Critter Country Down For Six Weeks?

[tlovesdis]

Bummer! How will I survive without my pooh huney pot rice krispie treat????

 

[PinkBudgie]

Does anyone know what they are doing with the Hungry Bear? Getting a better menu, I hope?

I always look at the time between NYE and Spring as the closest DLR gets to an "off" time. Wasn't it last year they drained the river? It is disappointing, but to me, just part of what happens when you go at this time. I'd love for them to add more to that area of the park. It is an odd little section. We love the Pooh ride too and I'd love if they could find room over there somewhere for maybe another little ride.

 

[deejdigsdis]

I took these pics on Wednesday and Friday.

When we rode the train around, we were wondering if we'd get to see inside Splash at all. It was so dark we couldn't tell if there was a wall up or a curtain or what. We couldn't see anything. When we rode the Monorail my sister saw a bunch of Splash logs all lined up in a row in a parking lot. Interesting!

Not Critter Country, but still odd to see the hearse missing. When I asked the CM, "Where did it go?" -- she said, "It ran away." I understand the idea of "keeping the magic alive" and such, but you'd think they could come up with a better answer than that!

 

[skiingfast]

Well, better late (and incomplete) than never ... the official calendar finally lists Davey Crockett Explorer Canoes under "Closed for Refurbishment".
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I had seen that yesterday, but for some reason according to the site, One could go to the park today and expect to ride Pooh.

 

[Casey's Mommie]

I had seen that yesterday, but for some reason according to the site, One could go to the park today and expect to ride Pooh.

Disneyland really should list that the Pooh Ride being down. It's bad enough to decide to shut down the whole land, but to not advertise it on their website is just wrong.

 

[Disney Dreams]

For those who are upset, would it be different if it were 3 random rides, 1 restaurant, and 1 shop throughout the Park?

That's all it is. And during the off-season, Hungry Bear's hours are relatively short. I think it's a bigger "OH MY GOSH CRITTER COUNTRY IS CLOSED!!" because it's all in one concentrated area. In reality though, if they are closing Splash, the canoes, and the restaurant, the other 2 pieces are not a giant difference and I imagine it allows for blocking off an entire area to do additional work.

Operationally, it makes sense. Especially during the first two months of the year.

Look at it this way: It's an area of the Park you don't have to worry about covering in your limited days.

- Dreams

 

[skiingfast]

Does anyone know what they are doing with the Hungry Bear? Getting a better menu, I hope?

Maybe they are going to tear it out. It would ease the coming Frontierland expansion and walkway all the way around ROA.

 

[Yukonjack]

I am a little bummed about Splash for our Feb visit, but frankly (since we have no kids this trip), I am not all that upset about the land closing. I can still ride Grizzly Rapids in DCA at least

 

[Casey's Mommie]

For those who are upset, would it be different if it were 3 random rides, 1 restaurant, and 1 shop throughout the Park?

That's all it is. And during the off-season, Hungry Bear's hours are relatively short. I think it's a bigger "OH MY GOSH CRITTER COUNTRY IS CLOSED!!" because it's all in one concentrated area. In reality though, if they are closing Splash, the canoes, and the restaurant, the other 2 pieces are not a giant difference and I imagine it allows for blocking off an entire area to do additional work.

Operationally, it makes sense. Especially during the first two months of the year.

Look at it this way: It's an area of the Park you don't have to worry about covering in your limited days.

- Dreams

I understand why they closed it. I don't think they should have, but I understand. It's one thing to close a ride because it's being cleaned/repaired/changing etc... But just to close it to save some money is something I would expect from another amusement park, not Disney.

But what really bothers me is that they know it's closed and they haven't added the closing of Pooh or the Pooh Corner store to the disneyland calendar. I think if they know something is going to be closed they should add it to the calendar as soon as they know.

Luckily I know in advance so I can prepare my 4 year old. But if it weren't for the Disboards we would show up and we would all be very upset we couldn't go on her favorite ride.

 

[GeminiAngel]

Awwwwwwwwwwww I'm one of the seemingly few adults who actually like the Winnie the Pooh ride; I'll miss going on it when I'm there in a couple of weeks.

Nope, yur not alone.

 

[Jiminey_Cricket]

I am bummed about it. I hope my 3 year old will be okay with missing the Pooh ride. Oh, well...that is what we get for going off-season. It will still be fun! Only a few days until we go!

 

[perlster]

Closing an entire section of any theme park, for purely economic reasons, without any advance notice - and incomplete information after the fact, is simply bush league.

 

[Halloweenqueen]

Just back....

Well, Critter Country looked so sad. I can completely understand why they closed the entire area. I do think it was poor planning. Splash is covered in scaffolding. Hungry Bear has ugly black tarp material all over it.

