Winter Ride Closures at Walt Disney World
RIDES CLOSED FOR MAINTENANCE AND REHAB AT WALT DISNEY WORLD
Walt Disney World rides and attractions can be closed for maintenance, rehab, or replacement at any time.
The way I keep up with this is to check the ”Refurbishments and Attraction Closures” part of the weekly Walt Disney World Resort Update section of MousePlanet.com.
That said, the most common time for attraction closures is January and early February. For this reason, this site suggests that first time visitors who are unsure whether or not they will ever return should avoid this period.
Why go during a period when some of the best of Walt Disney World may not be available?
For the currently known 2012 January closures, see this.
However, I’ve seen some claims that “only Splash Mountain is closed” during this period, so I went back and analyzed ride closures over the last five years to double check the facts.
The results of this analysis are presented below.
WINTER RIDE CLOSURES AT WALT DISNEY WORLD
Over the past five years, an average of three rides are closed in January at Walt Disney World. (This figure excludes rides closed for massive rehabs—e.g. a nine month do-over.)
The average number of closures drops sharply as mid-February and the President’s Day Weekend approaches, and continues to drop into March.
See the chart for daily averages (click it to enlarge it.)
Splash Mountain is indeed the most common ride to be closed in this period–it has been closed each of the last five years, for at least five days, and for an average of almost 30 days.
Other attractions closed more than once during the period include Test Track, Buzz Lightyear, the Backlot Tour, and the Liberty Belle riverboat. Other significant attractions closed at least once in winter include Rock N’ Roller Coaster, Kali River Rapids, and Indiana Jones.
There’s not much on this list I’d want to miss…so the advice to first time visitors who may not be able to return remains the same–avoid January and early February!
This advice is reflected in this site’s 2012 Weeks to Visit Ranked in Order, and its 2013 weeks to visit, ranked in order.
(Families who want to develop the best 2012 weeks for their own circumstances should use the 2012 Week Picker.)
MORE ON WHEN TO GO TO WALT DISNEY WORLD
- For when to go to Walt Disney World, see this
- For the next best dates, see this
- For the best and worst times to visit, see this
- For 2012 weeks to visit, ranked in order, see this
- For the 2012 Week Picker, see this
- For 2013 weeks to visit, ranked in order, see this
- For forecasting crowds at Walt Disney World, see this
- For the 2012 Crowd Calendar, click here
- For the 2013 Crowd Calendar, click here
- For seasonal pricing at Walt Disney World, see this
- For 2012 price seasons, see this
- For 2013 price seasons, click here
- For weather at Walt Disney World, see this
14 comments
Hi,
Looking to book a break to Disney on 19 April 2012 for two weeks. Have two young children so would like to choose a good time when the parks are not as busy. This will be after Easter but will schools still have Spring breaks at this time or are they normally in March? Your help would be much appreciated.
Hi Deb–for just the reason you point out, I think those will be great weeks!! See http://yourfirstvisit.net/2010/10/20/2012-weeks-to-visit-walt-disney-world-ranked-in-order/
Hello.
I want to give my son a memorable 3rd year birthday in January 2012 and I promised to take him to Disneyland. Since I will be coming all the way from Lagos, Nigeria, I need to know the timing will be worth my while.
Thank you.
Anu, at that age it will be memorable! A few rides may be closed, but not noticable to a three year old!
Hello,
When does disney usually post ride closures for january. We have been to disney 10+ times so a few rides closed is not major deal.
Thank you
Hi Robin–there’s no set date. Sometimes a ride gets listed as closed months before, and other times weeks–or even days–before.
Hi, my 3 children range from ages 12-18. They want us to have a family blowout vacation, since there’s a chance this may be our last. I am very ill and on an IV several hours a day. I will still be able to enjoy the parks for a few hours at a time. What we need is a fair price hotel that sleeps 5 They and has trams to parks, a refrigerator for my o’s and transport to and from airport. Thank you
Hi Melissa I’m sorry for your illness. If you stay at a Disney hotel, you get free airport transport–called Disney’s Magical Express–and free transportation from your hotel to and from the parks. The lowest-price option that sleeps 5 and has a fridge is a family suite at All-Star Music or at the Art of Animation Resort (opens late May 2012.) For an example floorplan see http://yourfirstvisit.net/2010/07/27/review-disneys-all-star-music-resort/
Depending on the time of year this will cost you from $200 to more than $350 a nite.
Much cheaper hotels are available outside WDW, but not with airport transport or transport to the parks. For staying outside the parks, see this: http://yourfirstvisit.net/2010/01/27/the-tightwads-guide-to-staying-off-site-at-walt-disney-world/
Hey! Great site. Just stumbled upon it and glad I did. I looked at the list of ride closures. We are looking at going to WDW either January 28-February 2, 2012 or March 24 – 29, 2012. I hate that Thunder Mtn is going to be closed, but we have to do with the free dining plan – can’t beat that. I went as a kid, but I am taking my 8 yr old daughter for her first time. I really would hate to take her and Splash Mountain be closed. Is there anyway to get a more definite answer from WDW as to whether it would be closed during the January dates. That is the ride I have been telling her about and it would almost be a wasted trip if she didnt get to ride it. I really don’t want to go during March due to Spring Breakers and the crowds. Thank you!
Hi Shannon and thanks.
The word on the street is that Splash Mountain will NOT be closed for refurb in 2012, and the people who say this say it comes from Disney, but I have not seen anything official…I’m not sure if WDW will make a definitive statement…sorry to be so little help!
If I were you I’d do the Jan-Feb dates in a heartbeat, as Splash can be visited another time but the crowds in March may be horrible…
Hi Dave!
I was wondering if you could shed any light on the Dumbo closure situation. Is it completely closed? I’ve read two different things – one that it would reopen on Feb 18 and the other saying not until March 11. Do you know anything about this? Thanks again! Kelly
Hi Kelly!
I don’t have any knowledge beyond what Disney is saying on its website–which remains March 11.
Because there are two Dumbos at issue–one being built new at Storybook Circus, the other dismantled and moved there–there had been specualtion about this being staged so the the new one might open earlier than 3/12. But I don’t know if any of this specualtion is true…
Aww man!
Well we will keep our fingers crossed for an earlier opening. Thanks for the info though!
Me too!
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