Spring closures 2016 – Planning your visit to ½ of Disneyland in February?

[MrDisneyFan]

Okay, okay, there may be a slight hint of hyperbole here but when you see the long list of refurbishments you can’t help your jaw dropping. Just a little. Typically as a socal resident and AP holder I wouldn’t plan on visiting the parks over a holiday weekend. However, as it so happens my daughter has a dance competition scheduled over president’s day weekend at the Disneyland hotel! With the fantastic group rate they’re giving us I couldn’t pass up booking some extra days. Plus, it’s the only Disneyland resort hotel we haven’t stayed in. Not only that but it’s also works out for timing. We are almost always in Disneyland for my birthday and this year won't be any different. I’m celebrating my 40th so I’m going to have a magical time no matter what, damn it!

So as my planning gears started to kick in I began my typical checking of the Disneyland calendars plus got some great info from the Dis podcast – Disneyland edition. In case you haven’t heard there are a number of closures going on, many have started and many will be continuing on through spring. Including some constructing at the Disneyland hotel. So I thought would share what I found for Feb if you’re going to be at the parks:

Obviously everything on the Rivers of America (including Disneyland Railroad) is closed as of Jan 11 due to construction starting in preparation for Star Wars land. No end date for those attraction closures but at least a year. So for February in Disneyland everything below is closed as far out as the official Disneyland schedule will go:

Disneyland February Refurbishments
Mark Twain Riverboat
Sailing Ship Columbia
Davy Crockett's Explorer Canoes
Pirate's Lair on Tom Sawyer Island
Fantasmic!
Disneyland Railroad
Jungle Cruise
Autopia

Bonus refurbishments!
1/25-2/4 - It’s a small world holiday
2/8-2/18 - Splash Mountain

In Disney California Adventure there are some on again off again closures as well:
2/1 – WOC & SOC
2/2-2/4 – SOC
2/8-2/11 – SOC
2/15-2/18 – SOC
2/15-2/24- GRR
2/22 -2/24 – SOC & GRR

As of today the online Disneyland Calendar only goes to 2/24. I will give some small credit to Disney, at least they’re keeping Soarin’ open over the weekends. So if you’re going to be there, get a fastpass! With the other closures plus the fact it will only be open Sat and Sun in Feb I expect Soarin' to be more busy then usual.

And if that wasn’t enough, just because this is the first time we’re staying at the Disneyland Hotel and fate wants to smile, no wants to laugh maniacally at me, they naturally are doing construction and closing most of the pools over our stay at the Disneyland Hotel. The following is from the Disney site:

•Beginning January 4, 2016, the E-Ticket and D-Ticket Pools (including select cabanas) will be unavailable until late spring 2016. Please note that you may see or hear work in progress, but it will be limited to the hours of 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

During this time, we invite you to enjoy our Monorail Slide, which features 2 towering waterslides, a fun water play area and Minnie spa hot tub—or you can make a splash at any of the available pools at our nearby sister Disneyland Resort hotels—Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel and Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa.

•Goofy’s Kitchen will be closed beginning January 19, 2016 through mid-February 2016. During this time, alternative Character Dining opportunities will be offered for mealtime fun! Please call (714) 781-DINE or (714) 781-3463 to make reservations.​

I didn’t see it on the specific date on the Disney website but several 3rd party sites, including wdinfo stated that Goofy’s Kitchen will be closed until 2/9.

So can I ask a serious question? You can use the pools at the Grand Californian or PPH but has anyone actually done that and how does that work logistically? Do you walk over in your swimsuit then back all dripping wet and freezing? Do you bring a change of clothes? Since we’re going to be there for 6 days (including the Dance competition) I was really hoping to make use of the pools during afternoon break time or taking a dip in the hot tub. Definitely a little disappointed with that.

Let's all agree that for the foreseeable future we can all expect both parks but particularly Disneyland, to be more busy then usual. I think during the closure of splash mountain (really Disney, over both President's day weekends?) is going to make a big difference as well. It's going to keep a lot of folks out of that area altogether which means all the other lands will be that much more packed.

Personally I'll pretty much do what I usually do which is:
Take advantage of EMH
Get on the E ticket rides first and get most of those out of the way in the morning.
Do Disneyland in the mornings and spend more time in DCA later in the day.
Use fastpasses
Make a couple dining reservations for the week
When the crowds get to be too much take a break and have a cocktail (or 2 or 3) in the Carthay lounge
Wind down & see a show later the afternoon like Aladdin... oh, nevermind.

 

[figment_jii]

I didn’t see it on the specific date on the Disney website but several 3rd party sites, including wdinfo stated that Goofy’s Kitchen will be closed until 2/9.

They're probably getting the Feb 9th date from this Parks Blog post which indicated that the PCH Grill will be having characters at dinner time while Goofy's is closed.
http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/bl...-to-pch-grill-at-disneys-paradise-pier-hotel/

I think during the closure of splash mountain (really Disney, over both President's day weekends?) is going to make a big difference as well.

I don't know that closure of Splash Mountain or Grizzly River Rapids in the winter time really have that big of an impact on the overall crowd levels in the park. They are both "thrill" rides, but the line length drops pretty noticeably during the colder/wetter months of the year. Now if there is an unseasonably hot February, you might see long lines on Splash, but if it's a more typical February, I don't think Splash is all that high on most guests to do lists. I think that's why both of the water attractions usually go down during the winter months at some point for their annual refurbishments.

Bonus refurbishments!
1/25-2/4 - It’s a small world holiday

If it makes you feel any better, IaSW always goes down at at some point in late-January/early-February to have the holiday overlay removed. They usually wait for Haunted Mansion to come back up (after the removal of the HMH overlay) and then they close IaSW.

 

[sherilaine]

The notice posted to the DLH's website states that you can use either of the other 2 hotel pools during their renovations.

The topic of all of these closures has been covered to a great degree on these boards since I return to plan my next trip. I get that people are disappointed but honestly refurbishments are very much a part of this place. I also get that it's getting busier all the time so honestly the only thing anyone can do is make the most of it because when someone is popular and in high demand, then it can pretty much do whatever it wants regardless of what people may think. I am sure you will have fun no matter what.

 

[Gisele]

"Bonus refurbishments!"

Too funny man! Lol

 

[MrDisneyFan]

The notice posted to the DLH's website states that you can use either of the other 2 hotel pools during their renovations.

The topic of all of these closures has been covered to a great degree on these boards since I return to plan my next trip. I get that people are disappointed but honestly refurbishments are very much a part of this place. I also get that it's getting busier all the time so honestly the only thing anyone can do is make the most of it because when someone is popular and in high demand, then it can pretty much do whatever it wants regardless of what people may think. I am sure you will have fun no matter what.

Oh I understand the refurb requirements and it is just part of the park. Hopefully my post came across as somewhat tongue and cheek It wasn't meant to be that serious A little whining accompanied with some hopefully helpful info for others I always have a great time at Disneyland.

I see you're in Calgary, my DW and I are from Edmonton (go Oilers!). We've been living in Cali for 16 years and love it!