Check Disney Site For Refurb Schedule!

So, I just booked a trip to Disneyland.

I figured I'd try booking it through a lady who sponsors one of my favorite Disney podcasts. My only two stipulations were, 1) low crowds, and 2) Haunted Mansion, Splash and Pirates have GOT to be open.

I was assured that the attractions named above would be open during my stay. In fact, I was told specifically that only IASW would be closed, and that was fine with me.

We booked the vacation. I paid for the airline tickets. Got everything done. No refunds allowed. No cancellations without insane "fees". But hey, I had been assured that everything was covered.

I thought that was it.

Then, the very same night, I went onto Disneyland.com to check what the park hours were going to be when I went on my trip, and.... guess what?

A whole LAUNDRY LIST of refurbs showed up! Including: Haunted Mansion, NOS Train Station, Fantasmic, French Market (No fried chicken!!!!!).... the list goes on and on, for a total of about ten attractions, when I had been assured that ONLY Small world would be closed.

So, it now appears that those attractions were not in their list the day that we booked... but that night, they listed a ton of them.

So, to a great extent, my trip is now ruined.

I just wanted to let you folks know that there are now officially a whooooole lot of refurbs that just got listed yesterday, so if you are booking a vacation, understand that you NEED TO GO TO THE DISNEYLAND.COM CALENDAR and look at what's going to be closed!!!

Haunted Mansion, for example... WAS going to close on the 8th... it's now closing on the 2nd....

And I can't even really be mad at my travel agent lady. She felt HORRIBLE. When I sent her the news with a link to the official Disney site, she was just as baffled as I was.

So, there you go. I just wanted to try to keep anyone else from throwing away a grand and a half.

[#1DisneyFreak]

That's happened to us before too. We looked and nothing was down so we booked, then just before we left I went to print a calendar and there were 4 or 5 things closed. It's still DL thought and you'll still have fun! No worries that you'll be "throwing your money away". Sad that you won't see those things though. HM has been closed the last 2 times we've gone, so I really miss that.
You can still get Fried Chicken at hte Plaza Inn! :) MMMM!
Sorry that you'll be missing some favorites, but hopefully you will still have a great time. When is your trip?

I'm not sure we're keeping the schedule. I am just so bummed that I am thinking about rescheduling the whole thing.

[ozzsoad]

I just saw the list, it made me so mad. I specifically planned my trip around The Haunted Mansion being open. I pushed it up a week because it was listed as being closed the 8th.

The last few times I've been, the Holiday decorations were up. No offense anyone, but I hate the Holiday version of Haunted Mansion, I seriously wish it'd go away. I want the real Haunted Mansion when I go, and for it to be open. It's my absolute favorite ride.

Sure, I'll be there the night before it closes, but who knows how many times I'll be able to ride it with the huge crowds there. The next two days after that I'll just be staring at it, wishing I can go on. It's tradition that I ride it quite a few times each day I'm there. Looks my my tradition is ruined once again. It's been more than 3 years since I've been on the real Haunted Mansion.

I've been saving up hard earned money for a few months now for a hotel and for fun stuff in the park, and I almost don't feel like going.

Lets just see how many more things they'll close down. They have a couple more weeks to ruin my little vacation even more.

[BCC]

Well....it's only one ride thats going down...

At least Pirates will be up for you! Based on my observations...they are basically shutting down the least populated area of DL anyway...so it really shouldn't hinder your trip that much...

[Piglet]

I would just go anyway, just think how minimal the crowds will be! Then you can take another trip with your AP later on when all the refurb's are finished. We went to Disneyland in 2004 when they were refurbing everything for the 50th and lots of things were closed, but we had a great time anyway! Also, when there is no Fantasmic, you can ride the Mark Twain at night which is awesome! I hope your trip is wonderful in spite of the closures =)

[Wdzni]

Yeah in very small like .02 font they have a subject to change without notice disclaimer. Don't worry it's Disneyland. You'll have a lot of fun!

