Disappointing news about Dumbo

[Stephen's Mom]

I'm so disappointed right now I could just cry. I've been checking the refurbishment schedule on Disney's website for Nov. 26-Dec. 4 and it used to show the only ride down for closure was the Jungle Cruise, but when I checked today it now includes Dumbo and Casey Jr. Circus Train! We went to WDW last year and skipped Dumbo because of the lines but I was so looking forward to taking my 3 yr old son on it this year because that is one of his favourite stories. And to top things off there's that California Cable convention going on while we're there and it says there's over 30,000 people attending. I have no idea how that will affect attendance at the parks but with my luck it will end up being extremely busy. I thought I had picked a pretty good time to go but now I'm having second thoughts (not that it matters anyways because I can't change the airline tickets). I just needed to whine to someone about it.

 

[Uncle Buck]

Could be worse...much worse. Here's what we'll be missing 10/15-10/18 with 4YO in-tow:

<li>Country Bear Playhouse (permanent closure)
<li>Splash Mountain
<li>it's a small world (holiday make-over)
<li>King Arthur Carrousel
<li>Matterhorn Bobsleds (some kind of long re-hab)
<li>Storybook Land Canal Boats
<li>Fantasmic!

For those four days, it will still be the Happiest Place on Earth.

 

[phins_jazy]

I know what you mean about the rehabs. We are taking our very first trip to Disneyland in March and I just found some info on mouseplanet that says Splash Mountain and Space Mountain will both be down while we're there. I just hope they don't move IASW's refurb up at all. It's my MIL's absolute favorite!!!


Mr. Toad 10/29 - 11/9
Alice In Wonderland 11/12 - 11/21
Mad Tea Party 11/26 - 12/12
Jungle Cruise 11/26 - 12/12
Haunted Mansion 1/7 - 1/18 (for removal of Nightmare overlay)
Small World 1/7 - 1/23
Splash Mountain 1/14 - 3/22 (a big one it looks like)
Mark Twain 1/21 - 2/13
Pirates of the Caribbean 1/21 - 2/22
Blue Bayou 1/28 - 2/28
Space Mountain 2/25 - 3/22
Small World 4/8 - 6/20 (another big one, let's hope for paint)
Big Thunder 4/8 - 5/3
Gadget's Go Coaster 5/27 - 7/17 (bizarre timing)
Matterhorn 9/4 - Late Fall '02

 

[Stephen's Mom]

I guess you're right. I shouldn't be whining because I guess if I wanted to make sure everything was open I should have gone at Christmas instead. I suppose smaller crowds will be worth a couple of closures. Have you been to Fantasmic at DL before? Do you know if it's really that much different than the one at WDW? My husband hated the show when we saw it last year (maybe hate is too strong a word but he really wasn't impressed at all) and I'd like to see it in DL but I'm going to have a hard time convincing him to go. Any ideas on how to convince him?

 

[teri]

Don't sweat it, Dumbo isn't so hot. You won't even miss it. There are other rides over at DCA. You will have fun.

Fantasmic at DL is completely different - there is almost no seating, which is a drag, but the show is on the Rivers of America instead of a stage area, and it really is a different show. Worth going!

 

[Sarangel]

I'll second the Fantasmic recommendation... The show at DL is *much* better than WDW. Because it's on the Rivers of America, it is much more intimate and impressive than in the big auditorium in MGM. Yes, it would be nice to be able to sit down to watch it, but if you go to the second show of the night you can stand behind the light towers (which will be down at street level - don't worry they go up when the show starts) and wait much less time than you would anywhere else for a good view.

Sarangel

 

[Stephen's Mom]

Sarangel,

Where are the light towers located? I haven't been to DL in over 23 years so I have no idea where anything is! Do they always have two showings even in the off season?

Kim

 

[TigerBear]

Add me to the list of the disappointed. Both Splash Mountain and Space Mountain at the same time? This just doesn't make sense to me. I hope Mouseplanet is wrong. I could handle one of them, but not both of them

Stephen's Mom, I know how your feel

 

[WDW2002]

Originally posted by Stephen's Mom
Do they always have two showings even in the off season?

