what can you do if half is closed?

[jencor]

That's not even close to half. It's actually 18%.

Considering the absolute hell Southern California went through on Tuesday/Wednesday with some of the worst Santa Ana winds in decades, it's amazing how well the Disneyland Resort fared.

There are over 60 rides/attractions at Disneyland and DCA. Currently there are six rides closed for refurbishment, and they've been listed on the refurbishment calendar on the Disneyland.com website for months prior. http://www.disneyland.com In addition to phoning Disneyland information the old fashioned way ahead of your visit at (714) 781-4565. Those refurbishments are also listed on the "Currently Unavailable" signs posted at every single entry lane to the Main Entrance Esplanade that they had to pass before entry to the parks.

If Buzz Lightyear, Splash and Matterhorn were having technical problems at the time your daughter approached those attractions, that is certainly a bummer. But there are phone apps that track wait times and opening/closings that happen routinely throughout a day. Disneyland/DCA also has seven satellite Guest Relations kiosks posted throughout both parks (listed on the park maps), in addition to the two main Guest Relations offices and the two Information Boards that post attraction status (also listed on the park maps), so a guest without a phone app can always go to one of those eleven Guest Relations centers to inquire if a ride has reopened.

Disneyland Resort also offers an amazingly accurate auto phone service that gives you instant info on any ride/show in the park through voice recognition, its' called Ask Otto!, and the service is noted prominently in every park map. (714) 520-7090

The good news is that with modern information technology, and two theme parks that sit literally within 75 yards of each other, a person can hop between each park multiple times per day and cherry pick the best experiences. And as always, if a person has questions, a physical visit to one of the eleven staffed Guest Relations facilities located in each park will offer a world of options, the latest information, and customer service recovery tools for the asking.

They are college students trying to save a few bucks, so hopping over to the other park was out as they did not pay for park hoppers. If you look at main rides for that park at that time, those percentages change quite a bit. I being from the East knew nothing about the winds they were experiencing so did not have that to tell her at the time. She got through it, had a great week over all, it was just frustrating at the time and as a Dad 3000 miles away, I wanted to do what I could to help.

 

[sweetpee_1993]

Totally understand that. But it's about the same risk you take with booking a trip to WDW and then being kept inside the hotel for two days due to a hurricane. At WDW, hurricanes and tropical weather systems can close the parks for days at a time. At least in that completely bizarre Santa Ana wind condition last week both parks stayed open and operated as close to normal as possible, with a few exceptions like the Golden Zephyr closed for high winds. (Which is ironic that a ride named after a wind can't operate in high winds.)

Orlando and Disney Cruise Lines usually get threatened with a hurricane once or twice per season. Unless you get a weird year like 2004 when three separate hurricanes passed nearby Walt Disney World and shut the parks for days at a time, again and again. Last week's Santa Ana's were like that type of thing; something that happens only once every 20 or 30 years.

Florida Hurricanes Impacting WDW In August/September 2004

We're the weird people who want to be on a ship near a hurricane. God's own thrill ride. Absolutely. Cat 1 or 2 storms we stay/venture outside (with caution) to watch, cat 3+ we typically get out of the way. Hurricanes don't really bother us. We know the time of year we're most likely to see them. We've lived them many times.

This being my first trip west I had no clue. I only knew what I read as typical and all the raving I heard from others about how gorgeous the weather was in April. My husband lived up near San Fran for a few years when he was a kid. He says he remembers talk of the winds but never experienced them the many times his family ventured into areas that may have been impacted. By averages I get that what we experienced was on the extreme side. Rare. I may come off as a complete tool but I'll be honest (hey, at least I'm honest, right?), it *seriously* es me off that I had to be THAT unlucky. All the years of wishing & day dreaming, all the planning, the expense (!), etc. and we were there for the fluke. Oh I know I wasn't the only one and there will be many others in years to come. It's just a bitter pill to swallow just now. I had a great time (mostly from the companionship with family & friends both new & old) but there's so much I feel like we didn't do or didn't enjoy because we were dodging the heat and/or crowds.

 

[sweetpee_1993]

CHRISTMAS!

