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 journey 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 potential 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 upset when their favourite sights are down, however on a optimistic word, this record has not been wherever as ‘bad’ because the 2023 Disneyland Refurbishment Calendar. There, it actually is refurbishment season, even because the Disney one centesimal Anniversary Celebration kicks off in January.
This in all probability isn’t going to win me any buddies amongst these visiting in January 2023, however I feel Walt Disney World needs to be including many extra sights 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’ resolution, because it means in a single day work that has minimal affect to friends. I assume that’s what occurs while 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 sights! (But I digress…)
Another attraction simply added to the 2023 closure calendar is Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith. Per Walt Disney World, this may 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 massive blow for Disney’s Hollywood Studios, which already is missing in sufficient sights 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 instances are sometimes pushed out into the late afternoon and early night, and this may solely worsen that. Expect to solely rating 2-3 good Lightning Lanes by way of Genie+ if you happen to don’t have a powerful 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 would possibly recall that again in November 2018, the New York Times did a puff piece about how a lot Disney was spending on enlargement 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 printed 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 journey. Regardless, it didn’t come to fruition pre-closure, and just about all plans since have been derailed.
Nevertheless, there undoubtedly might be “rumors” of a Marvel re-theme or a unique band changing Aerosmith. If we’re going to throw round bands that might be excellent, my vote is for Led Zeppelin. It’ll by no means occur for a lot of causes, but it surely ought to. Kids lately must 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 adjustments are deliberate to the journey expertise. This one doesn’t even have wiggle phrases! That ought to put these rumors to relaxation, not less than 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 12 months.
There have been a couple of multi-day stretches when the attraction has been closed, and it has grow to be one of the unreliable rides at Walt Disney World. (It was down for many of the morning as we speak, in reality!)
I’m not a curler coaster knowledgeable, so I can’t communicate to the doubtless causes of the downtime (dispatch, unload, or different backups?). It’s additionally potential that the journey producer recommends sure upkeep after X years of operation, and the Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster will quickly hit that. Regardless of the explanation, it’s desperately wanted.
This additionally doubtless 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) in the course of 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 aim of ending that earlier than beginning this–or not less than previous to the tip of the winter low season.
Earlier this 12 months, the opposite aspect of Tower of Terror was refurbished and that challenge took a couple of months. That wrapped up halfway by the summer season season, and Walt Disney World didn’t take the opposite aspect down for refurbishment instantly thereafter. That’s now a perplexing resolution, as the opposite half may’ve been executed in August by 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 street, a substantive overhaul continues to be doubtless. I personally love Aerosmith, however I’m however shocked that Walt Disney World is taking the attraction offline for therefore lengthy and never giving it a retheme. Popular thrill rides can at all times grow to be much more well-liked with the combination of extra well-liked mental property. Just have a look at Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Breakout at DCA.
Iconic as they could be, it’s in all probability honest to say that Aerosmith doesn’t have the identical cachet or identify recognition with youthful friends. I can’t consider one other up to date band that’s well-liked, crowd-pleasing, non-controversial, and suits the journey profile. Then once more, the Guardians of the Galaxy have demonstrated that basic rock can transcend its period. (So right here’s hoping Led Zeppelin is within the subsequent film!)
Another factor the Guardians of the Galaxy sights 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 power as Cosmic Rewind, which is an element as a result of journey profile and half attributable to track choice.
Whatever finally ends up occurring down the street with Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster, I hope Imagineering incorporates becoming and enjoyable songs. They additionally must take the time to check a ton of various choices. The finish outcome on Cosmic Rewind is superior–even with the songs I don’t personally love. By distinction, Cosmic Rewind: Holiday Remix falls flat although it’s the very same underlying attraction. (Still excellent, however doesn’t measure as much as the common journey!)
One factor which 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 12 months.
By distinction, the one factor perhaps in 2024 is Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, which goes to wrestle to debut by that Christmas and really properly would possibly slip into 2025. (I’d wager on it.)
With little in the way in which of bodily props or units exterior of the pre-show, Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster might be meaningfully reworked within the span of some months (the corporate may really take away Aerosmith in a single day within the occasion of a scandal!).
Perhaps Walt Disney World is ‘saving’ the reimagining for subsequent 12 months, 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 as a result of Universal contract, however that also leaves loads of choices–together with ones which can be well-liked 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 really get a retheme in 2023? What about in 2024 or 2025? Thoughts on potential bands, manufacturers, or tremendous heroes to exchange Aerosmith? Any questions concerning the present refurbishments at Walt Disney World? Do you agree or disagree with our evaluation? Any questions we may help you reply? Hearing your suggestions—even while you disagree with us—is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!