Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Refurb in October?

[No Name]

My traveling party and I (different people on different trips) always easily spend a full day or more at DHS, and usually don't get to see many of the shows. Yet we've felt done with Islands of Adventure early in the afternoon. Of course there are many factors, but at the end of the day, we enjoy DHS more. I know, weird.

About this late-notice refurb, well... I'd be a bit annoyed. But I'd get to see more shows on my next visit.

 

[ChesterKiwi]

I sifted through the arguing hoping no one would beat me to making a joke about this being about the shocker. But alas, I was beaten to it. Also...

Thoughts and prayers going out to everyone whose lives have been tragically devastated due to this inconvenience.

I am trying to figure out what color ribbon to wear the show my support for those inconvenienced.....

You guys are a riot.

 

[doctornick]

Actually there are a lot of time consuming things to do, there just not all rides.

I wouldn't say "a lot", I would say "some".

That's the thing: people try to justify DHS' attraction slate by saying it is "show heavy" but how many shows does it really have? Muppet Vision, the Star Wars clip show, Indy Jones, VOTLM, BatB, Frozen sing a long, Disney Jr. That's a whopping 7, plus two night time spectaculars. It ain't that much.

 

[doctornick]

I actually think the novelty of DAK being open at night was the bigger deal. The attendance showed that a lot of people weren't interested in staying that late. And for good reason:

Really, there wasn't that much to do. All the animal exhibits close, which eliminates a huge chunk of the park's attraction. The night safari is a novelty and neat to see once, but it's vastly inferior to the ride during the day.

DAK at night is basically like DHS during the day: wipe the pixie dust out of your eyes and there's not enough to do. Plain and simple.

Obviously, it will be better once RoL and Pandora are up and running, but yeah it still needs more. On top of the animal enclosures being closed, I doubt Kali is going to be popular after dark.

I appreciate what they are doing with DAK, but they can't stop with Pandora and need to add a few more attractions to the front of the park (there's been rumors of Zootopia being pushed for the park, so we'll see).

 

[doctornick]

With the capacity restraints coming to DHS soon (that's right there is more) this is really preventative. Disney does not want this down for refurb later, when the park is really scraping along. I'm sorry to @prfctlyximprct @Disneykings @KingdomofDreams and others that this fell on your Vacay, but this refurb is opening (and admittedly closing) some doors that will help to enhance further vacations.

PS Sorry that went corporate, but this refurb is a result of a few things

I would like to believe that there might be some attraction coming that we don't otherwise know about, but it seems likely that you are alluding to GMR closing for the Mickey ride and/or stuff like VOTLM and BatB closing for different shows.

As an aside, it would be nice if Disney could at least put in a new show in the Flex theater or somethin in the day time in the Fantasmic theater to increase capacity.

 

[DavidS1234]

Nope. He's on a solo tour and was scheduled to play Clearwater this past Monday, the 29th. So he had plans to be in the area and when he is, he usually stops off at WDW.

Yeah, I figured as much. Just thought I'd add a bit more fuel to the chaos in this thread...lol.

 

[polarboi]

I actually think the novelty of DAK being open at night was the bigger deal. The attendance showed that a lot of people weren't interested in staying that late. And for good reason:

Really, there wasn't that much to do. All the animal exhibits close, which eliminates a huge chunk of the park's attraction. The night safari is a novelty and neat to see once, but it's vastly inferior to the ride during the day.

DAK at night is basically like DHS during the day: wipe the pixie dust out of your eyes and there's not enough to do. Plain and simple.

The Tree of Life looks amazing at night, and the projections they do are worth hanging out for a while just to watch, but you're right, there's really not that much to do at night. Certainly not enough to spend your entire day there.

 

[marni1971]

this is great....love it.

@marni1971 just a dusting or actually repairing ect?

Given the timing and length I'd hazard it's launch work again.

 

[TalkingHead]

I was so unimpressed with DAK's nighttime offerings I didn't bother going back after the first night.

It's so funny. For years the DAK fans have said the park isn't underbuilt because of all the paths with animal exhibits. Then you realize that after 7:00 PM, most of the animal exhibits are barren, leaving a handful of rides with 10 minute lines. It's basically DAK without animals. Amazing.

The Tree of Life show is a nice addition, but it's pretty minor.

 

[TalkingHead]

I wouldn't say "a lot", I would say "some".

That's the thing: people try to justify DHS' attraction slate by saying it is "show heavy" but how many shows does it really have? Muppet Vision, the Star Wars clip show, Indy Jones, VOTLM, BatB, Frozen sing a long, Disney Jr. That's a whopping 7, plus two night time spectaculars. It ain't that much.

