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Full Admission Price vs. Attraction Closures

Posted: Jan Tue 30, 2007 3:37 pm
by jd3921fl
I don't know if there is an answer but at any one time throughout the Disney Parks, TL and BB as well, an attraction, or attractions, are closed for refurbishment. I live in FL and visit regularly so I've done nearly every attraction at least once in my life. But, I would be very disappointed and maybe even a little upset if I paid full park admission only to find Splash Mountain or Pirates closed for 4-6 weeks or even longer. Now, I know you can research it and plan around it and maybe that is the only answer. Everything needs a new coat of paint, etc. so I get that. But, for example, my brother visited EPCOT recently and tried to book a dinner reservation at the last minute at Canada but was advised they were full. The hostess stated she could get him into Mexico. He agreed. Later on that evening when they showed up, to their surprse the entire Mexican pavillion was closed except for the restaurant. The food there is not THAT tremendous and it isn't exactly cheap. Part of the lure is the atmosphere which is non existent with plywood barriers!!!

Posted: Jan Tue 30, 2007 3:46 pm
by js3901
you can get updates on what's closed for any kind of refurb (for any time frame) on the official WDW page. It's under the Caledar section. Here is a link for it:

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/ca ... istingPage

You can choose a park and month via drop down menus. It will say if the attraction/resaurant is closed. It doesn;t say if an entire pavillion is down (at Epcot for example, it doesn't say Mexico is down, but it does say El Rio del Tiempo is down).

I agree that it is frustrating and disappointing to run into a refurb while on a vacation. When we went in 2002, half the entire wdw resort was down for refurb. I had to apologize to the person I was traveling with (they had never been there before) as there was so much that was closed and so much boarded off...

Posted: Jan Tue 30, 2007 3:56 pm
by jd3921fl
Yep. Usually that info is 3 months or so in the future and not beyond. However, some folks might be planning now for a summer trip in lets say June and no activity is posted. Hey, things need to be closed to be updated etc, I'd just hate to be there at a time when I've paid $64, or whatever it cost now pp, to find out! Also, while I haven't visited Universal Studios as often, I don't recall running into the refurbishment issue there.

Posted: Jan Tue 30, 2007 4:01 pm
by js3901
yeah, but as another thread points out, with the exception of IOA, Universal is in a state of near disrepair (as far as attractions go). goes to show that at least Disney is taking care of their attractions.

As far as the updates are concerned, you can also try calling down to WDW and asking. they can pull up information on things in the future, more than the 6 or 7 months on the site. the site is good for last minute changes. for example, when I went in December, the Wonders of Life pavillion was open. 6 months out, I looked and it said the WoL was going to be "temporarily closed" between January 1 - December 31, 2006. When I looked about a week before I left, WoL was not listed there, and it was open when I went.

Posted: Jan Tue 30, 2007 4:09 pm
by jd3921fl
I guess it's been about 1 1/2 years since I've been to Universal. I just found it dull, not really in disrepair. Back To the Future, ET, Twister....very dated and just plain boring. BUt that's another post for another time I guess. 1 1/2 years is a long time especially in Theme Park age so it could of gone down hill since then.

Posted: Jan Tue 30, 2007 6:05 pm
by rdeacon
It does stink when rides and resorts close for repairs, but its a necessary evil. Since Disneyland and WDW are open 24/7 and seems to have less and less of an off season, they are bound to disappoint some one.

I go once or twice a year so if an attraction is closed its not a big deal to me since I will be back. I feel bad when people have their once in a life time trip tarnished when they arrive and find out their must ride attraction is closed.

I do keep up on the rehabs so I know what to avoid. For example we were thinking about staying at Port Orleans Riverside for my trip in March, but realized the food court was under rehab. I actually called the front desk to find out what was closed. When I heard, there is food available, and nothing else I knew to steer clear, and book at another resort. So we are suffering by staying at Wilderness Lodge :D

Rich

Posted: Jan Wed 31, 2007 8:09 am
by AKLRULZ
It's always disappointing when your favorite attraction is cloesd - but that is just a great excuse to plan a new trip, eh?!

