Distraught over Haunted Mansion

[InnerStrength06]

Pam (OP),

I so feel your pain! HM is my absolute favorite of all time! My master bathroom is even decorated as if it is a bathroom that belongs in the HM! We are going to the World in mid August, and I just read about the refurb. today (3/11). I actually suggested to DH and the kids about a change of date, and was very quickly voted down. I don't know if I will even be able to walk by it while I am there and cannot go in, and not be 100% bummed.

I can't believe out of all of the WDW attractions, this has to happen while we will be there. Ah well, time to find a second all-time favorite I guess!

 

[Zippa D Doodah]

OP, we've missed out on several faves at various times thru the years. Test Track, Splash Mountain, and Pooh come to mind. I guess as long as its just one ride I try to cope well enough and figure I'll enjoy it all the more next time. I know its no consolation, but DS and I will be there less than a week after it closes. I don't plan to tell him before we get there. I for one sure will miss the good ol' HM in June. BUt I totally understand why they need to get his work done before the MNSSHPs start.

 

[ohdisco]

I've been to DL when POC was being refurbed, when Space Mountain was being refurbed FOREVER -- I think I was there twice during the time it was down , when the HM was down just to decorate if for Christmas, when Jungle Cruise was down (I have pics somewhere of the dry riverbed). Those are ALL some of my absolute faves. And yeah, it sucked, but we survived And it gave us something to look forward to the next time.

Sheesh, this is my first visit to WDW and Le Cellier will be closed only for the week we are visiting -- how rotten is that?!? Now Maelstrom too I dunno...think we can find somewhere else to eat and something to do for 5 1/2 days?

I remember the POC being down. I went to DL for my graduation present from my momma (stayed at the disneyland hotel with my fav cousin for 2 nights). We were there June 21-23. The next day they were going to have the world premiere of Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest at Disneyland. So basically we had to navigate through Disneyland trying to find ways around the monstrosity that was the stage/seating for the premiere, AND we didn't have our POC.

While we were kind of saddened by this, we had SO much fun that we hardly remember we didn't get to ride POC.

 

[pooh2007]

Maybe I just don't understand. The thrill of going to WDW is so exciting. I just can't wait. I have never rode any of the rides at WDW so maybe I can't understand the upset that so many members are feeling. To me if rides need to be refurbished for visitors safety then it must be done. I suppose to me that it just won't matter what rides are down during my visit there, I will just be thrilled to be at the most magical place in the world!

 

[Twinprincesses]

We went to WDW when IASWAA was closed and the next year POC was closed. It was a bit depressing but we knew we would be back the next year.

 

[marivaid]

To me if rides need to be refurbished for visitors safety then it must be done.

Except they're not doing it for visitor's safety. If that was the case, the ride would be shut down now, not in 3 months.
Disney has made the decision to disappoint their guests for the entire summer so that they can have something brand new for MNSSHP.
It's purely a marketing ploy which I guess is why many are upset.

We did HM in December and we'll miss it in July, but to me it's not a huge deal. However I understand where the OP's coming from. Splash was closed in January, and if it was going to be down again this summer we probably would have gone to Seaworld instead of Disney.

OP,is there any way you can change your dates?

 

[DaisyD]

Is HM really closing? I read this months ago and asked everyone for confirmation only to be told I was wrong. So it is really true? I'm going to miss it. We go on that ride probably 10 times a trip! Guess I won't be riding it till October now.

 

[marivaid]

Is HM really closing? I read this months ago and asked everyone for confirmation only to be told I was wrong. So it is really true? I'm going to miss it. We go on that ride probably 10 times a trip!

Yep it's true.It's on the Disney calendar. June 6th 'til September 12th.

 

[jlovesee]

I love Disney, but I am certainly not a "disney can do no wrong" kind of person (case in point I always like to mention that POC was an Arrow Dynamics Ride and Everest is a Vekoma ride, Disney never mentions that). I am THRILLED that they are taking Haunted Mansion down for three months. It really needs it and yes it is my favorite ride in all of Disney World, quite possibly in all of amusement park land.

I do understand that it is hard to have such a popular attraction down while you are visiting though. I will say this, I would rather have HM down while I am there, and have it be running full capacity (with all effects working) at a later date, then have it running in the deplorable condition that it was in when I rode it in November 2006. When I rode it in November the Doom Buggy soundtrack was crackling and fading in and out, plus many of the effects were not working including one of the "sky ghosts" from the graveyard scene. (as you go down the hill into the graveyard on the ceiling are screens projecting flying ghosts, one of those was not working).

As far as possible "changes/upgrades". From what I have read about the changes that they made in Disneyland it only seemed to make the ride better. There have been circumstances were Disney has changed an attraction and made it worse (one word: Stitch) but the way I look at it, if Disney was still alive believe me, there would have been changes made anyway. Its why he always used the term "plusing" a ride.

