According to rumors, all plans for any kind of make-over were cancelled a while ago. This ride is turning into one of the more interesting stories in the entire California Adventure tragedy. A lot of current themes are impacting the fate of this particular attraction.
SuperStar Limo (SSL) has been a lowlight even for this poorly-received park and rumors started even before opening that major changes would be coming soon. The ride was opened as is because it is one of the highest capacity attractions in the park and was expected to be a major people eater during the close-the-doors-were-packed opening phases.
But as everyone knows, DCAs attendance has been far, far below expectations. Within days the entire project went into crisis mode. The reception for SSL was universally horrible and even on the parks busy days the ride was running at a fraction of its capacity. An idea quickly surfaced to retheme the ride with Disney characters to address both the quality of the attraction and add the missing Disney from Disneys California Adventure.
But the situation at the park grew even worse. As excuse after excuse fell by the way side (weather, fear of opening crowds, spring break, summer), it became apparent even to the Gnomes in Burbank that DCA was a major disaster. More than tweaks were going to be needed to save the place. The money planned for any SSL redo was diverted to other projects.
As budget cuts swept through the park, SSL was closed more than it was opened as a simple cost savings method. If no one was riding the ride, way pay for all those cast members? But then another problem surfaced. With so few attractions (and even fewer rides), Disney simply couldnt afford to shut down a single attraction no matter how bad it was. SSL is also one of the few non-height restricted rides in the park, and frankly Guest Relations needed a comeback to all the complaints no matter how bad the attraction was. Disney was simply forced to keep open a ride neither they nor the public really cared about.
Bare bones plans, like using
Disney Store figures, were put forward in an attempt simply to do something anything positive. All the rumors say those attempts looked as bad as they sound. Back the drawing boards. But at least now a little more money was starting to flow into fixing DCA. Perhaps something really good could from all of the mess.
Well, except for another twist. People suddenly realized that SSL used an open-door, lap bar restraint, high clearance ride vehicle. The same kind of vehicle that is used on Roger Rabbit. The same kind of vehicle that caused Disney a years worth of horrendous publicity. The same kind of ride vehicles that caused Disney to settle out of court for millions and millions. And most importantly, the same kind of ride vehicle that caused a young child to be crippled for life.
With the state and the lawyers ready to step into court Disney had to slam the ride shut. And any penny that had been going to a new show is going to refurbish the ride vehicles instead. Simply put, a bad show is better than no show but any show can be trumped by the state inspectors.
So thats where the rumors say things stand at the moment. The ride vehicles are being upgraded as quickly as budget and the stretched staff will permit (which is not fast). There is operational pressure to get the ride open again and some management ego involved as well, but theres not a lot of enthusiasm to really drive the project. With the bigger problems at DCA and SSLs reputation, no one really wants to tackle the problem.
Best guess is that this ride will limp along, It may actually reopen on day but the longer it stays closed without major complaints the more likely it will be moved into Yesterdayland.
This is, of course, nothing but rumors.