Posted: Jan Wed 31, 2007 7:06 pm
by disneylover32
It is always sad when the rides are closed, but the last few times I have been there, all the rides were open, but the parks were all packed.

Posted: Feb Thu 01, 2007 5:08 am
by acp
That was actually one of the plus points of being there for two months. At some point, all of the rides were open :)

Now.. Next up is 6 months... Here's hoping :lol:

Andy :mickey:

Posted: Feb Thu 01, 2007 5:19 am
by js3901
well, hope you get it again. with your previous experience, I don;t see a problem with it.

if (and when) you do get it, when would you be starting, acp?

Posted: Feb Thu 22, 2007 4:52 pm
by FlatlandMounty
Its sad that things are closed, and Disney does not inform people they are closed because they don't like to put up "Negative signage" But it is listed online, it is in the Time Guides with the maps. They don't do it to half the park, its usually one or two things at a time. I know the tickets are expensive....but come on. Relax. All of my favorite rides have been paved over and rebuilt as something else not nearly as cool. Splash mountain was closed for 3 weeks. I think you can handle it (plus it was cold when they closed it)

I don't want to seem mean or anything, just sort of "Buyer Beware" Disney has set the bar for expectations extremely high. The problem is people have taken that bar and put it up higher than is humanly possible. People want to pay only for the attractions they ride and don't have to wait for, they want everything to be safe; working; clean; and open 24 hours a day 365 days a year, and people want to complain. Too many people come to Disney World with the idea that yelling and creating a scene will get you exactly what you want faster and cheaper.

(What people don't realize is that Disney keeps a record of everything they give away for free...get on the list too much and you won't be invited back)

Posted: Feb Mon 26, 2007 2:25 pm
by jd3921fl
I have lived in Florida all my life and have probably been to each of the parks more times than anyone from outside this state. I don' t think there is a ride I haven't done. My point is simply sympathy for families that save up and have to travel some distance. No, it doesn't ruin their trip and I'm sure they can still "relax" but it can be kind of a bummer. I doubt it is any consolation that it was cold when they closed Splash Mountain to some 8 year old kid from PA, CT, etc. Look, I'm not naive and not looking for some sort of a freebie as I kinda got out of your reply, sorry if I misunderstood. But yes, I do expect for the premium prices they charge from everything from admission, where after age 10 you are an adult, to $175 "Moderate" hotels that things be safe, working and clean. I understand that ALL rides, food courts, etc have to be closed to accomplish this but lets be real, the bottom line is the dollar. It bugs me when I wait 45 minutes for a ride and discover once inside the queue that only one side is operating. Letting to many people know that an "E" type ride is closed is not good for business. Maybe that's why they don't like "Negative Signage"...it doesn't exactly say come on in.

Posted: Feb Mon 26, 2007 2:58 pm
by spaulo
Yeah have sympathy for me... (ok maybe not)... I've been to Disneyland dozens of times, but I just found out that one of my favorite favorite attractions, Splash Mountain, will be down for refurbishment during our honeymoon trip in May. In fact, it is scheduled to go back on line the day after we leave L.A. for Maui...

Posted: Feb Tue 27, 2007 8:51 am
by GhostHost
spaulo wrote:Yeah have sympathy for me... (ok maybe not)... I've been to Disneyland dozens of times, but I just found out that one of my favorite favorite attractions, Splash Mountain, will be down for refurbishment during our honeymoon trip in May. In fact, it is scheduled to go back on line the day after we leave L.A. for Maui...
Ummm...I really was about to feel sorry for you until I read "we leave L.A. for Maui..." Sorry dude, I don't feel sorry for ya! :wink:

Posted: Feb Tue 27, 2007 11:55 am
by spaulo
Heh, yeah, i know... I can't complain, but still... would be nice to ride (one of) my favorite ride(s) on my honeymoon!