As much as I'd love to see the holiday overlays....I dunno.....

 

[Donfan]

I just searched the Disneyland web site and had to send a question to the Mom's panel about what rides will be closed for refurbishment during our upcoming visit. Is there a better way to find out on the site itself? I couldn't find it, but I'm not very expert with their site.

 

[sweetpee_1993]

They are college students trying to save a few bucks, so hopping over to the other park was out as they did not pay for park hoppers. If you look at main rides for that park at that time, those percentages change quite a bit. I being from the East knew nothing about the winds they were experiencing so did not have that to tell her at the time. She got through it, had a great week over all, it was just frustrating at the time and as a Dad 3000 miles away, I wanted to do what I could to help.

I understand completely. We were there at the same time. Funny story. Our first night at DLH we were laying in bed watching the resort programming that showed all the snippets of attractions & to-do's. Hubby would say "Oh! There's an Alice in Wonderland ride." I'd reply, "Yes but it's closed for refurb." "Oh! They have a river raft ride?!" "Yep, but it's not open." "Nemo subs. Those look cool." "Not open, dear." "I didn't know they had the Little Mermaid ride here, too." "Yes but it's being refurbished." It was like every attraction he had a comment on was not open. I laughed because I had been telling him for such a long time what all was going to be closed. He either forgot it, more likely, wasn't listening. LOL! The conversation ended when he turned to me & said, "Is anything open? Why did we come?" I just laughed at him.

Between refurbs & rides going down we definitely had moments where we wondered WTH. Lines for what didn't go down got long. Lots of people were frustrated. I think the heat made it more exasperating.

 

[Californian Elitist]

I just searched the Disneyland web site and had to send a question to the Mom's panel about what rides will be closed for refurbishment during our upcoming visit. Is there a better way to find out on the site itself? I couldn't find it, but I'm not very expert with their site.

There's a 'Things to Do' tab at the top. Roll over or click on the tab, and you should see something like 'Entertainment Schedule' at the bottom. Click that and you should be able to find your refurbs.

 

[GiveMeTheMusic]

As much as I'd love to see the holiday overlays....I dunno.....

Christmas at DLR is truly the most wonderful time of the year. Both parks are packed to the gills with entertainment. DCA has World of Color Winter Dreams, Viva Navidad (street party/parade) and gorgeous decorations, DL has small world & Mansion Holiday, Believe...In Holiday Magic fireworks, A Christmas Fantasy Parade - it's just the best. Just don't come the week of Christmas and New Years - it's hell.

Oh, and it's cold in December (by CA standards).

 

[PolynesianPrincess]

As much as I'd love to see the holiday overlays....I dunno.....

We feel the same way. Weather is so hard to predict! I had stuff packed for 70-80 degree days with chilly nights and then ended up having to repack for hot weather and ended up only needing a sweatshirt for the first night! When you travel, you take a risk and it's such a bummer when you hit unfortunate circumstances like we did. I will say though, we have been VERY lucky on all our WDW trips and our 2 cruises. Pretty much great weather every time and only a little bit of rain here and there.

I want to experience DLR at the holidays. Hopefully the weather will be better! If not, well, at least we gave it two tries! lol

 

[PolynesianPrincess]

Christmas at DLR is truly the most wonderful time of the year. Both parks are packed to the gills with entertainment. DCA has World of Color Winter Dreams, Viva Navidad (street party/parade) and gorgeous decorations, DL has small world & Mansion Holiday, Believe...In Holiday Magic fireworks, A Christmas Fantasy Parade - it's just the best. Just don't come the week of Christmas and New Years - it's hell.

Oh, and it's cold in December (by CA standards).

We're planning on the week before Thanksgiving. Before the holiday crowds pick up and before the cold December weather kicks in. I've seen pics and read reports of DLR at Christmas and I can't WAIT to see it!

 

[Donfan]

There's a 'Things to Do' tab at the top. Roll over or click on the tab, and you should see something like 'Entertainment Schedule' at the bottom. Click that and you should be able to find your refurbs.

Found what I needed. Thanks.

 

[Californian Elitist]

Found what I needed. Thanks.

Anytime.