WDW uses Splash Mountain 'refurb' to save $$$

[TheBacklot]

While reading the latest MiceAge Disneyland update regarding the closure of Finding Nemo, there was this entry:

"WDW management is most infamous for doing this with Splash Mountain at the Magic Kingdom Park. For years now, like clockwork, Splash Mountain closes for January and February. Some years the ride remains untouched during the closure, and some years the ride sits untouched for only a month before they go in and spend the last few weeks painting a bit and doing some actual maintenance. But the annual eight to ten week closure during the winter is simply a ruse and a way to save a nice chunk of operating labor on a water ride during the coldest and slowest time of the year."

Mind you take it with a grain of salt, but it saddens me because this is when I go every other year, so I can't ride it at times, but from a financial standpoint of an accountant, I can see it making a little sense.

Your thoughts?

 

[Loopner]

First reaction - that just sucks. This is our second January trip and 2nd time it'll be closed. It's my favorite ride in all 4 parks. Second reaction is that this is very interesting and makes you think! "Things that make you go hmm".

 

[TeamSy]

We haven't been on Splash in YEARS since it's always closed when we go (we typically go in January). Sucks.

 

[ariel326]

I was under the impression that according to FL law, the amount of water that Splash Mountain turns over makes it a pool. And by being a pool it has to be drained, cleaned and refurbed every year, all of which takes time.

Could be wrong though.

 

[TheBacklot]

I was under the impression that according to FL law, the amount of water that Splash Mountain turns over makes it a pool. And by being a pool it has to be drained, cleaned and refurbed every year, all of which takes time.

Could be wrong though.

So...what's Sea World do? lol

 

[ariel326]

So...what's Sea World do? lol

Is Sea World A pool though? Do people acutally swim in it? I thought the animals did but not people. Wouldn't know, haven't been to SeaWorld in 20+ years.

Like I said, it is just something I heard via the web. ANd you know they can't put anything on the web that isn't true.

 

[cigar95]

When it comes to WDW, Al Lutz is admittedly a bit of a cynic. He's a DL guy.

And unless, things have changed, he's almost never at WDW. I would take his cynicism toward WDW with a grain of salt, although this doesn't automatically mean he's wrong. (I like the guy, but he has a blind spot.)

 

[DRDISNEYMD]

While reading the latest MiceAge Disneyland update regarding the closure of Finding Nemo, there was this entry:

"WDW management is most infamous for doing this with Splash Mountain at the Magic Kingdom Park. For years now, like clockwork, Splash Mountain closes for January and February. Some years the ride remains untouched during the closure, and some years the ride sits untouched for only a month before they go in and spend the last few weeks painting a bit and doing some actual maintenance. But the annual eight to ten week closure during the winter is simply a ruse and a way to save a nice chunk of operating labor on a water ride during the coldest and slowest time of the year."

Mind you take it with a grain of salt, but it saddens me because this is when I go every other year, so I can't ride it at times, but from a financial standpoint of an accountant, I can see it making a little sense.

Your thoughts?

~I can believe it. I remember the 9 month long refurb for Space Mountain! I swear, the ride was a million times smoother before the "refurb." And, Splash Mountain always looks like it needs work to me. With that said, I give Disney the benefit of the doubt -- but it would not surprise me one bit! I think Disney may have done this in the past with the Monorail, too.

 

[Brian Noble]

When it comes to WDW, Al Lutz is admittedly a bit of a cynic. He's a DL guy.

And unless, things have changed, he's almost never at WDW. I would take his cynicism toward WDW with a grain of salt, although this doesn't automatically mean he's wrong. (I like the guy, but he has a blind spot.)

This. He's really well-sourced at DLR. Not so much at WDW. That doesn't necessarily mean he's wrong in this particular instance, but...salt is appropriate.

 

[Robo]

 

[doctornick]

It's Miceage. Saying something negative about WDW is what they do.

 

[ArwenMarie]

I believe it.

 

[Planogirl]

I believe it too and think that it's brilliant. I imagine that they do refurbish at least a bit and why not keep it closed longer? It stinks for people there at that time though.

 

[siskaren]

Then why don't they do the same with Kali River Rapids?

 

[Mrbruin2k]

At WDW now and they already have a huge scaffolding built on the drop of Splash and it was open until midnight on Sunday, so they got that scaffolding up pretty quickly.

 

[KCmike]

Last time I checked WDW (Disney) is in the money game. It wouldn't surprise me if they saved some resources and put a refurb tag on it.

 

[MyTwoPrincesses]

Except what about Kali? If you want to save resources, nobody wants to ride Kali unless it's hot because you get soaked on that ride most of the time. Splash has a lot of complicated animatronics that need a lot of fixing. I don't know - I doubt that they close it to save money. I mean, this year, Splash is closed into spring break season - hardly a wise "money saving" move.

 

[Polydweller]

Mice age is not an accurate source for WDW and in this case is dead wrong on several points.

1. The only year it didn't close for at least 1 month recently was 2 years ago when BTMRR was done. Otherwise it's annually.

2. When it didn't have its annual rehab, well just look at all the threads of how it deteriorated. This attraction needs upkeep every year.

3. This year it's down longer than usual because it's last refurb left many things from last year incomplete.

Those of you saying you believe it, read the number of threads of the disrepair over the years and you will learn how much maintenance it needs and realize this isn't about cost saving. As far as Micechat he says lots of things about WDW that aren't accurate but sound plausible. Plausible is not the same as rascal. When it comes to WDW Micechat is at best unreliable.

 

[BlueStarryHat]

When we were there in December 2013, we noticed that Splash was in need of some major TLC. It was up, down, up, down all week because of various issues, and when we finally got to ride we (like several other people that week) got stuck at the top of the first hill for twenty minutes. At the very least, they need to replace the leather or whatever it is padding. It was ripped and stinky, so much so that we had to wash our hands up to our elbows when we finally got off the ride to get rid of the funk that it left.

 

[KCmike]

What doesn't make sense though is that it can be down annually for a month or more and it comes out of the refurb still not working?