Why do some rides improve and others get worse?

[bayareadisneyland]

Just back! I've been to Disneyland over 30 times starting in 1984- today.

It occurred to me that there are so many features on some of the rides that I miss. I'm not sure if I am imagining this but some rides seems like they are in much better shape than others. Like LOVED the new ROR, Incredicoaster. Little Mermaid, Monsters, GOG, Tiki room, BTMRR, Hyperspace Mountain, TSMM, Matterhorn all looked in great shape. LOVED the new Snow White. But some rides were really bad. Some examples:

1. Splash Mountain. This seems to be the WORST downgrade. It seems like simple light bulbs are missing? It was not that dark before? I couldn't hear brer fox at all? What happened to the dialog- couldn't hear "there's nothing in here but bees"? It seems like audio would be a simple fix? Also major things like the Brer Rabbit stuck in the honey was completely missing, Brer Rabbit on the trolley was stationary. Maybe they are phoning it in bc of the upcoming makeover?

2. Indiana Jones- the door doesn't shift anymore, ball doesn't move. We were actually sitting under Indy on the rope for a few minutes just starting at the ball. What happened hear?

3. Soarin- I never noticed the "grid" on the screen before? Maybe I just noticed for the first time.

4. RSR- many characters were stationary that used to move. THat seems like it is more complex to fix, but still would like to see brought back.

What feature do you miss that has been downgraded/ removed from the ride originally?

PS. $8.95 for Smart Water is outrageous. They need more water filling stations.

 

[dina444444]

Indy did away with the shifting door years ago. It kept breaking and is too costly to maintain. They replaced it with the projections to depict each room.

The ball does usually work but I believe it broke again recently.

 

[James33]

The grid for Soaring is pretty noticeable if you lined up on the left side, but unnoticeable for the screen on the right side.

RSR must have broken again because almost everything was working when they first reopened after the recent closure.

 

[gelatoni fan]

Hyperspace Mountain and Midway Mania are very inconsistent right now. Sound often cuts and sometimes screens don't work. Matterhorn is definitely not in great shape. Look to the sides and there's loads of paint chipping and often times, random trash and items. Rise of the Resistance is often shortened or has things not working but you may not notice if you haven't ridden it enough times. I actually don't think Splash Mountain is that bad in terms of things being broken. It's certainly less obvious than Racers.

Disneyland is just really bad at maintenance and upgrades. Pretty much any ride with a counterpart in Tokyo looks way better in Tokyo. Soarin looks like garbage in DCA when compared to the version in Tokyo. The higher definition screens on Toy Story Mania in Tokyo are probably not noticeable to someone who doesn't visit both parks frequently but Tokyo has the water effects that if I recall correctly, broke in DCA years ago. Hyperspace Mountain is better in Hong Kong and the stars in regular Space Mountain in California are visually very bland compared to Space Mountain in Tokyo.

 

[lalasmama]

Disneyland is just really bad at maintenance and upgrades. Pretty much any ride with a counterpart in Tokyo looks way better in Tokyo. Soarin looks like garbage in DCA when compared to the version in Tokyo. The higher definition screens on Toy Story Mania in Tokyo are probably not noticeable to someone who doesn't visit both parks frequently but Tokyo has the water effects that if I recall correctly, broke in DCA years ago. Hyperspace Mountain is better in Hong Kong and the stars in regular Space Mountain in California are visually very bland compared to Space Mountain in Tokyo.

However, Tokyo isn't owned by Disney, so it's hard to use that as a comparison regarding mantainence and upkeep. Oriental Land Co has standards/expectations much more in line with old school park management.

Edited to add: Completely agree that this are in disrepair!

 

[DodgerGirl]

