Big Thunder Mountain Railroad - Refurbishment??

[longtimedisneylurker]

Well since you asked...I would say that since summer season the last two years has started on June 11 and 12, and this year DLR is cranking up hours on June 3 because of ST2 and LMAUA opening, I suspect that June 3 is really "pre-summer season" as DLR knows they will not truly crank up until mid-June. If BTMRR is closed on June 10 then I would be upset.

Really, if anyone goes to DLR the first week of June any year you can look at the history. Something is almost always closed. Last year it was Indy. And we had a thread just like this last year on the topic of Indy's closing. A very disappointed DISer was here posting and very upset about Indy - the major ride they wanted to not miss. That is why I wrote the thread at the bottom of this thread on "Choosing When To Visit DLR". So we could minimize this happening in the future.

Good points all. The year before last year Peter Pan was still closed during the first week of June, and there were no fireworks because they were transitioning to the new summer show.

I also wonder if Disney is and will be less concerned with having one attraction down at most times of the year even if it is a big attraction. People are pouring through the gates anyway, and maintenance/refurbishment must still be done. It also seems like the parks are open more hours per day over the course of the year which decreases the total time available for after-hours maintenance. I have seen more daytime painting and small projects going on during our visits of the last year and a half than during previous visits. Either they just can't get everything done at night anymore or they aren't paying as much overtime. With the ongoing construction at DCA, maybe Disney has decided they've gotten people used to these conditions. The bulk of Disneyland/DCA guests are regulars/locals.

To my mind the more legitimate thing to be annoyed/disappointed about would be that Disney often does not post refurb schedules early enough to help the less frequent visitors make more informed decisions.

 

[Krissy Marissy]

I understand being upset a favorite is closed but honestly what do people expect them to do? Do they want the park to become run down and unsafe? Or do they want these rides maintained?? I for one want them to be taken care of and if that means my sister can't ride splash mountain with us in a few weeks then that sucks but I'm fine with it because I want to feel safe next time I am able to ride it. There are too many attractions to keep them open ALL year for everyone. Disney has to do what disney has to do.

 

[Disneysk]

I am a frequent visitor to a few of the Disney discussion boards. I originally started this thread because I hadn’t heard on any of the boards that Big Thunder Mountain Railroad was going to go down for refurbishment. For the most part, there is usually someone on these boards that has some insight as to what may be refurbed next and for how long, so when I saw it on the refurbishment list I was surprised as I hadn’t heard anything. Also as a frequent visitor to the boards I am aware that Disney can and does do maintenance on attractions with little or no notice and I can appreciate and respect that. I used the incorrect emoticon, I was not mad, just a little disappointed. We do arrive on Monday, May 30th and have decided that we will head to the parks that day so hopefully we will be able to ride BTMRR at least once – so all is well!! Thank you for all your replies.

 

[Mouse13]

For the most part, there is usually someone on these boards that has some insight as to what may be refurbed next and for how long, so when I saw it on the refurbishment list I was surprised as I hadn’t heard anything.

I'm so glad you started the thread because this refurb caught me by surprise as well. BTMRR is DS's favorite ride and I've been following the developments closely as we arrive on June 3. We'll be there until June 11, so I'm hopeful we'll get to ride it at some point before we leave.

 

[HydroGuy]

Good points all. The year before last year Peter Pan was still closed during the first week of June, and there were no fireworks because they were transitioning to the new summer show.

I also wonder if Disney is and will be less concerned with having one attraction down at most times of the year even if it is a big attraction. People are pouring through the gates anyway, and maintenance/refurbishment must still be done. It also seems like the parks are open more hours per day over the course of the year which decreases the total time available for after-hours maintenance. I have seen more daytime painting and small projects going on during our visits of the last year and a half than during previous visits. Either they just can't get everything done at night anymore or they aren't paying as much overtime. With the ongoing construction at DCA, maybe Disney has decided they've gotten people used to these conditions. The bulk of Disneyland/DCA guests are regulars/locals.

To my mind the more legitimate thing to be annoyed/disappointed about would be that Disney often does not post refurb schedules early enough to help the less frequent visitors make more informed decisions.

Good points all - back at you!

You know, a big reason for not doing the refurbs in summer is really not summer per se but the crowds. Rides like BTMRR are people eaters. They can have 1500+ people in line there and they are not somewhere else in line or crowding walkways. So when all rides and shows are operating at max capacity then the park appears to be less crowded and people are happier and they in turn can go on more rides - because the guests are more spread out - which also makes them happier. I think Disney is more concerned about this than just the simple fact of disappointing people with a ride going down.

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

You know, a big reason for not doing the refurbs in summer is really not summer per se but the crowds. Rides like BTMRR are people eaters. They can have 1500+ people in line there and they are not somewhere else in line or crowding walkways. So when all rides and shows are operating at max capacity then the park appears to be less crowded and people are happier and they in turn can go on more rides - because the guests are more spread out - which also makes them happier. I think Disney is more concerned about this than just the simple fact of disappointing people with a ride going down.

Exactly! Spring break for instance is always crowded, and in recent years Disney has made the effort to have most things up and running. This year with Star Tours and Splash both in refurb and no twice a day parade plus all the construction at DCA, I felt like spring break crowd patterns within the parks had changed and lines and fastpass distribution were affected. The people are still there, so without these lines and activities to absorb them, they're going to go stand in other lines and make them longer. When the rides currently in refurb reopen and the parade returns and as construction progresses at DCA and more becomes available to do over there, I'm pretty confident that Disney will feel they have more than enough rides and activities to absorb enough people that taking one ride out of commission, even a big attraction, will be doable at almost any time of the year.

 

[Zippa D Doodah]

This is just a passing thought, but since Easter/spring break is so late this year, and DLR has set June 3 as opening of the two new attractions they have a pretty small window of time to do refurbs in between the two. Basically they have the first few weeks of May before Memorial Day holiday spike, then a week until June 3. That means they may cut it close on some refurbs (ie BTMRR)

 

[Mouse13]

June 3 calendar has been posted at disneyland.com and Big Thunder is still on the refurb list.

June 4 calendar has been posted at disneyland.com and Big Thunder is still on the refurb list.

Hoping by Monday that I don't sound like a broken record.......

 

[Mouse13]

OK, I couldn't stand the day by day calendar updating suspense, so I called Disneyland and talked to a real live CM. He informed me that the BTMRR refurb is scheduled from May 31 - June 9. We'll still be there on June 10, so I'm hoping everything goes smoothly.

 

[HydroGuy]

OK, I couldn't stand the day by day calendar updating suspense, so I called Disneyland and talked to a real live CM. He informed me that the BTMRR refurb is scheduled from May 31 - June 9. We'll still be there on June 10, so I'm hoping everything goes smoothly.

As I posted earlier, that sounds right to me.

I habve no insider knowledge but suspect this is what happened. DLR usually goes to summer hours nearer to mid-June - in the June 10-17 range. So they planned the BTMRR refurb accordingly. Then a week ago Disney decided to launch summer hours on June 3. And now the two do not mesh. if Disney knew back in January that they would do summer hours starting June 3, they would have scheduled the BTMRR refurb at a different time. Now it is too late and/or not worht changing since Disney knows the first week of June will probably still be light on crowds.

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

Now it is too late and/or not worht changing since Disney knows the first week of June will probably still be light on crowds.

Plus, what crowds there are will be standing in line for Star Tours and Little Mermaid all day.