Why does DL have to close SO many rides during off-season???

[doclegler]

I have to admit, with only a few weeks until we leave for our first trip to DLR, I'm a bit annoyed with all the closures. Yes, I know its the "offseason" and I expect a few things to be down, but every time I look at the calendar, more rides are closed. We are now up to 7 at DL! WDW (all parks) during the same time period, will close 2 rides. For the price that we are paying for those tickets, you'd think the could work out something better. Fastpass availability would also really make a huge difference! And why is it that fireworks are only done on the weekends?
I'm hoping we aren't wasting a few thousand dollars on a weekend that would be better spent at home. Its very frustrating. Am I putting my expectation too high for DL??

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

The majority of the current closures are because they are draining the Rivers of America. That automatically shuts down Mark Twain, Columbia, Tom Sawyer Island, Canoes, and Fantasmic!

ETA: The other closures I see in 2 weeks are Main St. Cinema (not a huge draw), Honey I shrunk the audience (switching to Capt Eo) and IASW to remove the holiday overlay.

 

[MagicalMomAZ]

IDK, b/c the ones that will be closed for us are all the River of America ones & the Matterhorn... & none of those are important to me so I'm cool w/ it.

The reason we're going in Feb (as opposed to Jan) was we wanted to get the rides we missed last time. I knew I'd always miss the same ones if I went the same month every trip. So yeah, many are closed but I'm doing what I can to get to the ones I love.

 

[blackjackdelta]

I think folks expect WDW and DLR to operate the same way and they do not. I have never been to WDW, can not get my family to go. So we do DLR during the summer so we do not have the closure problem most of the time. I can not see going somewhere when the rides/shows maybe down when I am there. I have more time than $$$.

I was told a couple of years ago that the maintenance is done at the times where it is statistically(crowd wise) the most opportune time.(Many of the maintenance folks are contracted in advance from outside companies to do the work.) If you look back at the posts over the years, the "downtime" posts always start after the 1st of the year when folks start to realize they need to look at the schedules.

Essentially, if they do not do timely maintenance when there are lower crowd expectations, the ride could suffer a breakdown during the busier times, thus causing a bigger headache.

I am not privey to what Ca. L and I regs have to do with the maintenance schedules.

Hope your $$$ and time is well spent, lets us know.

Jack

 

[Disney Dreams]

I have to admit, with only a few weeks until we leave for our first trip to DLR, I'm a bit annoyed with all the closures. Yes, I know its the "offseason" and I expect a few things to be down, but every time I look at the calendar, more rides are closed. We are now up to 7 at DL! WDW (all parks) during the same time period, will close 2 rides. For the price that we are paying for those tickets, you'd think the could work out something better. Fastpass availability would also really make a huge difference! And why is it that fireworks are only done on the weekends?
I'm hoping we aren't wasting a few thousand dollars on a weekend that would be better spent at home. Its very frustrating. Am I putting my expectation too high for DL??

First, I don't know what your expectations are for DLR, but if you are looking forward to a magical, fun, enjoyable place, I don't think you are setting them too high.

As 3Minnies1Mickey pointed out, most of the closures right now are due to the Rivers of America being drained. If you count everything affected by that as 1, there are not that many closures.

Were you planning on ridding the canoes? Mark Twain? Columbia? If not, then those don't really matter. Don't count what's closed. Count what's open. There are so many incredible things for you to enjoy on your upcoming trip.

And as for FPs, first remember they are only offered for certain attractions - not everything in the Parks. Second, if they aren't using them, it means the Park isn't crowded enough to need them. That's a good thing.

Focus on the countless things you are excited about - not the few that you aren't - and I think you will have a great time!

- Dreams

 

[HydroGuy]

I think folks expect WDW and DLR to operate the same way and they do not. I have never been to WDW, can not get my family to go. So we do DLR during the summer so we do not have the closure problem most of the time. I can not see going somewhere when the rides/shows maybe down when I am there. I have more time than $$$.