We noticed they made an announcement on the train that CC and the rides/shops within were closed. I think a lot of people were still surprised when they passed HM and saw the tall fencing. I overheard many families talking about heading to Splash for FPs, etc. I think many people did not pay attention to refurb lists.

I did go to City Hall to express my disappointment with CC closing. I was immediately cut off and told they would not listen to any complaints on policy. All guest thoughts of the CC closing must be through the website. I was quite surprised how quickly I was cut off, almost in a rude way, but I guess I must not be the only person who has walked up to GR to discuss CC.

 

[mydisneyobsession]

Just back....

I did go to City Hall to express my disappointment with CC closing. I was immediately cut off and told they would not listen to any complaints on policy. All guest thoughts of the CC closing must be through the website. I was quite surprised how quickly I was cut off, almost in a rude way, but I guess I must not be the only person who has walked up to GR to discuss CC.

Wouldn't listen to any complaints on policy? I'm just... astounded by this.

 

[funatdisney]

In October, I went to City Hall to complain about not having enough MHP t-shirts available for sale during the last three party nights. (Something I have been experiencing for the last three years) I was told that they no longer have guests fill out a form for complaints. Instead, they contacted the merchandising supervisor of the clothing department. They even had him come down and talk to me. My guess is that since there are no forms for a guest to fill out, the City Hall CMs are having to deal with a lot of complaining guests directly, instead of handing them a form.

Not a excuse for bad behavior, but I can certainly understand how exhausting it might be to deal with so many complaints because the closure of CC was so immediate and no notice was given. Lots of people are not going to be aware of the closure for a long time. This new approach, will be hard on the CMs. IMHO, this change will not do them any services.

 

[OregonDisneyFanatic]

I was really looking forward to the chocolate dipped pretzels at the Pooh Corner candy shop when we are there in a couple weeks. I have never looked for them any other places in the parks. Does anyone know if they sell them elsewhere?

 

[Disney Dreams]

I understand why they closed it. I don't think they should have, but I understand. It's one thing to close a ride because it's being cleaned/repaired/changing etc... But just to close it to save some money is something I would expect from another amusement park, not Disney.

Closing an entire section of any theme park, for purely economic reasons, without any advance notice - and incomplete information after the fact, is simply bush league.

Do we know that it was just to save money? Based on the pictures above and reports of the work being done, it seems to me like it might be a decision based on keeping the work being done out of sight. Imagine the noise and activity that is probably going on back there.

If the work that is being done to SM and HBR is such that it cannot be done only after hours, perhaps the decision was made so that guests don't see and hear all the work being done.

The only thing I have read that states it is due to cost-saving measures is Al Lutz and I do not think it is right to give a lot of credit to his "why" as he is often very critical of Disney and does not work for the Company.

But what really bothers me is that they know it's closed and they haven't added the closing of Pooh or the Pooh Corner store to the disneyland calendar. I think if they know something is going to be closed they should add it to the calendar as soon as they know.

Agreed. It is strange that they have not been added to the calendar. Even more of an indication to me that it was not a financial decision. If that were the reason, it would have been decided long ago I would think.

 

[funatdisney]

Do we know that it was just to save money? Based on the pictures above and reports of the work being done, it seems to me like it might be a decision based on keeping the work being done out of sight. Imagine the noise and activity that is probably going on back there.

If the work that is being done to SM and HBR is such that it cannot be done only after hours, perhaps the decision was made so that guests don't see and hear all the work being done.

Then, again, if Disney had left it open, they would get a lot of complaints from guests that would say it was a waste of their time to go into CC with all the work being done. Especially, since the park is on off season hours....ect. They can"t win.

I do agree with PP that Disney should have put the closure on their website list.

 

[skiingfast]

If the work that is being done to SM and HBR is such that it cannot be done only after hours, perhaps the decision was made so that guests don't see and hear all the work being done.

The only thing I have read that states it is due to cost-saving measures is Al Lutz and I do not think it is right to give a lot of credit to his "why" as he is often very critical of Disney and does not work for the Company.

I agree that this may very well be the case. Al Lutz may of rationalized a why, rather than having a source that say it's based on money.

If you have been in critter country when Splash is down the place gets very empty. I would be surprised it they took advantage of this to do other work. Maybe when it reopens the whole place will have been repainted.

Also just my speculation. Do you know what the best que in WDW's MK is? The new one they rebuilt on thier Pooh. What if DL is getting a similiar treatment?

 

[perlster]

My last two cents in this thread are a few questions:

Who reported this closure before it happened?

Can refurbishments be done on the spur of the moment or do they require careful advance planning to ensure that the proper people, material, and equipment will be available?

There are also shops, restrooms, and the meet & greet area in Critter Country - will visitors find that they have been remodeled six weeks from now?