Soarin down for 4-6 months starting in early January?

[momof2n2]

GoOd GriEf
So. My trip in May could find Froz-way still not open & Soarin' closed?

I'm uncharacteristically speechless.

 

[rpb718]

Nobody knows.

And, they COULD decide to change the PROJECTORS to DIGITAL in Theater 1 and Theater 2
(the current theaters) one theater at a time,
and continue to show the original "Soarin' over California" feature film.
That show is already in digital format showing in DCA in Anaheim.
Then, after all 3 theaters are DIGITAL ready, they could instantly change to the NEW feature film in all theaters
all at once.

Again, nobody knows.

While they could have the new theater showing the new film and a another one showing the old film while the other theater is being converted, that could be a nightmare. Imagine being in the line and noticing you were being lined up to the "old" theater instead of the "new" theater. I can imagine many folks complaining to the CM that they don't want that old theater/film they want to go to the new one. And I can see folks complaining that they were disappointed to have wasted a FP+ and "forced" to see the old film.

 

[Hopelessly_Devoted]

This would full on suck. I can't see the install of the new movie taking 6 MONTHS?!

It is more than a new movie. The place would get a complete overhaul. Bolts tightened, clean screens, new projectors, etc.

 

[DisneyPrince1982]

GoOd GriEf
So. My trip in May could find Froz-way still not open & Soarin' closed?

I'm uncharacteristically speechless.

Ellen's energy will be busier than usual. Make sure you get a FP, lol

 

[goofyernmost]

So far there has been no official word to the affect that it will be closed. Not from Disney or from some of the really reliable sources. I am going to just say that I think it is just a rumor and nothing more.

We know where the new "Theater 3" is going in.
It sits "behind" Canada.
It has visibly been under construction all Summer.

What we don't know is where/how the walkway to the new "Theater 3" will connect into the current Soarin' queue.

And, if they will be fully redesigning that queue space.

Actually, we do know. The entire show building for Soarin is behind "Canada". Imagine, if you will that you are coming up to the end of the queue. Currently you go to the right for one theater and to the left for the other. The new building butts into the wall that you are facing before turning left or right. When it opens there will be three options. Left, Right as always or straight ahead for the new theater.

To my knowledge there are no plans to change the queue at all, at least for now. There really isn't any need to at this time. They can change the current film to digital to accommodate the new theater when it opens and the others as they redo them with new digital projection and whatever goes with that, one theater at a time. Then after all the theaters are set up digitally, it is a simple matter of changing the show and program the seats. Closing it would make no sense at all.

 

[Magical JenK]

I recently did a tour in Epcot & the CM did say that Soarin' would be going down for a few months & knew it would cause a lot of unhappy guests. He didn't elaborate on timeline tho.

 

[RedheadRinger]

Hi. I just started a Face Book group, "Disney January 2016 Planning Group". Come join us if you're on FaceBook. Its just starting out but hopefully we can get others to join.

 

[AngieInOH]

Hi. I just started a Face Book group, "Disney January 2016 Planning Group". Come join us if you're on FaceBook. Its just starting out but hopefully we can get others to join.

There's already 2 other groups on FB. DIS WDW January 2016 and Disney World January 2016 Planning Group (is this one your group?)

 

[Canuck16]

We were at DLR this Spring and Soarin' was closed during our trip.

While it was disappointing that it was down as it is one of DS favorite rides and he wanted to take his Grandfather on it for the first time. Instead he took him on RSR and they had a blast.......we just found other things to do and everyone still had an unbelievable time!!

 

[CodeGoddess]

While it was disappointing that it was down as it is one of DS favorite rides and he wanted to take his Grandfather on it for the first time. Instead he took him on RSR and they had a blast.......we just found other things to do and everyone still had an unbelievable time!!

I think for me it's more of the disappointment than thinking it would ruin the trip. I have not been back in a lot of a years after going almost every year so this was one of the few new things I really wanted to try.

 

[Robo]

We were at DLR this Spring and Soarin' was closed during our trip.

Yup.
That was when they closed both theaters to install the new digital projectors.

 

[wilkeliza]

We were at DLR this Spring and Soarin' was closed during our trip.

