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With the tip of the height vacation crowds ending on January 9, one other ‘season’ is true across the nook in early 2023 at Walt Disney World: refurbishment season. Historically, the winter months have been the highest time for experience closures and upkeep, as decrease crowds make that simpler to perform.
Already, the 2023 Walt Disney World Refurbishment Calendar is beginning to bear this out. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and Kali River Rapids have had closures added for this winter in the previous couple of weeks, and it’s totally attainable extra rides will be a part of the record. Then there’s Splash Mountain, which is able to completely shut for conversion into Tiana’s Bayou Adventure in Winter 2023.
Those planning Walt Disney World holidays are at all times disenchanted when their favourite points of interest are down, however on a constructive notice, this record has not been anyplace as ‘bad’ because the 2023 Disneyland Refurbishment Calendar. There, it actually is refurbishment season, even because the Disney a hundredth Anniversary Celebration kicks off in January.
This most likely isn’t going to win me any mates amongst these visiting in January 2023, however I believe Walt Disney World ought to be including many extra points of interest to the refurbishment calendar. There are quite a few rides which have been experiencing above-average downtime, and others which can be working however not show-ready.
Sadly, preventative upkeep doesn’t appear to have been occurring because it ought to–which is the ‘best of both worlds’ answer, because it means in a single day work that has minimal affect to company. I suppose that’s what occurs if you let go of a bunch of old-timers who held the institutional data and lived-experience obligatory to take care of and repair so many of those legacy points of interest! (But I digress…)
Another attraction simply added to the 2023 closure calendar is Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith. Per Walt Disney World, this can shut February 20, 2023 with the “rocktastic attraction will resume its super-stretch limo rides in summer 2023.”
This taking place for normal upkeep in keeping with Walt Disney World, and “there will be no changes to the Guest experience as a result of this routine refurbishment.”
Operationally, this can be a huge blow for Disney’s Hollywood Studios, which already is missing in sufficient points of interest to soak up the heavy crowds the park sees. This will solely make that worse, particularly if there’s overlap with some other closure. Here’s hoping that Walt Disney World brings again Jedi Training Academy or another leisure in early 2023.
It additionally will put much more pressure on the already imbalanced Lightning Lane lineup. Already, return occasions are sometimes pushed out into the late afternoon and early night, and this can solely worsen that. Expect to solely rating 2-3 good Lightning Lanes through Genie+ in the event you don’t have a robust refresh sport. (Here’s hoping that Fantasmic is added to the Genie+ lineup sooner moderately than later to assist offset this.)
Now let’s flip to hypothesis about what’ll happen throughout this prolonged closure–or moderately, what’s going to not occur. Some of you may recall that again in November 2018, the New York Times did a puff piece about how a lot Disney was spending on growth that included a tidbit about Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster being rethemed. The firm rapidly issued a denial–that there have been “no current plans” to retheme Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster “at this time.” (Famous wiggle phrases!)
My perception then and now was that the story as initially revealed was correct, and Disney unintentionally let the cat out of the bag early. The firm clearly participated within the piece and its writer is a seasoned Disney fan, not just a few random journalist who would’ve confused the Paris and Florida variations of the experience. Regardless, it didn’t come to fruition pre-closure, and just about all plans since have been derailed.
Nevertheless, there undoubtedly will likely be “rumors” of a Marvel re-theme or a distinct band changing Aerosmith. If we’re going to throw round bands that may be excellent, my vote is for Led Zeppelin. It’ll by no means occur for quite a lot of causes, nevertheless it ought to. Kids today have to be taught historical past–and good style in music!
Another band changing Aerosmith or one other theme totally can be believable hypothesis within the absence of official phrase from Walt Disney World. However, the corporate has launched an unambiguous assertion that no modifications are deliberate to the experience expertise. This one doesn’t even have wiggle phrases! That ought to put these rumors to relaxation, a minimum of for now.
Instead, the refurbishment will revolve round curler coaster’s launch system and entail different normal preventative upkeep. While that’s the official phrase, that is arguably extra than simply preventative. Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster has been experiencing prolonged downtimes in recent times, and that’s solely gotten worse this yr.