And most of those shows are legal drinking age. Chance are if anyone's ever been to WDW before, they've seen some of those shows before. The offerings are either 1.) lazy, 2.) stale, or 3.) both.

 

[Matt_Black]

And most of those shows are legal drinking age. Chance are if anyone's ever been to WDW before, they've seen some of those shows before. The offerings are either 1.) lazy, 2.) stale, or 3.) both.

And yet, every showing of Indy I've been to recently has pulled in a decent sized crowd, with the theater at least half full. Everyone's already seen It's a Wonderful Life before, yet they still keep showing it every year on TV at Christmas.

 

[TalkingHead]

Again like I've said about a gazillion times...

Well, that part's true, at least. You do repeat yourself ad infinitum. Kudos for noticing.

As a matter of fact, I just recently went back to WDW having taken a few years off, and you know what? I gave the parks a fair shake, and DHS is just as bad as folks have been saying. I thought the place stunk five years ago -- if I paid full price for a one-day ticket today, I'd be at guest services asking who are they kidding?

From the dead end park routing to the attractions with 5 minute waits (somehow Star Wars is the biggest thing in the park, but Star Tours is pulling a five minute wait in the afternoon with a bunch of Star Wars fans in the park?), the place shouldn't be open for business. I guess if you're addicted to all things Lucas, you might get a thrill out of seeing people in Stormtrooper and Darth Vader costumes. I'm not really sure what Star Wars fans see in the place. They evidently don't need to ride Star Tours more than once. I suspect they like shopping for merchandise and doing meet and greets more than anything else. Bodes well for SWL.

The fact that there are people still showing up to DHS is a testament to the Disney brand, because if a Six Flags had an attraction lineup this stale and with so little to do I wager the place would be out of business in six months.

 

[TalkingHead]

And yet, every showing of Indy I've been to recently has pulled in a decent sized crowd, with the theater at least half full. Everyone's already seen It's a Wonderful Life before, yet they still keep showing it every year on TV at Christmas.

What else do you expect them to do, sit on benches and stare at construction walls? Or hang out in the smoking section next to the construction walls? Or maybe they could read the quotes on the construction walls and identify the faux-Walt ones?

If the park was caught up for the 21st century, the stunt show would probably be far less attended. As it is, there's so little to do, of course people are going to show up to see it. It's a big show with a recognizable IP. Too bad the IP deserved better while the show reached the stale and hackneyed state over a decade ago.

 

[JohnD]

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

Really? Would you rather they never do maintenance and they throw caution to the wind until it breaks down or worse while someone is on it? You need to get over yourself.

 

[JohnD]

*crickets*

Exactly. Big Thunder will be down while I'm there. It would be nice if I could ride it but oh, well. It has to be taken out of service sometime for maintenance.

 

[JohnD]

Maybe they could have done this BEFORE they starting tearing the park apart...?

Oh, I see. Take all rides down at the same for refurbishment before the construction. Because, you know, can't have any inconveniences during the construction. As for people who show up wanting to ride anything in HS before the construction starts, well, tough cookies.

 

[Seabasealpha1]

Oh, I see. Take all rides down at the same for refurbishment before the construction. Because, you know, can't have any inconveniences during the construction. As for people who show up wanting to ride anything in HS before the construction starts, well, tough cookies.

It's isn't so much inconvenience as sheer number of attractions that are functional...that number is getting low... I personally couldn't care less if they take it down for refurb...in fact, I skipped DHS altogether last time I was down there... No sense in blowing two adult tickets on a day in a dying park...especially when you have two little boys... I'd just as soon come back when they're done.

 

[DisneyOutsider]

Really? Would you rather they never do maintenance and they throw caution to the wind until it breaks down or worse while someone is on it? You need to get over yourself.

Looks like somebody boycotted sarcasm

 

[JohnD]

It's isn't so much inconvenience as sheer number of attractions that are functional...that number is getting low... I personally couldn't care less if they take it down for refurb...in fact, I skipped DHS altogether last time I was down there... No sense in blowing two adult tickets on a day in a dying park...especially when you have two little boys... I'd just as soon come back when they're done.

How long will construction be going on. 2-3 years? What you're asking is unrealistic. Also, you're shifting your inconvenience to someone else. Good thing that is already in the past.

 

[Goofyernmost]

Which is exactly why I stated my DHS day will be spent at Universal.

Good for you, you found your solution. I, on the other hand, intend to go to both mostly because I always have done that since Uni opened. I still enjoy the different experience in DHS and Universal as well. I am looking forward to SWL even though I am not a SW fan and am pretty sure that if I had children in tow I would like TSL as well. However, I realize that others will, so they have as much right to enjoy themselves as I do, so I will go to what I enjoy. I will do that until I no longer get something from it, and if that day comes then I will have it on my "not to do" list.