I was told a couple of years ago that the maintenance is done at the times where it is statistically(crowd wise) the most opportune time.(Many of the maintenance folks are contracted in advance from outside companies to do the work.) If you look back at the posts over the years, the "downtime" posts always start after the 1st of the year when folks start to realize they need to look at the schedules.

Essentially, if they do not do timely maintenance when there are lower crowd expectations, the ride could suffer a breakdown during the busier times, thus causing a bigger headache.

I am not privey to what Ca. L and I regs have to do with the maintenance schedules.

Hope your $$$ and time is well spent, lets us know.

Jack

Jack is spot on. I had too many visits with ride closures and since we only go to DLR every year or so I want to go when everything is up and running and all shows are showing. That usually means summer for us. But Spring Break and Thanksgiving thru New Years also are high season and offer similar advantages - and disadvantages.

Further, DLR is located in the middle of a major metro area. So they do have more restrictions than WDW which is its own city in many ways. I am not sure if DLR is even allowed to have fireworks every night. They do have wind restrictions on fireworks because it may blow smoke into other areas. This may influence the decision to reduce fireworks off-season.

I do not think the number of closures at DLR is all that unusual. It is partly affected by the ROA closure which effectively closes four attractions and one show all by itself. This is something that needs to be done every so often. When should they do it when it it is going to take 4-5 months? Jan-May is the best and least disruptive time.

For history see "Historical DLR Park Hours, Entertainment and Refurbs" - www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2291124. According to MP here is what happened last Feb/March (see http://www.mouseplanet.com/8709/Disneyland__Resort_Update#Rehabs):

Disneyland

• Walt Disney's Parade of Dreams – originally said to be dark through February 13, 2009, Disney has now announced that this parade will not return due to a repaving project on Main Street. The "Celebrate! street party" is scheduled to begin on March 27.
• "it's a small world" – closed through February 5, 2009 to remove the holiday overlay.
• Haunted Mansion – closed through February 13, 2009 to remove the holiday overlay.
• Matterhorn Bobsleds – closed February 9-12, 2009, reportedly for a brief test of the new seatbelts.
• Jungle Cruise – closed February 10-12, 2009 for a brief refurbishment.
• Pirates of the Caribbean – closes February 15, 2009 for refurbishment. [Unconfirmed]
• Jedi Training Academy – closes February 22, 2009 for refurbishment.
• Goofy's Playhouse – closes February 23, 2009 for refurbishment.
• Matterhorn Bobsleds – closed February 23-27, 2009, reportedly to install the new seatbelts.
• Matterhorn Bobsleds – closes again March 2-6, 2009, reportedly to continue installation of the new seatbelts.
• Mark Twain Riverboat – closed March 9-11, 2009

Disney's California Adventure

• Sun Wheel – closed for refurbishment and to install the new Mickey face. No reopening date has been announced, but an employee publication lists April 24, 2009 as the return date.
• Golden Dreams – closed. This attraction will eventually be replaced with the new Little Mermaid ride.
• Games of the Boardwalk – closed to install a new facade and new Disney-themed games. No reopening date has been announced, but an employee publication lists April 24, 2009 as the return date.
• King Triton's Carousel – closes March 14, 2009 for refurbishment.

Since DLR is more of a locals resort with a much higher percentage of day trippers than WDW (70% vs. 15%, if memory serves) then closures are, on the whole, not as big a deal (unless you are the one going during that time ). That is why they can afford to take HM down for 2-3 weeks in Sept to add a holiday overlay and again 2 weeks in Jan (right now, actually) to remove it. Every year. Same thing with IASW.

WDW has thought about doing this but they have a different crowd mix. Most people at WDW are coming for an annual vacation or maybe a once-in-a-lifetime vacation. They have to be more sensitive to those visitor's expectations. So they h ave never implemented the Holiday versions of HM or IASW. Interestly, another "locals resort" is Tokyo Disney and they too do a HM Holiday and IASW Holiday.

Finally, there are some people that will tell you that WDW is not nearly as well maintained as DLR. That makes DLR sparkle while WDW just merely shines.

I too hope you have an otherwise great trip.

