It's certainly not a typical day for local AP Holders making visits to the Disneyland Park this month. There's no Splash, no Space, not even a yo-ho coming from the classic ride in New Orleans Square. In fact, an entire "land and a half" is closed off to the public as huge construction walls dominate the scene in Fantasyland and Critter Country. Rehabs are certainly in full swing at the Resort at a level never witnessed before, which makes for fewer attractions and occasionally longer lines on those that are open. But on the flip side, this overhaul update of the Happiest Place on Earth will likely yield a fresh and glowing park that Guests haven't seen in years.
While walking around the park Friday evening, Ryan and I heard a number of sarcastic comments coming from annoyed visitors at the number of attractions down throughout Disneyland. "Let's go on Splash - no wait, that's closed - Space? Oh wait, that's closed too! Big Thunder - well, we just did that!" was the common line of jokes exchanged between confused Guests in the center of the Hub trying to decide what to do next. No doubt about it, the Resort hasn't seen this many rehabs in years. For the out of town Guest making one of their few pilgrimages to Disneyland, it's quite a shock and disappointment to find a good number of major attractions closed. At the same time, it's also a shock for the local Disneyland fan - but partially a positive one, because this could signal a great new look and attention for a park that's been mostly ignored since the opening of California Adventure.
The great news is all of the rehabs seem to be moving along efficiently, and sneak peeks show that when they're over, things in the park will look superb. For example, the repaving project going on in Fantasyland has been needed for a long time. From what's been done so far, it looks like the new layout will restore the safe, sharp, fantastic look and feel to one of Disneyland's most famous lands. The story is similar over in Critter Country - when the gates open up to this folksy land again, Guests will see a freshly revived Splash Mountain, a completely redone photo opportunity setup with everyone's favorite Pooh characters, and the beginnings of an all-new attraction in place of the Country Bear Playhouse. Finally, we see the annual attention being given to Pirates of the Caribbean and Space Mountain, two attractions that always return from rehab with some new subtle change to look for.
It's definitely frustrating to visit a park you love and find half of your favorite things closed from viewing. However, as the recent unveiling of the superb looking Haunted Mansion shows, these things are necessary to maintain that unbeatable Disney quality and fantasy we all love about the park. When planning your trips, be prepared for a smaller park as is common during the off-season. But also plan for much lighter crowds, and a fantastic new park to be seen when the off-season ends.
Be sure to check out the Intercot West
closures section for the latest rehab information.
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