There have been a couple of multi-day stretches when the attraction has been closed, and it has develop into one of the vital unreliable rides at Walt Disney World. (It was down for many of the morning right now, the truth is!)
I’m not a curler coaster knowledgeable, so I can’t converse to the possible causes of the downtime (dispatch, unload, or different backups?). It’s additionally attainable that the experience producer recommends sure upkeep after X years of operation, and the Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster will quickly hit that. Regardless of the rationale, it’s desperately wanted.
This additionally possible explains Walt Disney World’s seemingly perplexing option to take one of many elevator shafts at Twilight Zone Tower of Terror out of service (once more) throughout the vacation season. Previously, it was unclear whether or not that was deliberate or unplanned downtime. Now I’m leaning in the direction of deliberate, with the objective of ending that earlier than beginning this–or a minimum of previous to the tip of the winter low season.
Earlier this yr, the opposite facet of Tower of Terror was refurbished and that challenge took a couple of months. That wrapped up halfway via the summer season season, and Walt Disney World didn’t take the opposite facet down for refurbishment instantly thereafter. That’s now a perplexing resolution, as the opposite half may’ve been performed in August via October when crowds have been decrease. (Suggesting that this Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster closure was not added to the inner schedule till extra not too long ago.)
Down the highway, a substantive overhaul remains to be possible. I personally love Aerosmith, however I’m however shocked that Walt Disney World is taking the attraction offline for thus lengthy and never giving it a retheme. Popular thrill rides can at all times develop into much more widespread with the mixing of extra widespread mental property. Just have a look at Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Breakout at DCA.
Iconic as they might be, it’s most likely truthful to say that Aerosmith doesn’t have the identical cachet or identify recognition with youthful company. I can’t consider one other up to date band that’s widespread, crowd-pleasing, non-controversial, and matches the experience profile. Then once more, the Guardians of the Galaxy have demonstrated that traditional rock can transcend its period. (So right here’s hoping Led Zeppelin is within the subsequent film!)
Another factor the Guardians of the Galaxy points of interest have taught us is that enjoyable and upbeat music can go a great distance in elevating thrill rides. This can also be true with Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster, though I’d say to a lesser extent. The curler coaster doesn’t actually have the identical vitality as Cosmic Rewind, which is a component because of the experience profile and half on account of tune choice.
Whatever finally ends up taking place down the highway with Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster, I hope Imagineering incorporates becoming and enjoyable songs. They additionally have to take the time to check a ton of various choices. The finish consequence on Cosmic Rewind is superior–even with the songs I don’t personally love. By distinction, Cosmic Rewind: Holiday Remix falls flat regardless that it’s the very same underlying attraction. (Still superb, however doesn’t measure as much as the common experience!)
One factor that may clarify why Walt Disney World is not reimagining Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster in 2023 is as a result of that’s a card they wish to play later. With TRON Lightcycle Run opening in Spring 2023, they’re already going to have a brand new curler coaster to market within the coming yr.
By distinction, the one factor perhaps in 2024 is Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, which goes to battle to debut by that Christmas and really effectively may slip into 2025. (I’d wager on it.)
With little in the best way of bodily props or units outdoors of the pre-show, Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster may very well be meaningfully remodeled within the span of some months (the corporate may truly take away Aerosmith in a single day within the occasion of a scandal!).
Perhaps Walt Disney World is ‘saving’ the reimagining for subsequent yr, and a “new” Marvel curler coaster would be the marketable draw for Walt Disney World in 2024? There are loads of characters which can be off-limits because of the Universal contract, however that also leaves loads of choices–together with ones which can be widespread within the Marvel Cinematic Universe: Phase Four.
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Your Thoughts
What do you concentrate on the multi-month closure of Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith at Walt Disney World? Disappointed that it’ll be down throughout your journey? Think Disney is being coy, and it’ll truly get a retheme in 2023? What about in 2024 or 2025? Thoughts on potential bands, manufacturers, or tremendous heroes to exchange Aerosmith? Any questions in regards to the present refurbishments at Walt Disney World? Do you agree or disagree with our evaluation? Any questions we might help you reply? Hearing your suggestions—even if you disagree with us—is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!
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