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

For the price that we are paying for those tickets, you'd think the could work out something better.

The major ROA closure may have influenced the current ticket promotion. It's typically everyone plays for kids prices, but this year it's even cheaper than kids prices. I think that's their way of accommodating guests for the inconvenience.

 

[DonaldDaisyDani]

Unfortunetely, it's just gotta get done at some point. I know it's frustrating but I think Disney does a good job of making sure that not too many rides are down at the same time and certainly not too many big rides at one time.

 

[blackjackdelta]

First, I don't know what your expectations are for DLR, but if you are looking forward to a magical, fun, enjoyable place, I don't think you are setting them too high.

As 3Minnies1Mickey pointed out, most of the closures right now are due to the Rivers of America being drained. If you count everything affected by that as 1, there are not that many closures.

Were you planning on ridding the canoes? Mark Twain? Columbia? If not, then those don't really matter. Don't count what's closed. Count what's open. There are so many incredible things for you to enjoy on your upcoming trip.

And as for FPs, first remember they are only offered for certain attractions - not everything in the Parks. Second, if they aren't using them, it means the Park isn't crowded enough to need them. That's a good thing.

Focus on the countless things you are excited about - not the few that you aren't - and I think you will have a great time!

- Dreams

Very good point!

Jack

 

[CrazyDuck]

The 7 that will be closed in a few weeks are:

Tom Sawyer Island
Sailing Ship Columbia
Davy Crockett Explorer Canoes
Mark Twain Riverboat
Main Street Cinema
Honey, I Shrunk the Audience
Matterhorn Bobsled

The first 4 are because they are draining the river. Don't really care for those anyways because they take up too much time when the park is only open 10 hours

Main St. Cinema is not a real attraction... Haven't seen Steamboat Willie really?

HISTA sucked... good riddance

Matterhorn will be the only real "attraction" that will be down.. the rest are just sideshows!

So really we only missing out on 1!

 

[vellamint]

The 7 that will be closed in a few weeks are:

Tom Sawyer Island
Sailing Ship Columbia
Davy Crockett Explorer Canoes
Mark Twain Riverboat
Main Street Cinema
Honey, I Shrunk the Audience
Matterhorn Bobsled

The first 4 are because they are draining the river. Don't really care for those anyways because they take up too much time when the park is only open 10 hours

Main St. Cinema is not a real attraction... Haven't seen Steamboat Willie really?

HISTA sucked... good riddance

Matterhorn will be the only real "attraction" that will be down.. the rest are just sideshows!

So really we only missing out on 1!

Can anyone tell me when the Bobsleds will be back up?

 

[DLR29]

Can anyone tell me when the Bobsleds will be back up?

March 12

 

[KCmike]

Hope you are getting some weekend time when you go. Remember Dreams Come True Fireworks are back and they are the best in all Disney Parks. So you get at at least. Days at Disneyland are better than anywhere else in the world.

Good luck.

 

[SaraK]

The first 4 are because they are draining the river.

Do you know how long it usually stays closed?

 

[Quilter007]

It's not closing the rides that annoys me as much as not properly staffing the rides that are open. Lines were really long on Monday. No fastpasses for Big Thunder even though wait times were half an hour. Same with Autopia -- wait time posted was 45 minutes, but looked like an hour over there. Was better later in the week, but they really should have opened up all the fastpasses on Monday. They weren't running all the trains, etc. We'll be back several more times this year, so no big deal for us, but if it was the, "trip of a lifetime" I would be disappointed if I had gotten there last Monday or Tuesday. By Wednesday I would have been too mad to notice that the crowds had gone back to work & school.

 

[pumpkin5156]

It's not closing the rides that annoys me as much as not properly staffing the rides that are open. Lines were really long on Monday. No fastpasses for Big Thunder even though wait times were half an hour. Same with Autopia -- wait time posted was 45 minutes, but looked like an hour over there. Was better later in the week, but they really should have opened up all the fastpasses on Monday. They weren't running all the trains, etc. We'll be back several more times this year, so no big deal for us, but if it was the, "trip of a lifetime" I would be disappointed if I had gotten there last Monday or Tuesday. By Wednesday I would have been too mad to notice that the crowds had gone back to work & school.