Anyway, thats my viewpoint and I'm stickin' to it.


Jennifer

 

[Thematic]

Well, I was pretty down when I first heard the news, but I'm cheering up. For us it's not a "well, now you can look forward to your next trip" thing because frankly, it's gonna be a loooong while until another trip is financially viable, unless I start selling vital organs. Basically it's Disney in June or bust.

But I mean...at least we know now. Good golly, it would be sad to find out at the park gates or the morning of the trip. Now I know, and I've already modified my touring plan accordingly. Heck, we even found a ride-through on youtube and "rode" it that way. (Not the same, I know, but beggers can't be choosers )

I mean...there's so MUCH in the parks that will be open. Maybe it's because I don't have an emotional attachment to the ride (having never ridden before) but I think we'll be so busy doing other things that we won't have time to mourn the mansion too much.

I do feel for folks who were really looking forward to riding during that time frame. As means of brightening your day, here is a picture of a dancing banana:



It always helps me, for some reason.

 

[terri01p]

Well we were one of the dumb ones that never knew they closed up Horzions and we run like a bat out of h#ll, to our favorite ride and when we got there we were in such shock to learn it had been closed for years...we actually had to go sit down and regroup ourselves to get over it. So at least you know ahead of time.

 

[Schmeck]

The last time we rode HM it looked like crap - and it kept breaking down. Is that what the OP wants to experience?

If having her favorite attraction at WDW closed during her trip gets her this worked up, what is going to become of her when a real tragedy happens to her? I hope she learns to deal with it, as in life it's really part of the 'small stuff' we need to let go of. It's not cancer, for goodness sake (which is something I have to deal with) not a battle for her life. An attraction is closed, and it should be quite awesome when it is finished. I hope I get to ride it after the rehab. I know this is melodramatic, but let's get a little perspective on this?

 

[highlander]

We were at HM last year and it was really dirty. Cobwebs and dust everywhere. I thought it was long overdue for some serious cleaning. And with the high ticket prices, could they afford some light bulbs?

 

[wdwcoltsfan]

I agree that HM needs some work and I'm glad they are finally taking care of it. I also know that it stinks when a favorite ride is down when you are there. We have been different times when BTMRR and TT were down. Not to mention, IASW, WP and others. I think they are doing this when they think it's best. It wouldn't have been fair to do it in Jan. because Splash and RNR were already down. They couldn't have three headliners down at once. In Feb. various attractions were down at different times. Hopefully the refurb will be well worth it!

Rachel

 

[Cass]

since it needs the clean up so badly.

I'm not sure I understand that statement, I mean the whole ride is covered with cobwebs that are supposed to be there!

 

[WDW Poly Princess]

When I rode in January, my ghost host didn't work half the time, so maybe they're doing some sound upgrades/fixes?

It does suck having favorite things closed during your trip!

I wonder if one reason they didn't do it earlier this year is to avoid having too many big rides closed at once? Splash Mtn & Rockin Rollercoaster were both closed on my trip. I'd imagine they try to space out the refurbs of the major rides so that you don't end up with a time period where 2 or 3 of the "e-ticket" rides at a park are closed at the same time.

 

[chris4disney]

I haven't gotten a chance to go through and read all the replies to the orginial post on this thread, so this may have been said already, but I was very distraught when I read it. Yes, it stinks to have one of your favorite attractions closed while on your trip, BUT ITS NOT THE END OF THE WORLD!! I don't think it warrants changing your travel dates. Honestly, you are going to Disney World and not everyone gets that chance ya know! I challenge you to go on the streets and find some homeless kid, look them straight in the eye and say "hey, Disney World is closing down my favorite ride during my trip! That is going to ruin everything!! Now I'm going to have to change my whole vacation because the idots at Disney didn't consult me first on the when to close the Haunted Mansion!" I'm sure you will then have a reality check and realize just how rediculous you sound.

I'm not one to usually "bark" back on the Disboards, but this just really bugged me and I had to say something.

 

[Cass]

I'm sure you will then have a reality check and realize just how rediculous you sound.

I had one of those recently! I was complaining about Tower of Terror not being open in Disneyland Paris when we go this year and then I thought, I'm going to Egypt and Rome & Paris, and I'm complaining about one ride? I must be totally insane

 

[marivaid]

We were at HM last year and it was really dirty. Cobwebs and dust everywhere. I thought it was long overdue for some serious cleaning. And with the high ticket prices, could they afford some light bulbs?

You're kidding, right ?

 

[Missish]

Does anyone know of a site with a list of dates and the rides that will be closed for refurbishment?
I know there's one like that for DLRP, so I figured there must be one for WDW and I just haven't come across it yet.