What in the world are they thinking / doing?

[jayandstacey]

construction prices are at a nice low so maybe they're taking advantage of contracting out the work? who knows?

That makes sense too. Strong companies take advantage of these precise situations: Where things are generally cheaper (labor, raw materials) yet the medium-term future looks brighter - invest now and get the payoff vs. other companies not strong enough, or too chicken, to take advantge of the same opportunity.

Kind of like United put out a reverse auction to Boeing and Airbus to buy 150 new jet airplanes. That's a GIGANTIC investment, even over time, but takes advantage of the fact that both Boeing and Airbus are seeking customers now. So UAL will lock down good new plane prices, better than their competition, for many years to come.

 

[cinderella73]

All really valid points. I wish there was a way of knowing. It has me curious.

And I agree to some the tents are not so bad or rather as bad as it could be . But to me I love to see the old facades that bring back so many memories and would have been not to happy had I been in the parks at this time. It might not look bad but it does take away from things a lot. It makes WDW look like a cheap amusement park to me.

On the upside I wont be there for a few months so refurb away. So long as they plan on being done with it all soon I will be a happy camper.

 

[Traveliz]

All really valid points. I wish there was a way of knowing. It has me curious.

And I agree to some the tents are not so bad or rather as bad as it could be . But to me I love to see the old facades that bring back so many memories and would have been not to happy had I been in the parks at this time. It might not look bad but it does take away from things a lot. It makes WDW look like a cheap amusement park to me.

On the upside I wont be there for a few months so refurb away. So long as they plan on being done with it all soon I will be a happy camper.

By then there will be a whole new slew of rehabs - seriously in a place the size of Disney something is always under construction.

Liz

 

[Lynn5700]

When we were there I did not even notice the penny arcade shop tarp lol. I found out it was under refurb when our tour guide on the KTTK tour pointed it out lol.

 

[DisneyFanatic]

Yesterday I was checking another Disney site (I don't remember which one) and they were guessing that some of the refurbs could be an early preparation for MK's 40th anniversary in 2011.

 

[Robo]

Dont miss the bubble machine on a trash can pic! lol I know they are tightening the budget but thats not to bright... I just see that thing falling.

The bubble thing is weird.

The bubbles in the Hub are GREAT fun!

Those are standard "stage show" bubble machines that put out a L-O-T of
bubbles very fast. Seen HERE.

They are small (12" x 7") and very light weight (made of plastic.)
If one did fall, it wouldn't amount to anything.

They just bring the machines out for a short time in the morning, then put them away.

 

[OB1]

OK... that's hideous! I wonder how long this will all go on for... ... I've never seen that much external refurb being done at once...

We were there mid May. I do not have a single photo of Mainstreet because of all the construction tarps. We were surprised, but thought the construction would be completed by the summer. I am now really surprised that it has continued for so long during prime season.

 

[huntconn]

Nice try with the painted tarps and all but it still looks pretty crappy. Just too many things at one time. IASW looks especially awful. We'll be there soon and see how things have progressed. Hopefully some of this work wraps up soon.

 

[RabFlmom]

Nice try with the painted tarps and all but it still looks pretty crappy. Just too many things at one time. IASW looks especially awful. We'll be there soon and see how things have progressed. Hopefully some of this work wraps up soon.

I am glad to see that they are finally working on the MK. It has been sort of run down looking for years. Getting ready to look great for the 40th celebration is my bet. As for why now-during summer? If they refurb the outside of all the buildings, it is going to take a long time, but it will be beautiful like it was in 1972 when I first walked down Main Street.
There really isn't a real off season now. You also can't do that kind of work during the major hurricane season because you never know how many summers are going to be like 2004 where we prepared for a hurricane almost every weekend through October. Can't put up new stucco and paint under those conditions.

As for us we will be there this week tarps or not. Get to see the parks through my niece's eyes and that will make it magical again.

 

[Experiment_626]

Some people complain when Disney does this, but they also complain when it isn't done. Disney can't win. But that they know that after the work is done, people will be happy with the results -- except for those who will find something else about which to gripe (some people are just contrarians).

This is similar to the "Not in my back yard!" phenomenon. People want/need services like landfills and cell phone towers -- just put them someplace else! In this case, people want the parks to look spiffy and fresh -- just do it some other time of the year. "Not on my vacation!" they might say.

SSB

 

[perkinsrose]

Exactly. It kind of looks like kids tents . They did try to blend them in but... meh

Ok I read the rules. I think it ok. Here ya go.

http://www.wdwnewstoday.com/archives/3784

Dont miss the bubble machine on a trash can pic! lol I know they are tightening the budget but thats not to bright... I just see that thing falling.

Yikes! I'd be disappointed if I was there and surprised with all that...

We travel off-season Jan/Feb and usually only deal with one or two closures that affect our family.

 

[thehowiet]

I understand these are all things that Disney needs to do, but if they did a better job spreading things out and staggering the work you wouldn't have so many things covered in tarps all at once. I agree, it definitely does take away from the experience when so much is being done at once. I am also surprised this is going on during such a busy time of the year. I will be there for seven nights starting this Saturday, so I'm crossing my fingers that they finish at least some of the work in the next couple of days.

 

[JoliBug]

Could they be doing so many facade refurbs due to storm damage or something? I know there were several severe storms that rolled through Florida this spring, could it have made some of the rundown buildings look even worse?

