Rides breaking down at alarming rate

[SL6827]

The rides being down first thing in the morning during EE makes me the most suspicious as being intentional, in regards to staffing and saving a buck. They can allow you in for EE, but doesn't mean they will staff for EE.

 

[Nainolaf]

I posted on another thread about our week so far…1st MK vivit 09/07, BTMRR broke down mid way through ride, given an anytime LL, tried for Space mountain, not allowed with LL, given another LL for Space Mountain, down all afternoon!
Day 2 Animal Kingdom…FOP…3 of our 4 bike Vehicles had no water effect..Rough to be a Bug all seats on Bench had no working effects whatsoever…onto Hollywood Studios…ROTR Animatronics down in bridge room with Kylo Ren and large Guns still not working…onto Epcot today, Soarin had no scent effect at all, Rattatouille, no water effects, Test Track down nearly all day and as we were leaving Guest services after complaining GOTG went down as well!!!! Unbelievable!!

 

[robinium]

Guardians has just gone down, our boarding group was completely dropped after waiting all day to ride and it seems there’s nothing being offered. No LL for a different day or anything - just an apology.

 

[scrappinginontario]

Guardians has just gone down, our boarding group was completely dropped after waiting all day to ride and it seems there’s nothing being offered. No LL for a different day or anything - just an apology.

That would be hugely disappointing for sure. Guardians doesn't go down often but when it's you who misses out, it doesn't feel that way. Hoping they can get it working again tonight.

 

[robinium]

That would be hugely disappointing for sure. Guardians doesn't go down often but when it's you who misses out, it doesn't feel that way. Hoping they can get it working again tonight.

It came back online and after speaking to a very kind and understanding CM, he hooked me up with a LL to go on immediately (as I have DAS).

 

[hertamaniac]

Sorry….I
Meant the large cannons thst used to move back and forth as you pass under them, only ever worked once when we first rode!

This would be a major disappointment if they weren't working as designed. I would hope they built-in preventative maintenance into the operational windows right?

 

[SL6827]

This is soooooo discouraging. I have never felt this way about a future trip that's 4 months out before.

 

[jimim]

I posted on another thread about our week so far…1st MK vivit 09/07, BTMRR broke down mid way through ride, given an anytime LL, tried for Space mountain, not allowed with LL, given another LL for Space Mountain, down all afternoon!
Day 2 Animal Kingdom…FOP…3 of our 4 bike Vehicles had no water effect..Rough to be a Bug all seats on Bench had no working effects whatsoever…onto Hollywood Studios…ROTR Animatronics down in bridge room with Kylo Ren and large Guns still not working…onto Epcot today, Soarin had no scent effect at all, Rattatouille, no water effects, Test Track down nearly all day and as we were leaving Guest services after complaining GOTG went down as well!!!! Unbelievable!!

wow that's pretty rough. I get it's tough to be a bug being messed up. those seats ave been a wreck for years now. I'm glad that is going away. it's time. great show though. but that is a rough post of rides and issues.

listen people don't want to work. companies want to run lean. companies are way way more conservative on what is considered safe and not safe due to law suites. I mean it just seems like there are so many more variables these days with everything vs years ago. sad but true.

 

[Smugpugmug]

wow that's pretty rough. I get it's tough to be a bug being messed up. those seats ave been a wreck for years now. I'm glad that is going away. it's time. great show though. but that is a rough post of rides and issues.

listen people don't want to work. companies want to run lean. companies are way way more conservative on what is considered safe and not safe due to law suites. I mean it just seems like there are so many more variables these days with everything vs years ago. sad but true.

This isn't exactly true. People want to work but not for companies that pay them peanuts and they aren't treated the best. It is true that Disney sees that it's more profitable to staff these attractions and maintainence crews at the bare minimum.

 

[robinium]

Rough morning in HS - RotR, Slinky and MMRR (some might say THE three top tier rides at HS) all down at rope drop. MMRR opened around 09:05, Slinky “opened” for 5 minutes then they had to clear out the queue they just let in as it went down again.

Both Slinky and RotR still down at 09:36.

 

[robinium]

Rough morning in HS - RotR, Slinky and MMRR (some might say THE three top tier rides at HS) all down at rope drop. MMRR opened around 09:05, Slinky “opened” for 5 minutes then they had to clear out the queue they just let in as it went down again.

Both Slinky and RotR still down at 09:36.

You couldn’t write it - just as I type this, MMRR appears to have gone down again. So all three are now down again.

