'm bitter - lol!

mo x

 

[2Tiggies]

Well if you are talking school holidays then they do end exactly there in Scotland! I'm back teaching on Monday 16th August! Not that I'm bitter - lol!

mo x

Yep, that's it round our neck of the woods too lol! I too could not take my very Scottish blooded DD to Florida (or anywhere HOT) in August. She would just wilt, so that puts paid to that anyway. I, on the other hand, love the heat so left to my own devices, you would find me there in the thick of it.

 

[Miss Mo]

Yep, that's it round our neck of the woods too lol! I too could not take my very Scottish blooded DD to Florida (or anywhere HOT) in August. She would just wilt, so that puts paid to that anyway. I, on the other hand, love the heat so left to my own devices, you would find me there in the thick of it.

Well we're all pathetic white (almost blue) Scots but for some reason (mainly the school hols) keep heading back in July and love, love, love it!!

mo x