splash mountain is dry today.

[ford91exploder]

This exact thing happened to us during our trip in early December, when Splash was down during our FP+ reservation. There was no need to schedule a different FP+ experience or time - we simply walked right up to Big Thunder's FP queue and used the bands replacement/wild card FP+. The FP+ replacement was good for one attraction for the entire rest of the day (during normal operating hours - not EMH or party hours).

Here is the full text of the alert e-mail we received from Disney:

"We're sorry, your previously confirmed FastPass+ selection for Splash Mountain® from 12:45 PM to 1:45 PM on 12/08/2013 needs to be changed because the experience is temporarily unavailable.

As a replacement, you may now visit any one of the following FastPass+ experiences on 12/08/2013, starting at 12:45 PM through anytime during normal Theme Park operating hours (Valid Theme Park admission is required and your FastPass+ selection cannot be redeemed during Extra Magic Hours):

Experiences*
Haunted Mansion®
Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor®
Space Mountain®
Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin®
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad®
Splash Mountain®
Tomorrowland Speedway
Pirates of the Caribbean®

There is no action needed to select the experience in advance. During the designated day and time, just arrive at the FastPass+ entrance to one of the experiences above and touch your MagicBand to enter!
*Note that you may be able to still experience your selection for Splash Mountain® if it becomes available again today, unless you opt to visit one of the other listed experiences.

Visit My Plans on My Disney Experience for more details."

They forgot

Watching Paint Dry
Watching Grass Grow
Sorting Recyclables

 

[JimboJones123]

That's what he said?

 

[MarkTwain]

Splash went down again for about an hour and a half today (12/20) for complications involving the final drop. Splash going down seems to be about a daily occurrence.

 

[ABQ]

Unfortunately, for those of us who like to take an "electronic vacation" while on vacation, or don't want to buy a smart phone just so we can vacation at WDW...not so amazing.

There are ample kiosk locations where you can go and do all the same things the app does and still take your Electronic vacation from a phone.

 

[MouseDreaming]

There are ample kiosk locations where you can go and do all the same things the app does and still take your Electronic vacation from a phone.

That's great, but I am at a complete disadvantage. I have walked across the park to find out this information (no email to tell me sooner) to find out the thing is completely drained and not coming back on line any time soon, and now I have to wait in line for a kiosk to change it. And let's throw into the theory bucket that it is Spring Break (which is when we have gone the most). What do you think is left for me to substitute? CoP? IASW? Yep, sounds great.

 

[dreamfinder]

That's great, but I am at a complete disadvantage. I have walked across the park to find out this information (no email to tell me sooner) to find out the thing is completely drained and not coming back on line any time soon, and now I have to wait in line for a kiosk to change it. And let's throw into the theory bucket that it is Spring Break (which is when we have gone the most). What do you think is left for me to substitute? CoP? IASW? Yep, sounds great.

Except as the email snippet indicates, you don't need to change it. Your MB/RFID Ticket will automatically work at the other attractions during the day. And I'd imagine that as this starts to happen, the CM at the ride who tells you its closed would be able to explain what other attractions you can use it at, no changes at a kiosk needed.

 

[Voxel]

That's great, but I am at a complete disadvantage. I have walked across the park to find out this information (no email to tell me sooner) to find out the thing is completely drained and not coming back on line any time soon, and now I have to wait in line for a kiosk to change it. And let's throw into the theory bucket that it is Spring Break (which is when we have gone the most). What do you think is left for me to substitute? CoP? IASW? Yep, sounds great.

Splash being down in winter during non peak times vs being down during spring break. Having been during spring break many times I have rarely seen it down (yes it can happen), then going during winter you expect more down time because of the cold and weather. I always expect the water parks to be closed for a day or two when I go in the winter.
Also another question if not knowing an attraction was down via an email is a big deal then how to did you do parks back in the day. Also I would like to point of the one email the person show states that they don't have to change it you just go to any of the similar big attraction and use you band for that missed fp if I am not mistaken

 

[flyerjab]

That's great, but I am at a complete disadvantage. I have walked across the park to find out this information (no email to tell me sooner) to find out the thing is completely drained and not coming back on line any time soon, and now I have to wait in line for a kiosk to change it. And let's throw into the theory bucket that it is Spring Break (which is when we have gone the most). What do you think is left for me to substitute? CoP? IASW? Yep, sounds great.