[ghoofie]

Fried Chicken ? No problem....Plaza has it. Or take short 5 mile drive to Knotts and have Mrs. Knotts' Fried Chicken.....yummmmmmmmy

[Neo]

You know... they might even move up the refurb to the last week of August and it may reopen by the time you get their. They change dates a lot and sometimes don't even take down things for refurb when they say. You just gotta plan your trip and hope for the best.

[ryguy222]

Oh yes, I have had lots of problems with things popping up at the last minute. If I'm not mistaken, I think they have a glitch or something like that. Because it sometimes will not show closures until a week or two weeks before.

Now I know they usually have closures up around a month or two in advance, but it doesn' always show it. What I have done is in the address bar at the top, somewhere in the address it shows something like Span=4 or however many days you have selected. Go ahead and erase the number there and put in 99 (that's the highest) and I've found that sometimes spots that were blank before, are now filled with closure dates, which are accurate. So if you run into trouble or you could call Disney and ask. Sometimes they don't know when a ride will need a refurb. If it breaks down say 10 times in a day, because of a mechanical problem, they may close it down, just as a pre-caution.

Thanks for the info and the words of support.

I am getting over the initial shock of the whole thing. When you check it and check it and then book it, and spend fifteen hundred dollars, and everything is perfect... and then that very same night, Disney changes everything. I can't imagine how many peoples' vacations have been affected...

2 weeks' notice is not enough. I think that Disney's doing a refurb list that is only 2 weeks out sucks, to put it frankly.

Most people book their vacations at least a month in advance. And I waited until the last possible moment so that I could take advantage of a CURRENT REFURB LIST.

I do have to tell you guys, though, that your suggestions are fantastic. I have never had the chicken at Knott's, but I've heard it's legendary.

Also, that idea of taking the Mark Twain around sounds so relaxing. I am just totally stressed and so sad, and then the thought of just sitting there on a warm evening and going around the Rivers sounded perfect for a summer treat.

I'll have fun no matter what. It's just the slap to the face by Disney that kind of stings.

[chadsgal]

We too have some die hard HM fans who were very sad to hear the news today that it will be closing 9/2 instead of 9/8.

[Disney Babe]

Don't feel bad. I went to DL close to Christmas the year before Fantasmic started. We didn't know until we got there that the Rivers of America had been drained so they could install pipes and do other work. There was a fence and tarp all around the River and I was sooooo depressed. Somehow I managed to have an awesome time anyway, but that was the worse refurb ever.

You have never been to Mrs. Knott's?!! You need to experience that. Remember that you do not have to go into the park or even pay for parking. Park on the street in front of the restaurant or in their three hour free lot. If for any reason you happen to be there on a Saturday or Sunday ask to talk to the waitress Pam. She celebrated 50 years working there last year and can tell you stories! Anyway, you will love looking at all the memorabilla on the walls as you go in. Expect to wait in a long line, unless you go for lunch around 11 a.m. Ask to sit in the main dining room, it's the original and the nicest. You may notice the waitresses and waiters are quite busy, but they can be friendly if you give them a smile and a few good words.

Instead of having dinner at the French Market (my favorite too), treat yourself to Cafe Orleans. Maybe enjoy the sunset on the Rivers of America from one of their tables.

[hizgurl88]

I was so going that weekend, and planned it because it was right before HM closed (sad panda!) oh well! Can't change plans now, but I still love the rest of the park! Anyone know when it will reopen?

[lovesdisney]

You might be able to talk to the people in City Hall and explain your situation, but I'm not sure if they'll be able to do anything for you. It's worth a shot, though.

And I went tonight and there was no Fantasmic! and the Mark Twain was down, too, so just keep in mind that it might also be a possibility that it may not be available.

SO sorry to hear about all of that. That REALLY sucks. Hope you make the best of it, though. GO ON THE CANOES! they're the best :D