Cruise and Theme Park Operational Updates due to Coronavirus

[rteetz]

Maybe a dumb question, but what do they do during the annual refurb? It was down for a couple months in spring, scheduled to reopen March 21 I think, and of course that didn't happen

Most water rides go down on a yearly basis. Same reason the Disney water parks close on a yearly basis. Water creates problems that need routine maintenance. Pieces deteriorate quicker as well whether rusting or whatever else.

 

[Aimeedyan]

Well now I'm thinking we should try Terralina next week when we're staying back on property! We've always skipped it

 

[TXAKDisneyFan]

Most water rides go down on a yearly basis. Same reason the Disney water parks close on a yearly basis. Water creates problems that need routine maintenance. Pieces deteriorate quicker as well whether rusting or whatever else.

Yes, obviously. But Kali goes down for longer than Splash despite them both being water rides, Splash itself is older, and Splash has ~46 year old animatronics. (In 2019, TP shows Splash was down for about 10 days in Feb, while Kali was down Jan 7-March 22. In 2020, Splash was down Jan 6-Feb 27, Kali was down Jan 6-March 20.) I was wondering if there's anything in particular that tends to give Kali trouble. (It looks like Popeye and Bluto's Bilge-Rat Barges also historically goes down for a couple weeks in Jan/Feb, with a longer refurb in fall of 2019. So Kali has been undergoing longer refurbs than Popeye, too.)

 

[rteetz]

Yes, obviously. But Kali goes down for longer than Splash despite them both being water rides, Splash itself is older, and Splash has ~46 year old animatronics. (In 2019, TP shows Splash was down for about 10 days in Feb, while Kali was down Jan 7-March 22. In 2020, Splash was down Jan 6-Feb 27, Kali was down Jan 6-March 20.) I was wondering if there's anything in particular that tends to give Kali trouble. (It looks like Popeye and Bluto's Bilge-Rat Barges also historically goes down for a couple weeks in Jan/Feb, with a longer refurb in fall of 2019. So Kali has been undergoing longer refurbs than Popeye, too.)

I can’t speak to that. It is a raft ride so a bit different than a flume.

 

[andyman8]

Yes, obviously. But Kali goes down for longer than Splash despite them both being water rides, Splash itself is older, and Splash has ~46 year old animatronics. (In 2019, TP shows Splash was down for about 10 days in Feb, while Kali was down Jan 7-March 22. In 2020, Splash was down Jan 6-Feb 27, Kali was down Jan 6-March 20.) I was wondering if there's anything in particular that tends to give Kali trouble. (It looks like Popeye and Bluto's Bilge-Rat Barges also historically goes down for a couple weeks in Jan/Feb, with a longer refurb in fall of 2019. So Kali has been undergoing longer refurbs than Popeye, too.)

Though very similar (and the same “type” of ride), Popeye and Kali are actually two different systems from two different manufacturers. Kali was manufactured by Intamin, which also manufactured Grizzly River Run over at DCA (there’s a very long story about how Disney sorta accidentally ended up with two of these systems; Kali was not part of DAK’s original plan). Of course, Disney has to address certain maintainence issues every year (like the aforementioned ones), but I believe there are also some manufacturer protocols/safety checks Disney must adhere to/check on specific to this attraction, which can take a bit longer. Though the timeframes for the refurbs generally vary a bit from year to year, this is why GRR at DCA also sees similar refurbs.

Much (though not all) of the annual maintenance for Splash Mountain deals with the AA figures (which, with the dynamics of that attraction, require A LOT of maintenance), but as show maintenance, an extent of that can be staggered, delayed, or postponed, while safety maintenance cannot be for obvious reasons. Depending on annual budgets, operational needs, and the condition of certain show elements, some of that can be pushed up or delayed, which is why the timeline for Splash’s refurbs varies more from year to year.

