Dumbo & Main Street Updates

[SSG]

Main Street, U.S.A., Vehicles and Dumbo the Flying Elephant at Disneyland Park to Begin Updates Jan. 8

by Kevin Rafferty, Jr., External Communications Manager, Disneyland Resort

Two original Disneyland park attractions will close temporarily beginning Jan. 8 to receive updates. For the first time, the horse-drawn streetcar track on Main Street, U.S.A., will be replaced in its entirety, temporarily pausing the operation of all Main Street, U.S.A. vehicles. Also, Dumbo the Flying Elephant will receive a new queue location for guest comfort and accessibility.

Refurbishment is a common practice that we perform periodically to keep our attractions fresh and up to date. While sections of the Main Street, U.S.A., track have been replaced before, this complete replacement will incorporate new brickwork that will enhance the look of the iconic thoroughfare. The pieces of original track that remain today will be salvaged and preserved, and the previously updated pieces of track will be recycled.

Dumbo the Flying Elephant also will close temporarily beginning Jan. 8 to move the location of its queue and erect a new shade structure. The attraction will also be up to its “ears” in fresh paint! Main Street, U.S.A., vehicles and Dumbo the Flying Elephant will reopen in late winter and early spring, respectively.

 

[VJ]

Slow news day?

 

[TwilightZone]

I wonder if the new dumbo queue will be similar to the one at wdw. It would make sense to make a downsized version I think.

 

[Rich T]

Slow news day?

Erm... Why so snarky? This kind of closure/restoration news is part of what these forums are all about. And, actually, the closure of the middle of Main St. and Dumbo are pretty big deals, especially for families bringing small children.

 

[George Lucas on a Bench]

I thought they were getting rid of the horses for a second.

You know I've never told this to anyone, but the Main Street Vehicles are the only rides at Disneyland I've never done!

 

[Rich T]

I wonder if the new dumbo queue will be similar to the one at wdw. It would make sense to make a downsized version I think.

Hoping the band organ survives this. Nice to see the queue getting shade, one way or the other.

 

[Rich T]

....the Main Street Vehicles are the only rides at Disneyland I've never done!

WHAAAA??????? Dude! Just hop on! They're everywhere with no wait! The view on board is just like being in a 1960's Wonderful World of Color DL puff piece!

 

[TP2000]

Interesting to hear they are laying a strip of bricks down the middle of the street along the tracks. That will be a big change for the original Main Street USA. Other parks have put bricks across the entire street, which can look too busy and weird in my opinion. Disneyland replaced the original cement sidewalks with brick about 20 years ago, but the street has remained that dark concrete since '55.

 

[VJ]

Erm... Why so snarky? This kind of closure/restoration news is part of what these forums are all about. And, actually, the closure of the middle of Main St. and Dumbo are pretty big deals, especially for families bringing small children.

I mean no offense, I just personally feel like this a "well, we have nothing else to post, so..." sort of situation. Have they previously announced Main Street repavings?

 

[Curious Constance]

The Dumbo queue shade will be nice. It's always so hot in that queue with no protection from the sun.

 

[Curious Constance]

I bet they announced this on the blog because it wasn't previously on the schedule to close so they did it as a last minute thing?

 

[Rich T]

...The pieces of original track that remain today will be salvaged and preserved...

....and maybe...cut up and merchandised? I...um... ... I'd buy a 1/4 inch cross section of an original Main St. rail for $50. Just sayin'.

 

[mickEblu]

Hoping the band organ survives this. Nice to see the queue getting shade, one way or the other.

I don’t think it will be effected. I think they are going to widen some of those tight railings and possibly get rid of some planters to make more room. Most people are usually squeezed into the tightest parts of the queue (those last two switchbacks) and the rest of the queue (between Dumbo and Monstro) goes unused.

 

[Curious Constance]

....and maybe...cut up and merchandised? I...um... ... I'd buy a 1/4 inch cross section of an original Main St. rail for $50. Just sayin'.

I took that to mean they will salvage and reuse the original track?

 

[TP2000]

I mean no offense, I just personally feel like this a "well, we have nothing else to post, so..." sort of situation. Have they previously announced Main Street repavings?

I read this as a preemptive strike against AP complaints when they show up and the middle of Main Street USA is all botched up with construction walls. And it's good of them to let us in on what the end goal here is; a new brick treatment for the street and a shade structure for the Dumbo queue.

For Disneyland nerds, this isn't a slow news day.

 

[Curious Constance]

Heck no, this isn't slow news. This is the kind of thing we live for.

 

[TP2000]

This winter they should get Guy from Splitsville to put on his hardhat and go behind the construction walls and talk to the guys laying the new streetcar track.

Guy could be like the Huell Howser of Disneyland... Just talkin' about stuff and being excited about streetcar rail welding techniques and weird little trivia. And bowlin'!

 

[mickEblu]

Heck no, this isn't slow news. This is the kind of thing we live for.

LOL. Because of this, I will have a good weekend.

 

[Curious Constance]

This winter they should get Guy from Splitsville to put on his hardhat and go behind the construction walls and talk to the guys laying the new streetcar track.

Guy could be like the Huell Howser of Disneyland... Just talkin' about stuff and being excited about streetcar rail welding techniques and weird little trivia. And bowlin'!

Oh my god. This is a brilliant idea. They should just have Guy take over for all of the bloggers on the Disneyland Blog. Might make me pop over there!

 

[Rich T]

I took that to mean they will salvage and reuse the original track?

It could mean that... but since they're ripping up and recycling the newer stretches, it would be odd that the older track would still remain (unless the newer track just wasn't as durable).