Did Disney turn off the air conditioning?

[HinunterZuNich]

Hey,

Since 2000 my family has gone to WDW during the summer and the one thing we could count on was INTENSE air conditioning! On the most recent trip August 20-25, I don't think I was imagining it but the air conditioning was barely on! I remember going on certain rides and always being frozen but it was expected. This most recent trip, certain rides and queues including Soarin's were pretty warm.

I'm not posting this to imply it ruined my trip or anything along those lines, just thinking back now it seemed so much warmer in queues and rides.

 

[EPCOT.nut]

I hadn't noticed a difference! Weird.

 

[napnet]

It could be to save power or to use less power if they are overloaded... don't want rolling blackouts!

usually everything is pretty cold when we go which is nice

 

[PeoplemoverTTA]

I would say 2000 is an accurate time to count back for this comparison, as I have visited WDW more than 20 times since 2000 and for at least the last 10 trips (2005-2007) the AC has been significantly less in some attractions (HM, for example), and especially in stores (where is the respite from the heat?). I rode HM last August and my sister and I turned to each other and both said, "It's so stuffy we can hardly breathe in here."

There is a bit of discussion on MC about this topic stemming from Kevin Yee's latest article on MA. We are not alone in noticing this.

Talk about "declining by degrees...."

I can imagine some of the excuses that might come up here, but IMO, there is no other reason for WDW to do this than skim a bit more off the budget. I would like to look at a thermostat in the Emporium or HM and see what it's set to.

 

[napnet]

I could see the 'reason' for this by WDW tryig to be 'green'. they have been making lots of attempts to do that in the hotels so why not in the parks? Disney wins in 2 ways... makes for good PR for WDW doing their part to help the environment and saves them some money.

 

[dixiegirl]

I know they changed it in soem resorts( I believe they did anyway) we went for our honeymoon back in 96 and stayed at Dixie Landings, well we had the room so cold ( not my likeing hubby's) that we had frost on the door..We've been back there since 96 every year for the past 11 years, and definatly noticed a change in the resort air condio, I"ve never noticed the rides being not as cold as they use to be , I'm alwasy cold so it probably woul'nt matter too much to me.

 

[lilmizpixie3]

When I went to Disney this past Month the coldest queue line I rode in was for RRC, it was SOOOOOO cold.

 

[gatordoc]

I agree - the A/C isn't nearly as cold as in the past. The place I always notice this most is Pirates - the queue used to be one of the coldest indoor places I've ever been (and quite welcome on a hot day), but it has gotten much warmer.

 

[DiPSU224]

I noticed this as well. It used to be to the point where I wouldn't want to go inside a store because it would be so cold. I used to dread Philharmagic because I would freeze after being squirted with water and then I would shiver through the rest of the show.

 

[LudwigVonDrake]

I noticed last month that when I walked into a shop/building that it would take a few steps in before I felt the A/C. It always used to be that you would be hit with the A/C when you got to the doorway. Maybe they're cutting back??

 

[unkadug]

Global Warming....

 

[CMTinkerbell99]

It's also been very very hot

Maybe due to the crowds and heat (its been very hot lately) the AC is having a hard time keeping up. I know that our AC has had a hard time in the late afternoon. Although the air is on...it is still warm.

 

[Craig & Lisa]

Now that you mention it POTC wasn't as cool as I remembered it the last time, but we stayed at SSR and there was a battle between my wife and I with the thermostat. She would turn it up and and I would turn it down. My wife is confussing me, she loves snow but hates to be cold. Then on the other hand it could be 100 degrees out and a fly could wiz past her ear and she'll get a chill. :veryconfu

 

[Uponastar]

Now that you mention it POTC wasn't as cool as I remembered it the last time, but we stayed at SSR and there was a battle between my wife and I with the thermostat. She would turn it up and and I would turn it down. My wife is confussing me, she loves snow but hates to be cold. Then on the other hand it could be 100 degrees out and a fly could wiz past her ear and she'll get a chill. :veryconfu

She sounds like me! (except I hate snow!) I hate the cold and live for the summer months.

I think the true test of whether Disney is turning down the AC would be The Hall of Presidents. That place is always a freezer! Has anyone been in there lately? Has it gotten warmer?

 

[MissM]

AK's stores are never anywhere near as cold as MK's. You go into the stores looking to cool down (because AK is always hotter than the other parks by a lot for whatever reason) and it's lukewarm and stuffy in there. Really frustrating in an already overly hot park.

Pirates and HM and such are really hit-and-miss on coldness level in my experience. Though Pirates especially used to be a freezer, it's often not as much anymore.
-m

 

[brertigger]

I would like to look at a thermostat in the Emporium or HM and see what it's set to.

In July, I noticed in the World of Disney store at DtD that one of the thermostats was set at either 80 or 85. I think it was 85.

 

[kstella]

I've always thought the queue line area for Soarin' was warm and stuffy, which strikes me as odd since it's ceilings are so high. Maybe it's because of the length that air doesn't seem to flow.

 

[Passport]

This has been recorded as the warmest month of August for us in Orlando. I think Disney is trying to save a little money and it has been extremely hot outside. I have the electric bill to prove it.

 

[hrcollectibles]

Maybe aging Air conditioning units.. or More people going in and out of attractions and stores...

 

[sillyspook13]

I could see the 'reason' for this by WDW tryig to be 'green'. they have been making lots of attempts to do that in the hotels so why not in the parks? Disney wins in 2 ways... makes for good PR for WDW doing their part to help the environment and saves them some money.

This has been recorded as the warmest month of August for us in Orlando. I think Disney is trying to save a little money and it has been extremely hot outside. I have the electric bill to prove it.

Bingo!