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

[Karlzmom]

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.

unless, of course, you are an AP holder [and I'm not talking the "cheap" one"].

While I certainly understand the position of posters who claim the closures don't affect them b/c they don't ride X, Y or Z...I think the statement is predicated on faulty logic. Whether or not you ride the Matterhorn, someone did who will now be standing in line at one of the still open attractions rather than in line at the Matterhorn, that served to shorten the line where you were. Now replicate multiple times....less attractions available = more demand on the remaining options = longer lines for everyone.

I know that there are some DL cheerleaders who will claim that DL can do no wrong, and the any complaint is the guest's problem. For my money, I'm a bit disappointed this year. We went with DL APs rather than springing for another trip to the World, and I've been shocked at the closed attractions, construction everywhere you turn at DCA and just the general crush of people anytime you go. Do we still go?...yes. Do we find it as magical as either our visits in years past or as the World? No. Don't even ask me about my thoughts on "value"......

 

[DLR29]

unless, of course, you are an AP holder [and I'm not talking the "cheap" one"].

While I certainly understand the position of posters who claim the closures don't affect them b/c they don't ride X, Y or Z...I think the statement is predicated on faulty logic. Whether or not you ride the Matterhorn, someone did who will now be standing in line at one of the still open attractions rather than in line at the Matterhorn, that served to shorten the line where you were. Now replicate multiple times....less attractions available = more demand on the remaining options = longer lines for everyone.

I know that there are some DL cheerleaders who will claim that DL can do no wrong, and the any complaint is the guest's problem. For my money, I'm a bit disappointed this year. We went with DL APs rather than springing for another trip to the World, and I've been shocked at the closed attractions, construction everywhere you turn at DCA and just the general crush of people anytime you go. Do we still go?...yes. Do we find it as magical as either our visits in years past or as the World? No. Don't even ask me about my thoughts on "value"......

However, as an AP holder you have the benefit of coming for a whole 12 months, or at least certain days for a span of a whole year. Therefore, even if a ride is closed on one trip, you should be able to see it on another trip because you can. There hasn't been a ride that's been closed for a whole year since It's a Small World a couple years ago (and I'm not sure that many people were complaining! jk ).

I don't understand any better option than to close attractions for the lesser crowded parts of the year. These rides are operating like 10-18 hours every day. They have to go down for refurbishment at some time for safety and practical purposes. There's no better time to close them down. If you close down the major rides during busy summer season or Christmas season, that makes no sense because:
a) You will have more people complaining that their favorite ride was closed
b) They need the capacity of that attraction more during busier seasons

I'm sorry if you are disappointed with closures, but I do believe it is one of those unavoidable drawbacks to going during a less crowded time.

 

[HydroGuy]

unless, of course, you are an AP holder [and I'm not talking the "cheap" one"].

While I certainly understand the position of posters who claim the closures don't affect them b/c they don't ride X, Y or Z...I think the statement is predicated on faulty logic. Whether or not you ride the Matterhorn, someone did who will now be standing in line at one of the still open attractions rather than in line at the Matterhorn, that served to shorten the line where you were. Now replicate multiple times....less attractions available = more demand on the remaining options = longer lines for everyone.

I know that there are some DL cheerleaders who will claim that DL can do no wrong, and the any complaint is the guest's problem. For my money, I'm a bit disappointed this year. We went with DL APs rather than springing for another trip to the World, and I've been shocked at the closed attractions, construction everywhere you turn at DCA and just the general crush of people anytime you go. Do we still go?...yes. Do we find it as magical as either our visits in years past or as the World? No. Don't even ask me about my thoughts on "value"......

For the short term your thoughts are understandable.

However, in the bigger picture DLR is doing something unprecedented. They are refurbing an entire park. The entire DCA park was built for about $700 million in 2001. Now Disney is pouring $1 to1.2 billion into it to "fix" it. Attendance has run way below expectations because some long gone misguided and ignorant executives (Pressler and Harriss) thought they could build a cheap theme park and slap Disney's name on it and people would just come. Instead they stayed in away in droves.

Now the right people are again in charge, including John Lasseter but others with deep Disney roots.

After 2012 DCA attendance will go up. For the last 10 years it has been nice for us guests to talk about the modest DCA attendance. What are we going to do after 2012? Complain about the crowds? That is a sign of success. That is a sign of demand. And it gets Disney's attention.

That is why DL attendance may have caught up or surpassed MK for 2009. That is why DL is looking seriously to add more E-ticket headliners (yes, that is plural). Already DL has more headliners than any Disney park and they are going to add more to suck up all the people who are coming.

Your complaints are the very reason so many good things are happening at DLR right now and why we can look forward to so many new things. Frustrating in the short term but wonderful for the long term.

And BTW if you look at prior years the number of attractions down right now is about the same as previous years. DLR29 is quite correct. It is now off-season. That is the right time to do refurbs. And most of the down attractions are not high demand.

 

[vellamint]

March 12

Awwwww!!!!!!! That stinks for me

 

[californiamomof4grls]

Our family chooses to go off season between March and May. The "sales" are during this time. Although there are some rides down and let me tell you Peter Pan is my favorite and it was down last year when our family went. I think that it's really a small price to pay. I know that it's not the last year that I am going when I do go. I know that even if it seems crowded it really isn't that busy. I don't have fight to get food. If I go at the best time then the weather is perfect! So then it's not too hot my kids aren't that cranky. It's better for me and it's better for all of the DL cast members because they don't have to hear my screaming 3 year old! LOL!
I think you have to take this at face value. The work has to be done. It's a great thing that take this kind of care of the rides and the park. It means were safe while we are there too. And that is important! I want to know that my kids are safe when they go on a ride and DL taking such care and attention to their parks means that they are. It's all about perspective!

 

[Karlzmom]

However, as an AP holder you have the benefit of coming for a whole 12 months, or at least certain days for a span of a whole year. Therefore, even if a ride is closed on one trip, you should be able to see it on another trip because you can. There hasn't been a ride that's been closed for a whole year since It's a Small World a couple years ago (and I'm not sure that many people were complaining! jk ).

sure, I *can* go anytime, but I choose to try to go as often as I can in the *off* season to avoid insane lines. My problem is not so much that any particular ride is down, more the cumulative effect of having so many down at once.

I don't understand any better option than to close attractions for the lesser crowded parts of the year. These rides are operating like 10-18 hours every day. They have to go down for refurbishment at some time for safety and practical purposes. There's no better time to close them down. If you close down the major rides during busy summer season or Christmas season, that makes no sense because:
a) You will have more people complaining that their favorite ride was closed
b) They need the capacity of that attraction more during busier seasons

I'm sorry if you are disappointed with closures, but I do believe it is one of those unavoidable drawbacks to going during a less crowded time.

true, maintenance must be done, and there is no *good* time to do it. there seem to be multiple threads about the cumulative effect of the wildly sucessful AP programs, so this year seems to be a collision of upped demand with down capacity, so the "less crowded" becomes artificially crowded.....

 

[La2kw]

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??

WDW closes rides all year long, which spreads them out more. They have no qualms about closing major rides during peak season, such as Space Mountain last summer, or Haunted Mansion a few years ago. It wasn't always that way at WDW, but current management sees things differently than Disneyland's management. Disneyland usually has all their rides open during peak season, which I prefer. That means, that the off season is when the refurbs take place.