We went Wednesday and experienced the same thing. Nemo said 20 minutes when we got in line. 40 minutes later we boarded one of the 3 subs they had running. It was a bummer.
Peter Pan was 45 minutes all day. We went early and waited 20 minutes first thing. Matterhorn was longer than I've seen it in a while, but they only had one side open! Yikes! Space Mountain was a steady 45 minutes all day, too.
I don't think DL was ready for that many people.

 

[Jollean]

Those closures for the most part are minor. And quite honestly there is just SO MUCH to take in and enjoy that you will not be left without lots to do. I am confident you won't regret your trip.

 

[DLR29]

It's not closing the rides that annoys me as much as not properly staffing the rides that are open. Lines were really long on Monday. No fastpasses for Big Thunder even though wait times were half an hour. Same with Autopia -- wait time posted was 45 minutes, but looked like an hour over there. Was better later in the week, but they really should have opened up all the fastpasses on Monday. They weren't running all the trains, etc. We'll be back several more times this year, so no big deal for us, but if it was the, "trip of a lifetime" I would be disappointed if I had gotten there last Monday or Tuesday. By Wednesday I would have been too mad to notice that the crowds had gone back to work & school.

The problem is that Disneyland's crowd patterns have been almost unpredictable this past year. Days that have been nearly empty in the recent past have been CRAZY crowded lately, and vice versa. Disney needs extra CMs when FP is running. So since a Monday in January is usually pretty quiet, they won't have those people working and they won't be running FP. However, the problem is when that Monday in January actually is busy. Disney can't all of a sudden call more CMs to come work to run FP for attractions, and those "lesser" FP rides (BTMRR, Autopia, Buzz), might actually have decent sized lines with not FP option.

I hope that makes sense. The crowd patterns have been so strange, it's affecting a lot of things.

 

[Disney Dreams]

It's not closing the rides that annoys me as much as not properly staffing the rides that are open. Lines were really long on Monday. No fastpasses for Big Thunder even though wait times were half an hour.

This has been discussed elsewhere on these boards recently as well, but the key here is that a 30 minute wait on attractions like Big Thunder is really nothing. If there were a FP being offered for that, your time would not be much less by the time you got your pass, returned at your time, and waited maybe 10 minutes for your FP line.

As for Autopia, the llne can be deceptive because of how it forms. Also, remember, the wait times are manually updated. If there was a 45 minutes wait posted and the line very recently grew, it may not have been updated yet. Or, it may have been accurate and just appeared longer. Not having been there, clearly I can't say. :

- Dreams

 

[DisneySuiteFreak]

It's not closing the rides that annoys me as much as not properly staffing the rides that are open. Lines were really long on Monday. No fastpasses for Big Thunder even though wait times were half an hour. Same with Autopia -- wait time posted was 45 minutes, but looked like an hour over there. Was better later in the week, but they really should have opened up all the fastpasses on Monday. They weren't running all the trains, etc. We'll be back several more times this year, so no big deal for us, but if it was the, "trip of a lifetime" I would be disappointed if I had gotten there last Monday or Tuesday. By Wednesday I would have been too mad to notice that the crowds had gone back to work & school.

I agree with you. It is very annoying when you know the park is slow, the lines are long and they're running only half the cars for rides. I don't know about this being an issue with crowd size predictions. I was told a couple of years ago by someone in management that it's a perception issue. Disney wants the park to appear crowded, busy and in demand as opposed to slow and dead. If the park was fully staffed with low crowds, it would appear very slow and dead, so they intentionally understaff and run half the cars for rides than they normally would, to feed into the perception that the park is busy and an in demand kind of place to be. Very frustrating when you've flown halfway around the world during 'off season' to avoid crowds, only to find them anyway, along with ride closures...I'd rather go during busy season and ride everything I can, FP everything I can, and see all the shows I want --because barring exceptions for weather or problems with the rides -- everything is running.