Soft Openings at WDW?

[AMusicLifeForMe]

Is it common to have soft openings at WDW? I will be at Epcot on June 10th, and I'm just wondering if it is common for soft openings to start popping up about a week before the rides open? I've been going to Disneyland my whole life since I lived right by there, and I know there soft openings usually start coming about a week out if we are lucky. With Soarin' opening a week after I'm at Epcot, it would be cool to experience a soft opening.

 

[erionm]

Soarin' Around the World will not open at Epcot prior to 6/17. It will debut at Shanghai Disneyland on 6/16 as Soaring Over the Horizon before it opens anywhere else.

There has been speculation that if Soarin' does happen to reopen prior to 6/17, it would be with the original film (presented in a digital format).

 

[CAS239]

It could have a soft opening but if it does it's rumored to be showing the old Soarin video until June 17. No one knows if there'll be a soft opening so you'll just have to check when you're there.

 

[AMusicLifeForMe]

Thanks. It would be nice to see the old movie one last time.

 

[JimmyV]

Is it common to have soft openings at WDW?

Common? Yes. Predictable? No. I'm not sure what the track record is with refurbs as opposed to entirely new attractions. I think there are far fewer soft opening with the former. There shouldn't be any "bugs" with Soarin' since it has been finished for so long. No "kinks" to get out. So the need for a soft opening to test the system under a less than 100% occupancy load just shouldn't be there. But that doesn't mean it can't happen.