What would happen under the old paper fast pass days if you returned during your time period and the ride was down? It seems to me the real problem is the ride being down more frequently.

 

[Voxel]

What would happen under the old paper fast pass days if you returned during your time period and the ride was down? It seems to me the real problem is the ride being down more frequently.

In my experience with winter trips, I remember Splash being a hit or miss the first 2 week of December. I always thought they were trying to take care of minor issues to ensure that it runs better during Christmas/NewYears.

 

[sshindel]

That's great, but I am at a complete disadvantage. I have walked across the park to find out this information (no email to tell me sooner) to find out the thing is completely drained and not coming back on line any time soon, and now I have to wait in line for a kiosk to change it. And let's throw into the theory bucket that it is Spring Break (which is when we have gone the most). What do you think is left for me to substitute? CoP? IASW? Yep, sounds great.

Yes, you are at a disadvantage. A disadvantage to anyone who does not have a smartphone on them. Just as in any situation in life when a smartphone might be an advantage, looking for directions, looking up information on the internet, or the hundreds of other uses one might use a smartphone for. In this case, it is a self-imposed disadvantage. You are a no more of a disadvantage than you would have been previously though with the paper fastpass system.

 

[MouseDreaming]

Except as the email snippet indicates, you don't need to change it. Your MB/RFID Ticket will automatically work at the other attractions during the day. And I'd imagine that as this starts to happen, the CM at the ride who tells you its closed would be able to explain what other attractions you can use it at, no changes at a kiosk needed.

If this is how it will work than that's fine. But I feel bad for all the people who had FP+ at BTMR. It seems like that would be the easiest line to hop to.

 

[MouseDreaming]

Splash being down in winter during non peak times vs being down during spring break. Having been during spring break many times I have rarely seen it down (yes it can happen), then going during winter you expect more down time because of the cold and weather. I always expect the water parks to be closed for a day or two when I go in the winter.
Also another question if not knowing an attraction was down via an email is a big deal then how to did you do parks back in the day. Also I would like to point of the one email the person show states that they don't have to change it you just go to any of the similar big attraction and use you band for that missed fp if I am not mistaken

Back in the day? You mean like last June? Go back to ride at FP time, if it was down, or went down while you were in line, you got a fp for whatever you choose. That will be interesting to see how that works out. If you have been waiting in stand by for Peter Pan for an hour, and you are close to getting on, and it breaks down, are they handing out FP to whatever for those people now? Just wondering what it would do to the FP+ line that gets slammed, and then someone shows up and has their reservation for that ride at that time for 60 days.

 

[MouseDreaming]

What would happen under the old paper fast pass days if you returned during your time period and the ride was down? It seems to me the real problem is the ride being down more frequently.

Yes, the ride being down is a problem. But, like I said above, they would give a paper FP to the people on the ride at the time, in the stand by line, and the fp line for any ride, any time that day.

 

[WDWDad13]

Big thunder mountain is closed right now. Was closed last night during Christmas party too. Not sure why

 

[flyerjab]

Yes, the ride being down is a problem. But, like I said above, they would give a paper FP to the people on the ride at the time, in the stand by line, and the fp line for any ride, any time that day.

Is this ride down more often than other rides in MK? Does it have a history of needing more maintenance than what would be considered normal?

 

[eilie]

Except as the email snippet indicates, you don't need to change it. Your MB/RFID Ticket will automatically work at the other attractions during the day. And I'd imagine that as this starts to happen, the CM at the ride who tells you its closed would be able to explain what other attractions you can use it at, no changes at a kiosk needed.

This is exactly what happened with us. I posted the e-mail for everyone else's info, but I do not own a smartphone and didn't get the e-mail until I checked it that evening. We had to ask a cast member at Splash about what to do, and he pulled up a screen on the FP+ kiosk listing out all of the attractions we could use the replacement FP+ on. I am sure they can do this on their Ipads as well. He was very helpful in explaining the FP+ replacement wild card, but I wish Disney had made this policy more well-known (i.e. before there was an issue). The cast member even asked us if we got the e-mail, but I don't wish to be constantly checking a smart phone all day when at the parks. We were still pleased that Disney had already worked out a solution for these sorts of situations, but the info should be more publicly available.

 

[WDWDad13]

I think the mydisneyexperience app needs to do push notifications for these things (and others). I received an email as well about big thunder closure when I had a fastpass+ for...but if you don't check email you may not see.