Disney official .... Soarin'

[NYHeel]

I would bet that the tiering system would be suspended or removed during the refurb. It is just to balance out the rides, between TT and Soarin, since Soarin won't be an issue, then I would see no need for the tiers.

In that case, my 2 fastpasses in Feb would be Test Track and Illuminations, and whatever else it takes to fill in the 3rd FP slot.

I thought that the Illuminations fast pass was pointless? Is that not the case?

 

[AprilDreamsOfDisney]

I'm disappointed that it will be closed, but hopefully that will push me to try some new things at Epcot! I've totally ignored half of it for years and this time, I'm hoping to discover more wonderful things in this park.

I look forward to the new film and music, too, for my next next trip!

 

[LilyWDW]

The timing makes perfect sense really. Yes, you do have spring break in there, but their other options were summer or the winter holidays which are, in general, much busier. This is a 6 month refurb, there was NO way they could miss all the busy times so they decided on what they thought was the "best" for them business wise. I would have made the same decision.

 

[SnipsNSnails]

Well, no one likes a refurb closure. I'm just wondering what that is going to do FP+ and TT. We currently have 2 days planned for EP. I'm guessing that our first day will be more of a half day now which is fine. We do want to spend more time at the resort this time.

 

[GreatLakes]

I wonder if this means the end of FP+ tiering at Epcot. Let's all be honest injun here, the only two Tier 1 FPs at Epcot are TT and Soarin'. With either of them gone there really isn't a need for the tiers IMO.

 

[2Pirates2Princesses]

I'm also looking forward to the new and improved Soarin' but with both this and BTMRR being closed this spring we are considering postponing our plans for May 2016 to either August 2016 or possibly even 2017; and it's not because we don't expect things to be refurbished (we are aware this particular refurb is overdue) but with all the construction and so many other attractions closed it's going to make it more difficult (near impossible since we may stay offsite) to get fastpasses for the couple other popular rides remaining. Disney is not an every year trip for us and with a family of seven park tickets are a small fortune so the timing of these trips is very critical for us.

 

[wareagle57]

I wonder if this means the end of FP+ tiering at Epcot. Let's all be honest injun here, the only two Tier 1 FPs at Epcot are TT and Soarin'. With either of them gone there really isn't a need for the tiers IMO.

Illuminations will still pull a few people away from Test Track FPs but not many. I don't think they'll get rid of tiers since they'd just have to reinstate them in 6 months. Then again, with Frozen opening maybe they could do away with them. But still, who wouldn't choose all 3 of those?

 

[BuckeyeBama]

We will be in WDW for 10 days in early January. We arrive on the 3rd to see the last night of Osborne Lights. We will have to be sure to hit Soarin' before it is shut down.

Epcot has been about the countries/food/beverages for us for a long time so we will be fine with this, but I feel for families that are more ride focused.

 

[AZMermaid]

Last Feb when we went to Disneyland- the following rides were closed:
E- Splash Mt
Winnie the Pooh
Pooh and Friends Meet and Greet
Hungry Bear Resturant
(those were part of ALL of Critter country being closed and walled off)
Peter Pan
The Railroad and all the stops
Canoes (okay.... I hate those!)
Snow White's Well
E- Matterhorn
Sleeping Beauty Walkthrough
Captain EO
The Castle was UNDER A TARP!!!!

Redwood Creek Trail
E- Grizzly River Run
E- Soarin'
Taste Pilot's Grill
(Those were part of ALL of Condor Flats being walled off and closed)
Ariel's Grotto (the restaurant where you meet the princesses)
The lagoon in DCA was drained with exposed pipe everywhere
No World of Color

With two whole lands closed, 4 E-tickets down and major walkways rerouted- it felt very crowded, but we still had a great time. 2 rides feels like nothing!

 

[Kaimo]

Hmmm...time to seriously reconsider our Spring Break destination.

Thanks for the heads up.

Seriously! So you were planning your entire spring break around a 5 minute ride..... I understand it stinks when a favorite ride is down for refurb but....

 

[Satchmo128]

So glad we are going to the California parks in December so that we can ride Soarin'! We have tossed around the idea of a late January trip to Florida, but man there sure will be a LOT closed then. Hm.

 

[Jhondy210]

Seriously! So you were planning your entire spring break around a 5 minute ride..... I understand it stinks when a favorite ride is down for refurb but....

Not the PP you quoted but I'm thinking it is not about the one ride…I think the one ride for many people is the last nail in the coffin. Disney has a lot of construction going on that has closed other rides and made it harder to get around. I think when people factor in the construction plus one of the bigger rides being down that is when people consider other destinations. Let's not forgot prices will likely go up in the near future for tickets, which considering the state of the parks, may make it for some not worth it.

