Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Refurb in October?

[TalkingHead]

Has anyone been to Hollywood Studios recently? Does it seem 'empty', as in people not attractions?

I'm so curious as to what to expect on our trip.
Compared to 2015. From these boards I'm assuming that the crowds will be very light, but from everyone I know who's been recently- they've said it was crowded.

It didn't feel empty. Walkways felt congested, but then the attractions were mostly under 30 minutes.

Could be that the park gets busier in the afternoon with parkhoppers coming over for nighttime shows.

Now DAK at night, *that* feels like an empty park.

 

[21stamps]

If it is, then they were very smart when they quickly put that together. I liked the old animation building, mostly because my daughter loved the drawing tutorial. We're Star Wars fans, especially my son, but we didn't spend long at Launch Bay. The fireworks, on the other hand, were completely worth it IMO. That kept us in the park for dinner.

I overheard a resort front desk CM telling a guest that DHS isn't even a half day park, and I appreciated her honesty with this guest who had a one day ticket. This kind of opinion getting out there beyond us fans is what will drive attendance down.

Wow! That's really sad to hear. An employee should NOT say that. Ridiculous.
I am skipping AK on our trip. Not because I don't like AK..but because I had to choose one, and with a kid who is a Star Wars fanatic there is no competition.
Last year though we did a ton of the Disney Junior stuff, it would have been better the year before due to age, but still enjoyed it.

The things at HS that have closed are/were not that important to me. But I think I read someone say that there are no more street performers? That stinks, my son laughed the entire time watching them. It's still not a deal breaker.

I just think it's important to remember that different people like different things, So for a CM to say that was not doing their job. Let someone experience something and then decide- based on their own opinions.

 

[Matt_Black]

Wow! That's really sad to hear. An employee should NOT say that. Ridiculous.

Wait, wait, wait, a Cast Member shouldn't be directing a guest to the best value for their dollar?

 

[21stamps]

Wait, wait, wait, a Cast Member shouldn't be directing a guest to the best value for their dollar?

Value is subjective.

For me there is more value in HS than in AK right now. For someone else it may be the opposite. There is no one size fits all.

So no, they shouldn't be injecting their own personal opinions in that manner. Not by stating that a specific park is "not even a half day park".

 

[Matt7187]

Has anyone been to Hollywood Studios recently? Does it seem 'empty', as in people not attractions?

I'm so curious as to what to expect on our trip.
Compared to 2015. From these boards I'm assuming that the crowds will be very light, but from everyone I know who's been recently- they've said it was crowded.

When I went 2 weeks ago, all 5 rides had minimum 20 minute waits, with the longest being around 50 for RnRC. The park itself did not feel super busy though, which is strange considering the lines were decent length and there really isn't too much land for people to be dispersed in anymore.

 

[Ricky Spanish]

I'm boycotting Disney until they stop doing maintenance on my favorite attractions. Who's with me??!

Yeah, me too.
The nerve of them, closing a ride while I'm there!
Why didn't they e-mail me and let me know?

 

[21stamps]

When I went 2 weeks ago, all 5 rides had minimum 20 minute waits, with the longest being around 50 for RnRC. The park itself did not feel super busy though, which is strange considering the lines were decent length and there really isn't too much land for people to be dispersed in anymore.

Do you know what the waits for Kylo Ren and Chewbacca were? This is my biggest concern...and one of the main reasons, besides JTA, that I originally booked a VIP tour..but have since cancelled because I just can't justify that amount of money for one day.lol

 

[Matt_Black]

Value is subjective.

For me there is more value in HS than in AK right now. For someone else it may be the opposite. There is no one size fits all.

So no, they shouldn't be injecting their own personal opinions in that manner. Not by stating that a specific park is "not even a half day park".

Well, we were only relayed part of the conversation. The guest in question may have had little ones, or told the CM they were interested in a specific type of experience that DHS is lacking.

 

[21stamps]

Well, we were only relayed part of the conversation. The guest in question may have had little ones, or told the CM they were interested in a specific type of experience that DHS is lacking.

True. It may have been in a certain context, but even if with little kids there is so much Disney Jr stuff there. H&V's Disney jr meal is in my mind a must do for any kid 3-5. Who knows what the convo was though.

 

[Matt7187]

Do you know what the waits for Kylo Ren and Chewbacca were? This is my biggest concern...and one of the main reasons, besides JTA, that I originally booked a VIP tour..but have since cancelled because I just can't justify that amount of money for one day.lol

I remember Chewie was around 20 minutes when we went into Launch Bay, but we have the Disney Visa so we had the private M&G with Kylo Ren with no wait, but I would assume standby would be similar to Chewbaccas.

 

[lentesta]

...why not do the 6 month layover now? The park is down to 5 attractions when this is down anyway, might as well just have it shut down for 6 months, remove Aerosmith, and lay it over with whatever IP they have in

Because at the rate Disney moves, they would have had to start this in 2009. And I'm not ready for Kings of Leon to come back.

 

[Biff215]

True. It may have been in a certain context, but even if with little kids there is so much Disney Jr stuff there. H&V's Disney jr meal is in my mind a must do for any kid 3-5. Who knows what the convo was though.

