What is a soft opening for a new ride?

[TenThousandVolts]

I am intersted to know since reading the Nemo ride thread.

 

[Robo]

A Grand Opening is the date that is ANNOUNCED for a new attraction to open to the public.

If the attraction is completed and ready early, Disney can simply "open" it occasionally (could be for a few hours only on a day or two... up to fully open at all times) starting days or weeks ahead of the announced date.

That early open is called a "soft opening" and is totally at the discretion of Disney as to WHEN they will start it, or how OFTEN they will do it, or IF they will do at all. There is generally no formal announcement for these.

So the best way to know about them is to keep reading the DIS.

 

[JerseyGirl114]

I'm staying at the Poly & someone (tikiman I think) said they might do a soft opening of Captain Hooks in early November. How would they handle that as opposed to a ride? Just curious as this effects our trip.

 

[hulagirl87]

I got to do the soft opening of Mickey's Philharmagic 3 years ago in September when it didn't open until October. We had no idea what was going on, just that the doors were open and it looked like fun. We didn't know that it wasn't yet open to the public, just that when we went to go back a couple days later, it was closed... I was so glad that we got to see it!

I'm not sure how it would work with a restaurant, possibly the same way, just open for a few hours to whet the appetites (so to speak) of park guests and then close the doors until it opened for real

 

[mickeyluv'r]

Sometimes the ride is just basically open before the official start date, like EE. Other times, they use the soft opening time to work out the kinks. The rides all go through safety testing before they ever let the public on, but sometimes a special effect might need retooling, or they might not have full staffing.

They also run special previews for DVC and annual passholders too. Where they only let passholders on the ride.

I imagine the restaurant will be the same. I'm speculating a little here, but I'm guessing it will be open with either a full or partial menu while the staff gets familiar with establishing the procedures for making various dishes and serving them in a timely manner. Lots of restaurants do this. If it gets too backed up, they'll stop serving temporarily.

 

[Robo]

The simplest thing to say about "soft openings" is there are NO RULES about them.

May or may not HAVE a soft opening.
May open and close rather quickly and at random in the same week or even the same day.
No annoucnements and no "listings" on maps or times guides.

In short, don't EXPECT anything... but DO take a look if you are nearby and just be HAPPY if it happens to be open for YOU.

 

[Danemom]

When we were watching empty EE cars run in January (and hoping there could be a chance for a ride) a CM came over and told us all about Everest. It was really interesting. He told us that Disney did not officially own the coaster yet (the company building it did) so no one could ride it except Disney employees. Another one of those "real life" things we don't think of at Disney!

 

[BlindTyldak]

Stitch was in soft opening when we were there in 2004. I didn't ride it, but it was open about 5 hours a day. responses from people coming out of it then were poor and I didn't bother on the CM's recommendation that was watching the queue.

*chuckles* I did kind of snap at a CM at ASMo over it though . . . I went to the front desk to ask about something else entirely and there was a photocopy of some little CM newspaper behind the desk that I could see while I was waiting, and there was a picture of Stitch very clearly and a bolded line that said "Soft Opening Times for "Stitch's Great Escape" on 10/?/04" right in the middle of it. I forget the date, but I could read that there were times listed, just not what they were. So after I asked my original question I asked the CM what times they were hoping to have Stitch in soft opening that day, and she said she didn't know. I said that I saw the times listed on a sheet, and pointed to it, but that I just couldn't read them from there if she could tell me, please. She looked me in the eye and said she didn't know. I said "then pick up the paper *point* that is sitting right there with the picture of Stitch, the name of the attraction, and the words "Soft Opening Times" in bold print, and look at it and tell me if you can, please". She said she didn't have that information.

I told her I could completely understand if she had told me that because the hours are not guaranteed it is policy not to relay them so people don't get their hopes up if that was the case, but to bold-faced lie to me when if I was a more direct person I could reach over and pick up the piece of paper and read it myself was an insult to the intelligence of the guest and that if she didn't change her tune in the next three seconds I was going to pick up the paper myself and ask for a manager to explain why if we were not supposed to know it was in plain view, and how either she was illiterate or believed that I was too thick to see what was right in front of my face. She got pretty white and said she wasn't allowed to give the times, she was not supposed to have the sheet out in front of guests, and appologized pretty humbly. More than good enough for me.

So THEY know, we're just not supposed to.

 

[Robo]

When we were watching empty EE cars run in January (and hoping there could be a chance for a ride) a CM came over and told us all about Everest. It was really interesting. He told us that Disney did not officially own the coaster yet (the company building it did) so no one could ride it except Disney employees. Another one of those "real life" things we don't think of at Disney!

I don't think so...
but it sounded like a good story to tell a guest.

There can be many reasons ("uncertified" and "uninsured" at the time, come to mind), but Disney not "owning it yet" is not very likely.

 

[KingdomHeartsFan]

If a ride has a soft opening, does this usually occur before or after DVC and AP previews?

 

[Robo]

If a ride has a soft opening, does this usually occur before or after DVC and AP previews?

After, but CM Previews are usually done first.

Again, there simply are no RULES for any of this.

 

[tinkerbell1967]

We were lucky to be at Epcot for a soft opening of Mission Space. No waiting in line or anything. It was great to ride this with no crowds standing around, etc.