Also, sometimes one ride is that important. My husband loves the Buzz Lightyear ride (don't ask me why because I find it annoying how hard it is to aim) and we are going during the time Buzz is down. My husband, who is not a fan of Disney, complains to me every time we discuss our trip about how upset he is that Buzz is down. If I could move our trip around to a time Buzz was open, I would. Sadly, due to both of our hectic work schedules and other commitments we don't really have any other time we could go. Also, had I not already bought plane tickets and his park tickets, I'm sure my husband would want us to skip Disney this year because of Buzz. I know once we get there we will both have fun but to him that one ride is so important he would consider changing our vacation destination.

 

[thornton0511]

If they keep the Epcot tiers "as is" with Soarin closed then we will absolutely not plan to use FP+ selections at that park. Park hopping will absolutely be necessary to do this but I foresee maybe rope drop at EP to do TT and then hop over to another park later in the day to use our 3 FP rides. It would really stink for people with base tickets though who would be stuck at EP the whole day. The tiering at EP is awful as it is...the Tier 2 rides are a joke.

 

[gofordrew]

While Soarin' is closed, Disney will arguable have 3 parks that can be done in a half day.

 

[thornton0511]

This is why Universal has more attendance increase each year than Disney. They actually have several quality rides and continue to expand rapidly. Disney arguably has 3 half day parks now.

I agree that Disney needs to stop adding to construction and just finish what they have started with. They keep adding new things but yet nothing seems to get completed in a timely fashion, or as fast as it could if there were far less projects open than there seem to be. Put more man power on a few projects, and then move on to the next thing once the first projects are completed. I would much rather have constant construction in a few areas around the resort showing that Disney is constantly working on new things as well as updating older things, then have the construction continue to grow and grow and nothing seem to get accomplished in a timely manner.

 

[anniemae]

Not the PP you quoted but I'm thinking it is not about the one ride…I think the one ride for many people is the last nail in the coffin. Disney has a lot of construction going on that has closed other rides and made it harder to get around. I think when people factor in the construction plus one of the bigger rides being down that is when people consider other destinations. Let's not forgot prices will likely go up in the near future for tickets, which considering the state of the parks, may make it for some not worth it.

Also, sometimes one ride is that important. My husband loves the Buzz Lightyear ride (don't ask me why because I find it annoying how hard it is to aim) and we are going during the time Buzz is down. My husband, who is not a fan of Disney, complains to me every time we discuss our trip about how upset he is that Buzz is down. If I could move our trip around to a time Buzz was open, I would. Sadly, due to both of our hectic work schedules and other commitments we don't really have any other time we could go. Also, had I not already bought plane tickets and his park tickets, I'm sure my husband would want us to skip Disney this year because of Buzz. I know once we get there we will both have fun but to him that one ride is so important he would consider changing our vacation destination.

When is Buzz down? I feel your DH pain, I was really upset Pirates was closed this past summer, I love that ride. I don't know what it is, but I just love it. It's the first ride tradition for us when we do MK. When I heard it was down, I was really disappointed.

 

[kar915]

I'm sad it is temporarily closing; it is my favorite ride. However, excited to see what the new Soarin' will be like.

 

[Jhondy210]

When is Buzz down? I feel your DH pain, I was really upset Pirates was closed this past summer, I love that ride. I don't know what it is, but I just love it. It's the first ride tradition for us when we do MK. When I heard it was down, I was really disappointed.

According to Allears.net it will be down 1/15/2016 - 2/11/2016. Allears is the only place I see the refurb mentioned. I'm hoping they are wrong but I'm planning on it being down when we are there 1/24/16-1/31/16. I'd love to move our trip earlier but it just isn't possible

 

[atricks]

That leaves TestTrack as the big draw attraction, until Frozen opens (Which won't have good capacity for the crowds it will bring). World Showcase is great, but Future World has a big "Going out of business" vibe in about little more half the pavilions (including the old Wonders of Life building, the roof looks in BAD shape)

 

[SaintsManiac]

I'm also looking forward to the new and improved Soarin' but with both this and BTMRR being closed this spring we are considering postponing our plans for May 2016 to either August 2016 or possibly even 2017; and it's not because we don't expect things to be refurbished (we are aware this particular refurb is overdue) but with all the construction and so many other attractions closed it's going to make it more difficult (near impossible since we may stay offsite) to get fastpasses for the couple other popular rides remaining. Disney is not an every year trip for us and with a family of seven park tickets are a small fortune so the timing of these trips is very critical for us.

I completely agree with you. I'm really glad we get to ride in December and aren't going back until Thanksgiving next year. We haven't been in 6 years. It took us almost 2 years to save for our trip this year. Soarin and BTMRR are my 2 favorite rides. I would not want to go when they are down.