When it comes to improving rides and giving them a whole new update Disneyland has always tried their to maintain rides and improving them to give them better quality and it's not just the rides that get maintained and updated it's also the shows that updated and maintained too. Take for example I don't know why the Hyperion Theater in DCA never has improved it's sound systems because when they had the Aladdin musical I noticed once that the show was having technical problems during the beginning of the show but then it was quickly fixed and the show went on with no other problems. But when Frozen Live debuted they should've updated the sound systems for their new shows. But I can't figure out why Fantasmic or any other show has to be so LOUD and what I think Disneyland needs to do is lower their show's volume a little because to me when you watch a show you should be able to talk quietly to your friends but loud sound effects make it hard to hear your friends conversations during the shows. In rides the only ride I noticed that has had problems in Disneyland is Space Mountain and when my dad and I rode it once the whole ride was about to begin and it moved very very slowly until it stopped and an announcement was repeated several times over and over to "please see a host or hostess for help" and we got off the ride and we learned that Space Mountain was closed due to technical difficulties and it shocked me that Disneyland would do this to people who were wanting to ride Space Mountain. But another ride that is in need of serious updating is Alice In Wonderland and a neat fabulous update would do the trick because Alice In Wonderland is sometimes known for having problems that close it sometimes and if Alice In Wonderland was updated it would be improved and have less problems

 

[MillauFr]

I'm just glad the rides in California are far superior to their counterparts in Florida. Once you ride Dinosaur you will never be upset half of the stuff on Jones doesn't work.

 

[bardays]

I recall some dripping soda? on the Soarin Screen last time I was there. In Vancouver, BC, we have the Fly Over Canada ride and it is way better than Soarin at DCA. Same concept, but slicker and better done.
I will add that Small World needs a good dusting too! I was distracted by all the dust in April!

 

[MillauFr]

I will add that Small World needs a good dusting too! I was distracted by all the dust in April!

Yes Small World is dusty but they need to clean the Haunted Mansion first. Cobwebs in there everywhere.

 

[FeistyDisneyMom]

Yes Small World is dusty but they need to clean the Haunted Mansion first. Cobwebs in there everywhere.

Adds to the ambiance

 

[Smugpugmug]

Reading this thread makes me very disappointed and sad overall. I'm one of those people that thinks Disneyland is better than WDW despite being from the east coast but it's unfortunate that the rides are not being given proper maintenance and support that they need. It's not any better in Orlando tbh. Splash is in severe need of a refurb that it won't get due to the retheme but SO many animatronics and effects straight up don't work/are missing. On my last trip in May a noticeable chunk of animatronics and effects in Dinosaur were not working either.

I do have to agree with gelatoni fan about TDL though. Their versions of Indiana Jones and Splash in particular make the US versions look straight up embarrassing. OLC does a fantastic job at upkeeping the attractions and I wish Disney would do the same in DL and WDW.

 

[jrsharp21]

I just got back from DLR a few days ago, and I must say the state of Indiana Jones was saddening. I have been riding that ride since it opened, so I have seen how all the original effects worked, any additional effects, and what is now working now. The bamboo pole that you can pull on to trigger the I know the rotating entrance no longer works and you go through the center door always now. But I do appreciate the different visual effects for what "you are seeking". The visual effects in the next room were not working. No projections on Mara's face. I noticed that some of the air effects in the dart room were not working. The big snake no longer dives at the ride vehicle. There is no longer the roaring sound of the projected demon when you get behind the big skull. The projections of the rats falling is not working. So that room is nothing but one big dark room. And of course, the boulder is not working. I am sure I am missing some other things that weren't working.

We had a first timer with us in our visit who is a big Indiana Jones movie fan. He really liked the ride. But I had to tell him of all the stuff that is not working. Hopefully there is a big refurbishment in the future for this ride.

 

[dina444444]

I just got back from DLR a few days ago, and I must say the state of Indiana Jones was saddening. I have been riding that ride since it opened, so I have seen how all the original effects worked, any additional effects, and what is now working now. The bamboo pole that you can pull on to trigger the I know the rotating entrance no longer works and you go through the center door always now. But I do appreciate the different visual effects for what "you are seeking". The visual effects in the next room were not working. No projections on Mara's face. I noticed that some of the air effects in the dart room were not working. The big snake no longer dives at the ride vehicle. There is no longer the roaring sound of the projected demon when you get behind the big skull. The projections of the rats falling is not working. So that room is nothing but one big dark room. And of course, the boulder is not working. I am sure I am missing some other things that weren't working.

We had a first timer with us in our visit who is a big Indiana Jones movie fan. He really liked the ride. But I had to tell him of all the stuff that is not working. Hopefully there is a big refurbishment in the future for this ride.

I road Saturday and the projections on Mara were working then, but the rats were not and the ball drop scene was having sound issues.

 

[whoever]

DLR is supposedly only 60% staffed. I suspect they just cannot get things fixed every night given the staff they have.