No and in fact they only show it on weekends during the off season, which began Monday.

 

[TinkerbellRules]

Could you provide the link for rehabs?

 

[Stephen's Mom]

http://disneyland.disney.go.com/disneylandresort/ResortInfo/HoursAndShows/index

This is where I found the rehab schedule. I apologize if the link does not work (I'm quite new at this!).

 

[Stephen's Mom]

I just checked the schedule again and now Dumbo doesn't show up at all! I'm quite happy but I'm sure things may change again. I think I'll stop looking until just before we leave!

 

[F5CHASER]

I'm really starting to get irritated. I've had a trip planned for six months now for Oct 20-24 at DL. Now they seem to be adding to the rehab schedule almost on a daily basis. The first couple of weeks showed the Carousel and IASW...then last week they added Peter Pan and Mr Toad...and now they've added Matterhorn. Why don't they just close down all of Fantasyland while they're at it and make the kids really happy!! The Matterhorn just had a rehab recently. Why in the world would they be closing it down again?

 

[Uncle Buck]

They've added Alice in Wonderland and the Mad Tea Party! My 4YODD will not be happy. She's planning to be Alice for Halloween and wanted to have her picture taken there! Next to Small World, the tea cups are her favorite.

Maybe they should shut the whole place down and give us tickets to Knott's. This is getting to be too much!

 

[Uncle Buck]

I've submitted the following through Disneyland.com. Anyone know a direct email to guest relations? Maybe they'll respond to volumes of concerns.

UB


-----------------------------------

Dear Sirs:

I noticed that the following attractions will be closed for rehabs during my family's scheduled visit October 15-19, 2001.

- Country Bear Playhouse
- Splash Mountain
- Alice in Wonderland
- Mad Tea Party
- it's a small world
- King Arthur Carrousel
- Matterhorn Bobsleds
- Fantasmic!

I am particularly alarmed that essentially 50% of the attractions within Fantasyland will be closed simultaneously, leaving so few attractions suitable for children 4 and under (40" and smaller).

I certainly understand the need for routine rehabs of attractions to maintain the high standards of the Disney experience. It seems that it would be more appropriate for rehabs to be spread across the park and across targeted age groups.

Sincererly,

Erick W. Freligh

 

[KnightsQwn]

The email was a great idea.
Good luck to everyone.
My son missed IASW when we went in Octoner of LAST year. I thought for sure it would be open by now.

 

[KnightsQwn]

The email was a great idea.
Good luck to everyone.
My son missed IASW when we went in October of LAST year. I thought for sure it would be open by now.

 

[Uncle Buck]

IASW is down every october to redecorate for Christmas. That was not a surprise for us and we have been able to prepare our daughter accordingly. The rest of Fantasyland is a bizzare mystery and would be particularly upsetting to our daughter as she has become a big Alice fan.

 

[F5CHASER]

Uncle Buck-- Great idea on e-mailing Disney about this. It probably won't do any good at all, but I'll e-mail them also once I figure out who to e-mail to. Like you, IASW was not a big surprise to me as I know that it's always down for the X-mas makeover, but the rest of the half of Fantasyland is absolutely horrible planning on Disney's part. Not to mention the attractions that will be closed down that are not even mentioned on the website. Those being Gadget's Go-Coaster and Chip and Dale's Treehouse in Toontown. Again the kids are getting screwed.

There's a very good chance that the powers that be at Disneyland haven't even realized that so much of Fantasyland wil be closed during the next two months. Then again, maybe they just don't care.

 

[TigerBear]

Some of these posts make me want to cry. I hate the idea of little ones missing their favorite rides.

Does anyone know why the rehab schedule posted on Mouseplanet is so different from the Disney site? Mouseplanet only lists Mr. Toad as being rehabed in October.

And if Disney is saying Splash Mountain will be rehabed in October, why would it also be rehabed in January - March (according to Mouse Planet). I find this very frustrating