Coincidence?

[Imyourhuckleberry]

So we just finished our annual beginning of the year disneyland trip, and we noticed some strange things happening at both parks this time around. (Dramatic pause) Rides would breakdown several times a day. I know what your thinking as much as they get used it's bound to happen. However cars was down for several hours, twice. Screamin was down what seemed to be hourly. Toy story mania went down with us on it. The jungle Cruise, pirates of the Caribbean, buzz lightyear, Indiana jones, all down several times over just two days. While in line we heard a disappointed guest complaining and they kinda tossed around a theory. They said that disneyland must have miscalculated the amount of people that would be coming to the park this time of year and instead of the park looking dead they shut some of the rides down at random in order to keep the park looking full and exciting. Any thoughts about this theory or am I just a ride cooler.

 

[gottalovepluto]

I'm going with they actual broke down. There isn't really a benefit to Disney to close rides to make the peak feel "more full". Larger crowds > higher stress > less happy people. No benefit there to Disney. Their park attendance numbers are aces lately so there should be no reason to try to goose the perception of the crowds in the parks. I'm often surprised how many rides break down during our summer trips, so coming off the holiday season I'm not suspicious at your list of closures.

 

[Lilly Belle 84]

Sometimes the rides aren't actually "broken down" but have to be brought down due to inspection, maintenance or even a kiddo getting sick on a car and it having to be cleaned. There are also certain types of safety mechanisms that when activated will be bring the entire ride down, then the attraction has to be cleared of guests and inspected. It's usually just a series of bad luck, Disney really has nothing to gain by bringing down an attraction or by the illusion of a crowded park.

 

[chickapin parterre]

Sometimes the rides aren't actually "broken down" but have to be brought down due to inspection, maintenance or even a kiddo getting sick on a car and it having to be cleaned. There are also certain types of safety mechanisms that when activated will be bring the entire ride down, then the attraction has to be cleared of guests and inspected. It's usually just a series of bad luck, Disney really has nothing to gain by bringing down an attraction or by the illusion of a crowded park.

I support this 100%

 

[TheChapman6]

Yes tons of times they have to shut down rides because someone's hat falls this happens while we were on Alice. The little mermaid, haunted man, Peter Pan etc have to stop to allow disabled guests on and off the ride.

 

[Indiana Scott]

It's really an intereting theory. It would also allow then to have fewer CM's in the park at a time if they could shut down one ride at a time and shuffle employee's around to cover operational attractions.

 

[DahliaRW]

They definitely adjust some ride speed/loading to account for slower and more crowded times at the park. Pirates is a big one (you go noticeably slower on a low crowd day and the water screen projection is off then). But, I don't think they purposely take down rides on whim to adjust crowds. Have you ever noticed how many CMs it takes to post outside an unplanned ride closure and the crap they get from guests?