Sanity Check: Does early 2025 have the most WDW ride closures in recent non-pandemic history?

[lentesta]

I've been asked by a media org to put into context the number of things that are closed in WDW right now.

To do that, I used our 'closures' database to track, for each day in the last ~15 years, the major attractions and shows that were closed on that date.

I counted things like Primeval Whirl and Jedi Training Academy, since it was once offered and now is not (and without replacement), so that's lost opportunity.

For things like Lights! Motors! Action!, I counted from the day it closed to the day it was replaced (by Galaxy's Edge).

I'm ignoring minor things like Citizens of Hollywood, limited-run things like Kite Tails, and seasonal things like holiday parades and fireworks.

Edit: Here's a Dropbox folder with the raw data, python code to process it, and output Excel spreadsheet.

The first column is a date. The second column is the number of things closed on that date.

Every column after that is the name of something that was closed on that date.

What am I missing?

 

[flynnibus]

I think it's a tough topic to bound tho...

Are rides that are mothballed awaiting redevelopment "closed" Or are they just facilities not yet redeveloped?

There is a significant difference in BTMRR being down for refurb.. vs... Stitch being closed as it had been for so long.

The challenge is what really being evaluated is 'expectations' and falling short of them. Expectations are very personal...

I think you gotta exclude items that already closed and not earmarked for return - even tho technically since they are often within sight, they impact people's experience and maybe expectations. So something like Dinoland attractions that were already slated for removal shouldn't be counted IMO. Where as something that was just downgraded to seasonal.. I think should be included.

I think the real question being asked is "Is Disney offering less?" - and someone is trying to look at closures as some measure of that.. but it's a rather poor way to evaluate it I think... instead of trying to quantify how many offerings the company does have online... which you can't just put into one category.

This is more a classic focusing on 'glass half empty vs..' scenario. I'd rather see a count of categories and see how the sum looks at different periods of time.

Just like I'd like to see total operating hours per calendar year...

But I am just dreaming up stuff not doing the legwork so my opinion is only that

 

[MisterPenguin]

I've been asked by a media org to put into context the number of things that are closed in WDW right now.

To do that, I used our 'closures' database to track, for each day in the last ~15 years, the major attractions and shows that were closed on that date.

I counted things like Primeval Whirl and Jedi Training Academy, since it was once offered and now is not (and without replacement), so that's lost opportunity.

For things like Lights! Motors! Action!, I counted from the day it closed to the day it was replaced (by Galaxy's Edge).

I'm ignoring minor things like Citizens of Hollywood, limited-run things like Kite Tails, and seasonal things like holiday parades and fireworks.

Edit: Here's a Dropbox folder with the raw data, python code to process it, and output Excel spreadsheet.

The first column is a date. The second column is the number of things closed on that date.

Every column after that is the name of something that was closed on that date.

What am I missing?

Don't know if you want to include the Star-cruiser. Or the WoL attractions. Or a DAK amphitheater show.

Januarys are rough because that's the usual time for refurbs and maintenance, being the slowest time of the year. Plus, people don't usually begrudge the rides that get you wet being closed at that time of year.

The others are for major refurbs, or to get ready for replacements.

SGE and Jedi Academy (and WoL) are the only attractions that are just taking up space with no plan greenlit for it (that we know of).

While this may be a record for "most closed." It's also a record for total number of attractions and rides in toto (whether currently running or not).