Great Movie Ride closes for Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway

[TravelandLeisure]

https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/b...runaway-railway-to-roll-into-disneyland-park/

Not sure if this is posted elsewhere, but here is official confirmation of the runaway railway’s delay until Spring 2020. I had already read several rumors of this.

I am disappointed, but not surprised. I had hoped to be able to experience this ride during our December trip.

 

[Tempty]

I'm so disappointed! I had a feeling it wouldn't be open by our trip in mid September 2019 but for it to be delayed to spring 2020? How on earth do they expect to absorb the SWGE crowds? This does not sound like it will go smoothly...

 

[tlmadden73]

A couple of theories.
1. Diverted the workers to get SWGE open on time.
2. Intentionally delayed as they expect big attendance increases when SWGE opens and another when M&MRR opens. If they both open about the same time, they potentially lose one uptick in attendance.
They sound really proud of what M&MRR will be and don't want it overshadowed at its opening by opening at the same time as SWGE.

I could see both.

Since they are opening SWGE months earlier than even they originally estimated (end of August is nowhere near "late Fall") .. my guess is that they are in no rush to finish a new attraction at DHS with one coming in August and another coming in???? (Late fall?).

I bet the original thought was to get the Railway open months before SWGE open to have a crowd eater before the new land opened, but I guess opening SWGE months early was the priority.

 

[Nancyg56]

A couple of theories.
1. Diverted the workers to get SWGE open on time.
2. Intentionally delayed as they expect big attendance increases when SWGE opens and another when M&MRR opens. If they both open about the same time, they potentially lose one uptick in attendance.
They sound really proud of what M&MRR will be and don't want it overshadowed at its opening by opening at the same time as SWGE.

Personally, I believe that rather than diverting workers, and I do think that this is what happened, Disney should have added more. Once SWGE opens there is going to be an influx of visitors in a very small park. I cannot imagine where they will all be absorbed. TSL is so darn congested with the pathways narrowed with umbrellas to provide a bit of shade, can you imagine how crowded it will be when folks cannot get into GE?

I do not think that M&MMR will be a driving attendance booster, and I honestly do not believe it's opening would be overshadowed by GE, however I do believe it is playing second fiddle to that land, which is a shame.

 

[NickC]

That's a shame it's delayed. I was very unhappy that SWGE would be open when we were there in November. I was hoping to sneak in a trip before it opened. But, I figured, at least M&MRR would be open by then. I would skip HS studios all together, but RnRC and ToT are must dos.

 

[rteetz]

Rumored plans for the attraction...

 

[hertamaniac]

A couple of theories.
1. Diverted the workers to get SWGE open on time.
2. Intentionally delayed as they expect big attendance increases when SWGE opens and another when M&MRR opens. If they both open about the same time, they potentially lose one uptick in attendance.
They sound really proud of what M&MRR will be and don't want it overshadowed at its opening by opening at the same time as SWGE.

3. They really did miscalculate the project's scope and needed to adjust the projected opening date.

But, your point #2 is interesting and something I've thought of as well.

4a) Attend SWGE on opening phase (less Rise of the Resistance)
4b) Attend SWGE after Rise of the Resistance opens
4c) Attend MMRR once it opens

That's 3 separate visits in my mind and a substantial increase in ticket/merchandise/parking/food costs.

 

[DisneyandBeerLover]

Just read about a February 2020 opening. We're hoping to go for the opening of this and the opening of the Flower and Garden so hopefully they overlap.

https://wdwnt.com/2019/05/breaking-...month-revealed-for-disneys-hollywood-studios/

 

[ecclescake]

We’re there the first half of Feb - so fingers crossed!

 

[Phicinfan]

Just read about a February 2020 opening. We're hoping to go for the opening of this and the opening of the Flower and Garden so hopefully they overlap.

https://wdwnt.com/2019/05/breaking-...month-revealed-for-disneys-hollywood-studios/

Last I heard from some insiders they were looking at April not February, still that schedule can change lightning quick....

No, that was NOT a car reference before anyone asks

 

[bladiator]

Is there any new rumor as to the opening of this attraction at WDW? I saw a blog somewhere that was saying that it was slipping to "summer of 2020".

 

[Brett Wyman]

Is there any new rumor as to the opening of this attraction at WDW? I saw a blog somewhere that was saying that it was slipping to "summer of 2020".

The last official word is still "Spring" 2020.

 

[unbanshee]

Is there any new rumor as to the opening of this attraction at WDW? I saw a blog somewhere that was saying that it was slipping to "summer of 2020".

Spring, who said summer?

 

[bladiator]

Spring, who said summer?

Ugh, so sorry guys, I've been quite out of the loop. I read an article that said summer, but it was written in 2018 so it's way behind. They need to take down rumor posts that are that out of date!

 

[jen7233]

Following along, hoping they announce the open date soon.

 

[maryj11]

Following also. Even though I loved the Great Movie ride I guess it will fun to try a new ride.

 

[Summer2018]

It’s going to be a long time before I give it a try. We will be avoiding Hollywood Studios in the near future.

 

[Dean Marino]

Deleted

 

[MaC410]

yikes

 

[disneygirlsng]

Just us - the "thing" that caused WDW to destroy the Great Movie Ride, rather than updating it?

We don't care if the "Runaway Train-wreck" EVER opens.

Well okay then, that's more than a little excessive.
Not quite sure how you can judge a ride without even riding it, let alone not really even knowing many details about it.

Don't really expect much different though.