Slow season and attraction rehab

[the Dark Marauder]

A new Mummy attraction will be replacing Kong, that's why. It's supposed to be as high-caliber as Spider-Man.

 

[TigerLaw]

Dark, Just to clarify, is the thought now that popeye's will be down from sept. to dec. or oct. to dec.? Also, what does popeye's have to do w. the horror nights-is it being used for storage?

 

[rangebob]

Talking to a lead over at Popeye over the weekend I found out that Popeye is going to close right after Labor Day. I would expect that it might be the 2nd of Sept then. She did say that they were going to close down Rip Saw first but the hand rails that they were going to replace didn't arrive in time. I was also told that Discovery Center was going to close also. Popeye is down for HHN due to a haunted house runs through the que line. She also said that Camp Jurrasic was going to close before December. Some of the stuff will be down until Dec 2nd.

 

[maria1234]

WOW!! We began planning this trip over a year ago. I understand that sometimes rides close due to rehabs, but closing because they need a queue for HHN?? They have just taken away 2 water rides. We were kind of planning our trip around those. Is Universal becoming like Disney now? I am sorry to be so angry, but we aren't even attending the HHN. Can someone let me know if I am being unreasonable?

 

[ksdave]

maria;
The way I read Robert's post, only Popeye will now be closing in September, not Dudley's. If they do close both at the same time, I will be at Customer Service as soon as I arrive to voice my extreme displeasure. (Although I now live in KS, I was born in NY. It's not nice to piss off a NYer ).

 

[maria1234]

Thanks ksdave. I hope you are right. My daughter is a little scared of rides and I have been spending the whole year convincing her that she should try these because she will have so much fun. I think she is starting to buy into it. It would be sad to tell her that they are both closed.

 

[dturner]

I too will be there at the end of September (Sept. 27 - Oct. 4) and I'm only doing Universal /IOA and Sea World this time. Here's to hoping and praying that there are not too many rides/attractions closed during this time as DS (7) loves the water rides and it's his first time to US/IOA.

Dark Maurader: Thanks for the updates, please keep us informed as to the ever changing rehab schedules, the info. is greatly appreciated!!

 

[Flyfly_Eclipse]

Originally posted by ksdave
(Although I now live in KS, I was born in NY. It's not nice to piss off a NYer ).

OMG...I so know! Not a pleasant experience in the least!!!!!

 

[TigerLaw]

Let me see if I got this right, b/c I am more than a bit upset. On my late sept. trip to US, where I have paid for an annual pass and am staying on site, one of the major rides (popeye's) is going to be closed, but not for any rehabbing, but so that it can be used as a haunted house for which I would have to pay more money to walk through!! THEN, another attraction (the discovery center) might be closed as well, again for no rehabbing, but just to cut costs!

so let's see what WILL be open for my trip!

storm force (ON WEEKENDS ONLY!)
dr doom
hulk
spiderman
cat in hat
caroseussel
one fish
flying unicorn
posiden's
JP
ripsaw

folks, that's only 11 rides and attractions! How is that fair value for sept. guests? (and befoe anyone says no crowds, what's the point of no crowds if there is little to ride or see!)

 

[Flyfly_Eclipse]

Originally posted by TigerLaw
Let me see if I got this right, b/c I am more than a bit upset. On my late sept. trip to US, where I have paid for an annual pass and am staying on site, one of the major rides (popeye's) is going to be closed, but not for any rehabbing, but so that it can be used as a haunted house for which I would have to pay more money to walk through!! THEN, another attraction (the discovery center) might be closed as well, again for no rehabbing, but just to cut costs!

so let's see what WILL be open for my trip!

storm force (ON WEEKENDS ONLY!)
dr doom
hulk
spiderman
cat in hat
caroseussel
one fish
flying unicorn
posiden's
JP
ripsaw

folks, that's only 11 rides and attractions! How is that fair value for sept. guests? (and befoe anyone says no crowds, what's the point of no crowds if there is little to ride or see!)

I know what you mean. With exception to Popeyes, what are being closed aren't anything special anyway...at least it's not the bigger rides...

Will you be going again another time since you purchase an annual pass?

 

[dturner]

Pardon me as the only time I have been to Universal was when it first opened, way back in the '80's.

What's Storm Force and why is it only opened on weekends?

I'm starting to think my trip in late September is not going to be worth the 18 hour drive if a lot of the good stuff is closed. I'm only doing US/IOA and Seaworld and one night of MNSSHP (no other Disney parks this time) and I won't be there on the weekends.

Not very happy at this time.

 

[Flyfly_Eclipse]

dturner...Storm Force is like Tea Cups at Disney. Not many people go on it anyway...even during the more busy times. I'm guessing that so little people go on this ride during the slow season that it isn't worth the cost to keep it running for just a couple people.

