This question comes from my reader Kim…
I have been planning our trip to Disneyland forever, got our airline tickets bought, room booked, tickets, spending money all saved etc. I have been “day dreaming” about our trip forever, and now I am down to 4 months. I NEVER even thought one second, that one of our family’s favorite rides, Pirates of the Caribbean, would be CLOSED for refurbishment. How do you deal with the let down of planning, saving, day dreaming, knowing that is not going to be open/ this can apply to any ride or any show etc at a park. How do you let your kids know, knowing how upset they will be..I know this is a silly question, but a true disney fan would know how I feel and how to deal with this topic.
Kat says
My husband & I went to a Disney convention last June and we were one of the two grand prize winners to Disneyland (we had to pay for airfare). We had a choose dates that the Disneyland Hotel had open and because of my vacation days at work, we decided the 2nd week of September. Even though we’re staying at DLH, and we did win a trip, we saw that 3 of our favorite rides are closed for refurbishment. Quite a bummer, but with “faith, trust & pixie dust”, we hope for a memorable trip!
Melissa says
Bummer that is going to be closed during your visit as it is also one of my favorites. There is a website you can search for (I came across last year) that lets you know when what rides will be closed. My husband has missed out on a small world both times he has gone, must be our luck that we visit when it is scheduled for repairs.
pam says
When we went last August Small World was closed and I was so looking forward to sharing this with my kids since it was my grandmothers favorite ride that she rode over and over and I wanted them to experience it but it was closed so hopefully we will get to experience it in Feb. when we are going back.
Cindy says
WE always go in the slow season so there always seems to be something closed. One cool thing we did get to see while it was closed was the inside of space Mtn with the lights on while we were riding the people mover (or whatever they call it these days). That was I think around 2000 when we went in 2009 it was closed again but they boarded up the windows.
I always explained to the kids that just like they get sick without any notice sometimes that happens to the rides too. I do try to look at the schedule to prepare them for what is going to be down.
sharon says
Kim,
The good news is that you know now that the ride will be closed. That is much better than showing up expecting to ride and finding out once you are in the park that it is closed. Just focus on all the other fun you will have (and you can plan for a future time to go back and enjoy your ride when it’s not down).
stephanie says
This happened to me in March – the primeval whirl is my favorite ride in animal kingdom and it closed down! it was the first time I had taken my boyfriend with me to Disney and I wanted him to ride it SO BAD (I am not a thrill person, so me liking this ride is strange!). I realized that this just means I have no excuse not to go back soon!
Dana says
My heartbreak is now my daughter’s favorite ride- Snow White’s Scary Adventures- won’t be reopening! Last night we were talking about Disney and I asked her what ride she wanted to ride first and when she said Snow White and we casually mentioned that it MIGHT not be open the next time we go, she dissolved into unconsolable sobs!
Kristen D. says
*ride* pirates, and this was at Disney World where it’s perpetually closed :lol:
Kristen D. says
It took us 3 trips to get to rid Pirates! I never got to ride the original version. I just roll with the punches- better to miss it this trip than have it look terrible (ruining the magic) or have it break down every 15 seconds (like Peter Pan did on our ride of it!)
Chris says
Here’s the site for what’s closed… http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/calendars/
Although we have favorite rides, there are no rides that would absolutely break our hearts enough to not want to go or be disappointed. There are plenty more and we know we will have fun anyway.
kadie says
I have never been on that Pinnochio ride or whatever it is where you go into that whales mouth!!!! I have been to Disneyland like a million times and never been on it! Where is this website to find out what rides are down for the day??? That would be amazing!
Karen says
This has happened to me. It’s my family’s running joke that we never get to go on Pirates of the Caribbean. The last 3 out of 4 times that we were there, it was closed for refurbishment. Last year, I finally got to see it with the addition of Johnny Depp.
Michele says
I can certainly understand your frustration! A little while back when they were upgrading Space Mountain at Disney World it was closed. My kids are older and just took it in stride; I was the one that was the most disappointed! We just looked forward to being able to ride the “new” ride the next time we were there. Honestly, there is so much to do at Disney that we never get to see and do it all. This October will be our 9th trip with our kids (my 12th) and we consider ourselves Disney pros. We learned a long time ago to not try to see and do everything; you will strip a gear trying to do so! Just go have fun and enjoy what attractions are open. Be sure to look for hidden Mickeys while you are there. That is one of our favorite things to do and we are THRILLED every time we find a new one! I hope you have a great trip! : )
Stephanie says
You just have the best trip ever no matter what! I completely understand your frustration. A few years ago, Space Mountain was going through refurb during our vacation and that is my husband’s favorite ride. It was sad, but we still had a great trip and I took a photo of him with a frown on his face next to the refurb sign. It’s a cute pic and it helped us get over the refurb. Hope this helps!
Sarah says
We had the same thing happen when we went a few years ago and the Haunted Mansion was closed. We were all pretty bummed out. Now, we love Disney, so, though it was a big let down it didn’t take away much from our vacation, there’s SO MUCH to enjoy. As far as your kids go, I think it’s best to let them express their disappointment, note how much fun it’s going to be to see the ride ‘all spruced up’ some other trip, and move on to have fun! My son was really sad about the Barn Stormer being closed and had a sad moment in May when we realized that it was closed, but now all he talks about is how much fun it’s going to be to see the NEW ride some day! You can always check ahead to see what rides are going to be closed if there’s a certain ride that’s a MUST, but for us, we all have plenty of ‘favs’ that a ride or two being refurbished is no big deal.
Cathy Amaral says
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Rebecca says
We had this happen recently, when our trip we had been planning for 6+ months ended up falling during the pirates movie premiere and several attractions closed in preparation, and on top of that star tours and splash mountain were being refurbished!! We were really disappointed, but I was sure to give my son plenty of advance warning and we really played up all the other rides/shows etc that we were looking forward to and tried to focus on how exciting it would be when those rides were open on our next trip. It’s always nice to have something to look forward to ;) (and for the record, I was worried it would ruin our trip, but once we were there, there was so much we *could* do it really didn’t matter! We had a wonderful time!!)
Brynna says
We have a handful of favorites, and only a small window for vacation travel, but I really try to go when they are scheduled to be open (I watch the refurb. schedule like a hawk!). We’ve still ended up going at times when something was supposed to be open and it wasn’t (“a last minute change”), so that was a bummer (okay, the first time, when Splash Mountain was close, I wanted to die in the middle of the walkway! LOL), but that’s only happened once or twice and on one ride per vacation.
But I really just try to plan for it ahead of time…if we can’t modify our dates to fit around our favorite rides, then at least we’re prepared when we get there. :)
Carol says
I have been to Disneyland many times a year forever and there are so many fantastic rides. A lot of my friends who visited did not like Pirates…it is very dark and can be scary…there are water drops and you can get wet in the dark. Haunted mansion is very nice and there are new rides that are fun and exciting. You will have so much fun…it is like being in another world and everyone is friendly and helpful and Dland is the cleanest park I have ever visited…be sure and stop at Town hall for free buttons for first visit or any birthday you are celebrating. It will definitely be magical and you will love the rides…enjoy!