The Board of Suspense

It appears near the entry to every Disney park, and sends cold chills down the spines of Disney fans worldwide.

It's the Closed Attractions Board! Don't you hate that moment when you first spot the sign and--holding your breath--you move closer to see which rides are closed...er, being refurbed....are currently unavailable.  "Currently unavailable" sounds much nicer than, "in pieces" or "temporarily dismantled."

Looking ahead, I have to face the reality that, sooner or later, Radiator Springs Racers is going to have to go down for a routine refurbishment. When that happens, it'll be interesting to see how much the downtime hurts DCA's attendance. Disneyland's got so many great rides that it can easily hold up while a huge E ticket like Big Thunder goes under the knife. DCA's a different story. Having an E Ticket like Grizzly River down hurts the younger park's offerings much more severely. When the time rolls around for Racers' first refurb...ouch.

Dreaming of the Hatbox Ghost (with Fish Heads & Crumbs)

The Haunted Mansion will be closed through January 17th in order to switch back from Holiday mode to HM classic. Each year as this happens, all Mansion fans wonder if any surprise changes or additions will take place during the closure.

Everyone wants the Hatbox Ghost to return someday. That legendary attic dweller (whose head disappeared from his shoulders and reappeared in the hatbox he held) was evicted from the ride soon after its debut, as the lighting-dependent effect didn't work as well as hoped. With all of today's technological advances, there seems to be no reason the Hatbox Ghost couldn't make a triumphant return.

But if they can't get ol' Hatbox back, well...they could always hold auditions for an equally awesome replacement...

Waitin' at the Buzz Stop: More Fun With Ride Shutdowns

Ride shut-downs caused by technical issues don't happen frequently at Disneyland Resort, but when such a thing occurs (as it did during our recent ride on Buzz Lightyear's Astro Blasters), fans don't waste the opportunity; this is when the cameras come out.

The downside of a ride shut-down, of course, is that the story-telling and immersion are pretty much shattered. The fun, however, doesn't necessarily stop...

Because a situation like this provides a rare chance to look around at the ride system's workings, the prop construction and the many elements you're not normally supposed to see. For a theme park fan, this is actually a moment to be savored!

Adventureland After Park Closing

When Disneyland's open late, it's always fun to be one of the last riders admitted to Pirates of the Caribbean. When it's over, your park exit route leads through an Adventureland that's been closed for nearly twenty minutes.

Once There Was a PeopleMover (with Fish Heads & Crumbs)

The abandoned tracks twist above Disneyland's Tomorrowland, serving no purpose except as a nighttime lighting fixture for the area's entry strip. Once there was a PeopleMover ride bustling along that wonderful elevated roadway. Why it went away, and what happened to its much-hyped  and ill-fated replacement remains one of Disneyland's saddest tales. It's clearly time to move on, tear those old tracks down and have fun imagining the possibilities for Tomorrowland's future.

Younger Disneyland fans often ask about those old tracks. It's the duty of PeopleMover pros to pass along their knowledge to these eager learners. And it's important to get the facts straight. And avoid fibbing. And...hey, look, it's Fish Heads and Crumbs...