I do think it is cool looking that they are using printed tarps. They aren't as Disney picture perfect, mut much better than gray or blue tarps would have been.

 

[Colleen27]

construction prices are at a nice low so maybe they're taking advantage of contracting out the work? who knows?

That was my first thought. If you want a great deal on any sort of construction/repair, now's the time, and I'm sure Disney is shrewd enough to take that into account when planning work. And with some modest signs of improvement starting to pop up here and there, they may very well want to get as much done as possible before the cost of construction begins to rise again.

 

[JasonDVC]

...It looks terrible!!! I can understand a few things but there is a TON of stuff covered up by ugly old tarps.

They usually do the refurbs during slow times and even then not everything at one time. Its really really odd to me.

Anyone wanna guess what they are thinking?

I want to guess what are you thinking???

They have to do refurbs at some point. Buildings and rides do not stay in perfect condition forever (even in Disney World).

Would you prefer that guests see the people working and the mess they make just so you don't have to look at tarps?

Or, would you prefer they completely shut down any park that has any refurb going on so that noone can come in and see the tarps?

Besides, the tarps with the building designs on them are much better to look at than some ugly blue or grey tarp would be.

In the words of Rosevelt Colvin..."Calm Down"

 

[zackiedawg]

Well I don't know if it's because I'm not as picky or easily perturbed, or because I am just oblivious and emotionally repressed and should have felt much more disappointed and angry about this...but the fact is, I didn't think it took anything at all away from my time at MK a few weeks ago.

I can't explain it to those who haven't been there, and to those who have and are much more sensitive to issues I consider to be pretty trivial, I can't convince them otherwise...but in person it just isn't as bad as it's being made out to be. Again, to ME.

I noticed, or registered, maybe 3 of the tarps/refurb areas after spending the whole day in MK. I was aware that Space Mountain was closed, and it wasn't 'tarped', but TTA was boxed in. That was not unexpected. I did notice Hall of Champions' tarp on Main Street - but thought it was cute how they blended it in with the images of the building on the tarp. And I remember Ye Olde Christmas Shop being walled and tarped, again with building images. They didn't really bother me. I spent a lot of time in Frontierland and Adventureland, and didn't even notice Diamond Horseshoe or the roof tarp...I guess I don't give much look at Diamond Hoseshoe anyway. The area being refurbed around Pirates escaped my attention too - I guess because while passing through that area, most of my attention tends to be facing towards Pirates and the Caribbean Plaza. It just didn't register at all. I had lunch at Pirata Y El Perico, and everything looked fine from there. Tom Sawyer Island looked normal, Big Thunder and Splash Mountain looked normal. I didn't notice the train station, but then I didn't go there this time. Haunted Mansion and the Liberty Square area looked fine, with the exception of the Hall of Presidents tarp, which I didn't include with the others since that was also known and expected with the Presidential change. Admittedly, I didn't go through Fantasyland from the Columbia House underpass side, therefore never walked past Small World or Pinnochio Haus...I went through the Tomorrowland side, and then past Snow White & Dumbo to the castle...nothing looked out of place there.

Much will depend on the following factors:

How sensitive a person you are
Which sections of the park you spend the most time
How much your trip was dependent on a particular attraction or building
How rare or infrequent your trip is

If you need everything to be perfect - you'll be disappointed. If you spend a majority of your time in Fantasyland and Main Street - you may find it looks worse. If you absolutely make your trip just to go on one of the rides or see one of the buildings that is tarped - it will hurt your trip. If you're going to Disney for the first time in a decade, and may not get back anytime soon - the tarps definitely take from the experience.

I'm lucky in that I'm not sensitive, spend a majority of my time in Adventureland and Frontierland, don't really go to the park for any particular ride or attraction (I've actually spent the day in MK without riding a ride), and I go up there extremely frequently so I'm used to seeing refurbs and know I'll be there again in just a few months.

 

[cmurray234]

Some people complain when Disney does this, but they also complain when it isn't done. Disney can't win. But that they know that after the work is done, people will be happy with the results -- except for those who will find something else about which to gripe (some people are just contrarians).

This is similar to the "Not in my back yard!" phenomenon. People want/need services like landfills and cell phone towers -- just put them someplace else! In this case, people want the parks to look spiffy and fresh -- just do it some other time of the year. "Not on my vacation!" they might say.

SSB

I agree. I'd be a lot more disappointed if the maintenance wasn't done at all. Besides that, in true Disney style, they've made those tarps look as good as possible.

 

[dobtia]

I will throw my 2 cents in with the it was not that bad crowd. Disney is taking advantage of the times to get some stuff done. Unlike other places they put some thought into how they cover up construction areas. We have been five time now. It was not that bad, or that big of a deal.

My brother, making his first trip, mentioned how much effort Disney put into keeping that feel while doing construction.

 

[W.E.D.]

I agree. I'd be a lot more disappointed if the maintenance wasn't done at all. Besides that, in true Disney style, they've made those tarps look as good as possible.

I concur. I've been there for major refurbs, with E-ticket rides shut down. If you choose to let it ruin your day, it will. I suggest not making that choice.

 

[Mary T in PA]

We leave for the world in 2 days, yea!

To be honest, I don't think it's that bad, as another poster said, the printed tarps are kinda cool.

I don't think I will mind at all..if anything, it gives me another reason to go back and see things after they are refurbed.


I'm going to Disney world!!!

Mary