 

[fatmanatee]

Rough morning in HS - RotR, Slinky and MMRR (some might say THE three top tier rides at HS) all down at rope drop. MMRR opened around 09:05, Slinky “opened” for 5 minutes then they had to clear out the queue they just let in as it went down again.

Both Slinky and RotR still down at 09:36.

They really need to figure things out with the trackless rides.

 

[robinium]

As of 10:40, Slinky is back running but RotR and MMRR are still down

 

[Len418]

My wife and I were there September 5-12 and experienced some really bad luck with rides broken down. Wednesday the 6th was EEH at MK. We were so looking forward to riding Space Mountain that night. It was closed all day. Friday the 8th we go to MK for the purpose of riding Space. We even ask if Space was up and running and were told yes. Right at rope drop the CM announced that Space was experiencing a delayed opening. Of course by this time we are behind the hundreds in line at Seven Dwarves so not much we can do. So......we end up spending a week at WDW and couldn't ride Space Mountain because it was broken down so much. 3 trips to MK this week, Space closed during every one of them.

Saturday the 9th.....AK opens at 8 so we are there for the 7:30 rope drop. Head to Everest because we wanted to get in several rides before heading to Safaris. You guessed it....broke down. The cast member spilled the beans by letting us know they didn't even have the trains on the track yet so it would be awhile before it opened. It did open a little after 9 but it sure messed up our early entry/rope drop plans.

Monday the 11th......we take the boat to DHS. Everyone else heads to Galaxy's Edge and Toy Story Land. We want to ride 2 rides....Tower of Terror and Rockin'Rollercoaster. Would you believe it......both are experiencing a "delayed opening". RnR never opened but Tower eventually did around 10:30.

So my thoughts.........
Staffing needs to change. Disney isn't bringing CMs in early enough to ensure that rides are ready to go at park opening. If they're going to promote early entry as a perk they need to make sure that rides are running for the guests who made the effort to get there early. The cost to get enough CMs in an hour earlier to operate Space Mountain would be miniscule to Disney's bottom line.

It would be great to notify guests somehow that rides are not going to open on time. That way we can adjust our plans and not position ourselves in a part of the park where we're behind everyone.

 

[stinkpickle]

Those downtimes can certainly negate the advantages of the "weekday in September" low crowds.

 

[Sona99]

Those downtimes can certainly negate the advantages of the "weekday in September" low crowds.

Agreed. I feel very lucky that I managed to do every ride I wanted to while I was there, even tho there were lots of rides that went down. I think that's because I was very flexible in my schedule, and that I was there solo. I cant imagine how hard it would be with a family of 4.

 

[Len418]

Let me add this observation as well. Animatronics and other aspects of rides are also not working at an alarming rate. We counted 5 animatronics broken on Pirates. When we rode Seven Dwarves on Wednesday, Sept 6, Snow White and the Dwarves were not dancing or moving at all in the final scene. But the worst offended has to be Rise of the Resistance. So many of the cool effects that make that ride great were not working when we rode.

 

[fatmanatee]

Staffing needs to change. Disney isn't bringing CMs in early enough to ensure that rides are ready to go at park opening.

Do we know this for a fact?

 

[Len418]

Do we know this for a fact?

Can I offer up proof of this in the form of timesheets from Disney? No.
Can I share conversations with concerned cast members who say things like "we can't get in here early enough to make sure everything is running"? Yes.
Can I share anecdotal conversations with CMs who are secretly as frustrated as guests because they remember what Disney used to be? Yes.
Can I take you to CMs who told me to please talk to guest relations because they want to see something done? Yes.

I confess that at least 2 things are contributing to my dissatisfaction with WDW right now:
1, I remember what it used to be. I remember when "magic" was waiting around every corner. I remember when no company offered quality like WDW did.
2, a trip to Disney costs A LOT more now than it ever has. Higher cost and diminished quality are not a good combination. For years my family of 5, and we're solidly middle-class, were able to take an annual vacation to the World. I don't see how a family that size now can do that.

 

[robinium]

Really getting fed up with this now. MMRR opened up briefly again and almost immediately went down - whole queue evacuated yet again.

I’ve got three “Select experiences” passes now due to breakdowns today. We paid for Genie+ today and have barely got to ride anything even though I have that and DAS. Queues are insane now - 2 hours on reopened Slinky, Toy Story Mania is an hour, Smugglers Run is 75 minutes.

We just went on Indiana Jones and they announced just before it started that the show would be altered due to technical difficulties. We just saw the Cairo scene and it ended in 15 mins.

Has anyone complained to Guest Services in this kind of situation before? (We are resort guests, if that matters).