January closures?

[Colleen27]

We just visited DLR for the first time last month and I'm already planning a return trip. However, our dates are pretty limited by my older daughter's dorm move-back-in date after the Christmas holidays, so we're looking at mid-January, probably the 11th to 13th. What rides should I expect to be closed that time of year?

 

[FCDub]

I Googled and found this. Not sure it's 100% but hopefully helps: https://www.undercovertourist.com/blog/disneyland-refurbishments-closings/

Disneyland Refurbishment Schedule (Seasonal Closures)
These attractions and rides usually close seasonally at Disneyland for refurbishments and holiday overlays. The estimated dates on this Disneyland refurbishment schedule are based on past ride closures. We'll always post the specific dates when we receive them under Disneyland ride refurbishments.

Grizzly River Run: Usually closes early January through February or March for seasonal refurbishment
Jungle Cruise: Usually closes early November for holiday overlay installation; closes early January for holiday overlay removal and reopens early February
Haunted Mansion: Usually closes late August for holiday overlay installation and reopens September; closes early January for holiday overlay removal and reopens mid-January
it's a small world: Usually closes mid to late October for holiday overlay installation and reopens November; closes mid-January for holiday overlay removal and reopens late January/early February
Space Mountain: Usually closes late August for holiday overlay installation and reopens early to mid-September; closes early November for holiday overlay removal
Splash Mountain: Usually closes mid-January through February for seasonal refurbishments

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

Jungle Cruise doesn't get a holiday overlay anymore. Haunted Mansion is the first to get its overlay removed, so it usually closes right after the holiday season ends. The last day of the holiday season this year is January 6. Small World begins its holiday overlay removal once Haunted Mansion returns. I have seen IASW holiday version during the Martin Luther King weekend before, so I know that one can go down pretty late. The water rides Grizzly and Splash usually get their refurbs anytime from January to April. The exact dates tend to vary probably based on how much work needs to get done and which other rides are also being worked on. That covers the usual winter season refurbs, but, of course, anything could go down at any time so there's no way to know exactly what Disney considers due for a refurb until they post it on their calendar which is often only a few weeks before the scheduled dates.

 

[Colleen27]

@FCDub I found the same thing when I was searching, but was hoping for a little more detail.

@longtimedisneylurker Thank you so much! That's exactly what I wanted to know. This will be my husband's first trip to DLR after many, many WDW trips so while I'm willing to go when some of the rides are closed, I was starting to think Jan. might be too many. But if JC is open and IASW doesn't close until HM re-opens, that really isn't so bad.

The water rides I sort of expected to be closed that time of year, and even though we're Michiganders who have ridden WDW's water rides in all sorts of cold-for-FL weather, I don't think I'd want to ride Grizzly in the winter anyway. We got WAY wetter on that than we ever have on Kali. I'll be keeping my fingers crossed that Splash doesn't close until after our dates, though; we barely got wet on it and I couldn't believe how much better the DLR version was than WDW's.

 

[mom2rtk]

DLR doesn't tend to announce closures as far in advance as WDW does. January does tend to be full of them, but it's hard to say what this January will be like with RotR opening mid-month. Just know that it's not out of the question that you might be surprised by something rather last minute.

 

[PippensMcGee]

I went in January 2018--almost those exact same dates. I forget exactly what was closed in DCA (a lot of Paradise Pier was also closed to turn into Pixar Pier), but in Disneyland Jungle Cruise and it's a small world were open (IASM had the overlay removed, I believe, but maybe I'm wrong given what's listed above). Haunted Mansion was still closed.

ETA: Space was for sure open. I think Splash was, but can't quite recall (we were with my then 2 year old, so we didn't get to go on all the "big" rides")

 

[Guy in Fargo]

We typically go early in the year.

Other than almost guaranteed closures, it's a crapshoot on what will be refurbished and when.

Just because they did something at a certain time last year or they just completed a major refurbishment, you just don't know.

While I have my favorite attractions it's all about those magical moments which can't be planned that make the trip worthwhile.

 

[edhmom]

We went January 10-13 of this year. Haunted Mansion and Grizzly River were both closed. IASM still had it's holiday decorations up. Pixar Pier had a few Christmas decorations our first day but they were gone by Friday, January 11. Everything else was open except the castle which they were refurbishing.