 

[MickeyWaffles]

Yes, obviously. But Kali goes down for longer than Splash despite them both being water rides, Splash itself is older, and Splash has ~46 year old animatronics. (In 2019, TP shows Splash was down for about 10 days in Feb, while Kali was down Jan 7-March 22. In 2020, Splash was down Jan 6-Feb 27, Kali was down Jan 6-March 20.) I was wondering if there's anything in particular that tends to give Kali trouble. (It looks like Popeye and Bluto's Bilge-Rat Barges also historically goes down for a couple weeks in Jan/Feb, with a longer refurb in fall of 2019. So Kali has been undergoing longer refurbs than Popeye, too.)

Truthfully, I’ve always thought they closed Kali longer just because it wasn’t super popular in the colder months, whereas more people will go on Splash no matter the weather. Without evidence to back it up, I have wondered if the longer annual Kali closures aren’t all about maintenance.

 

[SaintsManiac]

WOO HOO!! PARK HOPPING IS COMING BACK!

https://twitter.com/x/status/1329770782793363456

 

[SaintsManiac]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1329771962672033793

 

[SaintsManiac]

And here's a link to the DPB article:

https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/b...9Sgbqiol7YRhYVDHSzJpOQYJ7GPx8F2vtmM53DUW-6RyQ

 

[hereforthechurros]

Just saw that pop up on Instagram! We’ve been on the fence about activating our APs in a world without PH so this definitely helps.

 

[skeeter31]

So basically you reserve your first park and then are able to hop to a second park after 2pm. Awesome!

 

[Farro]

YAHOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING!!!!!

 

[IceSkatingPrincess]

Such great news today!! I am so excited about the return of park hopper, I really missed it on my trips this year.

Nature is healing

 

[osufeth24]

I was about to come in here and say I can't wait to see how I can be disappointed today

BUT I'M SO HAPPY

 

[skeeter31]

I wonder how they’re going to update people on the capacity of parks though. Because it does say the availability of hopping is based on the current reservations for the second park. So say you start at MK and want to hop to HS after 2, but HS is filled in your bucket that day. Without having to make a reservation for that second park, would they just turn you away at the touch point or hopefully there will be a new section of MDE that will alert you to what parks have availability for hopping each day. But that’s asking a lot of Disney IT lol

 

[osufeth24]

I wonder how they’re going to update people on the capacity of parks though. Because it does say the availability of hopping is based on the current reservations for the second park. So say you start at MK and want to hop to HS after 2, but HS is filled in your bucket that day. Without having to make a reservation for that second park, would they just turn you away at the touch point or hopefully there will be a new section of MDE that will alert you to what parks have availability for hopping each day. But that’s asking a lot of Disney IT lol

Wouldn't be surprised if it's like Universal, just look at park hours, and if it says at capacity, then it's a no go

 

[SaintsManiac]

I wonder how they’re going to update people on the capacity of parks though. Because it does say the availability of hopping is based on the current reservations for the second park. So say you start at MK and want to hop to HS after 2, but HS is filled in your bucket that day. Without having to make a reservation for that second park, would they just turn you away at the touch point or hopefully there will be a new section of MDE that will alert you to what parks have availability for hopping each day. But that’s asking a lot of Disney IT lol

I was thinking they could do a push notification when a park is at capacity. They already do that on NYE and such.

 

[skeeter31]

Wouldn't be surprised if it's like Universal, just look at park hours, and if it says at capacity, then it's a no go

I mean I’ll take it no matter what. Such amazing news to have hopping back. It really makes me look forward to January now. We usually go 2-3 times in January alone due to the cooler weather and lower crowds (and Festival of the Arts). Now it’s going to be 100x better being able to hop to EPCOT every night!!

 

[Farro]

I wonder how they’re going to update people on the capacity of parks though. Because it does say the availability of hopping is based on the current reservations for the second park. So say you start at MK and want to hop to HS after 2, but HS is filled in your bucket that day. Without having to make a reservation for that second park, would they just turn you away at the touch point or hopefully there will be a new section of MDE that will alert you to what parks have availability for hopping each day. But that’s asking a lot of Disney IT lol

At the very least, I'm sure we'll all be able to hop to Epcot every night!

 

[SaintsManiac]

You know what else they could do is display it on the bus time boards.