Great! Test Track AND Buzz Lightyear closed in Mid-January?

[theSurlyMermaid]

Well, this is just great. BOTH Test Track and Buzz Lightyear will be refurbished in mid-January....when I'm there, of course. Two of my favorite rides....Buzz Lightyear being my absolute favorite in the Magic Kingdom. One I could take, but both?

Why couldn't they be refurbishing that awful Stitch ride?

 

[ssdeverell]

We talked about a trip in January, but I told DH that I just could not go when both of my favorite rides were down. I think Splash Mtn. may be down for a short time in Jan., too (don't quote me on that). Since you are so close to your trip, though, just go and have a great time. That will just give you another reason to go back. Maybe concentrate on some of the other attractions that you may normally skip.

Have a wonderful trip!

 

[theSurlyMermaid]

SM was down for a day or two in November, but they have not yet posted anything about it for January. Buzz Lightyear was just added though....I guess I should keep a lookout.

Ugh, no wonder January is considered a slower time...although based on some recent posts, it isn't even all that slow anymore!

 

[boomhauer]

I believe Splash is down from January 23-27.

I'm a bit bummed as I'll miss out on Test Track as well. I'll just keep telling myself, it's closed because of weather.

As for Buzz Lightyear, I'm somewhat bummed about that as well. Mostly because it's a good diversion away from Space Mountain and keep those lines down a bit. Hopefully, in January, lines won't be bad anyway.

 

[theSurlyMermaid]

You are right boomhauer, it's on Disney's official site when Splash will be closed.

Luckily, that is not when we will be there!
Well, my husband is more upset about Buzz and I am very upset about Test Track. What can you do, though.

 

[Tiffann4k]

The one ride my son was looking forward to ( Buzz)

 

[bleeps]

Historically speaking, January seems to be THE month of rehabs. It's the trade-off for the rates and (theoretical) low-crowds. I'm not discounting your disappointment, but it could be your chance to discover some new favorites. Have you tried Soarin' yet, or are there older attractions that you routinely bypass? Why not take this as your trip to have your own undiscovered tour of WDW? We always ear-mark at least one attraction we've never done (or haven't done in a while) and that is often the surprise hit of the trip....

And, to be honest, Buzz is in SERIOUS need of rehab! Few of the "guns" work properly, the scenery is in dreadful condition, a number of the target "action" pieces don't work anymore, and that hallway you go through that's supposed to look like a time-dimension shift (right before you shoot at the moving spacecraft on the screens in the tunnel -- it used to have bright white, headlight-like lights) does not work at ALL anymore....

 

[theSurlyMermaid]

Historically speaking, January seems to be THE month of rehabs. It's the trade-off for the rates and (theoretical) low-crowds. I'm not discounting your disappointment, but it could be your chance to discover some new favorites. Have you tried Soarin' yet, or are there older attractions that you routinely bypass? Why not take this as your trip to have your own undiscovered tour of WDW? We always ear-mark at least one attraction we've never done (or haven't done in a while) and that is often the surprise hit of the trip....

You're right...haven't tried Soarin' yet and I'm really looking forward to it! Other than that, I'm fairly certain that we have ridden everything in MK, but for me, MK is more about the experience anyway. As for Test Track, my disappointment rises mostly from the fact that it was my new favorite from last time! I'll get over it, but having both down at once is a bit of a blow. My husband and I are pretty crazy at WDW....I honestly don't know that there is an attraction we haven't done except for the Mickey's Toontown fair stuff (and the new stuff like Soarin', of course). But we'll figure out a way to cope, I'm sure! We are staying at WL for the first time, so there will be some discovery there, I'm sure, plus all the new restaurants we have to try. We'll live, but it will be a bummer not to beat DH repeatedly at Buzz.

 

[Grumpy_Disney_Dad]

And, to be honest, Buzz is in SERIOUS need of rehab! Few of the "guns" work properly, the scenery is in dreadful condition, a number of the target "action" pieces don't work anymore, and that hallway you go through that's supposed to look like a time-dimension shift (right before you shoot at the moving spacecraft on the screens in the tunnel -- it used to have bright white, headlight-like lights) does not work at ALL anymore....

When we were there in June the CM told us that Buzz would be rehabbed so that they could make the blaster hand held instead of stationary on the cars, much like the Buzz in DL

 

[theSurlyMermaid]

When we were there in June the CM told us that Buzz would be rehabbed so that they could make the blaster hand held instead of stationary on the cars, much like the Buzz in DL

That's not a bad idea....it will make scoring less dependent on who is swivelling the vehicle (usually me, hehehe).

 

[bleeps]

I honestly don't know that there is an attraction we haven't done except for the Mickey's Toontown fair stuff (and the new stuff like Soarin', of course). But we'll figure out a way to cope, I'm sure! We are staying at WL for the first time, so there will be some discovery there, I'm sure, plus all the new restaurants we have to try. We'll live, but it will be a bummer not to beat DH repeatedly at Buzz.

