The place not to be in May: Disneyland

[cornnibblitz]

We are going to Disneyland at the end of May, and were already sorely disappointed over the closure of Pirates... but now I just read on miceage that Space Mountain will be closed as well (it was set to close at the end of the summer for a major 2 year refurbishment, but closed suddenly a couple of days ago and apparently won't reopen). So no Pirates and no Space Mountain in May. We might just change our plans and go elsewhere.

Soooo disappointed.

 

[GaryT977]

Wow! I can't believe they'd close two major attractions like that at the same time.

 

[jaylenofan86]

It's happened before, remember when the Matterhorn was down for about a year? Anyway, about Space Mountain, they don't know if they're going to reopen it in a few days (like in the past) or just close it all together. I would rather have them close it down now so that we can get the "updated" Space Mountain up and running by the 50th.

 

[riess424]

does anybody know when either of these two rides will reopen?

 

[cornnibblitz]

My understanding is that Pirates is open now, but will close for the month of May, then reopen.

As for Space Mountain, it may be closed until 2005. The ride is being gutted and rebuilt.

 

[RU42]

I think we need to get ready for lots of closures in prep for #50. Maybe not but seems logical. (I know, since when are they logical.)

RU

 

[Merlin]

Any details on what the updates to Space Mountain will be?

 

[DCA Fan]

Entire track and supports will be remade, no clue about the layout. As of now, it will most likely be the original layout, with improved technology on the coaster and the audio system.

 

[ToTBellHop]

Originally posted by DCA Fan
Entire track and supports will be remade, no clue about the layout. As of now, it will most likely be the original layout, with improved technology on the coaster and the audio system.

Plus a new queue and preshow--and yes, the track layout will be exactly the same. The entire building will have new theming.

 

[netenyahoo]

We are going near the end of May to DL. I already knew POTC would be closed. I was sad and bitterly disappointed, but this is the only time we can go. Space Mountain closed and I was a little ticked off because then it would be 2 big rides down. I can live without Space Mountain being open, but it sure would be nice if POTC opened early.

 

[Disneynutcase]

I was at DL back in March when the Rivers of America and Critter Country were closed. Let me tell you, these closures had a huge effect on the park. You don't stop to realize the amounts of guests these attractions accommodate until you're standing in ungodly lines for Jungle Cruise or Alice In Wonderland--both of which never have much of a line when all the park is up and running.

Point is, closures like this really effect the rest of the park. Space Mountain gets tons of riders over the course of a day that now will be taking up space in lines for other attractions. And when Disney opts to rehab other attractions like POTC (which accomodates tons of guests, and by the way, has been rumored to have a lengthy rehab closure coming sometime soon), that's only o makes crowd issues worse.

Didn't someone just recently post that Innoventions was strangely packed on their recent trip? There ya go.

DL is going to suffer and guests/fans are going to be hacked off for a while until the new people in charge fix all the boneheaded decisions that Pressler and company inflicted upon this once great park.

A wise decision would've had some other long-time closed attractions re-done or re-opened prior to the Space Mountain closure. Think about it--there's an empty non-used stage area in the Big Thunder Ranch area--it used to house the Hunchback show. The old Circlevision theater could've been back up and running with any kind of Circlevision (it shouldn't have been that hard to do). They could even put a new well-received show into the old Golden Horseshoe theater. And let's not forget about the giant puddle that used to occupy the Subs.

All these areas remain shut down when they could've been (w/ the exception of the sub lagoon) easily turned into something that could swallow up guests that Space Mountain and any other temporary closure accomodate.

When I was there back in March (on a crowded Saturday), our options that day were to either endure long lines, or see the few crowd accomodators that DL offers--the Buzz Lightyear Show, Great Moments With Mr. Lincoln, HISTA, or the Tiki Room.

Compare this to WDW's MK where on crowded days, you got CBJ, Alien Encounter, Tiki Room, Hall of Presidents, two ongoing shows (Cinderella's show and the Belle storytelling), plus CoP and Timekeeper during peak season, as well as a new 3-D show to open soon. MK is well planned out, designed with large show-type attractions that can swallow amounts of people. This makes it easy for them to rehab rides. DL no longer has that luxury because so much of the basic Disney show-type attractions are gone and never replaced.

Let's hope that with the rumored sale of the Anaheim Angels that Disney uses some of this money to get DL back to the wonderful condition it used to be in (like around 1994). Unfortunately, whatever money they get will probably go to the other Disney corporate albatrosses--like ABC, DCA, and the much in need of rennovation Epcot.

 

[ToTBellHop]

You forget that The Sub Lagoon and the Circle-Vision theatre are reopening in the near future...next year or so...doesn't help in the near-term, but we do have that to look forward to.

 

[Tigggrl]

I was at Disneyland both Saturday and Yesterday...
Pirates was closed, but I walked right onto the Haunted Mansion, the Island is open, and the riverboat up and running too...The Columbia is going thru the refurb to make sure the Rigging for Fantasmic is up to par...
The Teacups were also closed, I believe they are repainting to go back to the original color scheme...
You have to remember one thing, the attractions, such as Pirates and Teacups go down for routine maintanence once a year anyway, these closures are routine. I myself have also NEVER been to Disneyland when there WASNT a line for Alice! Its one of the most popular attractions....period. I have walked right onto Snow White and Pinocchio, however...
The lines were not too terrible yesterday, but Saturday was crazy!
I have the wonderful ability to enjoy DL as much as I did with WDW...sometimes up to twice a week, and while I understand that a major attraction closing for refurb is an inconvenience, it is also a necessity, and Plans are in the works for future improvements overall...If you consider all of the new openings in the last year, it is refreshing, really!
OH! and one more thing!
Belle and Cindy both waved to me....Made me feel like I was 6 again...

 

[Al]

When I was at DL in December, I couldn't help noticing how new Space Mountain looked! It was a great ride! I thought it was much better than WDW's (sorry!) The ride vehicles were ace too The whole ride looked like it had just opened (...i guess thats Disney for you though! )

What is the need to change it? (sorry....i'm really confused!)