If I had to guess, both rides might be receiving the same required maintenance. The difference, though, is that Grizzly is already a very good rapids ride and kept in good shape. Kali was short and lackluster from the beginning, and to make matters worse, most of the show effects have disappeared over the years. Six weeks isn't enough time for a major overhaul, but should definitely be enough time to spruce up and fix whats already there. But from what it sounds like, almost no effort was made toward any improvement to the ride itself.
I doubt Universal Orlando is capable of becoming "top resort" when it comes to attendance, due to the immense draw that Magic Kingdom has. Though I have no doubt that Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure will pass both DAK and DHS in terms of attendance. Both USF and IOA already passed DAK and DHS a long time ago when it comes to maintenance.
[sarcasm]Maybe a new interactive queue or Meet & Greet will change your opinion...?[/sarcasm]
This appears to have been a standard refurbishment and not something thats supposed to attract interest. But there are brief refurbishments, where only something specific is worked on, standard refurbishments like this, and lengthy enhancement/plussing/makeover refurbishments like what Haunted Mansion, Test Track, or Space Mountain got. Still, a six week "standard" refurbishment is enough time to make everything "like new" and spruce it up. Indiana Jones at DL was closed for what, 8-10 weeks? A ride that heavily relies on show effects, and the reports are that it now looks incredible, better than ever. Being that Kali has very few show effects to maintain, it seems pretty inexcusable that nothing was fixed or corrected during those six weeks (regardless of what the main goal of the refurbishment was) and apparently in some ways, made worse
I agree. After all I think it's best to never fix the Yeti. The Yeti should be allowed to procreate and make lots of baby Yetis.
Blaming the "heavy side" of the raft on overweight people is a bit of an over-generalization. I weigh 120 lbs and get soaked to the bone because I am seated between my 6' 8" - 260 lb hubby and my two 6' 4" - 200+ lb sons. None of us is overweight, thank you, but we usually comprise the heavy side of the raft.
Why not???
Disneyland's Space Mountain was closed for two years in the mid 2000's. Last year Disneyland's Matterhorn (Everest's Coaster Great-Grandfather) was closed for six months. Right now Big Thunder Mountain at Disneyland is closed for 10 months for a massive refurbishment. And all this while Disneyland Resort boasts record attendance, maxed out hotel occupancy, while CFO Jay Rasulo summed it up in a recent press conference... "The great success of Cars Land, both from a quality and from a quantity perspective in terms of attendance and pricing, has reflected itself in Disneyland Resort greatly outgrowing Walt Disney World," said Jay Rasulo, the company's financial officer... http://www.ocregister.com/entertainment/california-496298-disney-disneyland.html
If WDW is the big, sprawling property that it's supposed to be, with a gazillion and one things to do, the Vacation Kingdom Of The World, then surely they can close one roller coaster for six months to get it fixed correctly for the next 50 years of proper Yeti operation. Or can they?