It was an adult guest with no knowledge of the parks. She literally walked up to concierge and asked where she should use her one day ticket. The CM was likely a CP and gave her honest opinion. If she didn't say it then I probably would have. As much as I enjoyed DHS on my trip, I had an AP and ten days to spend in the parks. For over $100, there's no way you can suggest DHS for one day, unless a guest is looking for a specific ride or character experience. The guest ended up paying to upgrade to an MK ticket. The CM then suggested a FP for Under the Sea, certainly losing some credibility.

And this was our last breakfast at H&V. It was always a must do for our kids but it was a huge disappointment this time. The live singers, while somewhat annoying, were cut taking away any energy and fun this place once had. The price is crazy for the food quality and brief interactions with four characters including Handy Manny who should have been replaced by Miles a year ago.

So yes, the CM was completely justified in sharing her opinion, even if it was slightly dramatic (it's at least a half day park for most).

 

[Biff215]

I remember Chewie was around 20 minutes when we went into Launch Bay, but we have the Disney Visa so we had the private M&G with Kylo Ren with no wait, but I would assume standby would be similar to Chewbaccas.

Yep, Chewie seems to hover around 20 minutes, although the wait times aren't always accurate (shocking). Kylo Ren often shows 20 minutes while being much shorter. I imagine many kids are too scared to see him, my four year old braved it but it was crazy intimidating. Darth was probably more popular.

 

[21stamps]

It was an adult guest with no knowledge of the parks. She literally walked up to concierge and asked where she should use her one day ticket. The CM was likely a CP and gave her honest opinion. If she didn't say it then I probably would have. As much as I enjoyed DHS on my trip, I had an AP and ten days to spend in the parks. For over $100, there's no way you can suggest DHS for one day, unless a guest is looking for a specific ride or character experience. The guest ended up paying to upgrade to an MK ticket. The CM then suggested a FP for Under the Sea, certainly losing some credibility.

And this was our last breakfast at H&V. It was always a must do for our kids but it was a huge disappointment this time. The live singers, while somewhat annoying, were cut taking away any energy and fun this place once had. The price is crazy for the food quality and brief interactions with four characters including Handy Manny who should have been replaced by Miles a year ago.

So yes, the CM was completely justified in sharing her opinion, even if it was slightly dramatic (it's at least a half day park for most).

The characters didn't dance and no one was singing?! When did this happen? That's shocking. We're doing Minnie's Holiday Dine instead this year, but it's sad to hear that about the Disney Jr meal.

 

[21stamps]

Yep, Chewie seems to hover around 20 minutes, although the wait times aren't always accurate (shocking). Kylo Ren often shows 20 minutes while being much shorter. I imagine many kids are too scared to see him, my four year old braved it but it was crazy intimidating. Darth was probably more popular.

This is good news! I had heard around 35 minutes each, but that was during spring break.

As far as the CM though..I think the professional thing would have been to just explain the attractions in each park. But no, as an adult I wouldn't care so much about HS, or AK.

 

[Biff215]

The characters didn't dance and no one was singing?! When did this happen? That's shocking. We're doing Minnie's Holiday Dine instead this year, but it's sad to hear that about the Disney Jr meal.

Nope, none of that. That was July, so not sure what happened. Didn't bother asking as we had already decided this was our last meal here.

You mentioned tons of Disney Junior stuff to do at DHS. Other than the show and M&G's, am I missing something?

 

[MagicFantasmic]

Do you know what the waits for Kylo Ren and Chewbacca were? This is my biggest concern...and one of the main reasons, besides JTA, that I originally booked a VIP tour..but have since cancelled because I just can't justify that amount of money for one day.lol

I went in mid-June and at around 10 am I went and walked right in to meet Kylo and Chewie. No line for either one.

 

[21stamps]

I went in mid-June and at around 10 am I went and walked right in to meet Kylo and Chewie. No line for either one.

Oh wow. I HOPE this happens to us! I doubt it, but would be wonderful.

 

[myhappyplace]

I truly can't believe some people have the time or even feel that passionately to post such consistent replies! I never knew there was such a class system on the WDW Magic forums!

Please don't feel we are all like that. Anyone who would take 2 seconds could read that you are not upset that a refurb is taking place during your vacation, but rather that even though Disney now almost forces you to make planning decisions so early, they didn't notify about this one till now. It is hard to plan nowadays, I totally get what you are saying...that if you would have known, you might have planned differently. That is vastly different than you just being mad just that it is taking place when you're there.

I don't know why people are being so rude

 

[prfctlyximprct]

Please don't feel we are all like that. Anyone who would take 2 seconds could read that you are not upset that a refurb is taking place during your vacation, but rather that even though Disney now almost forces you to make planning decisions so early, they didn't notify about this one till now. It is hard to plan nowadays, I totally get what you are saying...that if you would have known, you might have planned differently. That is vastly different than you just being mad just that it is taking place when you're there.

I don't know why people are being so rude

Thank you, people are people I guess! Haha! Comes with the territory of a public forum! I'm glad you understand what I was implying!