Anyone Ever Been at a Ride's "Final Day"

[DavidNYC]

Well - we coincidentally have a trip planned for WDW the weekend of Jan 21-22 and will be at MK on Splash Mountain's final day. Has been one of our favorite rides for years and I'm sure we'll try to ride it one final time as close to closing as possible.

I can only think of a few other rides permanently closing and nothing as popular and iconic as Splash Mountain but has anyone ever been at a park on a ride's final day? I'm curious what it'll be like at Splash during that last hour. Are we talking tens or hundreds or thousands of people trying to get on line at 9:59pm!!! I'm sure there will definitely be a lot of fans there to say goodbye but have no idea what to expect!

 

[musicguy856]

Honestly I wouldn’t be surprised if they use a VQ for this on the last day of operation.

 

[ScottOKW2K]

Not at a ride's final day but a special display - Lights of Winter in Epcot several decades ago. My wife, daughter and I were meandering our way back to the front of the park at the end of the evening. In the course of our slow stroll we stopped and struck up a conversation with a cast member. It turns out that one of his responsibilities was controlling the Lights of Winter display and he invited us back to it. When it was time to turn them off he allowed my young daughter to push the button.

What a fantastic memory for us ! We all truly enjoyed that display and for us this was one of the best experiences of a cast member "sharing the Magic."

It was made even more special when it turned out that Disney did not bring that display back the next season and now it is but a distant memory for all the guests that enjoyed it over the years. Giving the timing of that trip it's quite likely that my daughter was the last guest to have any direct interaction with that display.

 

[lovethattink]

Yes, was at the last day for Backlot Tour, Great Movie Ride, and American Idol Experience.

 

[CarolynFH]

I expect long lines that entire weekend, longer that last day. I don't think I'd plan to get in line at 1 or even 5 minutes before park closing. When FoP was new and standby lines were 3-5 hours long, it was not unusual for them to close the line an hour (or more!) before park closing, just so that they could get everyone through and shut down the ride at a reasonable time (an hour or two after park closing). Crowds for Splash are likely to be just as long. And I agree with PP above, they might implement a VQ that last day.

 

[1lilspark]

When GMR closed down they announced it I was fortunate to get fast passes for both day’s closing weekend as I didn’t know my work schedule…

I went that Saturday and road with my fastpass line was hours long I didn’t even think to try to use my moms DAS for an additional last ride

They had closing date commemorative items got a t shirt and Tervis but I doubt with splash they will do this

 

[emily nicole]

We were there for Maelstrom’s last day and it was very busy and it wasn't as popular as Splash. Thankfully that was during the days of FP+ so we secured a last ride long before our trip.

 

[Disneylover99]

Yes.
Great Movie Ride and Ellen’s Energy Adventure

 

[Brian Noble]

I've not done this at WDW, but I have seen people be Stupidly Aggressive about trying to get "the last ride" on something at other parks.

I wouldn't try to ride Standbay, would not worry too much about trying to get on it late in the day vs. earlier, and would consider myself lucky to get a G+ reservation for it at all.

 

[tinkerhon]

Yes, was at the last day for Backlot Tour, Great Movie Ride, and American Idol Experience.

I legit cried the last AIE show--- ( I know many didnt like it), but we ALWAYS went to the last show !) We amazed at how many regulars there were that nite ! Show meant so much to a lot of ppl

 

[cjlong88]

Because Splash often has maintenance issues and goes down at the most inconvenient of times, I would make a plan to get on it earlier in the day assuming its operating at park open. If you get a second ride at night, it's a bonus!

I would prepare for long waits and lots of AP's and vloggers trying to get that one last ride in on the 22nd.

 

[teawar]

Yes, was at the last day for Backlot Tour, Great Movie Ride, and American Idol Experience.

We also did Great Movie Ride and Ellen’s Energy at Epcot. We rope dropped Great Movie ride and we’re on one of the first rides and then park hopped a little later to Epcot to do Ellen. The line for GMR was super long when we got off.

 

[wdw_dine_junkie]

I will just be checking in that day, but might have to brave it.

 

[Timandalicia]

Well - we coincidentally have a trip planned for WDW the weekend of Jan 21-22 and will be at MK on Splash Mountain's final day. Has been one of our favorite rides for years and I'm sure we'll try to ride it one final time as close to closing as possible.

I can only think of a few other rides permanently closing and nothing as popular and iconic as Splash Mountain but has anyone ever been at a park on a ride's final day? I'm curious what it'll be like at Splash during that last hour. Are we talking tens or hundreds or thousands of people trying to get on line at 9:59pm!!! I'm sure there will definitely be a lot of fans there to say goodbye but have no idea what to expect!

I was at the last Wishes. Is cried. It was more crowded but I didn’t feel like it was a special pilgrimage. I’m speculating, like me, people will ride it for the last time when it is their last time. But some will want to be on its final run. It’ll be interesting to see.

 

[disneyfan150]

Are we talking tens or hundreds or thousands of people trying to get on line at 9:59pm!!!

I am not an expert. . . .

If I am not mistaken, it seems that in the past, I have read about Rise closing the queue prior to closing. I wonder if they may close the Splash queue if it is crazy busy. Or maybe the flip side - would they keep the closing proceedure the same and prepare to have staffing until everyone had a chance to ride?? The VQ does seem possible.

FWIW DD and I went to Astroworld (our Six Flags park) on the last day it was open. Astroworld shared a parking lot with Reliant Stadium. DH and DS went to the Texans game that day. DD has bitter sweet memories of being at the park the final day of operation. DS has always regretted not going with us. It was surprisingly not crowded at all. If Splash is a favorite of yours, it might be worth the wait. I do wonder if the crowds will be crazy. As excited as people are for the update, it can be hard to say goodbye.

 

[DavidNYC]

I know Rise was a special situation as they often needed to make sure they had enough maintenance time as the ride was notoriously finicky. Nearly always the rule has been line closes at park closing. I know there have been exceptions with things such as Flight of Passage in the days of 4 hour queues. My guess would be they’ll try to keep open but may play it by ear based on how long it gets. But we’ll see!!!!

 

[Marthasor]

Personally, I wouldn't try to game this. As others have said, Splash goes down a lot and we have no idea if they are going to use a VQ or close the line early. If that is your MK day, I would, personally, try to ride it as early as possible to have any chance of riding it and saying goodbye.

 

[sponica]

We were there for Maelstrom’s last day and it was very busy and it wasn't as popular as Splash. Thankfully that was during the days of FP+ so we secured a last ride long before our trip.

I was there that weekend for a last minute trip, and was wondering why the line was SO LONG. Then I saw it was closing. I liked it, but not enough to wait in a super long line for it. Especially when most of the time I rode it as a walk on or close to walk on.

 

[RoseGold]

Sounds like a good day to avoid MK entirely IMO. Crowds will obviously be there.

 

[DisneyMama811]

we will also be there in the days leading up, our first park day is MK Jan 17th and our last day is MK Jan 23rd. We will aim to ride Splash on the 17th and I'm fully anticipating enormous lines. I'm really hoping to get a chance to ride, haven't been to WDW in 11 years, it's my children's first trip and I desperately want to ride Splash Mountain with them before it closes