While it was disappointing that it was down as it is one of DS favorite rides and he wanted to take his Grandfather on it for the first time. Instead he took him on RSR and they had a blast.......we just found other things to do and everyone still had an unbelievable time!!

Big difference between DCA and Epcot when a major ride is down for refurb. There are only 2 (could argue 3) e-tickets at Epcot. So cut one and then there is only the other. With Soarin down that would only leave Spaceship Earth, Test Track, Ellen's Energy Adventure (I slept the whole time), Mission Space, Finding Nemo, Figment, Captian EO, Living With the Land, and the boat ride in Mexico. I could understand if the Frozen ride was done and open but missing the Malestrom and Soarin is just not going to cut it.

 

[Robo]

Big difference between DCA and Epcot when a major ride is down for refurb. There are only 2 (could argue 3) e-tickets at Epcot. So cut one and then there is only the other. With Soarin down that would only leave Spaceship Earth, Test Track, Ellen's Energy Adventure (I slept the whole time), Mission Space, Finding Nemo, Figment, Captian EO, Living With the Land, and the boat ride in Mexico. I could understand if the Frozen ride was done and open but missing the Malestrom and Soarin is just not going to cut it.

That does not take into account the much larger issue of Soarin' being one of the TWO
daytime headliner "Tier 1" FP+ choices.

(I can't bring myself to include "Living with the Land" as a "headliner.")

 

[wilkeliza]

That does not take into account the larger issue of Soarin' being one of the Tier 1 FP+ choices.

That is true as well. Back when Test Track was down and FP+ was in testing at least Malestrom was a worth while Tier 1. Now they are a joke over at Epcot.

Look not bashing Epcot. I worked there and it is my second home but Disney really needs to step up the game there. There aren't even really any shows to eat up time like there are at DHS. It is currently a really expensive bar for most travelers. I love that during Food and Wine but other times we only go to Epcot after we have been to another park in the morning (water park or AK are good options).

 

[Canuck16]

Big difference between DCA and Epcot when a major ride is down for refurb. There are only 2 (could argue 3) e-tickets at Epcot. So cut one and then there is only the other. With Soarin down that would only leave Spaceship Earth, Test Track, Ellen's Energy Adventure (I slept the whole time), Mission Space, Finding Nemo, Figment, Captian EO, Living With the Land, and the boat ride in Mexico. I could understand if the Frozen ride was done and open but missing the Malestrom and Soarin is just not going to cut it.

There were other attractions down during the same time as well getting ready for the 60th....Splash Mountain, and Matterhorn just to name a few.

My point was that we knew going in that these attractions would be closed. We still went and still had a blast!!!

 

[wilkeliza]

There were other attractions down during the same time as well getting ready for the 60th....Splash Mountain, and Matterhorn just to name a few.

My point was that we knew going in that these attractions would be closed. We still went and still had a blast!!!

Those are over at DL thought. I get what you are trying to say but having been to both DL and WDW several times and even worked at Epcot you just can't compare the situations. At Disneyland you can walk between the two parks if you have a park hopper and things are down. Very easy to get your moneys worth. At WDW you have at least an hour between most parks (waiting and driving time) so if you get to a park that is a half day and you want to park hop to another you loose an hour vs 15 minutes.

 

[Canuck16]

Those are over at DL thought. I get what you are trying to say but having been to both DL and WDW several times and even worked at Epcot you just can't compare the situations. At Disneyland you can walk between the two parks if you have a park hopper and things are down. Very easy to get your moneys worth. At WDW you have at least an hour between most parks (waiting and driving time) so if you get to a park that is a half day and you want to park hop to another you loose an hour vs 15 minutes.

Yes that is true that the parks at DLR are closer together than at WDW.

But if you are planning on going to Epcot for the rides only then it is only a half day park whether Soarin' is open or not and you would be hopping to another park anyways.

 

[RedheadRinger]

There's already 2 other groups on FB. DIS WDW January 2016 and Disney World January 2016 Planning Group (is this one your group?)

Thanks, I found that out after posting this and creating the other group. I wasn't able to see them because they are closed groups and you need to be asked to join.