HA -- lucky you -- DH always rings in the high score in our family! But hey -- you are going to LOVE WL -- we were there for the first time last week and it was FABULOUS; everything everyone says about this one resort feeling as though you are on an entirely separate, wonderful vacation is true! One big tip for you: check out the huge WL Mercantile store BEFORE you do your park shopping! We found just about everything that we'd bought (and that I'd carried around all day!) in the parks to be at that store -- we wished we'd checked it out first instead of rushing our DS past it each morning! It also has such lovely WL-specific merchandise (better, in our opinions, than the Poly or Contemp in that regard).

Also, go ahead and try Goofy's Barnstormer in Toontown -- it's short, but it does pack in a thrill (esp. if you do it at night). Also, really, Mickey and Minnie's houses in Toontown really are worth checking out, just for the amount of detail that the Imagineers packed into them....

 

[Windy City Heather]

I may be completely wrong but I also think they are adding track to Buzz. My parents next door neighbor use to work for a company that build rides (he only recently is not with them). He helped build Mission Space. He got a call to keep his schedule open because they were going to be adding track to a ride at Disney World and he thought it was Buzz Light Year. I wish he was still with the company so I could double check.

 

[Mecha Figment]

If your story about your parents neighbor is correct he is probably refering to the refurbishments going on at the Living Seas right now. Buzz prety much uses all the space in that building. as far as i'm aware it uses the same track that the previous two attractions used.

 

[theSurlyMermaid]

HA -- lucky you -- DH always rings in the high score in our family! But hey -- you are going to LOVE WL -- we were there for the first time last week and it was FABULOUS; everything everyone says about this one resort feeling as though you are on an entirely separate, wonderful vacation is true! One big tip for you: check out the huge WL Mercantile store BEFORE you do your park shopping! We found just about everything that we'd bought (and that I'd carried around all day!) in the parks to be at that store -- we wished we'd checked it out first instead of rushing our DS past it each morning! It also has such lovely WL-specific merchandise (better, in our opinions, than the Poly or Contemp in that regard).

Also, go ahead and try Goofy's Barnstormer in Toontown -- it's short, but it does pack in a thrill (esp. if you do it at night). Also, really, Mickey and Minnie's houses in Toontown really are worth checking out, just for the amount of detail that the Imagineers packed into them....

Thanks for the WL tips! I'm looking forward to this more and more. We ate at Artist Point once back in 2001 so we have seen the resort, but it was awhile ago, so it will be a very new experience. I have stayed at AKL, but from what I am reading, WL seems like a better stay. I think I explored the store once too...it's a GREAT store.

LOL, I can think of ONE thing that would wipe away any disappointment of Buzz and TT....a super early guest preview of Expedition Everest!!! I can dream, can't I?

 

[Windy City Heather]

If your story about your parents neighbor is correct he is probably refering to the refurbishments going on at the Living Seas right now. Buzz prety much uses all the space in that building. as far as i'm aware it uses the same track that the previous two attractions used.

I don't think Living Seas has track. He knew he was adding track to a ride in MK.

 

[bleeps]

LOL, I can think of ONE thing that would wipe away any disappointment of Buzz and TT....a super early guest preview of Expedition Everest!!! I can dream, can't I?

You know, I WAS going to say that to you -- we walked by Mt. Everest last week and were blown away -- it is AMAZING, the theming is unbelievable, and from all outside appearances it is ready to go, so you JUST might get your wish! I just didn't want to seem as though I was promising anything! There are some great photo opps around the ride, including a Tibetan temple "altar," complete with offerings, where you can take pictures with the ride in the background. I would definitely plan to spend some time around there, and ask every CM you see if there's any plans for ride tests. And hey, while you're there in AK, check out "Flights of Wonder" if you haven't seen it before -- it's a live bird show and it is wonderful!

 

[scoutsmom99]

I don't think Living Seas has track. He knew he was adding track to a ride in MK.

Living seas does have an omni mover track inside it. The ride was called the sea cabs and they brought you to Sea Base Alpha after you got out of the hydrolators. The sea cabs closed down awhile ago, but remained in the Living Seas pavillion. With the living seas going through re-hab this past fall and some more re-hab in the future there has been lots of speculation on Disney internet boards that they are going to extend the ride track in the building some (the current track is very short) and add some nemo effects to the ride.

http://www.intercot.com/edc/LivingSeas/lshydro.html

 

[theSurlyMermaid]

You know, I WAS going to say that to you -- we walked by Mt. Everest last week and were blown away -- it is AMAZING, the theming is unbelievable, and from all outside appearances it is ready to go, so you JUST might get your wish! I just didn't want to seem as though I was promising anything! There are some great photo opps around the ride, including a Tibetan temple "altar," complete with offerings, where you can take pictures with the ride in the background. I would definitely plan to spend some time around there, and ask every CM you see if there's any plans for ride tests. And hey, while you're there in AK, check out "Flights of Wonder" if you haven't seen it before -- it's a live bird show and it is wonderful!

How funny, I was just telling DH we must try Flights of Wonder.....

And they ARE doing a preview of EE...JAn 26-29 for AP and DVC members. Sadly, not me! Oh well, just seeing the completed thing will be pretty cool too.

 

[auntyjenn]

When we went to Disneyland for my first time in fifteen years, Space Mountain, Splash Mountain, and Thundermountain were all closed! I still wouldn't trade that trip for anything in the world. It was the best time our family has had together. So, here we are heading to Disney World. We should make it before Splash Mountain closes (phew).