IMHO, I don't think the ride is worth freaking out over. It's not Spidey or Hulk, or any of the "good" rides. I understand just the fact of rides being closed during this time of year is upsetting, but you'll still have plenty to do. Think of it this way...you probably would skip it anyway. The only reason I ever went on it was to take a 5-year old on it while his teenage uncle went on The Hulk. I wouldn't ride it if I didn't have to entertain a child.

 

[dturner]

Originally posted by Flyfly_Eclipse
dturner...Storm Force is like Tea Cups at Disney. Not many people go on it anyway...even during the more busy times. I'm guessing that so little people go on this ride during the slow season that it isn't worth the cost to keep it running for just a couple people.

IMHO, I don't think the ride is worth freaking out over. It's not Spidey or Hulk, or any of the "good" rides. I understand just the fact of rides being closed during this time of year is upsetting, but you'll still have plenty to do. Think of it this way...you probably would skip it anyway. The only reason I ever went on it was to take a 5-year old on it while his teenage uncle went on The Hulk. I wouldn't ride it if I didn't have to entertain a child.

Yea, well, my DS is only 7 and we watched the Universal video last night and that Storm Force he commented on and he can't ride Hulk or DD or the free fall ride yet because of his height so it looks like there will be a lot closed for him, thus, making me still think whether or not this is a good idea.

He also wanted to see the Wild West Stuntshow and I had to tell him that will be closed when we are there along with several other things, um..... not looking good. I'll have to sit down and actually look at all the rides/attractions offered at US/IOA and delete the ones DS can't get on yet and the ones being closed and then decide whether or not to cancel this trip. BUMMER!!

If Ripsaw is going to be down during my stay, I will definetly cancel my trip.

 

[TigerLaw]

Fly, I agree w. your point as it relates to storm force and even to some extent, the discvoery center (which I think is cool to wlak throught, but I don't spend hours there) but popeye's IS a major ride and I would be far less upset if there was actual rehab work being done on it, but there's not, if I understand right, its only done so long b/c of horror nights, and closing something to the general public so use can use it during a special ticket event is bad show in my humble opinion.

again, lok at the numbers, IOA was never a built up park to begin with b/c of its age. now, popeye, sinbad, discovery center, and sotrm force are all DOWN. while there is good stuff left, I hardly think 11 rides and attractions can be considered a full day park, yet they ask the masses to pay full price don't they?

 

[Flyfly_Eclipse]

Sorry to hear dturner

There are many other great rides, and hopefully you'll be able to find enough open to be worth the trip.

Universal Studios will have lots of cool things he can ride (Jimmy Neutron, Shrek 4-D, kidzone play area, ET, Back to the Future, MIB) Plus IOA has the other rides that he should be able to ride...

of course, depending on his height

 

[Flyfly_Eclipse]

Originally posted by TigerLaw
Fly, I agree w. your point as it relates to storm force and even to some extent, the discvoery center (which I think is cool to wlak throught, but I don't spend hours there) but popeye's IS a major ride and I would be far less upset if there was actual rehab work being done on it, but there's not, if I understand right, its only done so long b/c of horror nights, and closing something to the general public so use can use it during a special ticket event is bad show in my humble opinion.

again, lok at the numbers, IOA was never a built up park to begin with b/c of its age. now, popeye, sinbad, discovery center, and sotrm force are all DOWN. while there is good stuff left, I hardly think 11 rides and attractions can be considered a full day park, yet they ask the masses to pay full price don't they?

That is very true, and I agree that if they reduce the park hours AND close down rides and shows, that there should be at least SOME sort of discount on tickets. Even something as little as $5 off would make a huge difference.

If you go to Universal Studios in addition to IOA, the closed attractions will be even less important. Be excited to try Shrek 4-D and go on other rides as well.

I can understand disappointment...I don't remember how many times I winced whenever I neared the front gate of Busch Gardens only to see at least one of my favorite rides was closed.

 

[rangebob]

Yes from what I was told only Popeye will be closed. I never said that Popeye was only going to be closed for HHN but it is going under re-hab also. They are just bringing it down earlier than they would have. Discover Center an attraction? It has a little bit of a play area for kids and they didn't say when it was going down for re-hab.

 

[dizzydad]

Walking past too many closed rides/attractions takes away from the "magic" and festive atmosphere of the park. I am paying full price to attend a world class theme park, I don't want to feel like I am in a ghost town. All of our plans and reservations are made so we are definitely going and I am sure we will have a great time, I am just a little disapointed that we will not be getting the full experience.

 

[ksdave]

I, too, am upset about the closures. HOWEVER, I have gone to WDW during the offseason may times and not once did they not have several attractions closed for rehabs. Once we went and they had all three mountains at MK closed AT THE SAME TIME. So, this is not a problem unique to UO.
I will only be real upset if they close BOTH Ripsaw Falls and Bilge Rat Barges at the same time. As of now, it sounds like only one will be closed.

(PS: When we went in February this year, they had DD closed. THAT was a bummer).

 

[dizzydad]

I just called guest services, they indicated that Ripsaw falls and Triceratops encounter will be closed in late september. Seems to be some conflicting info on this.